THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511090123
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEAN GEDDES, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
One woman wanted to know where there was a good local spot to get married.
Another wanted to know how to cook the Virginia ham she had purchased while vacationing here.
By far though, the most frequently asked question at the city's visitors information center is: ``Where's the beach?''
``Usually they've been driving for hours. They're tired and they want to get to their hotel and then see the famous ocean.'' said J.E. ``Buddy'' Wheeler, supervisor of the 4-year-old information center, which sits on Parks Avenue between the entrance and exit to the Virginia Beach/Norfolk Expressway.
A lot of people also call and ask for information about miniature golf courses here.
Wheeler, who heads a staff of seven employees, enjoys his job as supervisor. ``I'm a people person and enjoy answering people's questions about this area. We're very upbeat here, helping people have a good time.''
And they try to be prepared for just about any question - from whale watching to wind surfing.
During the summer, the center sees up to 1,200 visitors a day come through its doors, and even now in what Wheeler refers to as the shoulder season (September, October, November) there is a steady flow of people. ``We see a lot of `empty nesters' who like the less crowded beach, but we also have a lot of golfers, bikers and canoeists coming in. It's one of the nicest times to visit.
``A lot of people come here expecting to see a sleepy little resort town,'' he said. ``They're in for a surprise when they see what is here and that it's Virginia's largest city.''
Yet, some of the ``sleepy town'' image certain visitors want remains. ``So we tell them about Sandbridge and Croatan and the beach at the North End, which is somewhat like the Northern beaches. We're known as the northernmost Southern beach,'' he said.
Sometimes visitors to the center don't come in until they've been here for a day or so. Wheeler said, ``They've seen the ocean, been to the Marine Science Museum and now they want to know what else there is to do.''
That's when the staff goes into action explaining about the 45 miles of scenic waterways, from Lynnhaven River to North Carolina; the First Landing Cross at Cape Henry, the shopping malls, theaters, night-time entertainment, the miniature golf courses as well as the regular ones, deep sea fishing boats and restaurants.
No visitor leaves without an armful of colored brochures and discount coupons as well as a thorough knowledge of area attractions from Norfolk to Williamsburg. Sometimes those visitors are from other places including Europe, Canada and Japan where the city actively markets its attractions.
``Last year we had 112,343 walk-in visitors, answered 168,031 phone calls and mailed out 305,575 visitor inquiry packages,'' he said. Numbers this year are running even higher.
On a recent day, Sue Wehner was helping Wheeler hold down the information fort. She echoed him. ``You have to love people.''
She has answered a lot of expected - and unexpected - questions, including the ``how to cook a ham'' one. ``I told them how I do it and that pleased them,'' she said.
Other questions aren't so easy.
``I can remember one particular time when a man from Pennsylvania called here and asked me to help him find a body. He said a member of his family, a young woman, had died here and he believed she was cremated. He wanted to know where the remains were buried.''
She made many inquiries and found the necessary information, called him and ``he was so grateful.''
Then there was the time a woman from Roanoke came in announcing she was going to be married for the second time and wanted something special in the way of a wedding. Again the staff sprang into action and the result was that she hired a limousine, obtained the services of a minister and was married at the First Landing Cross at Cape Henry. ``I always refer those wanting to get married to the city for their licenses and the other necessary details,'' Wehner said.
Wheeler anticipates this will be a busy winter season, especially with the Holiday Lights at the Beach display opening later this month. Twenty-four blocks of the Boardwalk will twinkle and glow with hundreds of thousands of lights, combined with dozens of animated scenes. For the first time, cars will be allowed on the Boardwalk and visitors can take the scenic tour in their own automobiles at a cost of $6 per vehicle. The scenes will be festive with a nautical theme. MEMO: The phone number at the Visitor Information Center is 491-SUNN.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
The 4-year-old visitor information center sits on Parks Avenue
between the entrance and exit to the Virginia Beach/Norfolk
Expressway.
Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
``A lot of people come here expecting to see a sleepy little resort
town,'' says J.E. ``Buddy'' Wheeler, supervisor of the visitors
center. ``They're in for a surprise when they see what is here and
that it's Virginia's largest city.''
by CNB