There is more than sun, sand and surf at Virginia Beach,  Old Dominion's ocean playground.  If you like the ocean but don't like to lounge on the beach then you may enjoy the 27 miles of hiking and biking trails within the 2,770-acre Seashore State Park or a drive into the park to see some of the more than 336 species of trees and plants.  During the summer the yucca plants, which provide oases of greenery on the park's mountainous dunes, blossom with bell-like white flowers.

The park, a Registered National Landmark, is open year round.  The entrance is on U.S. Route 60, Shore Drive.  There is a visitor center and museum where you obtain maps of the trails that fan out from the center.  Many trails are sturdy wooden walkways that permit access to the swampy areas.  If you set out in late afternoon, do apply insect repellent.

Across Shore Drive at Fort Story on Cape Henry are several historic reminders.  The First Landing Cross commemorates the spot where the Jamestown settlers touched the shore of the New World on April 26,1607.  Easter sunrise service is held here each year and on the April Sunday closest to the landing date, the Order of Cape Henry makes a pilgrimage to this National Historic Landmark.

One of America's first lighthouses, built here in 1791, provides mute testimony to the dangers of these waters.  Funds for the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse were authorized by the First Congress.  It was built with stones mined at Aquia Quarries, which also provided stones for the White House, the U.S. Capitol and Mount Vernon.  During the summer months, for a small admission, you can tour the inside of the lighthouse.  The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is off Shore Drive via the west gate of Fort Story, or you can enter the east gate at the end of Atlantic Avenue. 

One ship that went down despite Cape Henry Lighthouse was the Norwegian bark, The Diktator, which was wrecked off the shores of Virginia Beach in 1891.  The citizens of Moss, Norway gave Virginia Beach a statue, The Norwegian Lady, to perpetuate the memory of the ship lost here.  A second statue stands in the Norwegian city. The Virginia Beach statue is at 25th Street and Oceanfront.

An exhibit detailing this maritime tragedy can be seen at the Lifesaving Museum of Virginia.  Since Virginia Beach grew up around the U.S. Life-Saving Coast Guard Station much of the town's early history is captured at this museum, which also includes maritime memorabilia from around the world.  The museum, at 24th Street and Oceanfront, is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Sunday NOON to 5:00 P.M., from Memorial Day through September.  From October to Memorial Day its hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Sunday NOON to 5:00 P.M.  It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve and Day.  Admission is charged.

The Virginia Marine Science Museum  on General Booth Boulevard opened in 1986 and underwent a major expansion in 1995.  It features the natural marine environment, encompassing four marine habitats and live vegetation, fish and birds.  Admission is charged. It is open 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. daily with extended summer hours, call (804) 425-FISH.

The wide variety of things to do in Virginia Beach extends from museums and military installations to historic homes.  There are two brick homes that have survived from the colonial period.  The Adam Thoroughgood House, circa 1680, is one of the oldest standing brick houses in America built by early English settlers.  The house was named for a young indentured servant who arrived in Virginia in 1621.  After completing his servitude, he married a lady from a well-to-do family and used her dowry to pay the passage for 105 indentured servants to come to Virginia.  In return for providing passage for these settlers, Thoroughgood was granted 5350 acres of land.  It is on this land that his grandson built the house.  The house is furnished with 17th-century antiques.  Guides in period attire give tours from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. April through December and from NOON to 5:00 P.M. January through March.  It is closed on major holidays and on Mondays.  Admission is charged.  Because the Adam Thoroughgood House is owned by Norfolk, it is included on the Norfolk Automobile Tour, but is located in Virginia Beach.  The house can be reached via Route 225, Independence Boulevard, off the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, Route 44.

Lynnhaven House, built between 1725 and 1730, is very much like the Adam Thoroughgood House, but the crafts and furniture represent the 18th century.  Lynnhaven House is just off Route 225, at Independence Boulevard and Wishart Road.  It is open for a nominal admission Tuesday through Sunday from NOON to 4:00 P.M. from June through September, and weekends from NOON to 4:00 P.M. in May and October.

If the present piques your curiosity more than the past, the Navy offers you much to see.  There are tours of the Oceana Naval Air Station and you can watch the Navy's most advanced aircraft while enjoying a midday picnic at either of two parks: Observation Park on Oceana Boulevard or London Bridge Observation Park.

At Little Creek Amphibious Base you can actually board one of the home-ported ships.  This is the largest base of its kind in the world and each weekend one of the ships has an open house.  Passes onto the base are available at Main Gate 4 off Shore Drive between Independence Boulevard and Diamond Springs Road.

For information on these and other Virginia Beach activities, stop at the Virginia Beach Visitor Information Center at 2100 Parks Avenue at the end of Route 44.  It is open daily from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. with extended hours during the summer months.  Before visiting call (800) 466-8038.

 Directions:  From I-95 in the Richmond area take I-295 and head east on I-64 to the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, Route 44.  Take the expressway east to Virginia Beach.  Turn left onto Route 60 for Shore Drive.  For the Amphibious Base, exit from I-64 onto Route 13 north, Northampton Boulevard.  Take that to Route 225 north, Independence Boulevard and then go left on Shore Drive, Route 60, to the base gate.

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