Sample Flavors from Local Restaurants, Catch a Glimpse of Wildlife, Get Gardening Tips and Run a Marathon Oceanside When You Visit Virginia Beach in March
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (February 26, 2015) – This month spring is in the air and daylight saving time brings an extra hour of sunshine to enjoy Virginia Beach’s three distinct beaches. Visitors can savor Virginia Beach during culinary events, test their luck by competing in the Shamrock Marathon or catch a glimpse of the last migrating whales, among other activities that provide ample outdoor opportunities for living the life!
A TASTE OF SPRING
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is hosting an evening for “fabulous foodies fighting hunger” during the Taste of Hampton Roads (March 3) fundraiser. The casino night and culinary event at the Virginia Beach Convention Center will feature live performances by Strictly Bizzness and special tastings from area restaurants including Salt, The Landing, Thirty Seven North, Croc’s19th Street Bistro and the Swan Terrace Grill at Founder’s Inn. Tickets start at $75 per person and proceeds will go towards the purchase and distribution of groceries to nearly 400 Foodbank partner agencies and programs. Visitors can also take a tasting tour of Virginia Beach’s Town Center during Town Center Restaurant Week (March 29 – April 4) when all 19 downtown restaurants including Sonoma Wine Bar, Zushi, Saffron, Gordon Biersch Brewing Company and Ruth’s Chris Steak House offer special three-course lunch and dinner menus for just $10, $20 and $30.
FEELING LUCKY?
Attend the Mid-Atlantic Home & Garden Show (March 6-8) for a chance to win one of several great giveaways, such as a custom stone patio grill and island or a smokeless wood burning fire pit. DIYers can get great tips and ideas from more than 200 home and garden experts including interior designer Taniya Nayak, known for appearances on HGTV and Food Network, and Paul James, host of “Gardening by the Yard.” There will even be a craft beer garden where attendees can sample fine craft beers from four local Virginia breweries. Event admission is $10 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under. Pros and amateurs alike can try their luck by competing in the well-known Yuengling Shamrock Marathon (March 20-22), which ends with a huge finish line celebration featuring live entertainment and ice-cold Yuengling beer. Over 30,000 runners will adorn themselves in green to compete in one of the weekend’s five races, each offering a scenic oceanfront route, course-long entertainment, two-day fitness expo and post-race parties. Shamrock on!
LAST CHANCE TO SPOT WINTER WILDLIFE
Rudee Winter Wildlife Tours (Now – March 15) offer travelers their last chance of the season to spot Humpback and Fin Whales, which will soon leave the Virginia Beach coastline to complete their southward migration. Similarly, the wintering waterfowl of Back Bay Wildlife Refuge will soon return to their northern homes, but visitors can still see them for a couple more weeks by booking the Winter Tram Tours (Now – March 22), offered on select Sundays. Lucky visitors can spot a few of Virginia Beach’s year-round residents – dolphins! The Virginia Aquarium will soon launch their Dolphin Discoveries and Ocean Collections Sea Adventure (beginning March 1), which will run through the summer months. Several area outdoor outfitters also provide a variety of excursions during which visitors can spot dolphins in the wild while kayaking, paddle boarding or surfing this spring. Can you think of a better way to soothe cabin fever than with a dose of sunshine and three sandy beaches? To learn more about visiting Virginia Beach, book a vacation package or request a complimentary vacation guide, contact the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau by calling 1-800-VA-BEACH.