East Beach is a planned community located off Shore Drive in the far eastern section of the Norfolk…read morebay front. The waterfronts it sits between are the Chesapeake Bay and Little Creek Inlet. The neighborhood has been in a continuous state of development since construction began in 2004. The City of Norfolk seized the land through Eminent Domain and demolished the existing houses in 1993. A beach replenishment was done in 2003 before construction began by the city's chosen developer. The "New Urbanist" style of the neighborhood is unique to the area. It's a beautiful neighborhood with a town square and walkway areas. The houses or cottages built in the central part of the neighborhood are on small urban style plots and are built close to the street with front porches and sidewalks. Many have detached garages with an apartment above. Alleys run behind the street for parking aesthetics. Golf Carts abound. There are larger stately houses and also houses closer to the Chesapeake Bay on larger plots of property with walking paths to the beach. My late husband and I were considering the purchase of one of the houses within a small number of steps from the Bay. It would have been the perfect location, since our boat was docked at Little Creek Marina along the Little Creek Inlet side of Pretty Lake Road,, the main entrance to the neighborhood. His cancer diagnosis immediately stopped that planned purchase. There has been continuous development since that time. High Rise Apartments/Condominiums with shops and restaurants were developed on the north side of Pretty Lake Road. After my husband's death I eventually sold the cabin cruiser, which was too large for me to get out of the slip. And boats should not have to be controlled by manipulating two engines. They're not like brakes. I loved sitting on the deck sipping wine and visiting with the fellow long time occupants of our pier, some of whom lived on their boats. But nor'easters and hurricanes terrified me since the area is prone to flooding. Wave action in one storm severed the dock line. I sold the boat. The memories of that time have been destroyed since East Beach bought and demolished most of the marinas on the Little Creek Inlet side of Pretty Lake Road. High Rise Condos with shops and restaurants on the ground floor are now being constructed. After eating at kSurf Rider East Beach I'll sometimes drive through the neighborhood remembering what might have been.

East Beach has quickly become one of my favorite spots, especially since it's so close to home. I…read moretake my dog, Lexi, here quite a bit, and it's the perfect place for long walks--especially now that the busy season is over. The beach is usually quiet with just a handful of people, which makes it such a peaceful escape. The views at sunset are beautiful, and it never feels crowded, which is a huge plus. It's also very clean and extremely dog-friendly, which makes it even better for us. Convenience is key, and being able to hop over here in just a few minutes is something I really appreciate. If you're looking for a calm, relaxing beach that's perfect for both people and pups, East Beach is definitely worth a

Was cold AF!!! Went for a whale watching trip and proud to say i didn't make it 5 minutes! Those…read morebuncha nerds and treehuggers that stood out there in sub-zero temperatures coupled with the wind and humidity from the sea that made it feel like Kelvin are nuts! I'm sure its great in June but in January stay away! Stay far away! I'll probably go back though lol but next time i'll be wearing a jeep with the heater on! The Fort Story Lighthouse lady said that the "juvenile humpbacks come to Chesapeake Bay in the wintertime because it's just deep enough for them to be safe with their mommies." That's the sweetest thing i ever heard!

This is an amazing beach tucked away on an Army base, extremely private and quiet. Got married at…read morethis location. Has great views, and tons of parking.

Although the size of this beach is much smaller compared to other beaches in the area, there are…read moresome things I really appreciated about this particular spot. Accessibility issues often precludes those with mobility differences and I really appreciated how salient ADA was put into action-- not merely an empty gesture with bare minimum efforts, if that. (i.e., steep wheelchair ramp) Parking here is very easy and the picnic tables makes it perfect to eat al fresco. It gives you a nice view of the ocean without having to step onto the sand. In other words, there aren't sand dunes to scale up and down, or wooden staircases to go up and down. This makes it ideal to drop by even if you have mobility differences (e.g., wheelchair bound, unsteady gait from Parkinson's, stroke survivor, on oxygen, just had surgery) or just wanted to see the sea even with work clothes on. Due to the proximity of the parking lot and the oceanfront, it's also possible to just stay in the car and enjoy the view line watch the sunset. Not all disabilities are visible and I am thinking of everyone who needs safe space and means to leave quickly should such a moment strikes. Although it wasn't photographed, the area has bathrooms. The right side of the beach facing the ocean is inaccessible for all when the red flag is erected for live fire training. One star taken off for counting more than 15 separate pieces of trash in various sizes, big broken glass shards, and dog droppings. I get it that there's picnic tables and wind can blow things away but sh1t! If you have hound dogs like me, you may want to think twice about visiting. It's going to be a giant buffet for them. I hope nobody there that day heard me and my husband spending a lot of time hollering "LEAVE IT! LEAVE IT! OMG WHATS IN YOUR MOUTH?!?! LEAVE THAT ALONE! LEAVE THAT ALONE TOO!!! THIS WAY DOG. NO YOU CANT EAT THEM! NO NOT THAT EITHER!!! LEAVE. THAT. ALONE." In sum, I know this beach isn't for everyone and I know there are bigger and better. But I still appreciated the area and wouldn't mind returning to dine al fresco from dozens of other good places to eat -- the Bagel Baker, Bobo's, etc.

