Author Topic: My Week in Virginia Beach  (Read 32459 times)

Offline Joel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2018
  • Posts: 5363
  • Total likes: 1175
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 81
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hertz PC, Enterprise Platinum, Avis PC
My Week in Virginia Beach
« on: December 25, 2018, 09:44:12 PM »

We were looking to go away to nice vacation spot at the water. With my wife pregnant, we didn't want to leave the U.S., and Florida was out due to risk of Zika. That is how we decided to travel to VA Beach.


We left on a Sunday morning, stopping first to buy food for the 7-hour drive. It was a very enjoyable drive down.
In order to get to our destination, we had to pass through a magnificent Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel.

Day 1-Sunday


We arrived Sunday late afternoon to our hotel; Holiday Inn VA Beach - Oceanside.

We choose this hotel due to its proximity and private entrance to the beach. All rooms have a private balcony which was a must for us. We also looked for a room that has a kitchen, so we can eat comfortably in our room, but when we arrived, we found out that only the king suite has a kitchen. The room was clean, as the reviews had said. It was a bit small which was fine as we spent of the time on the balcony or outside. We had requested a quiet room and received one on the 12th floor.

After settling in we went for a late evening stroll on the boardwalk. One of the things I liked about this boardwalk, was the separate pavements for bikes and pedestrians, so when taking a walk, we were not constantly stopped by bikers. The beach and boardwalk were well maintained and very clean.

As there aren't any kosher restaurants in VA Beach, we brought along all our food in 2 huge ice boxes. When we wanted to eat supper, we took an out the double wrapped frozen restaurant meals (I bought them from a takeout in Brooklyn) and microwaved them. We brought along plastic ware and cutlery as well. In order to keep the ice box cold we replaced the ice every day from the ice machine. We
would back and forth from the ice machine to our room until the ice box was fill. It's a miracle the ice didn't use up...

Day 2-Monday


Early morning, after watching sunrise, I set out on a 45-minute drive to the nearest minyan. The Bnei Israel Congregation of Norfolk is the nearest shul, located in Norfolk VA. Although the drive is long it was pleasant as there is no traffic early morning.

 After breakfast we set out on our first trip in VA Beach; Ruddy’s Dolphin Tours (www.rudeetours.com),  $22 per adult. We took the 11am one so we should still have time to spend on the beach. The tour company promised to give you another free ride if no dolphins are spotted. Dolphins are very common in VA Beach, and we were very excited to see them. The trip turned out to be awesome. The captain steered to the regular places where the dolphins hang out, and boy were they jumping around! They came very close to the boat and even swam alongside us for a while. There were loads of dolphins out and we enjoyed every second!
When we came back, we went to buy some beach gear. Plenty of cheap stores dot the Avenue. We bought sunglasses, flip flops and colorful beach towel. Before going down to the beach, we filled our small ice box with ice, water bottles and soda.
The beach was awesome. It is extremely clean and has plenty of lifeguards. They rent chairs and beach umbrellas, but we decided against it. We sat in the sand, swam a bit and headed up to start the supper process.

Day 3-Tuesday


We decided to dedicate Tuesday to the beach. We drove out to Walmart, bought chairs and an umbrella (for cheaper than it would have been to rent for a day) and some water bottles as the hotel charged $2 a bottle. The weather was beautiful, and we really enjoyed our time by the sea.

Day 4-Wednesday

We awoke to sunrise. Watching it from our balcony, in the cool morning air, was breathtaking. We laid back down for a quick nap. After eating breakfast, we left for a cruise that passes through a naval base (www.misshamptoncruises.com) $24 per adult. We saw many warships, battleships, hospital ships, guard ships and much more. The tour guide was knowledgeable, informative and funny. He described each ship's purpose and the battles it had fought in.

