Beach season has finally arrived! Living Local has made a comprehensive list of some of Hampton Roads’ most enjoyable spots, complete with amenity descriptions and links for more info.
Hampton
Buckroe Beach Bay front park with ¾ mile of clean beach. Kayaks and paddleboats are available for rental. There are three shelters with 2 grills in each, children’s playground, restroom facilities available May 15th through September 15th from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., a stage pavilion for community events and ample open space. Dogs are not allowed in the park from May 15 to September 15. Park Rangers are on site year-round. http://www.hampton.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/46
Grandview Beach Entrance on State Park Dr. Just Off Beach Road. Grandview Nature Preserve forms the northeast corner of the city of Hampton. The Preserve covers over 475 acres of salt marsh, tidal creeks, and Chesapeake Bay beachfront. The Preserve is open to the public free, but has limited parking along State Park Drive. The Preserve is a great location to beach comb, observe the migratory birds, and discover the wonders of wetlands. Canoeing & Hiking Programs at Grandview are done through Buckroe Beach Park. Please call 757-850-5134 for details on current programs at Grandview. http://visithampton.com/play/listing/grandview-nature-preserve/
Salt Ponds Beach Salt Ponds Marina Resort is conveniently located in Hampton, right off the Chesapeake Bay. It provides access to Salts Pond Beach and Buckroe Beach and includes many amenities. http://www.saltpondsmarinaresort.com/
Newport News
Huntington Beach A public beach with designated swimming area, staffed with lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day. A beach concession is also open during this time serving snowcones, ice cream, and other delicious foods. Open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Monday – Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Lifeguard on Duty) 5500 W. Mercury Blvd., Newport News, VA 23607 http://www.nnparks.com/parks_huntington.php
King-Lincoln Park Overlooking the Hampton Roads waterfront at the east end of Newport News, King-Lincoln Park features tennis, basketball, picnicking, playgrounds, a saltwater fishing pier and an interpretive center (open weekends in summer months). Special events are held on an outdoor stage during the summer months. 600 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23607 Phone: 757-886-7912 http://www.newport-news.org/sports.php?id=11
Norfolk
Ocean View Beach Park This unique 6.5-acre beach park, is considered the jewel of Ocean View. The park has a large band shell for presentations and dancing, a beach with lifeguards in the summer, a boardwalk, beach handicap access ramp, and lots of open green space. Ocean View Beach Park is designated as a festival park, which is a specially designated park that allows for increased festival support, gated and ticketed events & alcohol consumption at special events. Private events are not permitted for this facility and all events must be open to the public. 100 W. Ocean View Ave., Norfolk, VA 23503 http://www.norfolk.gov/facilities/Facility/Details/34
York
Yorktown Beach Located in historic Yorktown, this 2-acre beachfront provides opportunities for boating, swimming, and fishing. A fishing pier and 10-acre grass picnic area are also available. A public restroom/shower facility is located next to the Dock Master’s office and opened April through October. The fishing pier is open year round and there is no license required to fish from this pier. 425 Water Street, Yorktown, VA 23690 Visit the Yorktown Beach page for more information.
Jamestown
Jamestown Beach Jamestown beach reopens mid-May and will have an ADA-accessible trail and beach access, an observation pier, and restroom and concession facility. The beach park is a great location to paddle board, launch a canoe or kayak, wind sail and parasail. Water skiing and jet skiing are popular activities, too. Fishing is not permitted on the beachfront, but is permitted on the peninsula near the bridge. There are no lifeguards; guests swim at their own risk. 2205 Jamestown Road,Williamsburg, VA 23185 Phone: 757-259-5360 http://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/attractions/jamestown-beach-event-park
Gloucester
Gloucester Point Beach Gloucester Point Beach offers swimming, boating, pier fishing without a license, reserve-able picnic and gazebo areas. Use of the park is free. 1255 Greate Rd., Gloucester Point, VA 23062 http://gloucesterva.info/ParksandRecreation/Parks/GloucesterPointBeachPark/tabid/1035/Default.aspx or http://www.baygateways.net/general.cfm?id=63.
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Oceanfront The three-mile Boardwalk, Croatan Beach all the way up to the north-end beaches, is the resort area internationally renowned. Hotels, restaurants, vendors, beaches, attractions and so much more make up this popular vacation spot. Live nightly music during the summer months is on 7th, 17th, and 24th and 31st Streets. Restrooms are located at 17th, 24th and 30th Streets. http://www.visitvirginiabeach.com/visitors/beaches/resort-area/
Chesapeake Beach Known to locals as Chic’s Beach or Chick’s Beach this getaway from the tourist-saturated Oceanfront is a stretch of beaches running about two miles from the Lynnhaven Inlet to just west of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia Beach. It has a national wildlife refuge, state parks, charter fishing boat services, kayaking, jet ski and dolphin tours and most notably a local charm. http://www.visitvirginiabeach.com/visitors/beaches/chesapeake-bay/ or http://www.virginiabeach.com/.
Sandbridge Sandbridge Beach is a quiet, family orientated beach, located just south of the Virginia Beach resort area. Also known as the “Outer Banks of Virginia,” Sandbridge has public beach access, restrooms and municipal parking lots are located near Sandbridge Market at the corner of Sandbridge Road and Sandfiddler Road. Little Island Park is at the south end features lifeguards, covered picnic areas with grills, bath houses/showers, lighted tennis courts, basketball court, children’s playground, and even a fishing pier. Pier open 5:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. http://www.sandbridgebeachva.com/ or http://www.visitvirginiabeach.com/visitors/beaches/sandbridge/ Below is the Virginia Department of Health’s swimming advisories map to inform visitors of beach conditions.
