Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a popular beach resort city three and a half hours south of Washington, where the state of Virginia meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city contains 51.3 square miles of water, which takes form in the dozens of rivers, bays, lakes, marsh areas and fingers of water that flow into the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. Linking the Chesapeake Bay and James River estuaries is the Hampton Roads harbor, one of the finest natural harbors and home port to the world's largest naval base. Here, the Intracoastal Waterway begins at mile marker 1. From Virginia Beach, recreational boaters can travel as far north as Boston, Mass., and south to Brownsville, Texas.

Virginia Beach's mild climate encourages a long visitor season, and travelers are delighted to discover that spring comes early and fall stays late. These months are ideal for visitors who like vacationing when the pace is more relaxed. Summer is the traditional vacation season. And with events such as Holiday Lights at the Beach display, people are discovering Virginia Beach is a unique winter getaway as well.