Lubna 
Virginia Beach is a small, coastal town located in the southern end of Virginia. It is about a four-hour drive from Baltimore. Norfolk has a small airport, with direct flights to many US cities, including Denver.
Oceanfront Views
The highlight of the trip was the ocean-front view. Enjoying the beautiful sunrises while sipping tea on the balcony was truly a blessing, and reminded me of the lanai in Hawaii. The beachfront is well-maintained with a huge boardwalk to walk along the beach. Murals, sculptures, and manicured foliage adorn the multitude of hotels facing the ocean. On one end of the boardwalk is a giant, intimidating sculpture of Neptune with his trident. In the middle of the boardwalk, is a wooden pier. It has a small entry fee, and you can take your fishing lines and fish there, or try to catch a glimpse of the dolphins. We arrived just as Juneteenth celebrations were in full swing. Food trucks and free concerts on the boardwalk made the whole atmosphere seem very festive.
Food Options
The other side of the hotels has a lively street scene. Street performers come out every night. There is usually some live music playing. Lots of souvenir shops and pitstops for ice cream or juices. There are lots of food options, ranging from lobster rolls, fried shrimp, Philly cheesesteak, and burgers. I especially enjoyed the food at a vibrant Turkish Cafe, Mosaic which had amazing pide and Adana kebab rolls. However, we also wanted an authentic taste of the local seafood and opted for the seafood buffet at Capt. George’s, a local favorite, which is further inland. The place was packed. At $50 per head, you get unlimited crab legs, crawfish, oysters, and barramundi along with a wide range of salads, desserts, and other items.
Water Activities
Being in the water was the best beach activity for the boys. Initially, the water seems cold, but the early morning sun warms it up. I found it interesting that we saw multiple people with metal detectors searching for things on the beach. I’m curious what they were hunting for, and if they ever got lucky. Luckily, the beach area has multiple lifeguards, and overall it is clean and well-maintained. The boys would run in from the ocean and warm up in the hotel’s hot tub, a stone’s throw away!
The most fun activity was parasailing! We went with the Pirate company. The checking is at Rudee’s inlet. They have 2 boats and can take 12 people per boat. I chose to just be a rider on the boat. You pay a small fee for riding the boat. Once in the open ocean, parasailers are harnessed to a 1000 ft line and spend about 10 minutes in the air while the boat pulls them like a kite. We even caught a quick glimpse of dolphins in the distance, but the captain veered away so as not to spoil the sights for those taking the dolphins’ sighting tours. We took the early morning slot and came back to the hotel to enjoy breakfast.
A Swamp Hike: First Landing Park at Virginia Beach
With full tummies, I managed to convince the boys to come hike in the swamps. Yes, you heard right! We drove to First Landing National Park which is known as the first point of entry of the early pioneers on American soil, hence the name! The First Landing State Park has a vehicle entry fee and has two entrances. On one side are the trailheads, while the other side has the Chesapeake Bay. There are many trails of varying lengths and levels of difficulty. We took the Bald Cypress Trail, which led us through the swamps. Wooden decks and bridges connect with the gravel trails so so you can enjoy the swamp without really setting foot into it.
First of all, it was surprisingly, a very pleasant experience. The air was cool and the tall trees provided lots of shade. Even though the swamps were muddy and murky, they didn’t smell at all! In fact, the air seemed purified by all the dense foliage. The dark colors of the swamp are caused by tannic acid released by the decaying trees. There are a plethora of pointy stumps which are actually part of the root system of the trees. We saw a long hollow pipe-shaped tree that had evolved to suck the limited water from the swamp. Toads and turtles lay around basking in the warm swamp. Blue dragonflies dipped in and out, and an occasional lizard crossed our path. We could hear cicadas and some kind of strumming noises, almost like the twanging of a guitar! We even spotted a 4 ft snake chilling on a decaying bark! I believe it was a venomous copperhead, but I’m not sure and I certainly didn’t want to stick around to find out exactly how venomous!
Historic Cavalier Hotel at Virginia Beach
Seafood, mild weather, and lots of fun activities abound in this small town. There is a naval base nearby, and we often found jets and helicopters flying by. The houses had pretty white picket fences and nautical architecture, and beautiful blooming hydrangeas tucked here or there under arching trees. The Historic Cavalier Hotel had a daunting architectural presence and beautiful, rolling gardens. At $800 a night, I doubt if I would want to stay there, but it still is a pretty place to explore! Their restaurant has a Chef’s Garden attached to it where we saw tomatoes, chard, and other vegetables thriving.
Our stay at Fairfield Suites was quite comfortable. I will look back fondly on the long walks by the ocean, and wake up to the sound of waves crashing nearby, while in the distance barges lumber through with their heavy loads. A reminder that we all must get back to the daily grind of life, so enjoy the moment and make some unforgettable memories while you still can!
