Archive for the ‘The Beach Report’ Category
Friday, February 10th, 2012 by jsloggiepierce
This week’s Beach Report features the newest member of the ShoreLines blogging team, Jenn Sloggie-Pierce.
 A Warm Winter’s Day on the Bay
I’ve lived in Hampton Roads all my life, and while I do remember snow days and sledding on the battlefields in nearby Yorktown, I also remember many Christmas afternoons enjoying my new toys out in a sunny backyard, and there have been more than a couple New Year’s Days in which I donned flip flops. (To be fair, I am known to keep the flip flops near the front door year-round, and I’m not likely to put on socks, unless I’m going for a run, until the mercury dips below 40.)
We’ve had a particularly mild winter in Virginia Beach so far this year, and it’s given me many opportunities to remember why I settled in this city thirteen years ago. When you live here, you have a unique opportunity to soak up the sun and feel the sand between your toes at a moment’s notice, and on a random 65 degree day in late January, it’s really nice to live in Virginia Beach.
(more…)
Tags: Chesapeake Bay, Chick's Beach, running on the shore in Virginia Beach, things to do in Virginia Beach, winter in Virginia Beach
Posted in Beaches, Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors
Friday, February 3rd, 2012 by Katherine Jackson
 This week’s Beach Report is courtesy of ShoreLines blogger and Virginia Beach Walking Tour Guide Katherine Jackson, author of Walking Virginia Beach.
A Whale of a Walk
I can’t make any promises, but I’ve heard that beach walkers at the North End of Virginia Beach have been spotting humpback whales offshore. That’s right, whales off the coast of Virginia! According to a recent newspaper article, Winter Wildlife Boat Trips, sponsored by the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, are reporting record numbers of whale sightings, especially in the waters off Ft. Story. You can see a portion of the ocean at Ft. Story from the beach at Eighty-ninth Street. Humpback whales are described as graceful acrobats that perform dazzling acts such as slapping their flippers and tail on the water; “spy hopping,” which means raising a third of their body above the water to look around like a periscope; and “breaching,” which means launching their entire body out of the water.
(more…)
Tags: humpback whales, walking in Virginia Beach, whale watching in Virginia Beach, Winter Wildlife Boat Trips
Posted in Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors
Friday, January 20th, 2012 by Teresa Diaz
 It’s no secret Virginia Beach is a great vacation destination. The sun, sand, and surf are obvious draws but once you’re here, it’s clear we have a lot more to offer. Fabulous restaurants, tons of open space, diverse shopping, great fishing, cool attractions like our world-class aquarium, golfing, the list goes on. It’s an easy city to fall in love with and many visitors end up becoming residents. Clearly I’m biased, as that is I came to “Live the Life” in 1976. My parents decided they’d had enough of city life and wanted to raise their family “in the country.” (You had to know VB in 1976 to get that last part.) One vacation later, the moving van was packed before we could say “Virginia is for Lovers!” Yes, life is good here. We’ve known that for a while but this week, the financial news website 24/7 Wall Street named Virginia Beach the second best city in the nation for raising a family. Kudos to first place holder, Madison, WI. The news website said, “Virginia Beach is extremely prosperous, due in large part to the presence of several military bases in the area. It has the eighth-lowest rate of violent crime among major cities and the fifth-lowest unemployment rate. It also has the second-largest acreage of parkland per capita, behind only New Orleans, which has suffered huge population losses in recent years. Virginia Beach also has one of the highest numbers of playgrounds per capita in the country.” Nice!
Earlier this month , 24/7 Wall Street ranked Virginia Beach as the best run city in America. Women’s Health magazine ranked our fair city as the seventh healthiest city in America. Yes, Virginia Beach is a great place to visit and a great place to live. Come see for yourself………we’d love to have you!
 Now is the perfect time to start planning a trip to Virginia Beach.
Tags: #2 city in America to raise a family, Best Run City in America, fishing in Virginia Beach, fun in Virginia Beach, golfing in Virginia Beach, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach dining, Virginia Beach vacations
Posted in Beaches, Culinary / Dining, Fishing, Golf, Living the Life, The Beach Report
Friday, January 13th, 2012 by Teresa Diaz
Hmm, Friday the 13th……..are you superstitious? According to Wikipedia, the fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia……..say that three times really fast! Or even once - correctly!
