Virginia Beach Attractions

       Where can you go in Norfolk for magnificent views of the river, ease in accessibility to Nauticus and the USS Wisconsin, for a cruise, or grab a bite to eat? It is closer than you think….Town Point Park. This 7-acre waterfront parks offers an assortment of things to do from the uncomplicated to a full day of activities. You can simply bring your favorite pooch here for a sunset stroll or enjoy one of the many festivals offered along the waterfront throughout the year.      

      The waterside Festival Marketplace offers a range of options from sunup to sundown and well into the wee hours of the morning. Get ready to shop exceptional stores such as All About Virginia, the City Market, The Hat Rack, The Herbal Market, and many more. Grab a quick snack at Ben and Jerry’s (who doesn’t love those guys?), Steakmasters, or Villa Pizza, just to name a few. Full service dining options include restaurants such as Joe’s Crab Shack, Hooters, Outback Steakhouse, and King’s Chinese Restaurant. After you have shopped and filled your stomach, then wind the evening off at such places as Bar Norfolk, Have a Nice Day Café, Crocodile Rocks, or Jillian’s. You can get more information at http://www.watersidemarketplace.com     

     Of course, if you love the water as much as I do then you have these to choose from. You can stop by the adorable Tugboat Museum. This floating museum features the Tug Hunting built in 1933. For lunch or dinner cruises check out the exciting Spirit of Norfolk. You can climb aboard the Victory Rover for a tour of the nearby navel base, or take a cruise aboard the gorgeous and historic American Rover Tall Ship Cruises.

     Throughout the year, a number of festivals of held waterside. The annual wine festival that is every October is one of my favorites. There are over thirty wineries from throughout Virginia. This attractive park offers serene and splendor for those who seek to just soak in the gorgeousness to be found here. But if fun is on your agenda you will not be disappointed here either. For more festivals at the park you can go to http://www.festeventsva.org.

     To see firsthand the power of the US Navy, a short day trip to Norfolk is worthwhile. You can tour the USS Wisconsin (BB-64), a World War II Iowa Class Battleship for free.  A complete tour takes 45-60 minutes. It is quite impressive, so much so that even my 2 kids were completely taken by it and enjoyed exploring the massive vessel. “USS Wisconsin (BB-64), an Iowa-class battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 30th state. Her keel was laid down on 25 January 1941 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She was launched on 7 December 1943 sponsored by Mrs. Walter S. Goodland, and commissioned on 16 April 1944, with Captain Earl E. Stone in command.  After her trials and initial training in the Chesapeake Bay, Wisconsin departed Norfolk, Virginia, on 7 July 1944, bound for the British West Indies. Following her shakedown, conducted out of Trinidad, the third Iowa-class battleship to join the Fleet returned to her builder’s yard for post-shakedown repairs and alterations.  On 24 September 1944, Wisconsin sailed for the west coast, transited the Panama Canal, and reported for duty with the Pacific Fleet on 2 October. The battleship later moved to Hawaiian waters for training exercises and then headed for the Western Caroline Islands. Upon reaching Ulithi on 9 December, she joined Admiral William F. Halsey’s Third Fleet.  Wisconsin earned five battle stars for her World War II service and one for the Korean War. The ship also received the Navy Unit Commendation for service during the first Gulf War. “ To get the most from your tour and time on the ship, talk to the Navy personnel on deck.  All of them are knowledgeable about the ship, and some of them actually served aboard the USS WI and can give you first hand stories of when she was in battle.   

     You can check out the USS Wisconsin out on-line by http://www.hrnm.navy.mil/wisconsin.html.  Admission is free to the ship and to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum are free. They are open daily from 10am to 5pm.

     This mall opened on March 12 1999, this newest mall in downtown Norfolk is a premier upscale shopping center in Hampton Roads. It is located 3 blocks from Waterside, 2 blocks from Norfolk Scope Arena and next to the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial. There are over 150 shops and restaurants and an 18-screen theater surrounding a 70-foot atrium in this 3 level mall. In the winter months, they have now added an ice skating rink for everyone that is novice to advanced skaters. And also in the spring for one weekend, they have the Five Points Community Farmers Market to pick some great fresh fruit and vegetables,  For those who are caffeine dependent, there are two Starbucks, Nordstrom Espresso Bar, and a Grand Court Cappuccino Court. There is valet parking at $5 and two parking decks with nine elevators. Handicapped parking is available as well as RV parking. There are push-for-assistance boxes should you loose your keys or lock them in your vehicle. This is a great place to pass time if you like to shop or enjoy people watching and don’t mind the crowd and noise.

     MacArthur Center is open to walkers on Mon-Sat 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM and Sunday 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM The Mall Hours are Mon-Fri 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM. For a list of stores with in the mall, you can see them online at http://www.shopmacarthur.com .

Virginia Beach has not forgotten about the folks out there that enjoy golfing, with plenty of mini golf, and full size golf choices I decided that Hells Point Golf Club will be the choice for now.

Advertised as being a challenging but fun golf course, Hells Point offers eighteen holes, with what they describe as interesting fairway angles, challenging greens, and sixty one sculptured sandtraps. I do not golf much, but I know for sure that seems like quite a bit right there, but if you are a pro, the challenge should not scare you away at all.

The greens look great, mixed with sandtraps and lakes just as they said it would, it was layed out to provide a good challenge just like they promised. Their rates vary from forty to sixty five dollars; it all depends on whether you are a resident, military or sixty years young or better, also when you make your trip over. The fee also includes cart, and they have clubs available for rent if you do not have your own.

If you enjoyed your time and want to come back but next time with your own clubs, they have a pro shop on site to meet your needs.

For more information about the pricing, greens, their pro shop, or general information you can check out their website at http://www.hellspoint.com/. They are located at 2700 Atwoodtown Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.

We all like our taco bell and our burritos, but that is not the only place you can get Mexican food in Virginia Beach. Plaza Azteca is one of many places you can find a great Mexican dining experience.

