Northeast Virginia Beach - Virginia Beach, VA Area Guide

The area was home to Native Americans before Europeans arrived in 1607. Located nearby, First Landing State Park commemorates their arrival.

During the Colonial period, the area was sparsely populated. Early history involves watermen, ships, lighthouses and water rescue. Along today’s boardwalk, the Old Coast Guard Station tells of the men who served in the U.S. Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard, providing insight in shipwrecks and life-saving methods; and the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum displays waterfowl artifacts and early local history.

The original Cape Henry Lighthouse, built in 1792, is open for tours. Because it’s on military property, be prepared to show picture I.D. upon entering the area.

In the late 19th century, the area began its rise as a resort with the arrival of rail service and electricity. After World War II, four permanent military reservations became a part of the landscape.

The resort area – along the boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue and a few blocks inland – host most of the area’s nightlife and dining, from fast food and casual quick bites to elegant fine dining and live music. The diversity of people who live in and visit Virginia Beach means choices for families as well as those who enjoy plenty of après-sun entertainment.

Because you need to eat, there’s EAT: An American Bistro, a lovely little oceanfront eatery. If you like small, big or in between plates, EAT has you covered. If you like creative cuisine, find that here as well, such as the surprisingly delightful “ants on a log” tapas plate with? basil-fed escargot, roasted bone and marrow, garlic, parsley on a grilled baguette. Try the fried Vermont goat cheese with?lavender, the rhododendron truffle honey crostini and d'Anjou pear, or a hand-picked assortment of artisan cheeses. The menu has plenty of land-loving meats and vegetarian options, but if the beach inspires you to choose seafood, order the “oysters rock” version of oysters Rockefeller, Eastern Shore oyster stew or salmon Wellington.

Doc Taylor’s helps you start your day off right, serving a hearty breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. This local institution resides in an old house, what was once Doc Taylor’s house back in the day, that later became a pink motel. The Ray Ray breakfast sandwich features a fried egg, bacon, cheese and grilled Parmesan tomatoes on an onion roll, a savory and filling choice. For an even heartier choice, order Scotty’s biscuits and gravy, as is, with chorizo or andouille sausage. If breakfast sweets are more your style, the sweet-potato-pecan pancakes or Doctor Tuttle’s thick-cut French toast provides maximum satisfaction.

In the mood for white tablecloths, dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious, attentive service and a memorable evening? Then make reservations at Terrapin. It’s challenging to recommend any one dish at Terrapin. You can’t go wrong with anything, so just go with your gut. However, a few crowd favorites include the shrimp and grits with house-made chorizo, tempura-fried mushrooms, pumpkin ravioli covered with Parmigiano-Reggiano white wine and sage brown butter sauce, and fennel-dusted tichon sea scallops.

For one stop to please your palate and your craving for entertainment, head to TAPPED Gastropub. The fine farm-to-table cuisine provides health benefits as well as tantalizing tastes, to be paired with craft cocktails and craft beer, including local brews and Belgian ales. They even have draft beer tables: a beer tap built right in for self-service. They have big-screens for game time, and from Wednesday through Saturday, TAPPED brings in live music acts. Check out their happy hour and weeknight specials.

Doc Taylor’s Seaside Market Lounge, right next door to their unforgettable breakfast and lunch spot, becomes a popular local spot every Thursday, except in December, for a chance to enjoy live music.

For the local dance club vibe, try Peabody’s Nightclub to experience dancing, a DJ, pumped-up music, and a party atmosphere on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Peabody’s often attracts a younger crowd, since it’s 18 and up, but anyone 21 and up gets in free during happy hour, from 7 to 9 p.m. Happy hour also includes $1.50 drinks. Food’s available to help you soak up the drinks.

Should you want to walk, run or bike northeast Virginia Beach, you can find the area to be very bike and pedestrian friendly. In addition to the dedicated footpath and bike path along the 3-mile boardwalk, sidewalks line the streets, and bike lanes line many of the busier roads.

Meter parking and garages provide a place to ditch the car throughout the area. Garage parking costs $7 Monday through Thursday and $10 weekends and holidays. The Virginia Beach Expressway (I-264) remains easy to access from the south end of the resort area.

Hampton Roads Transit provides the region's public transportation, operating several bus routes and the VB Wave. VB Wave shuttles help you navigate the Virginia Beach oceanfront, making stops along Atlantic Avenue in the resort area and at several outlying locations. Cabs are just a phone call away, and Uber also serves as an option.

At Virginia Beach, you can enjoy surf and sand at the world's longest pleasure beach, backed up by a 3-mile long boardwalk. The Atlantic Ocean beach remains, of course, kid friendly, and life guards patrol the beaches in season, but pets are not permitted from Memorial Day till Labor Day.

Along the quieter waters of the Chesapeake Bay, First Landing State Park’s natural areas allow you to explore a unique habitat of lagoons and knobby-kneed cypress trees, hike more than 19 miles of trails, and kayak on guided ecological tours through marshes and bays. You can camp in cabins or campsites, picnic, swim in the Bay and relax on the beach, boat, fish and bike along the Cape Henry trail.

Because of the area’s importance for Native Americans and the first European settlers, the park presents several historical displays, including hands-on demonstrations geared toward children. Admission to the park costs $4 per vehicle on weekdays and $5 on weekends. Pets are welcome.

Further inland at Great Neck Park, you can participate in family activities such as badminton, basketball, corn hole, Frisbee, volleyball and horseshoes. Kids can also clamber on the playground. Fees apply only for rental of shelters, equipment and so on. Leashed pets are welcome.

Annual events in Virginia Beach include the Shamrock Marathon, Virginia Arts Festival, Atlantic Coast Kite Festival, International Sandsculpting Championship and Beach Music Weekend.

The cost of living in Virginia Beach sits slightly below the national average, though the resort area prices hit slightly above the Hampton Roads region overall. For a one bedroom apartment, the median rent averages at $902.

The 1-day MAX transit pass costs $6.50 throughout Virginia Beach as well as the Hampton Roads region. VB Wave fares for the shuttle within Virginia Beach range from $1 for one-day pass to $2.50 for a three-day pass.

The price of beer at a local pub runs from $2 happy hour prices for domestics. Craft beers hover around $4.50, with higher prices for more specialized, high-gravity beers. The neighborhood gas average sits at 5 percent less than the national average.

Northeast Virginia Beach is dotted with souvenir shops, swimming apparel stores, and beach gear shops. But you'll also discover a variety of art galleries, boutiques, and gift shops. If you're a beach bum, stop in at 17th Street Surf Shop. The shop ranks as a local favorite for surfers and skaters, providing them with gear and stylish clothing for over 30 years.

The Shops at Hilltop contains 120 shops and restaurants, including favorites such as Office Max, SteinMart, and Hallmark. Specialty stores include BikeBeat Bicycle Shop, Whalebone Surf Shop, and California Closets. You can browse Wild Birds Unlimited to keep your backyard full of happy feathered friends, or stop by Kitchen Barn for beautiful and functional cookware, bakeware, and gadgets. BeJeweled stocks handcrafted jewelry, art glass, museum-quality fossils, lapidary arts, and more, making it a great place for unique gift shopping.

For your grocery needs, you can shop the Fresh Market gourmet grocery store and smaller, artisan food-and-beverage markets at Hilltop. Nearby, two nationally known upscale markets service the area: Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's. For those budget-minded times, you can also shop grocery stores such as Farm Fresh and Harris Teeter. At the Virginia Beach Farmers' Market, open year-round, you can load your basket with fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses and other related agricultural products.