Do a quick Internet search, and there will be hundreds of websites about Virginia Beach, VA – travel guides, restaurant directories, and online hotel reservations. You'll see many pictures of our beautiful beach and lively Oceanfront area, and while we take pride in our town's appearance we can't always vouch for what you see on the Internet. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it won't always tell the current story. For a more accurate view of Virginia Beach, VA, wouldn't it make sense to see the town as it is, in the present?

Luckily, Virginia Beach has a number of webcams positioned around town, so everyone can get a good look at things before planning a visit. You can check out the beach's finer points, study traffic patterns along the interstate to get a feel for travel, and even see the surf (and surfers) as the day progresses. To see in Virginia Beach in real time, be sure to bookmark these popular cams:

The Old Coast Guard Station (http://www.oldcoastguardstation.com/towercam.htm) offers refreshed views of 24^th Street and the stage area, as well as the ocean. Check it out during a festival and you just may see a concert in progress.

Rudee's on the Inlet (http://www.rudees.com/) offers two views of the popular seafood restaurant – streaming video of the cabana and of the outside patio as patron enjoy dinner and drinks. Get a feel for the place before you make reservations.

The Carolina Street Webcam (http://www.surfline.com/reports/report.cfm?id=4407) updates surfers on the wave condition near 1^st Street, refreshing every twenty seconds.

And, if you want to get a feel for what to expect when driving down our way, HamptonRoads.com offers streaming traffic cams (http://home.hamptonroads.com/traffic/index.cfm) along I-64 and I-264 to guide you to the beach. Summertime is especially heavy, so be prepared when you do come down. We promise what you see on the cams will be worth the visit.