Piers, Beaches and Marinas
Beaches
Gloucester Point Beach Park: Gloucester Point Beach Park is located on the bank of the York River. This beautiful park has a large, shady and grassy area with picnic tables and a shelter. The swimming area and sandy beach are perfect for sunbathing, wading, sand castles and beach fun! The handicapped accessible Beach House, which is open seasonally, has a concession stand, restrooms and outdoor shower.
Buckroe Beach: Bordering the Chesapeake Bay, Buckroe Beach offers eight acres of family-friendly sandy beach, a playground for children, picnic shelters with tables and grills by reservation, a great walking and bike path, and a Bark Park for the family pet.
Buckroe Beach is one of the oldest recreational areas in Virginia.
Huntington Park: A public beach with designated swimming area and very family friendly.
Huntington Park is home to Fort Fun, a 15,000 square foot wooden playground. Fort Fun is located on a scenic bluff overlooking the James River, and the view is spectacular during the late evening hours.
The park is also home to the Virginia War Museum, with displays of militaria from the Revolutionary War to the present. There are also a number of items on outdoor display throughout the park.
Ocean View Beaches: Three beaches—Community Beach Park, Sarah Constant Beach Park, and Ocean View Beach Park—located in a low key area in Norfolk.
Virginia Beach Oceanfront: Virginia Beach Oceanfront has it all from beautiful beaches to surfing to bars to high rise hotels. Most impressively is the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.
First constructed in 1888, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk has received national acclaim in recent times as one of America's favorite boardwalks by the Discovery Channel, and in magazines such as Coastal Living, Southern Living, and National Geographic Traveler.
In its various forms, the thoroughfare has seen it all: Prohibition and German U-boats, Big Bands and surfer girls, shag contests and roller blades. Throughout time, the Boardwalk has remained an enduring symbol of Virginia Beach. Built from wooden planks during the nation's "gilded age," the five-block promenade attracted thousands of Victorian vacationers. At the famed Peacock Ballroom, couples swooned to the music of legendary artists such as Duke Ellington, Cap Calloway and Tommy Dorsey.
Today's Boardwalk is now 28-feet wide and stretches three-miles featuring a separate bike path, making it ideal for strolling, rollerblading and biking. Entertainment is offered nightly during the summer months and four oceanfront stages at 7th, 17th, and 24th and 31st Streets provide live musical acts. Along the boardwalk there is a variety of quaint outdoor restaurants and vendors offering bike and surrey rentals.
Sandbridge: Located 15 miles south of the Resort Area, Sandbridge is a secluded beach hideaway of 5 miles of pristine sand dunes and dancing sea oats. It is a relaxing and peaceful community where you can truly slow down and unwind on your vacation.
Beachside, the Atlantic never fails to entertain. And for those craving even more of the great outdoors, the marshes and open waters of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park make for great kayaking, hiking, and fishing.
Yorktown Beach: At the edge of historic Yorktown, this 2-acre beachfront provides opportunities for boating, swimming, and fishing. A fishing pier and 10-acre grass picnic area are also available.
Jamestown Beach: Jamestown Beach Park offers waterfront picnicking with tables and grills available. The park, located on Jamestown Road near the entrance of the ferry, also features a small beach with a waterfront view plus lots of sun and sand!