After that it made a stop on Fort Wool, a civil war era fort. (They only make the stop weather permitting as it is difficult to get to the Fort in bad weather) The fort hasn’t been touched and has many interesting sites, such as cannon shooters and watchtowers. We both enjoyed it and is a great idea for anyone who enjoys history or military.
It was a very windy day and the waves were quite wild, so we did not spend much time on the water.
It was July 4, so at 7:30pm they had a firework show on the water. Many people went down to the beach to be able to see it close, but we stayed in the balcony. Turns out we had an amazing view, as we were high up and didn't have to push through masses of people. The show was really nice and lasted half an hour. Afterwards plenty of people fired their own fireworks and the beach was alive with activity much later than usual.



Day 5-Thursday

We started our last day early. We packed up and checked out early so we can have time to sit on the beach a bit. After loading up the car we asked if we can keep it parked in the lot for a bit longer. They agreed. However, it turned out to be very hot and so we left after not too much longer.

We started the long drive back home. When passing through Delaware we decided to stop for coffee. We stumbled upon a mall which had a Starbucks and many other great stores. We bought plenty of things for cheap and spent 2 hours in the mall. When we got back home it was very late, so we bought supper and sat down thinking about the awesome trip we took



Summary


It was a beautiful trip. We didn’t want to tour around a lot, we preferred to relax on the short vacation break we get from work. The beach was a fantastic place to do that. Even the short trips we took were relaxing and not high pressure. However, there are many other trips one can take such as parasailing, wild boat rides etc. We loved the relaxation and the clear air. Recommended trip for any couple looking for a nice outing!

 


Offline thaber

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 3986
  • Total likes: 505
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2018, 03:28:29 AM »
Great report, glad you enjoyed. Just for next time and others, there's an awesome shwarma place and plenty of kosher groceries in Norfolk, about e half hour drive away

Offline davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7266
  • Total likes: 979
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2018, 08:29:36 AM »


Great report, glad you enjoyed. Just for next time and others, there's an awesome shwarma place and plenty of kosher groceries in Norfolk, about e half hour drive away
+1
As well as a cafe at the JCC or something.
The bridge/tunnel drive is really awesome.
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Online jj1000

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jun 2008
  • Posts: 14246
  • Total likes: 7954
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 29367
    • View Profile
  • Location: The value of a forum such as this one is not in that one can post a question and receive an answer, but in that the question has most likely been asked before, and the answer is available to him that will but only use the search function.
  • Programs: 1. Search on google. 2. Search in the right board of DDF with a general word or two. 3. Read the wiki. 4. Read the thread. 5. Ask away.
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2018, 08:31:14 AM »
Are people currently not traveling to FL due to Zika?
See my 5 step program to your left <--

(Real signature under my location)

Offline Mordyk

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2013
  • Posts: 4248
  • Total likes: 1159
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Some of this and some of that.
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2018, 09:14:33 AM »
Are people currently not traveling to FL due to Zika?
+1 was thinking the same
#TYH

Offline SOS

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 796
  • Total likes: 48
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Programs: SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Avis First, Hertz Five Star, National Executive
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2018, 02:59:29 PM »



Day 2-Monday


Early morning, after watching sunrise, I set out on a 45-minute drive to the nearest minyan. The Bnei Israel Congregation of Norfolk is the nearest shul, located in Norfolk VA. Although the drive is long it was pleasant as there is no traffic early morning.

 
For next time
There is a weekday minyan for shachris in a buisness in Virginia beach itself...

Offline zow

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 2944
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2018, 04:17:07 PM »
Great report. 
Sounds like a nice escape with interesting things to do combined with beach/swim.

Offline Joel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2018
  • Posts: 5363
  • Total likes: 1175
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 81
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hertz PC, Enterprise Platinum, Avis PC
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2018, 06:10:00 PM »
Great report, glad you enjoyed. Just for next time and others, there's an awesome shwarma place and plenty of kosher groceries in Norfolk, about e half hour drive away
We didn't go to the shawarma place for two reasons. One we weren't sure what the hechsher was, and two we didn't want so much time traveling 45 minutes each way with the evening traffic. But its definitely a good option for others.

