THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 31, 1994 TAG: 9408300347
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Story by Beacon Staff
LENGTH: Long : 338 lines
Let's face it. Most of us are creatures of habit. When we find a good thing we like to stick with it.
Going to the beach is no different. Ask yourself, your neighbor, a co-worker, friend of a friend, even the checkout clerk who works at your favorite grocery store. Chances are that if they spend time soaking up the sun on some sandy shore, they've got a favorite spot they return to time and time again.
That's fine if you're one of the lucky salts who actually owns the slice of shoreline you're sitting upon. Who can blame you for not going elsewhere?
But what about the rest of us?
In case you hadn't noticed, Virginia Beach is home to about 37 miles of shore along the Bay and ocean. And none is quite the same.
Discovering what's beyond the dunes requires an adventurous spirit and a little direction. The first is entirely up to you, but we can help with the second.
From Little Creek to Fort Story and south to Dam Neck and beyond, we've carved out nine primary playgrounds along the water's edge. Each affords a variety of conveniences and opportunities waiting to be explored.
What's more, this final summer weekend is sure to be packed with sand seekers looking to squeeze you out of that favorite spot, anyhow.
So what are you waiting for? Pack up the towels, lotion and cooler and hit an unfamiliar shore. CHESAPEAKE BEACH
It's not hard to get people talking about what attracts them to Chesapeake Beach, or ``Chick's Beach,'' as most call it.
Jimmy Carr and Donna Lloyd come to Chick's Beach for the same reasons others give - the beach is clean, the crowd mostly locals, and the bayfront water calm enough for even toddlers to frolic in.
The two Virginia Beach residents won't consider going to another beach to swim and sun. But, like most locals in the neighborhood, they're hoping that the lack of restroom and concession facilities will hinder the masses from converging on what they consider to be their own personal gold mine.
``It's more of a local beach,'' said Jimmy Carr, 35. ``We're down here every weekend.''
``And I feel so much more comfortable with my kids in the Bay (versus the beach),'' added Donna Lloyd, 31. ``At the oceanfront, I have to have eyes everywhere. This is my fourth summer on this beach and I feel so safe.''
``But,'' added Carr, chuckling. ``Don't tell anyone. We don't want to be overrun.''
Safe, yes. Entertaining, no. Chick's Beach is known for its friendly atmosphere and mix of age groups but, it's no entertainment mecca.
Folks come to this beach to swim, sun, and boat or jet ski. There are no rentals of any kind and there is no restaurant that serves the public during the day, nor are there public restrooms. Handicapped access is non-existent although, there are plenty of public access points, the majority are sand dunes and unaccessible by wheelchair.
Parking is somewhat limited, to the point where getting up early to get one of a few choice spots is probably a good idea. Or, you can pay $3 to park in a lot across from Alexander's on the Bay.
- Lori Denney LYNNHAVEN INLET
Never underestimate the quiet charm of the Lynnhaven Inlet shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay. It has a low-key feel that appeals to locals and out-of-towners alike.
Frequent beach dwellers say the calm waters and ease of finding a sunbathing spot make the inlet an ideal place for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the Oceanfront.
``There's an older crowd here. It's more laid back,'' said Kevin Koon, who works at the Duck-In and Gazebo. ``It's not as touristy and there's a lot of local clientele.''
Richard Howard, who frequently vacations at the beach with his wife, Liza, said the Bay atmosphere is more pleasant.
``The water's nice and smooth and it's not as crowded,'' he said. ``This is the perfect place to have jet skis.''
The privately-owned beach offers jet ski, windsurfer and catamaran rentals. Swimmers are advised to take caution because there is no lifeguard on duty. Visitors also can use the volleyball poles, but they must supply their own balls and net.
Visitors cannot build campfires or bring alcohol beverages, but food and drinks can be purchased at the Duck-In, and other restaurants are located across Shore Drive.
The inlet is divided by the Lesner Bridge and is bordered on either side by other private beaches. Signs are posted along the beach to warn trespassers.
Parking is free for Duck-In patrons, and limited parking is available on the street. A public parking lot charges $5 all day until 4:30 p.m.