Serving up a full course of Mexican favorites like enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, chimichangas, and yes, they have tacos also. What makes this great is the quality of the food they serve and the atmosphere, the theme is of course Mexico. The first thing you notice about the restaurant is the fake palm trees, desert shrubbery, and Aztec inspired art, the décor just screams to be noticed as nothing other than Mexican. The effort they put into getting you into the culture I found is great, even if you find it to be just another restaurant, you have to appreciate they things they do to get your attention.

Like I said before, the quality of food is great, it tasted exactly as I expected it to taste. The restaurant is well maintained, and it looks the part of a Mexican restaurant.

I could go on describing more about what’s on the menu, but they went ahead and put that on their website for you to take a look at. So for more information on the menu, and other places you can find their restaurant other than in Virginia Beach, you can check out the website at http://www.plazaazteca.com. They are located at 1824 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454.

If you are worried that you might not find anything Kosher while you are in Virginia Beach then do not worry, The Jewish Mother has you covered.

The First time I heard about this place was when someone had asked me if I knew the directions to the restaurant, unfortunately at the time I did not even know what the place was, but the name had peaked my interest, so I set out to find out more about it, and I was not dissapointed when I managed to visit the resturaunt as well.

When I went to visit the first thing that caught my eye was their choice for exterior decoration, which is cool graffiti and abstract artwork on the windows. The next was the comfortable and relaxed interior layout, something you have to experience for yourself, it was not the fanciest place I have been to, but definitely fun.

Located at 31^st and Pacific Ave, right there on the beachfront , this place is definitely easy to get to. Other than its location, I found out about its interesting history which was littered with conflict between the restaurant and government law enforcement over alleged criminal activities that the restaurant was raided for in the nineties, but revealed no wrongdoing on the restaurant end. You can find out more on this at their website.

They serve various jewish deli dishes with Mothers themed name like the “Mothers Brother Bernie”, and the “Mothers Sailor friend”. The menu has plenty to offer, covering breakfast with their breakfast menu, a anytime menu, soups and noshes menu, delicatessen sandwiches (which on their menu is a long list of burgers and other meaty dishes), and of course we cannot forget the deserts. They also have a host of live bands that play.

For the schedule of when each band will play, their menu, the history of the Jewish mother, and prices you can check out their website at www.thejewishmother.com.

After spending almost two years in Italy I have come to love Italian food, and while most Italian restaurants do not really come as close to the authentic Italian meals, this place comes close enough. The name is Aldos Ristorante located on Laskin Road in Virginia Beach, about three miles from the beach.

This upscale, but comfortable restaurant offers a romantic atmosphere while serving great Italian food. The decor inside is reminiscent of old Italian style dinning, with romantic lighting and setting for a luxurious night with your loved ones. A traditional and original menu items make for a great selection of food for your meal. When I think Italian I think Pastas, pizzas, and many other dishes, and they have it all and more.

As for the service it is what you would expect from an upscale Italian restaurant, tailoring to your needs as you are served either inside or outside with both being great choices during the summers great weather. The waiter was knowledgeable in the menu items, special dishes, and selection of beverages available. The meal was served promptly, neither overcooked or undercooked, our meal was superb.

Of course I can go on about this great Italian restaurant, but I will leave it to you to check it out if you are looking for a Italian Ristorante to make your day.

Set your sights on heading to Aldos Ristorante located at 1860 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA in the Promenade Shopping Center. I would suggest making reservations in advance to guarantee a table, you can visit them in person or you can call 757-491-1111. You can also check them out online at www.aldosvb.com.

Located, along with P.F. Chang’s, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and BRAVO! Cucina Italiano, at Town Center Virginia Beach, California Pizza Kitchen is a delectable choice when you want pizza, but are looking for something a little more upscale.

If you’ve ever had one of California Pizza Kitchen’s frozen pizzas, available at your local grocery store, please know that the real thing is twice as nice. With outdoor seating for the summer and a spacious interior, CPK, as it is referred to on its website, is a great choice if you are feeling adventurous with your tastebuds.

While CPK serves soups, salads, and sandwiches, its specialty is, of course, pizza. Thirty-three different pizzas are listed on the menu, including such pizzeria norms as Margherita and Sicilian pizza, as well as unusual choices like Mango Tandoori Chicken pizza, with grilled Tandoori chicken, mango, mild onions, red peppers and mozzarella cheese on a spicy golden curry sauce and topped with fresh cilantro and sweet mango-chili sauce; or Carne Asada pizza, with grilled steak, fire-roasted chilies, onions, cilantro pesto, Monterey jack, and mozzarella cheeses, topped with fresh tomato salsa and cilantro, and served with tomatillo salsa.

My favorite pizza is the spicy Grilled Chipotle Chicken pizza, which includes fire-roasted chilies, chipotle sauce, mozzarella and enchilado cheeses, topped with roasted corn, black bean salsa, cilantro and a lime cream sauce.  CPK also offers vegetarian alternatives to many of the pizzas.

California Pizza Kitchen offers 9 very different desserts, including the classic Tiramisu, Chocolate Souffle Cake, and my favorite, Chocolate Banana Royale Cake, which is chocolate cake layered with banana cream, topped with chocolate mousse, and served with drizzles banana cream sauce and hot fudge.

CPK also has a call ahead wait list. Like other Town Center restaurants, it is important to make reservations or call ahead, especially on the weekends. Dress is casual.

California Pizza Kitchen
200 Central Park Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757) 456-2630
http://www.cpk.com

One of the oceanfront’s best kept secrets, Baker’s Crust, a bread market and restaurant located in The Shops at Hilltop, isn’t a frequent stop for most tourists, but it should be. A five minute drive from the oceanfront, this cozy restaurant is a Virginia Beach must-eat. My husband and I often find ourselves craving Baker’s Crust bread so badly that we will travel 30 minutes out of our way to buy a loaf to snack on.

My family has frequented the 21st Street Norfolk location, a popular spot for Old Dominion University students who live in the area, for over ten years. The homemade bread at Baker’s Crust is delivered daily, making it fresh and delicious. The downside, however, is that once the day’s bread stock has been sold, you cannot buy that type until the next morning, though it’s perfectly worth it to maintain Baker’s Crust’s reputation of quality.