The beach sand was clean compared to other beaches I've been to. I really like that they have a big…read moreparking lot, clean bathrooms and some picnic tables with shaded areas. The bathroom does not have a baby changing table, but there is an outside shower head to rinse off. The ocean itself was really really brown...I've never seen such brown ocean water...I'm not sure why, but other people swimming in it didn't seem to mind.

boardwalk smells and its dirty remove the porta johns…read more the benches are filthy clean them can't find a clean one to sit on stop having the porta john trucks drive on the concrete boardwalk in the morning when we're trying to watch the sunrise they stink and they drip shit

April 2026 Ahhh, the…read moreVB Oceanfront is the place to be. Whether you're a seasoned local or visiting, it offers something for everyone. Lots of dining options, game and event options, clubs, art murals, scenery & more!

Great option to avoid the crowds, more of a residential beach with lots of cute beach cottages and…read morebungalows. Neighborhood street parking is available and limited, just be sure to pay attention to posted signage. We had an absolutely lovely day at the beach, there is a grocery near by on the main drag for snacks and beverages, there are no public bathrooms available at this beach.

This might have turned out to be 5 stars if I didn't go on one of the first weekends after COVID19…read morerestrictions ended, but I have to say 4 stars because gahhh it was crowded! All the reviews (during normal (pre-covid19) life, of course) were positive about parking and it being quiet, but we drove all the way to the end near the Ft Story gate before we even saw the first parking spot. It was insane how many people were there! We had to kind of squeeze into a spot on the beach with people to our right and left, crazy! But, honestly, it didn't matter! Other than being inconvenient, the whole experience was great. There were waves, unlike in the bay, and a gentle slope of sand into the water, so it was more safe for my son. The sand was nice, the people were nice, it was just great all around. Also, one of my favorite parts of this area is how close it is to the channel that goes by... so you get to see tons of ships and boats go by. It was like watching a water highway, loved it!

As a proud 757 local, I can honestly say that Virginia Beach is a little slice of paradise with…read moresomething for everyone. Whether you're a beach lover, a nature enthusiast, or just in the mood to explore, this city has it all. I'm all about how clean and well-kept the area is--honestly, it's one of the reasons I love it so much. The biking trails are perfect for an afternoon ride, and there's always a new spot to discover. One of the things I really appreciate is how much the community values supporting local businesses. Whether you're into cozy cafes, trendy boutiques, or fun outdoor activities, you'll find a place that feels like home. Whether you're a local or just visiting, Virginia Beach is welcoming to everyone and offers so many ways to enjoy life here.

Wanna do a weekend getaway that isnt too far?? If you love…read morethe beach, VA beach is the best option. We left early, so we can see the sunrise. Like about 2am. No traffic at all. And no scary bridges or tolls. It was a smooth sail arriving and leaving. All this was done on the labor day weekend. When we arrived, people are so friendly! If you're staying for the day their are plenty of places to park for the day. And a lot of nice hotels that wont charge an arm or a leg since peak season is over. Boardwalk is nice, and plenty to see and do. This beach is very diverse and chill unlike OC beach. Youll definitely have a good time, and you gotta grab some Dough boy pizza to grub on the beach.

Good boat ramp with easy access. Be careful with the tides, as the water gets very shallow in…read morecertain areas and it's easy to scrape your prop. Check the tide before launching or retrieving your boat.

We hosted a fishing trip, and the accommodations were nice. The facility had excellent parking and…read morewas very clean. We enjoyed the crew that we had for our trip. The distance to other tourist options was very close to the pier and parking. Great time. Safe environment and easy to locate

You can find me near the water…read more Nice walks are so good for the soul. And as much as I love eco-therapy, this Chicago girl loves the downtown pier and ferry even more. I mean, the pier is separated by the water taxi between Ocean Yacht Marina and Tidewater Yacht Marina right at the end of Olde Towne Historic District... which you can take to Waterside Marina. The ferry rounds every 30 mins. $4 for a round trip. You can't lose. The park has some history. There's the lighthouse and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. Catch and release areas if you feel like carrying your bait box with you. If not, you can bike around or walk. It's quite a bustling area. You have to pass up so many antique shops, coffee shops, bike shops, restaurants, pubs & lounges, THEE historic National landmark theater, the Pavillion Park, etc... the list goes on. Not to mention, it's the perfect place to watch the sunrise.

I don't know how to grade this strip of park because I'm not quite sure what it fully entails. Does…read moreit stretch from one marina to the other while including the ferry terminal stops? I like the shade that the trees provide for an afternoon nap on this stretch down by the courthouse, but there always seems to be a few homeless folks hanging on the benches by the ferry terminal on High Street because of the shelter/mission up the block. I would prefer walking this area on a sunny afternoon without being asked for money. My chief complaint about Portsmouth is that I can't walk to a local restaurant without being asked for money. It gets to the point that even if you're at a pub having lunch outdoors that they come up to the railing to bother you.