- Larry Brown GREAT NECK AREA
Mom Barb Owens, grandmom Lois Touart and 21-month-old grandson Braden Owens take turns gingerly ``toe-ing'' a spider crab that has beached itself along the Bay off Shore Drive and West Great Neck Road.
``What is it?'' Barb Owens asks, giving it a final nudge.
A stranger joins in, ``Some kind of blowfish?''
And on it goes. It's a familiar exchange at this innocuous strip of shoreline.
This is a friendly, scenic beach, but strictly no-frills. Things like crab poking and walking out hundreds of feet into a surf at low tide are the more exciting activities that occur here.
There are no rentals - no jet skis, no umbrellas, no beach chairs, no bikes. There are also no public facilities: no rest rooms, no drinking water, no foot washes. There doesn't appear to be handicapped access to the beach, and general access is a wooden walkway and stairs. There isn't any food vending on the beach, although informal eating is close by.
One ``no frill,'' no official parking, isn't all bad. A fair amount of free, on-street parking is available in the vicinity.
``Still there are always lots and lots of children here,'' said Owens. ``The water is calmer than the ocean and at low tide there are always little pools for children to play in.
``There are no lifeguards,'' she added, keeping a close eye on her little one.
Elsewhere on the beach, families cook out on their own cookers and couples stroll ankle-deep in the warm water. Runners trudge through the sand and a diverse assortment of sunbathers round out the gathering.
And, lifeguard or not, swimmers enjoy their exercise to a backdrop of seagoing ships, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and a setting sun.
- Marlene Ford FORT STORY
It's referred to as a ``hidden treasure,'' a ``nicely kept secret,'' and ``undiscovered.''
There's nothing fancy about the public beach at Fort Story like concessions, rentals or shopping, but there's just enough conveniences to make your beach outing pleasant and hassle-free.
The biggies are ample, free parking and a wide, uncrowded beach.
Just flash your driver's license at the guard station at the east gate of Fort Story at 89th Street and Atlantic Avenue, tell the guard where you're heading and pull into the parking lot on the right. The lot, which is never full except on holidays, accommodates about 150 cars.
Grab your Frisbees, footballs, coolers full of ``fortified'' drink and just about anything else you can't take onto most other beaches. Just don't bring your pets or surfboards because they're not allowed.
And don't forget the kids, as there are two port-a-johns, two lifeguard stations, and an emergency medical technician on duty at all times.
But don't try coming during the week. The beach is leased to the city Friday through Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is closed at all other times for military exercises.
If you're lucky, you'll see some military maneuvers like paratroopers jumping from the sky onto adjacent beaches, frog men emerging from the surf, and Hovercraft skimming the ocean waters.
And there's other entertainment. Dolphin watching is a popular sport as they tend to congregate here.
- Debbie Messina NORTH END
If you want a traditional beach with sand dunes and sea oats and no hotels looming in the background, head for one of the numbered streets off Atlantic Avenue at the North End, the farther north the better.
On the other hand, if you want amenities like snacks, beach equipment rentals, water fountains, lifeguards, restrooms and easy parking, the North End is not for you.
Once north of the Ramada Oceanfront Tower at 57th Street, nothing but the Navy's 67th Street Beach and Cabana Club interrupts the non-commercial aspect of this beautiful, residential beach.
With few exceptions, the streets on the east side of Atlantic Avenue end with a public beach access. Many have wooden walkways, constructed and maintained by street residents, which really help when it comes to carrying babies, picnics and beach gear over the dunes.
Free parking is along numbered streets on both sides of Atlantic Avenue and along the west side of the feeder road that parallels Atlantic. Parking is easy during the week, but you should come well before noon on weekends. Parking spaces are not marked off, and there is little curbing so watch out for residents' driveways and fire hydrants.
Because the North End beach is residential, it attracts a mix of folks, from tiny babes to retirees. Families cluster near the water's edge with umbrellas, coolers, play pens and chairs while large groups of young people stretch out on towels to catch some rays. Except on busy weekends a few surf fishermen are usually part of the beach scene, too.
Volleyball is a popular pastime and the city has erected posts on the beach throughout the North End. They are available to those with nets and balls on a first-come, first-serve basis. Individuals who want to play usually can get in on a game just by asking.