Prices average about $10 per person for lunch, or $15 per person for dinner, including softdrinks. A casual bistro-esque environment, Baker’s Crust also offers mouthwatering desserts, with full cases of unusual sweets such as zucchini muffins and Cheesecake on a Stick arranged in gorgeous displays for your viewing and dining pleasure. My favorite dessert is the Crepe Jaimaca, which, at $8.59, is worth every penny of its flambéed bananas in rum and brown sugar, served with vanilla ice cream and topped with toasted coconut, chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

My favorite meal at Baker’s Crust is a chicken caesar salad with shoestring french fries and sliced French baguette dipped in an oil and spice mixture. If it’s late in the day and they are out of the French baguette, I go for the French epi, garlic parmesan baguette, or jalapeno cheddar loaf, which are my other favorites. In addition to those breads, they have 15 other choices. My husband often gets the Jersey Grinder, which is melted provolone, Genoa salami, capicola and sweet ham, lettuce, tomato, and onoin on a warm crusty baguette with oil and vinegar, for $8.59.

Other menu items include gourmet soups, salads and sandwiches, and grilled paninis and grinders. You receive 10% off for dine-in bread purchases.

Baker’s Crust is also available for catering. Check the website for more details.

Hours are Monday-Thursday 7:00AM-9:00PM, Friday 7:00AM-10PM, Saturday 8:00AM-10:00PM, Sunday 8:00AM-5:00PM. There are also 2 Baker’s Crust locations in Norfolk, 1 in Chesapeake, and 2 in Richmond. Hours at other locations vary.

704 Hilltop North Shopping Center
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451
(757)422-6703
http://www.bakerscrust.com

Add Bowling at Pinboys to your thing to do while in Virginia, but only if you really want to.  Located at 1577 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA.

There is a few things most people in life enjoy more than their recreational pass times, and going on vacation should not have you part with that. If you are visiting, or if you live in Virginia Beach and just want to bowl a few games consider this your spot. It is located only miles from the beach, and it offers traditional bowling on well maintained lanes.

The pricing works two ways, you can pay per hour for bowling at a rate of twenty dollars, or you can bowl for five dollars and fifty cents per game per person. So it is up to you to decide how many games you want to play total and which would work better for your plans, or you can ask one of the friendly folks there for their opinion, they seemed like they would be more than happy to help you out. The shoe rentals are four dollars per person.

Along with bowling they have a area where you can shoot some pool, with enough pool tables you should not have any problems fitting your party in. The small arcade area is cool for taking a break in between turns, or if you just feel like playing some games.

The only warning about this place is that they still allow smoking, one of the few bowling places that do. What that means of course is that it tends to smell as such, but do not expect it to look dingy and full of smoke, it is mostly just a smell. Other than that it is a great place to bowl, or play pool.

They are located at 1577 Laskin Rd, Virginia Beach, VA Tel: (757) 428-5897.

In the same price range as restaurants like Red Lobster, but offering original meals, exceptional service, and a breath-taking view of the Atlantic Ocean, Mahi Mah’s Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Saloon is a must-visit while vacationing in Virginia Beach.

Located in the Ramada on the Beach near Rudee’s Inlet, at Mahi Mah’s you can dine on fresh seafood and locally caught fresh fish; for non-seafood eaters like me, steak, prime rib, chicken, pasta, salads, a variety of desserts is available. Mahi Mah’s also offers a full ‘Rock and Roll’ sushi menu, with sushi available by the piece, as appetizers, in whole rolls, or as combo platters.

Lunch specials are available from 11:00AM-3:00PM, including 7 lunches for $7. 

Request to sit on the outdoor patio and enjoy local and regional bands providing live entertainment nearly every night from the 7th Street stage. Upcoming performances include Snackbar Jones, Days Difference, The Leftovers, Coolin Out, Crunch, Jesse Chong, and the Vinyl Headlights. Concerts are Sunday-Thursday 6:00-10:00PM and Friday-Saturday 7:00-11:00PM.

Mahi Mah’s has a selection of over 100 kinds of wine, and if you are on a budget every Wednesday wine is 50% off from 5:00-9:00PM.

You can make reservations online through the website via Open Table. If you are a local, you can sign up for the Local’s Card for special deals and discounts.

Inquire at (757) 491-3679 for information about holding a conference, banquet or event at Mahi Mah’s.

Hours are 7:00AM-2:00AM daily. Valet parking is available for a premium.

Mahi Mah’s Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Saloon
615 Atlantic Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 437-8030
http://www.mahimahs.com

Before you head out on your next outdoor expedition, make sure you are well prepared by taking a trip to Wild River Outfitter located in Virginia Beach.

You can find equipment like Kayaks, Canoes, camping gear, rock climbing gear, and outdoor clothing.  My wife and I went to this store to check out what they had for our trip we planned for canoeing a while back and I was able to find a couple of good outdoor jackets, when I had any questions the lady there knew all the answers and pointed me in the right direction.  If you decide to experience the outdoors, instead of renting you can just get your own gear, and get expert advice.

What is great about this place is they are also Wild River Outfitter Touring Company. WROTC offers instructor lead tours and educational courses for Kayaking and Canoeing in Virginia. They have several Half Day tours available on their schedule; they lead tours through Back Bay, Lynnhaven River, Milldam Creek, and tours of Virginia Beach’s coastal waters to view the dolphins. The tours I mentioned are only a few of their overall tours available.

For more information you can visit them at 3636 Virginia Beach Blvd # 108, Virginia Beach, VA. Check out their website to do some shopping online for outdoor gear or to find information about tours and about the shop at http://www.wildriveroutfitters.com/.

You don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy an East Coast staple, 17th Street Surf Shop. A local legend, the original 17th Street Surf Shop is located on the corner of Pacific Avenue and, of course, 17th Street at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

17th Street carries everything you need to surf, skate, snowboard, or skimboard. With a wide variety of the hottest brands, including Roxy, Reef, Billabong, Volcom, Quiksilver, O’Neill, Hurley, and Lost, the store is a mecca for the 30 and under crowd, although anyone who likes the beach atmosphere will enjoy browsing the colorful displays for swimwear and accessories.

