Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a coastal city in the state of Virginia that stretches along 38 miles (61 kilometers) of sandy shoreline between the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. A three-mile (five-kilometer) boardwalk runs along the oceanfront, linking hotels, restaurants, and public areas with direct beach access.

English colonists first reached this shoreline at Cape Henry in 1607 before moving inland to establish Jamestown. The settlement grew from a small resort town into a major military and tourism center along the East Coast during the 20th century.

Families and artists gather every September for the Neptune Festival, where sand sculptors work alongside seafood vendors and maritime performers on the waterfront. Local fishers sell their catch directly from the docks, and residents spend evenings strolling the boardwalk where live music drifts from open-air venues.

The downtown and beach areas are best explored on foot or by bicycle, while more distant nature areas require a car. Summer brings the largest crowds and higher prices, while spring and fall offer quieter conditions and milder temperatures.

First Landing State Park protects 2,888 acres (1,167 hectares) of cypress swamp, maritime forest, and dunes where rare birds nest year-round. The ancient cypress trees stand partly submerged, creating a maze of roots and trunks that visitors can explore by kayak.

Location: Virginia

Inception: 1906

Elevation above the sea: 7 m

Part of: Hampton Roads

Shares border with: Northampton County, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Currituck County

Website: https://virginiabeach.gov

GPS coordinates: 36.85060,-75.97790

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:31