Surfing and dogs on the beach are restricted at the North End just as they are in the rest of the city between Memorial Day and Labor Day. A limited number of catamarans are allowed on North End beaches, so folks with children should keep their eyes on the boats' coming and goings.
- Mary Reid Barrow RESORT AREA
A family was playing Frisbee on the beach at 28th Street recently when suddenly the plastic disk caught a passer-by on the side of her head with a heavy thwack.
``Ouch!'' the woman said, rubbing her head and glowering at the offender.
``Oh, I'm so sorry,'' replied the chagrined mother, whose husband and daughter were giving her the ``I can't believe you did that'' look. ``Are you all right?''
``That's OK, she's my sister-in-law,'' said a grinning man who was walking behind the victim. ``She has a hard head.''
The tension eased and everyone laughed, but those vacationers were breaking one of the sacred rules of the resort area beaches: no Frisbee, no playing ball, no littering, no pets, no skateboarding, no glass and no alcohol.
The resort beach probably has more rigid regulations during the summer than other beaches in the area, but it must. There are simply too many people crowded on too narrow of a strip of sand. On any given day you can walk from 31st Street down to the end of the Boardwalk to witness the familiar mass of well-greased humanity, the majority of whom are tourists.
Fielding Tyler, executive director of the Life-Saving Museum of Virginia, said that the only locals who frequent the resort strip are the ones who live in that vicinity.
``My dad went by the old saying that he wouldn't go down past 31st Street from Memorial Day to Labor Day,'' said Tyler, whose office overlooks the beach at 24th Street. ``I look at these people everyday - they aren't locals. If you live in Kempsville you'll go to the North End.''
But, he added, some locals have found that the beach from 10th Street to Rudee Inlet is much wider and less crowded than the rest of the strip.
If you want to go to the resort strip, however, you better come early to find a parking meter or one of a few hundred spots in municipal lots. By noon it's next to impossible to find one and after driving around for a half an hour that $10-a-day private lot will start to look pretty reasonable. Three municipal lots - two at 19th and Pacific and a new one at 25th and Pacific - are open and charge only $4 a day on weekdays, $5 a day on weekends and holidays. And, after 5 p.m., city residents can park for a $1 if their vehicle displays a city sticker.
That's a bargain if you're planning to stay the entire day, since a quarter will buy you only 20 minutes on a meter. A dime will net you 8 minutes; a nickel, 4 minutes.
The resort beach has just about anything a vacationer could want or need. Lifeguards are stationed from 40th Street to Rudee Inlet and are on duty from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you don't have your own equipment you can rent it - striped umbrellas, chairs, surfboards, boogie boards, jet skis, bikes and in-line skates.
Public restroom facilities are located at 17th, 24th and 30th streets. Ramps for the handicapped are at 20th, 17th and 8th streets. If you're thirsty you can find water fountains at nearly every block on the boardwalk but the water is warm. A fishing pier, with restaurants and souvenir shops, juts into the ocean at 15th Street.
- Pam Starr CROATAN
Camouflaged from the main drag of General Booth Boulevard, behind thick trees and million dollar mansions, lies a short stretch of beach known among local surfers, large families and single sunbathers as a quiet and hidden paradise.
Washed up sand castles, footprints of all sizes and brightly colored plastic toys mark the shores of Croatan Beach, a mile of sand and surf extending from the rock jetty at Rudee Inlet on into Camp Pendleton.
More than five access areas dice up the stretch of tall sand dunes and thick saw grass. The Pendleton entrance at the southern end of the Croatan neighborhood is wheelchair and stroller accessible, while the rest are strictly sand.
Surfers rule the soup at both ends of Croatan. Although sunbathers are welcome, swimmers are restricted from the jetty surfing area and the Camp Pendleton beach. The only four lifeguards at Croatan man these waters, two at each spot.
Since there are no water fountains, food vendors or rentals around, and the closest chow is a mile's drive, families come armed with towering umbrellas, overpacked coolers and wheelbarrows filled with toys. From May 15 to Sept. 30, ball playing and Frisbee throwing are prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., so choices are limited.