You don’t have to be a serious athlete to appreciate 17th Street, although they carry high quality boards and supplies, sneakers, athletic equipment, and apparel. The stores are mainly staffed by young people familiar with the surf and skate scene; they are eager, helpful and knowledgable, and can recommend everything from a particular surfboard to a pair of flip flops to fit your needs.  

Prices are reasonable, considering many of the brands carried by 17th Street are available only there and at other specialty shops. There is usually a good sale going on at any given time. When I visited over the Independence Day weekend, flip flops were 20% off. My sister got a pair of pink Roxy flip flops for $8.  

17th Street has 5 stores in Virginia Beach, 3 in other Hampton Roads cities, 1 in Richmond, and 2 in the Outerbanks of North Carolina.

Hours are Monday-Saturday 9:00AM-9:00PM and Sunday 10:00AM-9:00PM at the beach store. Other locations’ hours vary by store.

17th Street Surf Shop 
1612 Pacific Ave
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 422-6105
http://www.17thst.com
http://www.myspace.com/17thstreetsurfshop 

My wife and I are always looking for places to eat out at, and if that place offers something more than just the standard dining experience then that is definitely a plus. One of the places we found is called Mystery Dinner Playhouse.  They have several locations to choose from, but of course we decided to go to the one in Virginia Beach.This place can be fun in you enjoy solving murder mysteries while enjoying your meal, each month they have a different show for you to watch and participate in.  While you will find many mixed reviews about this place, it is one of those things you should check out for yourself. 

The meal is served by people in the show, so the entire time you are eating it is part of the ongoing event. It is not something you just watch, but you also can have input into solving the murder, which is great for those super sleuths out there. 

The menu is not that large for the public shows, they only have a few things offered, but for private shows they say that they can cater it more for your taste, and the seating is comfortable enough. The place is set up more or less for you to really get into the show that you are participating in.

We had fun during the visit we made some time ago, and although we did not manage to solve the murder ourselves it was definitely an experience.

Mystery Diner Playhouse is located at 1900 Pavilion Dr, Virginia Beach, VA inside the Double Tree Hotel. You can make ticket reservations online, check out their menu, or find out what shows are playing on their website at http://mysterydinner.com/vabeach.htm.

Virginia Beach has sand, sun, and surf – but did you know it also offers high fashion? 

Located a block from the oceanfront, St. Tropez brings big city glamour to the beautiful beachscape of Virginia. Locally owned and operated by nationally renowned designer Patricia Timm, St. Tropez offers vacationing fashionistas a variety of original designs in formal, evening, and everyday wear. St. Tropez carries everything from jeans to skirts, jewelry, shoes and bags, to bridal and maternity wear.  

The designs emphasis the unique, with unusual necklines and backs, while classic, simple silhouettes channel Old Hollywood glamour with a decidedly modern presentation. Touted on its website as one of the premier designer stores on the east coast, you will be thoroughly impressed by Timm’s designs. Walking into this store, I simply wanted to buy everything! The formal dresses in particular look red carpet ready.

Styles range from sizes 2-10. A size chart is available in store and online.

Hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00AM-8:00PM and Sunday 11:00AM-6:00PM. 

St. Tropez Boutique 
301 25th St
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 428-0303

Hot Tuna Bar & Grill, located on the Chesapeake Bay at the corner of Shore Drive and Great Neck Road, is a little bit club, a lotta bit restaurant, and one of the hottest nightspots in Virginia Beach.

With colorful, psychadelic tropical decor, a teal ceiling, and a lively dance floor, Hot Tuna delivers live music from local bands and DJs every weekend. In recent weekends, Carne, Happy Jack, DJ No Request, and DJ B’eazy performed, and every Wednesday night, Snackbar Jones performs.

The menu at Hot Tuna ranges from steak to seafood to pasta, but the house specialty is Yellowfin Tuna, which is always served medium rare because, as the menu says, “it’s a shame to overcook tuna!” The fish tacos are famous among locals.

While you’re there, try one of the local’s favorites like Fired Ahi - Yellowfin tuna, seared rare and toasted black with white sesame seeds and drizzled with wasabi mayo, sriracha and sweet soy for - or the Parmesan Seared Tuna, also Yellowfin tuna, pan-seared with parmesan, basil, butter, portabella mushrooms and served with mashed potatoes - either for $20.99.

Homemade desserts include Cappuccino Cheesecake, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Key Lime Pie, Carrot Cake, and seasonal desserts.

An extensive number of domestic and international wines and drinks are available, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Champagne, sparkling wine, dessert wine, and over 19 kinds of beer, including 5 on tap. They also serve a variety of creative mojitos, margaritas and signature cocktails. Hot Tuna’s Mojito Supremo, a blend of Bacardi, fresh mint, lime, and sugar, was voted by mojito by the local daily newspaper, The Virginian-Pilot.

If you are on a budget, dine earlier to order from the early-bird menu, available until 6:30PM daily. Discounted prices and drink specials also are available from 4:00-6:30PM.

Inquire about Hot Tuna’s private party room which can accomodate 15-60.

Hot Tuna is a non-smoking facility. Hours are Monday-Sunday 4:00PM-2:00AM.

2817 Shore Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 481-2888
http://www.hottunavb.com

Staying in Virginia Beach and looking for a place to party like you’re on vacation? Peabody’s Night Club, within walking distance of most oceanfront hotels, is what you’ve been waiting for!

Peabody’s, a high energy club serving Hampton Roads since 1967, is known for its packed dance floor, crazy atmosphere, and talented DJs and bartenders. HAMMER TIME, Peabody’s version of happy hour, is from 7:00-9:00PM, with $1.50 drinks, shots, and beers and free cover for everyone 21 and up. There is also plenty of food with tacos, pizza, shrimp, crablegs, wings and a nacho bar.

