This is the worst toll in VA. Avoid it at all cost. They will scam you even if you have an EZ pass…read more If there is an issue with your EZ pass or you incur a charge for some reason , They won't contact you until they send your account to collections. This toll road is also unnecessary, you don't save enough time to justify the hassle.

Awesome pedestrian path across the bridge. About 2.5 mile round trip. Great way to grab some…read moreelevation during a walk, run or bike There's also a very nice park with restrooms a fishing pier with a bait shop and snack bar and a large boat launch check out the Facebook page and the City Page for different events they have there. Parking is free and plentiful the pathway is advertised to be open from sunrise to sunset but I've never been yelled at for being there early in the morning. Also worth noting the fishing pier does not require a fishing license if you want to use it.

Great museum. A lot has changed. Some additional history included now. You have to visit visitor…read morecenter to get entry into museum

Fort Monroe is small, but packs in a lot. From a museum (Casemate), a beach club, public beach…read moreaccess, beautiful properties and stunning landmarks. Make sure to manage your speed and park in designated areas. The beaches never seem to be super crowded. They are generally clean as well. I have noticed boats anchor aching. Not sure how I feel about that, safety wise. There is one area that has lifeguards. The casemate museum is really great. It offers a lot of good education for the area. I highly recommend stopping and spending time inside.

A first for me, I didn't know this house existed. I found out about the holiday decor/open house…read morevia an IG story that VBhistory museums posted. Apparently they have been doing these holiday open houses for a couple years or so now. Admission is free but suggested donations range from $3-$5 (there's a sign outside the house and the info is on their website). The holiday open house showcased the house decorated with 18th century decor with flowers, cotton, fruit and oyster shells designed by the garden club. The original house structure contained one room on the first floor and a loft upstairs, but after ownership had transferred across three families -Whitehurst, Bratten and Buffington it has undergone expansions. The house has been occupied up until 1986 and is considered one of of the 50 historically significant structures in Virginia Beach. It was built soon after the first lighthouse was erected in Cape Henry. Daniel Whitehurst was a commissioner and allowed for the VB courthouse to be built near his home. During the holiday open house they had refreshments consisting of mints, various cookies and nuts, with the accompaniment of coffee and cider. The house boasts four fireplaces where on the left, Bob Clark was doing what he does well, playing sweet sounds from the dulcimer. For those not familiar with the dulcimer, it's essentially an open stringed portable piano. The sounds that originate from it are very clean, calming and relaxing. Upstairs are three rooms, one which holds an old singer and a quilt, another with historic maps of the area and the last room has a bed and a bassinet. In an attic? Or small partitioned area was a violinist gliding her bow in a frenzy of holiday cheer. It was neat to see the house, however the kitchen had been updated and renovated in a 1950s style, which truly lives up to a "house over time."

While walking on the West Neck Natural Creek Area with my dog. I thought I could check out the…read moreWhitehurst Buffington House within the area. It was a nice stroll through the trees on the horse trail. I imagined how it was like before cars when one would ride a horse carriage. This place takes me back in time. Unfortunately, they would not allow dogs and I wasn't surprised. I got a peek at the nice house.

Of all the nearby bases - I've visited JEB Little Creek the least in my 17 years as a contractor…read morewith the Navy. We all know it's where all the cool shit goes down but unless you have reason to venture on - it's not a place I frequent. It's easy to find your way around compared to NOB bc it's nowhere near as large. And their pass-ID office is one of the best bc you can easily get in and out as a walk-in last minute.

This is a little hidden gem for beach lovers that have access to military bases. The parking here…read moreis excellent and very close to the beach. You can virtually park right in the sand if you'd like, and walk directly ahead to your spot. The beach is small and quaint and it's also great for families with small children seeing that the beach is very small. During the pandemic the beach was stringed off into sections for families and it was wonderful that it was done so everyone was within a safe distance from each other. The actual beach itself is not very full of waves, and always tends to have a very large sandbar, and a very slow drop off. You can normally walk very far into the ocean and it only be waist deep which I personally really like. The only downside to this beach is that not everyone has access to it. You must have a military issued ID card that the front gate will scan prior to entrance.