Either way, whatever your feeling about the date is, it’s Friday so how bad can the day really be? We’re headed into the weekend and another very cool week in Virginia Beach. Why? It’s the beginning of Virginia Beach Restaurant Week, a perfect time to experience some of the fabulous restaurants we have across the city.
(more…)
Tags: Virginia Beach fine dining, Virginia Beach Restaurant Week
Posted in Culinary / Dining, Events, Living the Life, The Beach Report
Friday, January 6th, 2012 by Teresa Diaz
 A Humpback whale playing off Cape Henry, Virginia Beach, VA Happy New Year! 2012 is definitely off to a exciting start in Virginia Beach. The weather took a little dip mid-week but we’re expecting 63 degrees and sunny skies for the next few days – the perfect time for an outing to the Oceanfront, a hike in one of our parks or a peaceful bike ride out in the county. However, if you’re looking for a truly unique Virginia Beach experience, look no further than right off our coast. This week, the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team confirmed that there are four humpback whales in the waters off the Cape Henry Lighthouse!
Note: The photos appearing with this blog were taken this week and are courtesy of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.
One of the larger species of baleen whales, adult humpback whales range in length from 39 to 52 ft. and weigh approximately 79,000 lbs. Although they can seem imposing, whales are often referred to as “gentle giants.” To give you a better idea of their immense size, look at this Wiki sketch comparing this mammal to an adult human:
(more…)
Tags: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Whale Watching, Winter Wildlife Boat Trips
Posted in Fishing, Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors
Friday, December 30th, 2011 by Sherry Friel
Natural Photographer and blogger Sherry Friel shares insight about the joy she experiences while capturing wonders of nature in Virginia Beach.
An Indescribable Peace at Bayville Farms Park
 Photo credit: Sherry Friel
I had suffered a great personal loss around the time my husband presented me with a new digital camera for Christmas. So while I was excited about receiving such a thoughtful present, it stayed in the camera bag for some time before I finally decided to venture outdoors with it. Maybe it was the cold weather, winter blues or gray skies, but I just wasn’t immediately inspired to attempt anything beyond pictures by the Christmas tree.
After the holidays, my friend Beth and I gathered the kids and headed out to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. We were chatting about cameras and photography when we suddenly realized we had the same model Nikon. Figuring we could learn from each other about settings and some of the more technical aspects of photography, we planned an outing dedicated to capturing some highlights of the winter season. Now, I am a big baby when it comes to wintery days. In fact, I am writing this blog seated in front of a toasty fire wearing a sweater, fleecy jacket, jeans, and thick wool socks. It’s not that cold, but I’m not taking any chances. So on the frigid January morning of our walk through Bayville Farms Park, I bundled up in a long wool coat, hat, scarf, and wind-resistant gloves.
(more…)
Tags: Bayville Farms Park, outdoors in Virginia Beach, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Posted in Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors
Friday, December 23rd, 2011 by Katherine Jackson
This week’s Beach Report features Walking Tour Guide Katherine Jackson as she chronicles a lovely winter walk in Virginia Beach.
Winter Walking
 Photo credit: Katherine Jackson
Although the weather is a bit cooler now, it’s still plenty warm for walking, especially when you choose a path that’s sheltered from the wind. A paved, shared-use path tucked behind the Cape Henry Plaza on Shore Drive is a good place for an afternoon walk. Along with a handful of other walkers and runners, I started from the shopping center parking lot and headed east. The first part of the trail passes through backyards and side-yards in several neighborhoods. In addition to the chrysanthemums, pansies, and late season roses in residents’ gardens, holiday decorations and wreaths were fun to see. After seven tenths of a mile, the path narrows and enters the woods in First Landing State Park.
(more…)
Tags: Chesapeake Bay, First Landing State Park, longhouses, walking trails in Virginia Beach, winter fun in Virginia Beach
Posted in Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors
|
|
