Like our weekend in Norfolk, Virginia, our trip to VA Beach resulted because we wanted to do some Ikea shopping and it’s the closest one to where we live! We’ve been to Virginia Beach a couple of times stopping through for a wedding or some other random reason but not intentionally. It was fun to explore out what it had to offer!

Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia and conveniently located on the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean where the waters meet.

Saturday

Commune

We started our morning with breakfast at Commune. It’s a farm-to-table restaurant with only local ingredients in the ViBe Creative District. I got the chicken and waffles and Marvin got one of the breakfast sandwiches. Coffee was pretty good here!

Old Beach Farmers Market

On Saturday’s only from 9am-12pm is the Old Beach Farmers Market with fruits, veggies, cheeses, honey, baked goods, artisanal breads, cooked foods, handmade items, etc. It was nice to walk around and get a chance to browse. Even a stage was set for live music. We could walk here from getting breakfast at Commune.

ViBe Creative District

A section in Virginia Beach that was revamped and became an official district in 2015. You can walk around and find street art murals, coffee roasters, restaurants, and museums. It’s a hub to promote creative businesses. Commune and the Old Beach Farmers Market are inside this district so you don’t even have to go anywhere. This was our favorite part about VA Beach and hunting for all the art. This also reminded us of Norfolk in the NEON District.

Three Ships Coffee Roasters

If you know us (or at least Marvin), then you know how important checking out the local coffee scene is. Three Ships is a local coffee roaster, and the espresso was so good that we bought a bag of beans, which came with another free espresso (Marvin had 3 espresso shots by this point today!). Also we got to sample the homemade wildberry pop tart pastry. Isabel pretty much gobbled down the entire thing. This is a great stop while hunting for street murals.

Sunday

Eat Local Bay

We got loaded up on sugar for breakfast at Eat Local Bay on the Shore Drive location. It was tasty but I wish one of us would have gotten something sweet and the other savory to split! I got the Candied Pecan French Toast Bites and Marvin got the Jamaican Dark Rum French Toast.

First Landing State Park

Hence the name, First Landing State Park was the first landing that the English colonists that settled in Jamestown arrived in 1607. Virginia’s most-visited state park has 20 miles of trails and water access on the Chesapeake Bay.

There is a parking fee, but you can visit the office for park information, grab a map and even book a reservation to stay at the campground.  We did the short and easy Fox Run Trail and it ended on a beachy area on the bay. Marvin also got a new toy recently that he could test out here at the park! The photos above show some drone shots. The location with access to water was pleasant and beautiful, but hard to keep a toddler from wanting to get in.

VA Beach Boardwalk

Virginia Beach has a famous 3-mile boardwalk loaded with attractions. Places to eat, shops, museums, and a fishing pier.

Neptune Park

Located on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk at 31st is Neptune Park, with the bronze statue of King Neptune. A playground is just on the beach below him too.

What We Missed

We tried to go and see the Cape Henry Lighthouse after visiting First State Landing Park but it was not open for visits due to covid and the website was not updated. It’s on a military base and requires a driver license check and armed guards at the entrance. One day maybe we can revisit once it’s open again.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at an Airbnb on the waterfront for a fraction of the price of an oceanfront hotel. We were still close to the attractions with a playground in the backyard Isabel could have all to herself!

Virginia Beach was great for a visit and to learn about the history, although we are still fanatics for Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. Please tell us your favorite things about VA Beach below! 

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Happy travels ya’ll!

 

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