Virginia Beach travel guide — Virginia Beach tourism and travel information

Virginia Beach travel guide

about Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the shores of Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 425,257, making it the most populous city in the Commonwealth.

The city is home to Virginia Wesleyan College, a private liberal arts college (its mailing address is in Norfolk, but the bulk of its campus is in Virginia Beach), and Regent University, a private university founded by Pat Robertson which is almost totally dedicated to graduate education. Robertson's TV talk/news show, The 700 Club, is produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network, whose headquarters and principal studios are on the same parcel of land that houses Regent.

The city was formerly divided into seven boroughs:

Effective July 1, 1998, the seven boroughs of Virginia Beach were replaced by voting districts for election purposes. The voting districts have the same names as the former boroughs.

Virginia Beach geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1,288.1 km² (497.3 mi²). 643.1 km² (248.3 mi²) of it is land and 645.0 km² (249.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 50.07% water.

The city is also listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest pleasure beach in the world.

Virginia Beach history

The current city was formed in 1963, when the resort town of Virginia Beach absorbed the former Princess Anne County and reorganized as the City of Virginia Beach. The merger was intended to prevent the independent city of Norfolk from annexing more of Virginia Beach.

In 1989, thousands of African-American students arrived on Labor Day Weekend for Greekfest, so named for the Greek alphabet used by the fraternities and sororities involved in the festival. Many people predicted a riot weeks in advance, and this came to pass. Unbiased observers suggest that the city went out of its way to make the students feel unwelcome; that the students rioted not out of anger, but out of a simple greed for the clothing displayed in the shops along the Boardwalk; and that the police were out of control, attacking anyone who was black, looter or not. Two slogans commonly heard in the following weeks were: "It's a black thing; you wouldn't understand" and "It's a cop thing; we'll make you understand." The incident was immortalized by Public Enemy in their song "Welcome to the Terrordome" from their album Fear of a Black Planet (1990). Today, the city hosts the American Music Festival and the Rock and Roll Half-Marathon on Labor Day Weekend with great success and no public disturbances.

The city also recently received major media attention when it hosted the first trial of accused Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad.

The superstar hip-hop and pop music production duo of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, better known as The Neptunes, were both born and raised in Virginia Beach, and operate their recording studio in the city.

Near cities to Virginia Beach

• Norfolk travel guide 27 km
• Chesapeake travel guide 27 km
• Portsmouth travel guide 28 km
• Hampton travel guide 38 km
• Newport News travel guide 43 km
• Suffolk travel guide 55 km
• Williamsburg travel guide 79 km
• Richmond travel guide 150 km
• Salisbury travel guide 170 km
• Ocean City travel guide 180 km

Near webcams to Virginia Beach

• Cape Hatteras - Lighthouse webcam 180 km
• Washington webcam 240 km
• Washington Monument webcam 240 km
• Avalon - Beachcam webcam 270 km
• Roanoke webcam 350 km
• Camden - Philly View webcam 350 km
• Camden - The Roof webcam 350 km
• Philadelphia - taxi webcam 350 km
• Monmoth Beach webcam 410 km
• Huntingdon webcam 440 km

back to top

Virginia Beach travel services

cheap flights to Virginia Beach

• book cheap flights to Virginia Beach »
• book cheap flights to USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Virginia Beach, cheap flights Virginia Beach, also available cheap airline tickets to USA and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Virginia Beach deals also available.

cheap Virginia Beach hotels

• book cheap hotels to Virginia Beach »
• book cheap hotels to USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Virginia Beach, USA hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Virginia Beach hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Virginia Beach vacations

• book Virginia Beach vacations »
• book USA vacations »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Virginia Beach, USA vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Virginia Beach vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Virginia Beach

• book cheap car rental in Virginia Beach »
• book cheap car rentals in USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Virginia Beach, car hire in USA and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Virginia Beach car hire deals also available.

Virginia Beach travel insurance

• Virginia Beach cheap travel insurance »
• cheap travel insurance for USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Virginia Beach, accident health Virginia Beach travel insurance, all using our online Virginia Beach travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in USA. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Virginia Beach real estate

• Virginia Beach real estate guide »
• real estate listings in USA »

City Travel Guide comes with Virginia Beach real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Virginia Beach property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in USA, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Virginia Beach.

back to top

Virginia Beach travel books

Virginia Beach travel guide books

• Virginia Beach travel guide books »
• USA travel guide books »

Virginia Beach maps and atlases

• Virginia Beach maps and atlases »
• USA maps and atlases »

back to top