Admittance is 18+ for woman and 21+ for men, meaning Peabody’s clientele is younger than many clubs. While the energy in some clubs begins to die as the night goes on, Peabody’s stays fresh until closing time, the DJ keeping the huge dance floor pumping with a variety of top 40 music, including hip hop, dance, rock, techno, and even a little country.

Peabody’s offers a variety of ongoing promotions. Ladies Night is every Thursday with ladies getting in free. Fridays is college night, anyone with a college ID getting in free. Friday also plays host to a weekly dodgeball tournament. Saturday nights is the Bash at the Beach, touted as the largest dance party in Virginia and featuring the area’s hottest local bands. Upcoming events include a Real World Hollywood Cast Party on Thursday, July 17 and a Pirate-theme costume contest on Saturday, July 19. Teen nights are scheduled throughout the year for 13-17 year olds.

The club can accomodate parties from 5-700. Peabody’s specializes in bachelorette parties, but it can accomodate almost any type of party you can imagine.

Security is tight, making the club feel very safe. However, the dress code is strict, so be sure to not to wear t-shirts, flip-flops, cut-offs, do-rags or backwards hats. Dress to impress and you shouldn’t have a problem!

Peabody’s hours are Thursday-Saturday 7:00PM-2:00AM. Peabody’s is a non-smoking establishment.

Peabody’s Night Club
209 21st Street
Virginia Beach VA 23452
(757) 422-6212
http://www.peabodysvirginiabeach.com
http://www.myspace.com/peabodysvb

Enjoying your beach vacation but itching for some major retail therapy? The Shops at Hilltop, located only two miles from the Oceanfront at the intersection of First Colonial and Laskin Roads, is a shopper’s paradise.

Divided into Hilltop West, North, and East, the high-end shopping center has over 120 stores, services, and eateries. The Pilot Reader’s Choice Award for Best of Virginia Beach 13 years in a row, shoppers at the Hilltop quickly become loyal repeat customers who enjoy the selection and quality found only at Hilltop.

The Shops at Hilltop offer a variety of stores and services, including businesses that specialize in accessories, clothing, and shoes; banking; beauty and hair; children’s apparel; electronics and entertainment; gifts and floral arrangements; health; home; jewelry; office supplies; pet supplies; and travel.

The 22 food establishments include international cuisine like Nawab Indian Cuisine, Otani Japanese Steak and Seafood, and Baladi Mediterranean Cafe, while still offering plenty of American specialties such as No Frill Bar and Grill, Beach Bagel Bakery, and A.J. Gator’s Sports Bar and Grill.

The Shops at Hilltop has a very useful website which allows potential customers to search an interactive store directory and map, view links to the shopping center’s businesses, get directions, and learn about upcoming events.

Recent events included a Serving Our Soldiers fundraiser benefiting the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, a Roll Up Your Sleeves and You Could Roll out a Winner Red Cross blood drive, and this coming Thursday-Saturday, July 10-12, the annual Inside Out Summer Sale, which, according to the Shops at Hilltop website, brings “OUT the best summer savings from INside participating stores!”

The Shops at Hilltop hours vary by store.

First Colonial and Laskin Road
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451
http://www.hilltopshops.com

If you are walking on the boardwalk, you are bound to see the 15^th street amusement park, and while this is no Great Adventures or Busch Garden, it is a place you might want stop in on with your kids being as it offers a fun little diversion during your trip. It is located on the boardwalk right across from the pier on 15^th Ave in Virginia Beach’s Oceanfront. There is only one pier on the boardwalk, so it is hard to pass by once you get there. Even if you approach from Atlantic Avenue you should not have any trouble seeing the rides from the street. For your GPS or MapQuest the address is 233 15^th St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.

They have the Skyscraper, which is one of those rides where you get tossed one hundred and sixty five feet in the air at sixty five miles per hour; this one was fun and everyone who got on screamed quite a bit.  They also have the Hurricane, Music Express, Comic Storm, Inverter, and a host of other rides you will have to discover yourself or take a sneak peak by visiting the website they have.

The pricing for the rides varies, with the Skyscraper being the only ride that charges a fixed price of twenty dollars, the other rides you can purchase tickets to get on. They have all day wristbands available with different prices depending on the time you make your visit.

You can get more information on their website at http://http://www.virginiabeachamusementpark.com/index.html.

Ever watch Mission Impossible Two? The intro scene where he is climbing that extremely dangerous cliff side without any harness, and wonder how you can do that just like him. It looks cool but this place will not help you pull a stunt like that, they emphasize safety and the proper use of rock climbing equipment.  The name of the place is Rock Gym, and it is located 5049 Southern Boulevard, Virginia Beach VA.

If you want to learn how to rock climb they offer classes that will guide you through the basics of knot tying and rope handling, the instructor will guide you for thirty minutes showing you what to do for fifteen dollars instructor and five dollars person. They also offer other intro courses like the Half Hour Rappel Intro Course, the one hour climbing rappelling combo, the belay class, and the Rappel Class. They have more detailed information available on the website which includes times and pricing for each course.

If you are already familiar with how to climb safely, you can try out one of their many different setups. They have what they call the main wall, which is a thirty two foot realistically textured wall that has different climbing routes you can take based on your experience. The rappel tower is available for practicing your rappelling skills.  Three sites they call The Boulders, which looked like fun, mostly because you do not have to worry much about knots or ropes and harnesses.

All equipment is rented during your stay, things like the harness cost three dollars to rent and shoes for five dollars, and they have more rental equipment pricing on the site, but for the full gear up it would cost about thirteen dollars. You can also visit the pro shop to purchase gear for personal use.

They have membership opportunities available that allows for discounts on courses, classes, and events.  If you want you can also take qualification test for Belay for three dollars, lead certification for fifteen, and rappel certification for fifteen, members get five dollars off.

If you want to bring your kids they also host for Birthday parties. Everything like the parties and classes are all held by reservation, which should be made at least one day in advance.

For further information you can check out their website at http://www.vbrg.com/, or you can call (757) 499-8347 during their normal hours of operation.