Being a historical buff, thanks Dad, this is a MUST See!~ The employees take it to the next level…read moreof education, which can be seen throughout the location! This includes amazing, informative presentations and exhibits! ~ You can tell that the employee's love is what they do with speaking to them and watching them present to the public, the history. Don't miss this exceptional place during your visit to Jamestown, VA!!!![Especially around the Native American artifacts and presentation!!!]

This confusing setup has a bunch of national park land adjoined to a privately owned historical…read moresite. Focusing only on the national park site, I found a visitor center with an introductory movie. While I was perusing the exhibitions right outside the theater, they managed to close it and lock it without letting me know the movie was starting. Which is a little irksome, but may have worked out for the best as I got to the outdoor site and managed to get a run of it and take some pictures just as a weather front was heading in. Some people had traveled from Michigan to tour the area, which I think was a good decision for them as you don't get this kind of history up there. The national park site has some ruins and signage after crossing a boardwalk over the swamp. While not huge in scope; I spent maybe an hour on the site in total, it gives you a feel for the challenges that settlers would have faced. The signage provides compelling information for visitors of all ages, and the views of the waterfront and nearby ferry are majestic as well. You'll get a sense of historical nuance with a lot of players in the area, and an aesthetic experience as well. There is a wildlife drive and this place does have a parkway running to Yorktown, albeit currently not fully open due to major construction. I did not have time for everything the area has to offer on this passing visit, but there is a lot regardless of how much time you have.

This is a fitting place for this memorial with SEAL Team IV based right down the road in Dam Neck…read more Those guys are real super heroes. It is very nice and well constructed. Bravo, to whoever designed it. Anyone that knows or follows me know that I am all in for military stuff and this is no exception. Easily 5 stars for me. It was dedicated in July 2017 and was funded by nearly 1000 contributors whose names are inscribed on a Donor Stone next to it. The monument's centerpiece is a statue named, Naked Warrior. It is the same statue that you will find at the Navy SEAL Museum and the two other major SEAL heritage sites. The sculpture is flanked by 2 Navy SEAL flags, one on each side. It over looks the ocean and boardwalk and is located in a small plaza. There are inscribed granite slabs. One of the slabs is engraved with gold Medals of Honor for every SEAL who earned one, and gold stars for every SEAL killed in the line of duty. There is also a gold paw print for every SEAL war dog killed in the line of duty. Other slabs have concise words and 100 photographs illustrating the entire history of SEALs and their forerunners. Around the base of the statue is what is known as a Living Beach that is composed of sand from over 80 places around the world significant to SEAL history. The sand is replenished periodically. Behind the monument is a couple of benches for people to sit on. There is metered street parking and a few commercial lots within walking distance that you can park at. The meters cost about $2/ hour and the lots vary in price. There are a few other attractions in the area, and it would be best to add them to your visit here. You could see the Neptune sculpture, and Law Enforcement Memorial to start.

The public monument stands tall on the Boardwalk, faces the Atlantic Ocean at 38th street and…read morecannot be missed. The monument pays tribute to the Navy Seals featuring the Naked Warrior. Standing firm in his life like presence to show that the seals were life like just like an ordinary man/men but was a man/men who did super human things for his country. There are a plethora of photos along with verbiage etched in the memorial that paint the picture of the history and detail the significance of not only the placement of the monument but its important part in the fabric of history. . It was interesting to learn that there is a time capsule that was placed securely within the monument that has a tentative opening date of sometime in 2067. I happened to take this monument in on Memorial Day and someone had placed a dozen roses on the monument in remembrance of the fallen. Thank you to those of the past, the present and the future for your service!

I'm still not over the design of the new Lesner Bridge. I do like the walking paths on both sides…read moreof the bridge. I don't like the contemporary artwork they commissioned for such a historical area. I believe it's supposed to be an interpretation of canoes. But to me it has absolutely no meaning. I don't like the higher sides on the bridge. The view of the Chesapeake Bay beaches on the north & the Lynnhaven Inlet on the south are blocked except at entrance and exit points. I do like the decorative lighting under the bridge, which is beautiful if you're on the Ocean Park beaches. The colors can be changed for events & seasons. In my opinion the artwork that would have been best was one fitting the historical aspects of the location. The Revolutionary War Battle of the Virginia Capes was one between the French Admiral de Grasse and the British fleet. It preceded and was critical to General Cornwallis' ultimate defeat at the Battle of Yorktown. The French Navy prevented evacuation or resupply of his army during their siege of Yorktown. The Lynnhaven Inlet & River has a similar historical significance. The first Jamestown settlers landed at Cape Henry in 1607 before making the mistake of proceeding up the James River to settle at Jamestown Island. While in what would become Virginia Beach John Smith wrote of his exploration of the Lynnhaven River and the huge oysters and seafood they feasted on. The western branch of the Lynnhaven River was the location of the dunking of the only person in Virginia convicted of being a witch. The location of the first Lynnhaven Parish Church, which prosecuted her, was lost to the river's changed path due to an early hurricane. Many decades ago the early tombstones could still be felt under the water before eventually disappearing under the river's silt that covered them. The nooks & outlets of Lynnhaven Inlet were used as a hiding spot for the pirate Blackbeard when he preyed on Virginia shipping. It is said that he had a lookout at Cape Henry & relay stations to make sure the signals reached him at the distance he was located. He is thought to have frequented the Pleasure House, actually a tavern and bar rather than what its name implies in the 21st century. The current Pleasure House Road is named for it. Do I sound like a tourist guide? It's a mode I always enter when I drive visiting friends & relatives around our beautiful & historic city. So there now can be no doubt in your mind that I wanted the new Lesner Bridge to have historic artwork or statues instead of the modern art design chosen. The bridge crosses an area steeped in history, going back to the first English settlers of the New World. Close your eyes and feel the past envelop you.

Crosses the Lynnhaven inlet. The lights under the bridge is such a beautiful sight. The lights are…read moreprogrammable to change for different Holidays or in honor of certain current events. I cross the bridge quite often on my way to many different Doctors appointments.

This is an interesting area. You better stay on the designated area as they repeated to us so many…read moretime. It is small with some great information on the history of the Colonist first stop. It is well maintained and I love the walk way up to the beach/Overlook. You absolutely cannot go on the beach. That is restricted area but the overlook is super nice to look out on to the water. I can just imagine the first time the colonist showing up. We always go over to this after we go look at the really cool lighthouse. That is the star of the show for me.

This is a charming site to visit right on Joint Base Fort Story…read more Visitors can access the area using Gate 8 off of Rt 60/ Shore Drive. Those with CAC or valid DoD issued ID can proceed to drive straight. Don't do what we did initially! We didn't know so we initially parked where all the civilian visitors go. The nice MA3 let us know that we can just drive onto base and proceed with our own car. Thank goodness for her! Civilians with non-DoD ID should peruse the visitor parking behind the gate guard booths. They have shuttles that bus in and out civilians parked at the visitor parking to the site back and forth. We skipped visiting any of the lighthouses because of having dogs and temperature being too hot to leave them in the car. There were also bees and wasps everywhere. I couldn't stay for too long due to bee allergies but felt thankful my car was parked close. Otherwise the sites were kept beautifully and thoughtfully designed. The area near the sites have MWR recreational facilities as well as NEX mini mart and gas station as well. I particularly liked the view from the small lookout spot and the rose bushes that got my grumpy beagle smiling. The St Theresa's chapel looked lovely from the outside although inaccessible for anyone to take a peek inside. The lookout spot is also accessible for those with mobility differences. The ramp is made of flat wooden slats at a gentle curve. It only has 1 corner to turn, and the top has benches to sit on and a nice breeze to enjoy. It may be wise to skip on days right after rain as I can definitely imagine the area becoming very slippery and wet. Most of the other sites has grass paths and some concrete slabs. If you are clumsy like me, watch your steps! Although dogs can walk around with you, the asphalt pavement has glass shards and other plant fragments that cause get lodged into the paw. Just something to keep in mind. One of mine had to be carried after visiting the chapel because a small splinter got stuck. He's very dramatic too when such a thing happens. He limped and hobbled and made the most blood curdling shrieks when picked up to see what happened!! As I mentioned earlier on, there were several bees and wasps everywhere. It's definitely a must to bring the epinephrine shots just in case or leave as needed. Although we most likely won't be returning again for sightseeing, I still enjoyed the gorgeous ocean view, other statues and historical explainer panels. I hope everyone else visiting the area feels the same as well.