Offline Joel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2018
  • Posts: 5363
  • Total likes: 1175
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 81
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hertz PC, Enterprise Platinum, Avis PC
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2018, 06:11:01 PM »
For next time
There is a weekday minyan for shachris in a buisness in Virginia beach itself...
I heard its not a steady consistant minyan

Offline Joel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2018
  • Posts: 5363
  • Total likes: 1175
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 81
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hertz PC, Enterprise Platinum, Avis PC
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2018, 06:12:25 PM »
Great report. 
Sounds like a nice escape with interesting things to do combined with beach/swim.
It really was! And I loved the privacy of so few Jews versus Miami

Offline thaber

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 3986
  • Total likes: 505
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2018, 07:33:18 PM »
We didn't go to the shawarma place for two reasons. One we weren't sure what the hechsher was, and two we didn't want so much time traveling 45 minutes each way with the evening traffic. But its definitely a good option for others.
Hechsher is good. Traffic I can't help with

Offline eandd

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Nov 2016
  • Posts: 169
  • Total likes: 18
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2018, 10:42:54 PM »
We didn't go to the shawarma place for two reasons. One we weren't sure what the hechsher was, and two we didn't want so much time traveling 45 minutes each way with the evening traffic. But its definitely a good option for others.

Thanks for taking the time to write up, we love Virginia Beach! From the couple of times that I've been, I have never found there to be any traffic between Norfolk and Virginia beach, and Norfolk itself is worth a full day trip.

Offline Joel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2018
  • Posts: 5363
  • Total likes: 1175
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 81
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hertz PC, Enterprise Platinum, Avis PC
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2018, 10:50:52 PM »
Thanks for taking the time to write up, we love Virginia Beach! From the couple of times that I've been, I have never found there to be any traffic between Norfolk and Virginia beach, and Norfolk itself is worth a full day trip.
Thanks for the info, will keep in mind next time we go.

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9701
  • Total likes: 192
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2018, 12:26:17 PM »
Thanks for writing this up, sounds very nice! What time of year was this?

Offline Joel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2018
  • Posts: 5363
  • Total likes: 1175
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 81
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hertz PC, Enterprise Platinum, Avis PC
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2018, 12:29:05 PM »
Thanks for writing this up, sounds very nice! What time of year was this?
July 4 week

Offline S209

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 7646
  • Total likes: 4082
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Gowns By Shevy
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Marriott Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC, National EE, Rock Royalty Wild Card, Wyndham Diamond, MLife Gold, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Uber VIP, IHG Platinum Elite, ANA Platinum, DDF Lifetime Prez Platinum Elite, AmEx Platinum
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #15 on: January 03, 2019, 01:12:10 PM »
+1 was thinking the same
Are people currently not traveling to FL due to Zika?
Anyone hear about this? I freaked when I read that..
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Offline S209

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 7646
  • Total likes: 4082
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Gowns By Shevy
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Marriott Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC, National EE, Rock Royalty Wild Card, Wyndham Diamond, MLife Gold, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Uber VIP, IHG Platinum Elite, ANA Platinum, DDF Lifetime Prez Platinum Elite, AmEx Platinum
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #16 on: January 03, 2019, 01:13:45 PM »
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Offline Joel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2018
  • Posts: 5363
  • Total likes: 1175
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 81
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hertz PC, Enterprise Platinum, Avis PC
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #17 on: January 03, 2019, 01:30:07 PM »
Oh. Was it this year?
Last summer

Offline S209

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 7646
  • Total likes: 4082
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Gowns By Shevy
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Marriott Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC, National EE, Rock Royalty Wild Card, Wyndham Diamond, MLife Gold, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Uber VIP, IHG Platinum Elite, ANA Platinum, DDF Lifetime Prez Platinum Elite, AmEx Platinum
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #18 on: January 03, 2019, 03:31:59 PM »
Last summer
Don’t mean to be annoying, but do you mean this past (most recent) summer? Or the summer of last year?
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Offline Joel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2018
  • Posts: 5363
  • Total likes: 1175
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 81
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, National EE, Hertz PC, Enterprise Platinum, Avis PC
Re: My Week in Virginia Beach
« Reply #19 on: January 03, 2019, 03:33:43 PM »
Don’t mean to be annoying, but do you mean this past (most recent) summer? Or the summer of last year?
Most recent.