Virginia Beach Offers a Myriad of Activities for the Hispanic Family Getaway

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., June 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In Virginia Beach, the seagulls' melody and the waves crashing ashore beckon you and your family. Your lungs fill with salt air, the sun evaporates tiny drops of ocean from your skin and you are engulfed with euphoria as you anticipate the day you will experience with the ones you love most. When planning the day's itinerary, leave plenty of time to embark on an oceanfront adventure, immerse yourself in fascinating history and spend lazy days lounging on sun-drenched beaches.

When planning your trip, note that with the region's mild year-round climate, Virginia Beach is a popular getaway every season of the year. The resort city is centrally located on the East Coast just 20 minutes from Norfolk International Airport, which hosts over 200 major flights daily, and 45 minutes from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. For visitors driving to Virginia Beach, the resort city is just 4 hours away from Washington, D.C., 8 hours from New York City and 2 hours from Richmond, Va. It is also accessible from the world-famous Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel, a 17-mile span connecting Virginia's Eastern Shore with Virginia Beach.

Finding the perfect accommodation is never a problem in Virginia Beach. With nearly 12,000 hotel rooms ranging from quaint inns to luxurious new hotels and over 1,800 campsites, there is something for every type of visitor.

The North End and Sandbridge areas of Virginia Beach offer several hundred rental cottages to choose from, perfect for family reunions, celebrations or other group getaways. The North End begins where the Boardwalk ends at 39th Street and extends through 89th Street. Located on Virginia Beach's southern shore, Sandbridge is wonderfully secluded but only 15 minutes away from the main resort area.

Virginia Beach is where one can truly "live the Beach life." We've got plenty of suggestions for the Hispanic visitor.

Virginia Beach Boasts Many Festivals and Events: The oceanfront comes alive during the warmer months with festivals and events perfect for the Hispanic visitor. From music and art, to wine and sports, every visitor is sure to find an enjoyable experience in Virginia Beach. June 11-12, experience the Hardee's Latin Fest celebrating the sights, sounds and smells of the Latin experience. Based on a popular Latin festival in Miami, the Virginia Beach version retains the key ingredients of good food, family participation, and first-rate Latin music. National performers electrify the diverse audience with high-energy tunes that move the crowd to dance under the stars with the oceanfront as a backdrop. Local and regional Latin acts will take the stage and unite festival-goers with the rhythms of Salsa, Merengue and Jazz. Locos Por Juana, one of the hottest Latin alternative rock bands in the United States, will perform on June 11, from 9:30 – 11 p.m.

That same weekend, sports enthusiasts will love the North American Sand Soccer Championships. Browse more than 40,000 pieces of art during the 54th Annual Boardwalk Art Show & Festival, June 17-20. On July 4, the Stars & Stripes Explosion showcases great music with breathtaking fireworks that create a patriotic tapestry over the Atlantic Ocean. Or, ride the curl in Virginia Beach during the East Coast Surfing Championships, North America's oldest running surfing competition and the second oldest continuously-run surfing contest in the world. During the summer months, Beach Street U.S.A. lines the Virginia Beach oceanfront with free, themed, nightly entertainment along Atlantic Avenue from 17th to 25th Streets. These events are free and open to the public and offer puppets, bands, jugglers and magicians entertaining crowds right on the sidewalks.

Enjoy Coastal Cuisine with a Magnificent View: In Virginia Beach, Coastal Cuisine is our forte – a rich signature culinary style with fresh seafood from the Atlantic Ocean mixed with organic produce straight from local farms. What better way to enjoy the warmer weather than by enjoying a delicious meal on a dock overlooking the Chesapeake Bay and a beautiful Virginia Beach sunset? Enjoy regional specialties and local favorites such as crab cakes, grilled mahi-mah, yellowfin tuna, she-crab soup and striped bass (better known as "rockfish"). After dinner, head to the Town Center, Virginia Beach's new downtown area which spans 17 city blocks and offers dining, shopping and entertainment venues. Enjoy a night of laughter at the Funny Bone Comedy Club or experience a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.  

Check out Restless Planet at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center: Featuring four habitats from around the world that existed in Virginia millions of years ago, the new $25 million Restless Planet at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center features 12,000 square feet of spectacular new habitats, exhibits and aquariums. Home to 6,000 new animals and 367 new species – including Komodo dragons, exotic cobras, hedgehogs, and so much more – Restless Planet more than doubles the Aquarium's animal collection. Explore immersive live-animal exhibits and engage in 36 new hands-on activities designed to demonstrate the processes that shaped Virginia's current landscape. A Malaysian Peat Swamp, a Coastal Sahara Desert, the Red Sea and Indonesia's Flores Island habitats recreate the look, feel and smell of Virginia's tumultuous ecological history. Visit www.virginiaaquarium.com for more information.

Nature Awaits You in Virginia Beach: Virginia Beach is a wonderland for sports enthusiasts and those desiring more physical adventure. With more than 18,000 acres of state parks and a wildlife refuge and 121 navigable miles of waterways, there is something for everyone. A virtually undiscovered ecological treasure, Virginia Beach is home to one of the last great salt marsh habitats on the East Coast. Explore by kayak the inland waterways and 35 miles of ocean and bay beaches and experience nature at its most pristine and undisturbed. Bike through the trails of First Landing State Park, the most visited park in Virginia, where you will get up close and personal with birds and other wildlife along the way. Or, just stroll along the 3-mile boardwalk, taking in the sights of the Atlantic and other people along the way. Many Virginia Beach outfitters offer tours throughout the year, or rent your equipment and explore the outdoors and quiet sounds of untouched nature by yourself.

Virginia Beach entices visitors to "Live the Life" year-round! Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of D.C. by car and within a day's drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For visitor information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800/822-3224) or visit www.vbfun.com for online trip planning. For media information and digital images, click on www.vbpressroom.com. Please follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/vabeachcvb.

SOURCE Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau