Kerry DoughertyI can't believe I’m saying this, but give Virginia Beach a break. I’m talking to the hundreds of crankypants who posted ugly comments about the Resort City last week on The Pilot’s Web site.
You called the Beach “disgusting,” “tacky” and a “no fun zone.” A “money-grubbing resort town,” with shops “full of crap.” “If I were a tourist living up North, I would not even stop in Virginia Beach to relieve myself,” one declared.
Hey, it’s one thing to criticize the crazies at City Hall. Quite another to attack our sandy beaches.
The name-calling came as the result of a silly dust-up between tourist honchos in Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach. South Carolina is trying to steal our tourists.
“Myrtle Beach: The Alternative to Virginia Beach Vacations” boasts a dull, 2-year-old campaign.
Virginia Beach’s crybabies gave the obscure promotion oceans of publicity.
It was “ unethical, unfortunate and, frankly, beneath the dignity of a major resort,” huffed Virginia Beach’s Tourism chief Jim Ricketts.
Please. Leave the word “dignity” out of a discussion about advertising. That’s just asking for trouble.
Once the stories broke, Beach-bashing began. Disgust with city government seemed to translate into contempt for the city itself, what shrinks call “transference.”
True, the Resort City is run by a troupe of dancing bears. Their canoodling with developers has led to many boneheaded decisions. But we can’t blame them for T-shirt shops and snow-cone stands. Those are at every resort.
As a vacation destination, Virginia Beach is hampered mostly by latitude. It can’t compare with more tropical resorts but it stacks up fine against points north.
Let this Jersey girl tell you about tacky enterprises, money-grubbing municipalities and dirty beaches.
I spent my summers at the Jersey Shore. I was an adult before realizing tar wasn’t a natural byproduct of the sea. You haven’t been to a bacteria beach until you’ve scrubbed gobs of black goo off the soles of your feet. With kerosene.
Money-grubbing resorts? At the risk of giving Virginia Beach bosses more bad ideas, many Garden State beaches require badges to just walk on the sand. Five bucks a day in some places.
You want to talk ocean temperatures? Fuggedaboutit. The water’s so cold up north that your legs ache if you wade in. I’ve been to Delaware and Maryland’s resorts, too. Outside of the excellent french fries, there are lots of good reasons for Pennsylvania and Ohio tourists to drive on by.
Myrtle Beach officials say they’re engaging in “guerrilla advertising.” Good idea. Every resort should try it.
Virginia Beach ought to retaliate with “gasoline ads.” With a gallon of regular headed for $4, all the Beach needs to do is show a map of the East Coast. Myrtle Beach lies 370 long miles to the south.
Enough said.
Kerry Dougherty, (757) 446-2306, kerry.dougherty@cox.net
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Take Off the Rose Colored Glasses (local pride) for Objectivity
Kerry, Your independent column, which is usually the only place the view of the citizenry can be heard, is just about only reason for reading the Pilot. Keep up the great columns. On this particular topic, I suspect that local pride creates a rose colored view. Even if you do happen to make the local scene satisfying, the resort area and beaches of Myrtle Beach have far more variety and are far more accomodating. I have talked with numerous folks since your column and, without exception, everyone who had actually visited both areas, picked MB hands down as the better area. Those who supported VB had never been to MB! So much for objectivity!
Jersey Shore update
Kerry - I'm author of "The Jersey Shore, Atlantic City to Cape May," a travel guide about the South Jersey Shore, and I'm dismayed by your portrait of the area. It's come a long way since you spent your summers there, and it's now a destination of people from around the world. Did you know that Ocean City, NJ consistently ranks as one of the top family friendly beach towns in the US? We have some of the cleanest beaches in the country, and there's lots of things for people of all ages to do. Not all our beaches require tags, either -- Atlantic City and all three beaches in The Wildwoods are free.
I'd be happy to send you a copy of my book so you can re-educate yourself about the Jersey Shore. I'd be happy to give you a tour, too, if you'd like to make the trip up!
Thanks,
Jen A. Miller
downtheshorewithjen.blogspot.com
Va Beach is a No Fun Zone
I've remember going to the Oceanfront back in the 60's. It was a quaint little resort town, a nice secret. You could take a dog on the beach anytime of the day, even have a campfire at night. Things have changed as all things do around here - some good changes, some not so good.
I understand public safety and I know the riots that took place back in the late 80's really kicked the Control Freaks into full gear. I understand how the Beach wants to promote itself as a Family place but I think they've gone into overkill.
Trying to police everyone down to behavior/speech, (i.e., the no cursing signs are a big joke,) and turning on the lights, closing the bars at 1am and telling everyone to go home is not making Va. Beach a nice place to be. I'm surprised they are not throwing men in Speedos bikini bathing suits off the beach. The cops riding the bikes on the boardwalk have this "gotta make my quota" mentality. I do not get a nice vibe from the resort city at all now. Gotta find somewhere else to enjoy the beach without the Big Brother Mindset being rammed down the throat.
Have to agree with the majority of comments...
Lived in the Beach for 7 years and REFUSED to go to the beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day after the 1st year here. Thank goodness I moved further west out to the country. Leave it for the tourists who don't know better. I grew up in New England, spent my summers on the beaches of Long Island Sound. I lived in Delaware/Florida/Hawaii/Spain. All of those beaches are 1000% better than here. It was not the weather/location, it was the way people are treated upon visiting. I do have to admit it is a little better than it was in the 80's (what a dump back then). The poor traffic patterns, parking problems and lack of clean/adequate public restroom facilities make it one of the most tourist unfriendly places to visit. Instead of treating visitors/residents like unwanted houseguests, do the necessary infrastructure upgrades to support tourism and get rid of the hostile atmosphere at the Beach!
Fact check, please
C'mon, Kerry. Usually I agree with you, but ... during the same years you were going down the Shore, it was SOP for everyone on this Oceanfront to clean the tar off our tootsies with kerosene, just like you. The Jersey Shore is hardly the only Atlantic beach to have tar wash up. What's more, your assumption that tar creates a "bacteria beach" is worth a giggle. I doubt the CDC would agree that tar is a disease carrier. Tar in great quantities may make a mess of your feet and affect marine life, but really, cause disease? (As for the crankypants nomenclature, well, I guess you know what the pot called the kettle.)
Blog Comments about Va. Beach
I agree with you, Kerry. I was rather dumbfounded to read the comments of so many folks who are so unhappy here. In fact, I took the opportunity to highlight the many reasons I enjoy the area. Perhaps those who grew up here just don't know how lucky they are to have so much lovely beach to enjoy. In my little town in Southern Md. my friends and I felt fortunate to have a Mighty Mo (greasy burger joint) where we could hang out. I have lived here 15 yrs. and enjoy the many theaters (Attucks, Ferguson Center, Sandler, American, Wells) as well as the many museums and fine aquarium. If people are hearing sensitive, there are other beaches than the Oceanfront, such as "Chicks". No place is perfect. Even glorious Hawaii has its problems, like horrendous traffic, for instance.