Hotels with Ocean Views VA | "Virginia Beach, Baby!"

Source      :   http://tripandtravelblog.com
Category   :  Hotels with Ocean Views VA
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


DC area residents have several options for beach vacations.  It seems like every family is heading north or south for a weeklong vacation home rental during the summer months.

Hotels with Ocean Views VA

We actually are one of those families (Kiawah Island being our favorite destination).  Now that the children are getting older, we have the added complexity of coordinating summer school, multiple camps and summer jobs along with our own work schedules. Finding a whole week when we can get away has been getting progressively more difficult. Not only that, but once you take the $3000+ family vacation, what is left to look forward to the rest of the summer?  This summer we decided to try taking  three day vacations every three or four weeks from May to September.  

We discovered a great gem in Virginia Beach.

It has a range of hotels right on the beach, a terrific boardwalk with entertainment and events all summer long, clean sandy beaches and best of all, it is only 3.5 hours away. I can load sleepy children into the car at 7 am and be tossing a Frisbee with my crew on the beach by 10:30!

Hotels

There is the typical range of hotels in Virginia Beach but, in my opinion, Holiday Inn Suites North is the best for families. Not only do all your children under the age of 12 eat for free all week long in a variety of restaurants and beachside grills, but a full service kids club with babysitting and a free movie theater are included in your hotel stay. The rooms are immaculate and are decorated with modern beachy greens and blues.  Our room had two queen beds in one room, a fold-out full sleeper and a mini kitchen with granite countertop.  Not to mention it featured the five pools, consisting of two lazy rivers, one beachside salt water pool and even some water slides.

Restaurants

The food is exquisitely prepared and is a welcome relief from the fried food and snacks that typically accompany beach vacations. I ordered this adorable little playful dish called "The Grand Slam, " which features  housemade brioche with smoked steelhead caviar, sunny side quail egg, neuske's bacon, blinis & maple creme fraiche. If you can, get a seat at the Open Kitchen bar where you can watch the chefs prepare the food while you eat.  The portions are not huge but they are more than adequate if you want to still look great in your new swimsuit!

Catch 31

It is located right on the beach, so you can walk to it from your hotel (after putting the children to bed under the watchful eyes of your babysitter/teenage children) via the boardwalk. We were lucky and nabbed an outdoor fire pit right on the boardwalk. The tables are big huge round granite tables surrounding a fire pit and multiple parties can seat themselves at the same table.The seafood is fresh and the atmosphere is fun!

The hotel has some great options too. If you are brave enough, you should  try Corey’s Rum Runner at the Holiday Inn Bar called "The Square Whale", or if you want to impress your children with what a cool parent you are, you might consider ordering them the kitchen sink sundae – it literally comes in a kitchen sink.

Entertainment

There are various entertainers on the boardwalk starting the middle of June and going through August, 7 nights a week. Everything from stilt- walkers, fire-dancers, scavenger hunts, street performers, magicians and more. Schedule of events can be found on Beachstreet USA. During the day you can rent bikes, roller blades or even a surrey.  There are two separate boardwalks one for walkers and one for people with wheels so you don't have to worry about the overzealous jogging mom with the double stroller hogging the lane.  (Yes, that is right no one had to worry about me!)
There are inflatable water slides right on the beach. There is a long dock right on the beach that has ice cream, fried seafood and the typical array of shops with salt water taffy and beach trinkets for sale. There are also boat and fishing tours and, of course, plenty of surfing.


My best advice would be to take it slow and try not to cram in too much, our lives are busy enough so sit back in your Tommy Bahamas chair, grab a drink and relax.   I bet you will head back there in a mere three weeks.