Hi:
We will be driving down to Virginia from Rehoboth Beach, and are deciding if we should spend the night in Norfolk, Portsmouth, or Virginia Beach? We have never been to the East Coast, so any advice is appreciated, thanks. Oh, our travel dates are probably going to be the first week of June.
Norfolk, Portsmouth or Virginia Beach?
Depends on what you want to do or see and where you are going onto the next day. Is this just for one night? Add a little bit more info so we can help.
Norfolk, Portsmouth or Virginia Beach?
Sorry.... yes, only for one night. We are headed back to Raleigh, NC from there. Thanks.
If you are just planning to stop for the night almost anyplace will do, but if you have any time to enjoy the area I would say consider an oceanfront room, walk the boardwalk (2 1/2 miles), put your toes in the Atlantic, enjoy live music from several stages on the boardwalk. OR.....stay in downtown Norfolk (Marriott waterside is nice), have a great dinner, enjoy a walk on the downtown waterfront, see boats, ships, take a sightseeing cruise, etc. OR....stay in downtown Portsmouth on the waterfront enjoy local shops and restaurants and waterfront views, and take a ferry between downtown Norfolk %26amp; Portsmouth. Check out the ';things to do'; sections for the cities if you have any spare time to see the local sites. If not, come back when you have more time. Enjoy your stay.
I%26#39;m also wondering if it depends upon what you%26#39;re in the mood for. I love visiting the beach, so for me, driving from one beach (Rehoboth Beach) to another (Virginia Beach) makes a lot of sense! (When driving from one place to another, try to stop and visit as many beaches as possible, right?) And Virginia Beach is much more urban than Rehoboth Beach so it%26#39;ll have a different vibe.
Maybe you%26#39;re looking for something different, though, in which case I might recommend Norfolk. If you%26#39;re just staying one night and are looking for a more particularly ubrban night on the town, Norfolk might be a better help.
Yes, we would like to check out the beaches, since it is not every day we get to be so near the ocean.
%26#39;...consider an oceanfront room, walk the boardwalk (2 1/2 miles), put your toes in the Atlantic, enjoy live music from several stages on the boardwalk.%26#39;
%26#39;Virginia Beach is much more urban than Rehoboth Beach so it%26#39;ll have a different vibe.%26#39;
These all sound very interesting..... We are still in the planning stage, so we might consider spending another day in that area to check out Norfolk and Portsmouth. Thank you both for the suggestions.
Check out my and others%26#39; other posts on VB by clicking on my name or their name by the post in blue. You might also take a look at the VB forum itself. It is a very unusual beach, imo, part of an unusual area. Unusual in that the economy is thriving in the very urban setting, the farms and the resort strip. Unusual in its %26#39;no bad behavior%26#39; ordinance...curfews for teens out alone, no cussing signs, noise ordinance, etc. VB gets big name music artists; yet people can enjoy the surries with the fringe on top on the boardwalk and walking with their babies in magnificent sunrises over the ocean.
Unusual compared to some beaches in that it has a boardwalk...and that that boardwalk is not where the little shops kids love are. That%26#39;s around the corner on the next block. Really close but not on the boardwalk. That fact and the concrete boardwalk keep the boardwalk very user friendly. The concrete allows for easier walking with baby carriages, wheelchairs, toddlers and elderly; easier for early and off season bicycles and inline skating. I think the surry, in season bicycle path is asphalted...or maybe just in places. Funny all this time and I%26#39;ve enjoyed it but can%26#39;t remember that little specific. Instead of the shops on the boardwalk, there are restaurants and beautiful landscaping and parks and small stages.
There%26#39;s a beautiful multi-million dollar town center a few miles from the beach, historic property tours, museums....and chalk drawing contests on the boardwalk. Sure there%26#39;s the Waterpark and Buccaneer Bay Children%26#39;s Pirate Ship and the children%26#39;s lazy river; and there%26#39;s miniature golf but also the beautiful nature areas for kayaking or bicycling, hiking and picnicking.
First Landing State Park is nearly 3000 acres of protected salt marsh and maritime forest. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is about 8500 acres of maritme forest, barrier island, fresh water marsh and beaches. False Cape State Park is 4321 acres (a very precise but easy to remember number)with unspoiled beaches and ocean to freshwater habitant...a study in itself. In these parks there are loggerhead turtles, bald eagle and migratory birds and endangered species well protected.
There seems to be a fesitval or event nearly every weekend. There is honor and respect paid to our nation%26#39;s heores and it%26#39;s family friendly. Even walkways from the boardwalk here and there way out into the sand toward the ocean for those in wheelchairs or just unsteady on their feet. They seem to think of everything.
Virginia Beach has been voted one of the nation%26#39;s top cities for fitness and least stressful and is in the Guiness Book of World Records for the world%26#39;s longest pleasure beach. The beach is longer, but the boardwalk is three miles and the beach goes out up to 300 ft. from boardwalk to sea.
Go to the VB forum and click on ';things to do'; and once there click on article from travelers...and ';more'; article from travelers:) and ';know before you go';.
Check this out:
tripadvisor.com/Travel-g58277-s401/Virginia-鈥?/a>
explorer3: Thanks for the information and tips on using TA%26#39;s various useful links...and you sure make Virginia Beach sound like a really fun place to be right now. :)
Dear Sam,
I would stay at Virginia Beach. The resort area at the ocean front has many kinds of accommodations and food sources.
Portsmouth is just across the Elizabeth River from Downtown Norfolk. It accessable by a passenger ferry. But getting to Portsmouth is a bit more difficult than Virginia Beach.
Take a day trip from VA Beach to Down Town Norfolk. See McArthur Mall and water front sights then take the ferry to Portsmouth and and have seafood.
Carl
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