For those who enjoy laser tag you can check out Laser Quest located at 2682 Dean Drive, Virginia Beach, VA. They have many different locations, so if you visit one in Virginia Beach and enjoyed it, you can check to see if they have one where you are from.

Laser Quest offers different types of “missions” as they call it. You can do the Solo Mission, which is basically a free for all for points, the person with the most point wins. Team Missions, where you can compete as a team, the team with the most points wins. They have something called Ironman, it is a thirty minute action quest where you can play solo or as a team. They also offer additional games for organized groups.

This area is family friendly, with the youngest age allowed being seven.  The missions are said to last around thirty minutes.

I had went to one a while back but at a different location, the setups are fun for every age, and there is very little chance of anyone getting hurt doing this activity from what I remember. The courses they use are dark with different colour neon lights to create a futuristic effect.

They have a LQ players club with a twenty five dollar initial membership fee and fifteen for renewals that give you a discount for each game played. At the time of my visit I paid almost nine dollars per person for a game, but they are always offering different discounts and I am not part of the LQ club.

If you would like to check out their website for more information it is http://www.laserquest.com/. The address again is 2682 Dean Drive, Virginia Beach, VA. The number for their office in Virginia Beach is (757) 463-6300.

Most of us do not own their own Yacht, but would like the experience of being on one, if not only to enjoy a great meal while out to sea.  This is where the Virginia’s Jewel luxury Yacht comes in at, offering the opportunity to catch a private or public cruise.

The private chartered cruise is available for different events, like weddings, receptions, birthdays, or whatever else they will allow on their yacht. They have live entertainment available if it suites your event.  You can speak with one of Virginia Jewels representative to help plan your trip by calling 757-425-6688, or you can request information via their website http://www.virginiasjewel.com/index.htm.

If you are like me and would like to have this experience but at a lower price you can hop on one of their public cruises. They offer a full meal and live entertainment that is sure to fit the mood. This was a great romantic meal I enjoyed with my wife, and for about forty eight dollars per person it was not that bad, especially considering the experience makes it worth it if you enjoyed yourself.  Boarding times are at 6PM for a 6:30PM departure, and return at approximately 9PM. They suggest you make reservations well in advance to guarantee availability and pricing, for that you can call 757-425-6688.

They are located at 600 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Their website again is http://www.virginiasjewel.com/index.htm.

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers you the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in over nine thousand acres of protected land located on and around a thin strip of coastline. Some of the geographical features include marshlands, beaches, and woodlands. You can almost guarantee that you will see a variety of migratory birds.

At Back Bay NWF you can relax, bike ride, or walk on a beach that is less likely to be packed with people. You can also fish and swim in certain places on the refuge.  Educational Programs are also available for the public on a regular schedule in various areas around the refuge according to the site; they have an event calendar on the site listing the program dates. There is a Canoe and Kayak launch area here also, they have onsite facilities to allow for you to bring out your own gear with parking available on a first come first serve availability.

During the spring, summer, and fall you can catch the Tram Tour which departs at 9:00 AM. The tour allows guest to see the wild life with tour guides available to explain each.

Back Bay NWF is located around fifteen miles south of Virginia Beach. You can find out information about the fees and directions on how to get there from the website at http://www.fws.gov/backbay/default.htm.

If you’ve never heard of BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, now is the time to try it.  Located at Virginia Beach’s Town Center, BRAVO’s is nestled with The Funny Bone Comedy Club and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse directly across the street from the Armada Hoffler building’s free parking garage. 

While in the same price range Outback or Red Lobster, BRAVO!’s food quality is miles above everyday restaurants.  I usually get the filet mignon, which is an 8 oz. center-cut and comes with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables “del Giorno” for $24.99. Last time we went my husband enjoyed the lobster and shrimp ravioli, which is Maine lobster, Gulf shrimp, and fresh vegetables in a cream sauce for $16.99. 

The complimentary appetizer of fresh toasted bread and oil and spices dipping sauce is a signature taste that I crave between visits to BRAVO!’s. The menu items focus on authetic Italian, but the waitstaff is gladly willing to switch out fresh veggies for french fries for children and picky eaters like myself.

The Roman Ruins decor and soft lighting add a dash of romance, while the butch paper and crayons across many of the tables makes for a fun evening of scribbling doodles or writing love notes across the table. BRAVO! is also a nice place to make your family’s special celebration spot. Every time my brother, who is in the Army, comes home to Virginia, we go to BRAVO! to celebrate. For a birthday celebration last year, our waiter even sang ‘Happy Birthday’ in a loud, booming Italian tenor.

Serving lunch and dinner daily, BRAVO!’s hours are Sunday-Thursday 11:00AM-10:00PM & Friday-Saturday 11:00AM-11:00PM.

Dress at BRAVO!’s varies from casual to formal.

193 Central Park Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757-416-6000
http://www.bravoitalian.com

The Hampton Roads Shakespeare Festival, an annual festival that celebrates William Shakespeare by offering professional performances of his works each summer, is currently presenting “The Tempest” at The First Landing’s The Historic Villages at Cape Henry.

Located at Ft. Story in Virginia Beach, “The Tempest” is being performed on the following Sundays at 6:00PM:

July 13
July 27
August 10
August 24
August 31

The Historic Villages at Cape Henry is located at The First Landing Foundation, 1340 N. Great Neck Road, #1272-388.

The Hampton Roads Shakespeare Festival is produced by Summer Shakes, a non-profit theatrical company that also maintains several educational and acting programs to elementary-age children, teens, and adults.

(757)495-3607
festival@summershakes.org

The Virginia Beach Free Summer Concert Series is an annual event that locals look forward to each year. Set on the Virginia Beach oceanfront at the 31st Street Stage at Neptune Park, the series features local and regional favorites as well as nationally recognized artists.

This year’s line-up includes Carbon Leaf, Hotel California: The Original Tribute to the Eagles, DanZingo Band, Edgar Winter, Blue Lords, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Butter, The Knack, and Fools & Horses.

The 2008 Free Summer Concert Series is sponsored by Associated Distributors, Red Bull and Fiji Water, Towne Bank, and AAPECS Eye Care.

