Welcome to "I Love Virginia Beach . Com"!  Your premier guide to all that makes Virginia Beach such a great place to live and vacation.  Everyone is searching for the perfect place to get away from it all... or to call home, and Virginia Beach ranks high on both accounts.  On May 20, 2008, the editors of "Best Life Magazine" voted the city of Virginia Beach the 2nd Best City in the entire county to raise a family (behind Honolulu, HI).  As a local, I'm not the least bit surprised.  Residents of Virginia Beach are fortunate in that they enjoy a beach vacation all year long!

The Hampton Roads area offers more than 29 miles of beaches, and Virginia Beach alone boasts 14 miles of pristine shoreline.  But if you think that’s all Virginia Beach has to offer, you're in for a pleasant surprise.  Promoted as a year round destination, Virginia Beach is rich in history, culture, natural beauty and is host to hundreds of boardwalk and local activities sure to please sports enthusiasts, outdoorsmen, historians, and beach lovers of all ages.

If you're a vacationer or newbie, the most difficult part is deciding what to do first when you arrive.  The shoes are the first things to go... and naturally the kids have hit the beach!   But then it starts.  Decisions... decisions... With miles of sand, surf, activities, and restaurants to choose from, your vacation itinerary will be filled to the brim.  There are so many attractions and activities to explore, it's hard to pick just one.

If staying in one of the many Hotels, Motels, Condos, Vacation Home Rentals, or Bed and Breakfast Inns  near the resort area, the "obvious" choice is the ever popular oceanfront Boardwalk that overflows with excitement, from Shops and Restaurants... to music and entertainment.  Residents and tourists alike love to stroll, jog, bike, or skate along the boardwalk as they take in the award-winning landscaping sprinkled with colorful flags, teak benches, whimsical bigger-than-life art sculptures including the huge Norwegian Lady and King Neptune statues.   During the summer, Atlantic Avenue turns into Beach Street USA and transforms itself into a little bit of Key West FL / Mardi Gras with fireworks displays, performers, musicians, jugglers, as well as live bands and entertainment at the 17th and 24th Street stages. Whether there's a surfing championship, art show, sandcastle contest, live concerts with big name performers, or a holiday festival going on... everyday is special on the boardwalk.

In the city, there are usually major events scheduled every week at the Virginia Beach Pavilion, Virginia Beach Verizon Amphitheater, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia. The kids will love a fun day riding the water slides, wave pools, and more at Ocean Breeze Water Park with it's Carribbean theme atmosphere.  Or you can head over and explore the wonders of nature at the Virginia Marine Science Museum, which is one of the Top Ten aquariums in the country. This museum offers hundreds of interactive "hands-on" exhibits, as well as 800,000 gallons of aquariums showcasing sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, river otters, in addition to having an outdoor aviary and a 1/3 mile outdoor nature trail.  They even have guided dolphin or whale watching boat tours - a local’s favorite.

Anglers flock to this area for some of the best fishing in the country!  Hop aboard a sightseeing cruise or head boat for in shore fishing... or head out into the great Atlantic on a charter boat (with a licensed Captain) for an exciting deep sea fishing expedition.  If you're more of a land lubber - there are several fishing piers scattered throughout the city. 

Perhaps a few rounds of golf with your buddies is your idea of a “perfect day”. Virginia Beach offers nearly 30 top-notch Golf Courses to keep golfers well challenged.  Virgina Beach offers top notch courses and some have been rated high in design by Golf Digest and the American Society of Golf Course Architects.  So if you enjoy quiet walks along the beach and the challenge of a good game of golf... Virgina Beach can provide the best of both!  Many of the hotels and vacation  home rentals also have golf packages and discounts, so be sure to inquire.