Virginia Beach Oceanfront facts for kids
The Virginia Beach Oceanfront is a popular boardwalk area in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It stretches for three miles (about 4.8 kilometers) along the Atlantic Ocean. This busy area includes the boardwalk itself, plus Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Avenue. Virginia Beach is a well-known resort city, and the Oceanfront is one of its main attractions for visitors. The boardwalk you see today was built in 1988. It's made of concrete and connects over forty hotels and many other fun places. It even has a special path for bikes!
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History of the Oceanfront
Tourism in Virginia Beach, Virginia started to grow when a rail system was built in 1883. Soon after, the Virginia Beach Hotel opened, giving visitors their first place to stay overnight. As more tourists came to spend their summers by the coast, work began on the first boardwalk in 1888. It was made of wooden planks and was only five blocks long at first.
During a time called the Gilded Age (a period of rapid economic growth in the late 1800s), the boardwalk was home to the famous Peacock Ballroom. Big names like Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Tommy Dorsey performed there. By the early 1900s, Virginia Beach was a very popular vacation spot.
In 1927, The Cavalier Hotel opened. This was the first grand hotel in Virginia Beach. Many important people stayed there, including seven US Presidents: Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. Famous celebrities like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Bette Davis, and Judy Garland also visited.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, The Cavalier hosted the most popular big bands in the world. Artists like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller performed there. The hotel even helped during World War II. In 1942, the United States Navy used the hotel. They turned the stables into living areas for sailors and used the pool for training. The hotel chefs even cooked for the Navy trainees! In 1973, because more tourists were visiting, The Cavalier built a new 11-story hotel right on the oceanfront. Later, Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush visited, as did President Jimmy Carter.
Oceanfront Features
The Oceanfront has many monuments that honor important Virginians. Some of these are in the Naval Aviation Monument Park. This park was officially opened in 2006. It has large statues and carvings that tell the story of Naval Aviation.
The Virginia Legends Walk features famous historical Virginians. You can see names like Pocahontas, Edgar Allan Poe, and George Washington there. Many other monuments are placed between the hotels. A very famous one is the huge statue of King Neptune. This bronze statue is 34 feet tall and stands at 31st Street and Atlantic Avenue, looking over Neptune Park.
You'll also find different kinds of artwork between the hotels and other buildings. Many are sculptures of sea creatures like starfish, dolphins, and sea turtles. They are painted in bright colors for everyone to enjoy.
Oceanfront Entertainment
The Virginia Beach Oceanfront is home to Beach Street USA. This group organizes fun events during the summer for tourists. Most events are free and feature local and visiting performers. You can see magic shows, musical acts, and even psychics or palm readers. Some special events do cost money.
One of the most popular events is McDonald's Holiday Lights at the Beach. During this event, you can drive your car along the boardwalk to see many different holiday light displays. Bikes are available to rent all summer for individuals and families. There's a special bike path that runs along the entire boardwalk.
The Oceanfront has over forty hotels mixed in with small restaurants, photo studios, and other unique shops. There are also many night clubs on both Atlantic and Pacific Avenue. Another big attraction is the 14th Street Fishing Pier. It's one of many fishing piers in Virginia, and it's the only one you can reach directly from the boardwalk.
Awards and Recognition
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk has received national praise recently. It has been called one of America's favorite boardwalks by the Discovery Channel. It has also been featured in magazines like Coastal Living, Southern Living, and National Geographic Traveler.