It is presented by local radio station 94.9 The Point, Catch 31, and IMG. All concerts are rain or shine and free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.31ocean.com

Eating at family-owned Mini Italia New York Pizzeria, located in the shopping center on the corner of Baker and Newtown Rds. in Virginia Beach, will leave a smile on your face and a button undone on your pants to accomodate the delicious food.

The restaurant invites you to sit and eat with a hand-painted mural that covers two large walls. Italian-themed decor dots the restaurant, with grapes and a large ‘VINO’ (”wine”) sign covering a mantel. A flat-screen LCD television hangs on the wall, usually broadcasting sports games.

The service is supreme and the food even better. My family of six dines at Mini Italia on an almost weekly basis. We always get the same waitress, who remembers our names, drink and food orders, and is unfailingly polite and patient as we argue amongst ourselves with item on the menu is the best. The rest of the wait staff is equally friendly and helpful.

Mini Italia’s menu covers everything from pizza to pasta, hot and cold subs, salads, bread, and everything in between. Servings are large (enough to split or save half for lunch the next day) and the prices are much lower than any comparable quality restaurant. Everyone who eats there agrees that they have never had Italian food as good as Mini Italia’s before. It is so authentic, a friend who was born and raised in New York dines there when she misses New York style pizza.

Mini Italia offers dine-in, delivery and carry out. Cash, all major credit cards, and even Euros are accepted. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10:30AM-11:00PM and Sunday 12:00PM-9:00PM.

665 Newtown Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23462-1683
757-671-2200

The Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater, located near Princess Anne Road just off of Independence Blvd., is a 20,000 seat outdoor concert venue, playing rain or shine. Open since 1996, the Amphitheater regularly hosts the greatest acts in popular music, with upcoming shows including festival tours, rock, hip hop, country, and Christian:

Vans Warped Tour 2008, Projekt Revolution Tour, 311 and Snoop Dogg with Fiction Plane, Counting Crows and Maroon 5 with special guest Sara Bareilles, Slipknot and Disturbed, Dave Matthews Band, Journey, Heart, and Cheap Trick, Jonas Brothers, Three Doors Down with Hinder, Kenny Chesney with LeAnne Rimes, Toby Keith with Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts with Taylor Swift, Third Day and Switchfoot

The Amphitheater offers both designated seating areas and a cheaper lawn section. Most shows have a specific alcohol and smoke free area of the lawn cordoned off, making it safe and family friendly. For Amphitheater-designated “family shows,” a child under 12 is admitted free on the lawn for every paid adult lawn ticket.

Those holding lawn seat tickets are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, umbrellas, rain jackets, and other items to make the concert a more enjoyable experience. Strollers are permitted on the lawn.

Large screens make viewing the concert easy, although binoculars are also allowed.

Parking is typically included in the price of an admission ticket, and there is plentiful safe, well-lit parking surrounding the venue.

There are a variety of concession stands offering everything from foodstuff to alcohol, including Papa John’s, Big Daddy’s Burgers and Dogs, and Oceanfront Eatery. However, staff allow guests to bring in most food items as long as it wil fit in a one-gallon clear bag. Guests are also permitted to bring one sealed container of water in as well.

VIP seating is available by calling 757.368.3000.

3550 Cellar Door Way
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
757.368.3000
Offical website

If you’re an animal lover, you’ll love Animal Jungle. Located on Holland Road in Virginia Beach and just down the street from Mount Trashmore, Animal Jungle sells aquatic, reptile, small animal, bird, dog, and cat supplies, as well as a variety of animals.

Animal Jungle has a massive variety of fish, reptiles, and birds, but they also carry small mammals such as sugar gliders, chinchillas, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, and rats. Kittens were available for $50, which included vaccinations.

Even if you aren’t looking for a pet, checking out Animal Jungle is definitely fun for the whole family. It is a family friendly atmosphere, with detailed images of the animal kingdom painted on the storefront and all over the inside of the store. My favorite painting was of a small mammal, possibly a mere cat, holding a sign that said “Restroom” and pointing to the restroom facilities.

On a recent Saturday morning excursion to the store, it was abuzz with helpful and knowledgable employees, schooling customers, parents and children on the proper care and handling of a variety of animals. I had particular fun learning about the Chinchilla, a soft mammal native to the Andes mountains that is often hunted for its fur.

With over 30 years of experience, it is, according to it’s website, one of the largest independent animal retailers in the country. Animal Jungle offers a vast array of supplies, bedding, toys, food, and other supplies for a reasonable price. There are sale signs all over the store, and you can check their website for regularly updated sale ads and specials. The day I visited, there was a special for a chinchilla and a 2-story cage for under $170.

Animal Jungle’s hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00am-9:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm-6:00pm.

Animal Jungle
4318 Holland Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(757) 463-4065
http://animaljungle.com

Located a mere ten minutes from the Virginia Beach oceanfront, Lynnhaven Mall will keep you busy for hours. Entering the mall from JC Penney, I was immediately dazzled by the array of bright colors, ads, posters and bold storefronts, making for beautiful scenery as well as fine shopping.

The largest mall in the Hampton Roads area, and one of the largest on the East Coast, Lynnhaven Mall boasts an impressive selection of shopping, food, and fun, with over 180 stores, 17 eateries and restaurants, and a stadium-seating-only AMC Theatres, with 18 screens showing the newest releases.

The mall is anchored by JC Penney, Dillard’s, and Macy’s, with an assortment of other large retailers such as Barnes and Noble, Steve and Barry’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Old Navy. The glass-enclosed main entrance also boasts a full-sized Merry-Go-Round and play area.

Lynnhaven has a selection of stores you’d expect in any great mall, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Build-A-Bear Workshop, The Disney Store, Express, H&M, New York & Company, Victoria’s Secret, and Yankee Candle Shop. There are also a variety of specialty shops, such as Bubbles, Fiore, N’finiti Hip Hop, Perfumania, Stitch Stitch, and What’s Your Bag.