Those in search of the ultimate tan can soak up the sun all day long, without late afternoon interference from the skyscraping hotels that sit only blocks away on the resort Boardwalk.
Parking is a cinch in the several blocks of residential T-marked spaces, as well as in Camp Pendleton's 200-space free parking lot at the end of Vanderbilt Avenue. Open to the public from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., this lot hosts a pair of portable restrooms (the only other two sit at the northern end) and a single pay phone.
- Holly Wester SANDBRIDGE
By resort strip standards, the public has a mini-beach at Sandbridge.
The narrow strip of sand is just long enough to spread out three lifeguard stands - a scant five minute walk in either direction. At high tide, beach chairs, towels, coolers and kids are shoved to higher ground until the water is sucked back out to sea.
There is little room to spread out in front of neighboring cottages. The water nearly laps up against high sea walls built to keep the summer homes above from falling into the ocean.
But Sandbridge has its fans. ``This has a charm all its own that the resort beach will never have - all the families with children and people from the cottages. It's quiet here and that's why people like it,'' said Lisbeth Fox, supervisor of the municipal parking lots at Sandbridge's public beach, located at the stub end of Sandbridge Road.
Sandbridge has the usual city amenities - guards, rentables like orange and blue umbrellas, chairs, boogie boards and rafts. Two city lots are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., no RVs or buses allowed. Residents whose vehicles display a city sticker can park for a reduced fee of $1 a day. Others must pay $3 on weekdays, $4 on weekends. Some neighboring, private lots also offer parking.
A wooden walkway that leads from the new parking lot behind the Sandbridge Market over the dunes is also user-friendly to baby strollers, the handicapped and wheelchair riders.
At water's edge, bathers and wave jumpers have to watch out here for what a sign calls a ``natural slippery drop off.'' But they don't have to contend with surfers. They and dogs are banned from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Cars are never allowed on the beach.
New restrooms built last summer, one each for men and women, plus a single outdoor shower are a new convenience here and make the ride back home less sticky.
There is no drinking fountain. But drinks and food, even ice cream, can be bought at several nearby shops.
- Krys Stefansky \ LITTLE ISLAND
Trying to decide between a picnic in the park or a day at the beach? Why not do both?
Little Island Park, nestled between the southern edge of Sandbridge and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, offers the best of both ideas. It's the only municipal park situated on the city's shoreline and offers all the trappings for an outdoor family gathering.
It's a 22-mile drive from the Pembroke area, including about 4 miles from the point where Sandbridge Road stops at the sea, but well worth the drive because it seems there's nothing this beach doesn't offer.
Open air grills are available for those who bring along some charcoal, and picnic shelters are provided for shaded protection. If you're looking for just a snack, be sure to bring some change for the on-site vending machines (although they're hardly a bargain at 75 cents for drinks).
Restroom facilities, complete with changing tables and outdoor showers, are also available. And the park is equipped with basketball, tennis and volleyball courts. You can even borrow the balls, nets and other equipment from the park office for free. The kids can enjoy a variety of swings, slides and other rides.
And all of this greets you before you even see the beach.
Lifeguards are stationed on the sand from about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during the summer. They also rent out umbrellas ($6), boogie boards ($5) and chairs ($3). The shore is conveniently divided into three areas: one for surfers just north of the fishing pier, one for swimmers and a third for surf fishermen. Like Sandbridge, though, signs warn of a ``natural slippery drop off'' caused by a clay base that's often exposed with the shifting of the sand covering it.
The expansive parking lot sports a slew of out-of-state license plates on any given day, mostly from Sandbridge renters. But lifeguards say Little Island is popular with many locals, especially those in the southern part of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
Parking is $3 on weekdays and $4 on weekends, but city residents get a discounted rate of $1 all day if they have a city sticker.
About the only complaint some beachgoers might have is that the park does have a curfew. Gates are locked at 11 p.m.
- Kevin Armstrong ILLUSTRATION: Staff color Illustration by JANET SHAUGHNESSY
[Includes chart: Amenities and map: Virginia Beach beaches]
For complete graphic information, see microfilm
by CNB