Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Virginia Beach is the Perfect Place For Love

Virginia Beach - Love the Moment

Years ago, there was a popular commercial that stated, “Virginia Is For Lovers.” My husband and I were in our honeymoon phase of dating. We had discussed living together and decided a vacation to Virginia Beach would be a good way to kickoff our lives together.


We drove to Virginia Beach from New York and the scenery was amazing. I enjoyed traveling from Long Island, New York through NYC and down into the southern states. We stopped in Maryland for the heartiest brunch I ever had then continued on toward Virginia Beach. There were farms and estates with beautiful homes and vast acreage on our way to the shore.


It was an idyllic paradise when we arrived. The street was lined with resorts and shops. We had decided on the familiar comfort of a Holiday Inn. Upon arrival, we were informed there was a cancellation on a room with a Jacuzzi tub and balcony overlooking the ocean. It didn't take much to convince us to take it.


A cozy little bar and restaurant on the main level served us beer, wine and burgers to refuel after our long journey. We took a sunset walk on the boardwalk and saw a juggler entertaining the crowd. After dipping our feet in the water, we stopped at Dairy Queen for ice cream cones. When we returned, we settled into the Jacuzzi to totally unwind.


In the morning, we woke up to see dolphins diving in the ocean. It was an amazing sight from our balcony. I could not believe these amazing creatures were close enough to watch as the soared up over the water. I was eager to swim the next day and it was as amazing as I imagined it would be.


We planned to enjoy shopping, dining and antique browsing over the next couple of days. Our first stop was a local shop that sold sterling silver jewelry, turquoise and souvenirs. I could not resist the sterling silver dolphin ring and another sterling ring with red and blue turquoise. The turquoise ring is on my pinky as I write this blog, a meaningful memory of one of my favorite vacations.


At the local store, the shopkeepers were husband and wife. They smiled at us and said they saw marriage in our future. While we were not yet engaged, they were certainly right with their prediction. Virginia definitely is for lovers! The azure seas, silky sands and sensational places to go are ideal for couples and families. They also have the most mouthwatering crab cakes on the map!


I never wanted to leave but I had to return to work after our long and romantic weekend. As we drove away from Virginia Beach, we found a fantastic antique shop. My husband bought a lovely glass vase. It now holds all the flowers he buys for me and our daughter. In fact, right now it is holding three carnations from the bouquet we bought for her spring concert yesterday.


My best friend from high school now lives in Virginia. She reminded me how much I loved Virginia Beach and invited the whole family to come visit. I long to show my children Beach Street USA with its shows, shops, resorts and beauty. I know the kids would love to spend hours at the Virginia Aquarium.  I want them to taste a Dairy Queen cone and see the dolphins dive at a close distance.

We are planning a getaway right now with the help of my friend and the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau website. We can't resist sharing the love!  Why not Visit Virginia Beach yourself?!

I wrote ths blog while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach blogging program. For more information on how you can participate, click here.