Looks like my boys and I will be traveling from Asheville to Norfolk to meet my husband this summer, who will be flying in for a family thing in Richmond (flying in to Norfolk because it's so much cheaper one way). Should we just plan to meet him in Norfolk, and head on to Richmond (late afternoon arrival, so the timing would work out), or should we (the boys and I) plan to spend the night in Norfolk the night before and do the beach there? I'm wondering if the beach there is spectacular in any way. (We'll be doing other beach stuff later on in Nova Scotia, so it's not necessary to get our "beach fix" that weekend, though I do love beaches more than just about anything.)

How old are the boys? Much of Norfolk is on the water but it is not the ocean it is very large rivers. You can go to VA Beach and stay there the previous night. It's at most 1/2 hr away from the airport. I wouldn't call VA Beach spectacular. Its nice and there is a large board walk lined by hotels. There are alot of places in Norfolk that might interest your boys. You could stay and take them to Nauticus, a great science museum, or on a boat ride near the Norfolk Naval Station.

To my knowledge/experience, the Norfolk beaches are actually on the Chesapeake Bay, not the ocean, all just north of Rt US 60. I've never been to them during peak summer season -- they appear well maintained, look nice, and the water is far from calm, as on a lake. The area looks to be very quiet. Birdie's recommendation of Nauticus & a harbor cruise are good - also the Battleship alongside Nauticus, or just hanging around Waterside.

Be careful about motels in the "Oceanview" area. While the area is recovering from some of the blight it succombed to after the building of I-64, there are still areas that I'd not want to stay at; check reviews carefully should you stay there. (Oceanview is primarily the area along Rt 60 from the Bay Bridge to the Hampton Roads tunnel)

Whether you go to Norfolk, or over to Virginia Beach .. if it's swimming & water activities you're looking for, make the most of Virginia, as the temps in NS are going to be much colder ... and I write this as an upstate NY Yankee.

I like the north end of Virginia Beach, more toward the residential section, and if your boys are old enough and pretty good swimmers, they will have so much fun body surfing there!

I lived in Va Bch years ago, moving there from MA and thought the beaches were beautiful. Now, having lived on FL's west coast, I'd have to go back and reassess that, but if you live away from the water, the kids will simply love it and have a wonderful stay.

Norfolk is only about 26 miles away from the Virginia Beach area so that is something you might want to consider.

The "Beaches" in Norfolk, are actually on the Chesapeake Bay. While this area is being cleaned up and has great new real estate, there are still several "Seedy" areas as well. Nothing spectacular about it at all.

I'm not sure what your definition is of "Spectacular" or your criteria. I live in Virginia Beach and it is a pretty area. There are plenty of shops/restaurants on the main strip (Atlantic Avenue). The beach is nice but nothing that is really remarkable. Not the beautiful white sand and turqoise waters of say, the Gulf Coast of Florida.

There is a boardwalk, although it is not a boardwalk in the true sense of the word. It is a large paved pathway approximately 3 miles long and runs parallel to the beach and the hotels that line the shoreline.

Usually during the summer months there is some type of musical event/entertainment going on down at the oceanfront and you will be about 3-5 miles away from the Oceanbreeze Waterpark and the Virginia Marine Science Musuems, both great places to visit.

Here is a website that can help familiarize you with the area, what is located here and what events might be going on during the timeframe that you will be here. It may help you in making your decision.

Http://www.vbfun.com

I really like the Norfolk area, and have some in-laws there, but I was grossed out by the beach. If you've been to NC and are expecting something akin to their beaches then you will be disappointed. It is grey sand, packed more like mud than beach sand. And I hope you got a good deal on that airfare as it is a haul to Richmond (DC wasn't cheaper? It's much closer).

All that said, the waterfront area is nice and the crab cakes are the best around. Norfolk has some really terrific restaurants as well.

Wow, everyone! Thanks so much for the help. It turns out that he'll be meeting us in Raleigh, instead, and driving part of the way to Richmond with us. But your info was great, and now for next time around, I'll know to head for Virginia Beach instead.

Virginia Beach is a big, sprawling town, the largest city in the Dominion of Virginia. As a warning, traffic can be pretty bad. I believe there is a toll road that takes you from the west end of Virginia Beach (most of which are slapped up, nondescript homes) to the actual beach on the Atlantic. It will probably be worth the toll to bypass all the interior traffic of Virginia Beach.

I realize the OP has changed her plans. However for the sake of those searching for local info in the future:

GeorgeW, it's the Commonwealth of Virgina, not a dominion. Agree with you, traffic can be a bear.

There hasn't been a toll road to VB in many years. Virginia 44 has been I-264 since the late ninties and runs east-west directly to the VB beachfront.

Thanks for the correction, obxgirl, I don't know why I typed Dominion instead of Commonwealth. And it has been twenty years since I worked a summer as an engineer in Virginia Beach which is why I didn't realize the old toll road through Virginia Beach is now an interstate. However, I am willing to bet that Tidewater traffic is still as bad as it was in 1985. I will get to experience some of it when I pass through this Saturday as I go to vacation at the North Carolina shore.

GeorgeW - you would be right about the traffic. Rush hour during the week, back and forth from Norfolk and the Norfolk Naval Base is still every bit the nightmare you remember and worse probably. Going back and forth to Hampton is even more traumatic. There has been talk of making the road a toll road again as well as making the Hampton Bridge Tunnel a toll road. Guess will have to wait and see.

Hopefully with you coming through on Saturday (depending on where you're coming from) the traffic won't be too bad for you. I hope not.

GW,

Each Saturday for the past four weeks, I've driven from Williamburg to the Southside (VB, Norfolk, Suffolk) to take my kid to tennis tournaments. If you can cross to the southside before 9 or 10 in the morning you should have no problem (barring an accident) getting through in reasonable time. Traffic gets worse as the day the gets later when locals are out doing errands or daytripping.

It'll be another thing entirely a month from now when school is out and the major exodus to and from the OBX clogs I64 and I95 on Sat/Sun.

The Virginia Beach/Chesapeake Expressway (which IS a toll, $2) will cut 20 minutes off your trip to the OBX.