Food court eateries include Cold Stone Creamery, Dairy Queen, and McDonald’s. Lynnhaven Mall has five full-service restaurants: Bennigan’s, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Cheeseburger In Paradise, Johnny Rocket’s, and Ruby Tuesday.

Lynnhaven Mall’s hours are Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-9:30pm, Friday-Saturday, 10:00am-10:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm-6:00pm. It is open the latest of any of the area’s malls, which typically close at 9:00pm nightly.

Lynnhaven Mall
701 Lynnhaven Parkway
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452
(757) 340-9340
http://www.lynnhavenmall.com

If you are looking to shop ’til you drop in Virginia Beach, there are plenty of options. Pembroke Mall, the first mall to open in the Hampton Roads area in 1966, is a very convenient option, located across the street from Virginia Beach’s epicenter, Town Center.

Newly refurbished in 2003, Pembroke Mall is anchored by large department stores Kohl’s, Sears, and Stein Mart, with over 100 stores and services available to customers, including traditional mall stores like Claire’s, DEB, Gamestop, Footlocker, and Hallmark. If you are reaching for something a little different, Pembroke also offers unique shopping opportunities such as Gifts and Scents, Memory Lane Sports, and the Sand Dollar Shop.

Food options range from fast food, such as Subway, China Garden, and Roman Delight Pizza to sit-down establishments like Max & Erma’s and the White Horse Pub, plus a variety of snack kiosks to quell any between-meal tummy grumbling. There is also an onsite Regal Cinemas theater.

Pembroke Mall’s hours are Monday-Saturday, 10am-9pm and Sunday 12-6.

4554 Virginia Beach Blvd, Ste 201
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757-497-6255
http://www.pembrokemall.com

Motor World in Virginia Beach offers Kart Racing, Mini Golf, Rides, Amusements, and paintball. I found this place to be great for adults and children, with enough things to please just about everyone.

Motor World boasts eleven Go Kart Tracks, two hundred and fifty karts with sixteen different styles. Each track offers a different type of Kart to go with it, like on the cannonball track you get to ride the NASCAR themed Karts, and the Kiddie Track lets your kids enjoy the two horsepower karts. Take a look at the Road Racer Track, offering a half a mile course allowing up to thirty Karts to go race at the same time on their GTP Racing Karts. For everyone years sixteen and up you can take the Adult speed Kart out on the Adult Speed Track, allowing you the opportunity to race at speeds up to forty miles per hour.

If you need a break from high speed racing you can check out Splat Zone for some paintball action. Splat zone is one of the reasons I headed out here.  Now it does not offer a large amount of courses, sporting only two, it does serve its purpose.  Along with the courses they also offer a shooting range, and a pro shop.

If riding karts and shooting at each other while playing paintball is not enough for you, make sure to head to the amusements and rides. They have Bumper Boats, a climbing wall, Gravity Storm, Kiddie City, and Skycoaster. Gravity Storm lets you strap on a harness and experience zero gravity, which is great for doing flips and acrobatics. Kiddie City is like a small theme park just for kids three and up.  Then you have Skycoaster, where you get to fly from a secured harness like setup at one hundred and thirty feet and at speeds up to seventy miles per hour.

If this place sounds great that is because it is, offering plenty of things to do right here in Virginia Beach. Check out the website at http://www.vbmotorworld.com/index.html to find out more information on pricing, and what they have to offer. If you want to head over now it is located at 700 S Birdneck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA.

We all have many choices of where to go when we want seafood, and each location offers something different, Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant offers great seafood in an upscale type environment.

My wife and I drive by Captain George’s everyday on our way to the beach, it is located on Laskin Rd right next to Regency Hilltop Shopping Center in Virginia Beach if you are familiar with the area.  It is the large restaurant with the neon ship sign that reads its name along with the small ship designed into the front of the restaurant.

You can come here to enjoy their twenty eight dollar all you can eat buffet consisting of over seventy items, or you can have you meal prepared for you from fresh ingredients. Do not worry if you do not like seafood, they also serve items like prime ribs and steak.

As I said before my wife and I pass by every day, so we decided that we will eat here at least once. My wife is a fan of shrimps, she tried some sort of breaded shrimp with broccoli, she enjoyed it, and I had a steak with some mash potatoes that I enjoyed as well. The check was not bad, the quality of the food was great so we did not mind at all, and the service was top notch. The buffet offeres a large variety, so the price may seem like much but it is worth it.

If you are still searching for a great sea food restaurant you can check out Captain George’s seafood restaurant located at 1956 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA. They also have a website if you want to take a look at their menu before you make the trip over.  http://www.captaingeorges.com/default.aspx.

If you love the outdoors, and love being at sea, then try getting on a Kayak this summer with Kayak Nature Tours. You can bring the whole family.

You can tour the wild in a Kayak this summer or in the winter, experience locations like Blackwater River, Back Bay NWR, Knotts Island, and Dismal Swamp Northwest River.  This is a small list compared to all the choices for locations you can go kayaking. The tour starts at each location, so there is no one place you will be able to go to.

They offer everyone able to do so the opportunity to view the environment from a whole new standpoint. Kayaking is definitely a physical experience, for those of us who enjoy seeing nature from a first person perspective. On a kayak you can see, hear, and feel the nature around you. If you are not familiar with how to Kayak the guides will be more than happy to teach you before you head out. They lead you through the tour explaining everything as you go through.

If you know of a place other than the areas listed above or at the website, you can rent a kayak and other equipment. They will pack you up with what you need granted you have the right vehicle.

If you are interested make sure to check out their website for pricing, scheduling, and location information at http://www.tidewateradventures.com

Do you love golf but do not have the time to go to a full fledge golf course, or want to go play mini golf during the summer, but it is too late in the day? During the summer season, you can enjoy Jungle Golf twenty four hours a day and seven days a week.

They have a great course from what I had seen during my visit. With eighteen holes, you can overcome golfing hazards only found in the jungle, without having to pack your stuff and actually head to the jungle to play golf. Each course was well maintained, and fun without being too challenging. They definitely had the jungle in mind when designing the course.