GOLF
Virginia Beach National is a premier golf course designed by Pete Dye and Curtis Strange. It offers "tournament style" golf at a fraction of the cost. There are six different tee boxes to accommodate all levels of golf expertise. It is a par 72 course with a course rating of 758, a slope rating of 142, and still has the championship tees in place for an added challenge. Across from the Virginia Beach National is the First Tee Program of Hampton Roads that teaches kids to play golf. It has nine holes of course play, a driving range, and a putting green. There is also a learning center/club house for classroom instruction. And speaking of kids (of all ages), the Jungle Golf Miniature Golf Course offers plenty of challenge and fun for everyone. It is open in the summer 24/7. Hell's Point Golf Club offers eighteen holes with interesting fairway angles, challenging greens, over sixty sculptured sand traps, and some lakes to make it even more fun. Hell's Point has an onsite pro shop to meet your needs as well. If these don't seem to fit your style or needs, you can try any of the other 14 public courses in the area. There are also two private courses. FESTIVALS & EVENTS Festivals are big at Virginia Beach! One, the Atlantic Coast Kite Festival, is held in May and offers an exciting weekend of high-flying kites and family fun for participants and spectators of all ages. Kite flying demonstrations include kite ballets and sports kite flying. A kite-building workshop is provided (for a nominal charge) by kite education professionals who teach how to create the most aerodynamic kites. What actually started out as a beach party in 1961 in New York became The East Coast Surfing Championship, a world-renown event, which has been held every year in Va Beach in late summer since 1963. This Championship is the second oldest continuously-run surfing contest in the world. More than 100 of the world's top professional surfers and approximately 300 amateurs will attend this event to "ride the curl" at Oceanfront, competing for combined cash prizes of $15,000. This event has more to offer than just surfing. There are other competitions in skimboarding, beach volleyball, a 5K run along the ocean, a swimsuit competition, extreme skateboarding, and a swimsuit competition. It features on-stage, live band performances, too. There are fees to participate in the competitions, but all the activities are open to spectators for free. The Neptune Festival is held in fall to celebrate the culture of Virginia. This festival, which began in 1973, hosts thousands who flock to the boardwalk to take part in the festivities and celebrations. Some of the favored events at this festival include sand sculpting championships, a 5K run, and a surf classic. The Virginian Wines Festival is another part of the event, taking place in Neptune Park which has a 34-foot bronze statue of Neptune at the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. Sponsored by the Virginia Beach Jaycees, the Contemporary Arts Center of Virginia Beach, and The Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, part of the proceeds from this festival are returned back to the community. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES There are many outdoor activities. Anglers can enjoy fishing from the piers or charter a boat for getting out where the big ones are. Hikers have miles of hiking trails. There are several amusement parks. The Oceanbreeze Water Park, specifically designed for children under 48" tall, is located next to the Virginia Marine Science Museum. The Museum has outstanding fresh and saltwater displays in over 700,000 gallons of water. The two main buildings are connected by a 1/3 mile outdoor nature trail which runs along Owls Creek Salt Marsh. The Virginia Beach Amusement Park on the boardwalk has some of the wildest rides, including the Skyscraper where you get tossed 165 feet into the air at 65 mph. Motor World has 11 go-kart racing tracks, including tracks especially for those over 16 years of age, mini-golf, rides and amusements like bumper boats, a climbing wall, and a gravity storm where kids can experience zero gravity, and paintball. THE ARTS When your sunburn is under control, you may want to take advantage of the indoor activities in Virginia Beach. The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts was dedicated in November of 2007, and is now not only heralded as one of the region's most stunning structures, but also among the nation's most acoustically sound venues for the arts. The Center presents a variety of performing arts, including ballet, symphony and the Broadway at the Center series. If you have questions about whether Virginia Beach fits your lifestyle, ask one of the local experts. Call us at 757-425-2500, or use the form below to send an email! Atkinson Realty ERA Return to Top |