Oceanfront and Boardwalk

Posted to: Virginia Beach

Quick Facts
Hours: 9:30 a.m - 6:00 p.m-Guarded Price: Metered parking and public lots with nominal fee available Amenities: Lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day (Hours vary). Public restrooms are at 17th, 24th and 30th streets. Changing facilities are at First Street. Umbrella, chair, bike and body board rentals available. Access ramps for the disabled are at First to 8th streets, 13th, 17th, 20th and 30th Streets. Two all-terrain wheelchairs are available as courtesy to beach-goers with disabilities from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the 17th and 24th street rental stations. Borrowers must provide I.D. Parking: Parking is plentiful with nearby municipal lots, on-street metered parking (enforced from April 1 to Sept. 30) and private lots.

Quick Facts

Hours:
9:30 a.m - 6:00 p.m-Guarded

Price:
Metered parking and public lots with nominal fee available

Amenities:
Lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day (Hours vary). Public restrooms are at 17th, 24th and 30th streets. Changing facilities are at First Street. Umbrella, chair, bike and body board rentals available. Access ramps for the disabled are at First to 8th streets, 13th, 17th, 20th and 30th Streets.
Two all-terrain wheelchairs are available as courtesy to beach-goers with disabilities from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the 17th and 24th street rental stations. Borrowers must provide I.D.

Parking:
Parking is plentiful with nearby municipal lots, on-street metered parking (enforced from April 1 to Sept. 30) and private lots.

The hotel-lined resort strip offers 38 miles of beach, eateries, bars, souvenir shops, a boardwalk and bike path open for rollerblading and skating. The waters are open for swimming during lifeguard hours, surfing and bodyboarding at restricted areas. Crabbing and fishing are available off of the 14th Street Pier. Festivals and live entertainment at the 17th and 24th Street Parks are booked regularly during the summer. The strip is also host to national surfing, volleyball and sand soccer competitions.

Resort Oceanfront and Boardwalk
2100 Parks Ave.
Virginia Beach VA 23451
757-437-4888 or 1-800-446-8038
http://www.vbfun.com/

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Archived comments

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One Star July 22, 2007
Tooo many out of towners!!! I refuse to go to the beach during the summer...Last time I went some out of towner was laying on our beach Topless!?! My kids dont need that...they need to forget about the swearing laws and deal with what really needs to be eliminated!!!
Reviewer: Rose L. from Hampton

Two Stars July 08, 2007
I do not venture to the oceanfront from Memorial Day through Labor Day! Parking is horrible and I just don't like rude out of towners who think we locals should accommodate their every whim!!! (Even though I have met some really cool and down to earth out of towners!). I like to hit the other local beaches that the tourist rarely go too! Besides, I agree with one comment...Locals should have free parking!!!!!! Have a nice day!
Reviewer: Annmarie L. from Virginia Beach

One Star May 31, 2007
The Beach used to be so nice for locals, yes i said used to be. The Tourist took over and with the Police at every corner makes you feel like a convict being watched . Some of the i agree can be rude. They charge way to much for parking in my opinion locals should not have to pay but the city of Virginia Beach will try to squeeze a Penny out of you whenever they can. One example you get a ticket for riden your Bike on the Boardwalk please this is a Beach....Ligthen up a little and make this Beach more fun.
Reviewer: Claudia S. from Norfolk

Two Stars June 04, 2006
Bring Money! Lots of t-shirt shops and touristy shops. Beaches and streets over-crowded and lots of unnecessary rules that are easy for regular human beings to break. Some of the restaurants are really good, but again, parking and crowds relegates their use to mostly off-season for those who live in the area. Improved bus services and light rail would help raise the rating on this beach so far as I am concerned.
Reviewer: Archie Whitehill from Norfolk

One Star May 16, 2006
Beach is very dirty and the water is even worse. I was shocked to see pipes dumping right along the beach where children were swimming. The Beach smells bad and is disgusting.
Reviewer: Katie C. from Norfolk

Five Stars March 05, 2006
Lots of beautiful beach to wander and play. Plenty of local activities- something for everyone. Very family oriented; during the later hours is when the party crowd comes out in full force. Wonderful place to live or visit.
Reviewer: Terri Bell from Terre Haute

Two Stars February 06, 2006
Was at the beach for the Polar Plunge. All was good, spent money for hotel, food, drinks, and in the stores. Then found out had to spend more because the city parking on 19th street gets towed after 2:30 a.m. So $85 more, and a parking ticket, from an almost empty lot out of season lot, I spent more. I have lived here most of my life and usually try and stay away from this beach. Why not put the towing signs eye level so you can read them when you enter the lot, not twenty feet up in the air, and spread out so you might not see them!!! I know towing brings much money to the beach, but do we have to rip off everyone that comes to the beach. So thanks Virgina Beach for a Lovely weekend at the the Plunge! Glad I could help the city with my hard earned money, for nothing.. I WONT BE BACK!
Reviewer: Rick H. from Va. Beach

Three Stars January 02, 2006
Parking is impossible in the summer. Go to Sandbridge unless you really want the crowded boardwalk feel. Bring your own sodas or pay $2/can.
Reviewer: Kathy A. from Vb

Four Stars July 24, 2005
I am a hotel employee at the oceanfront, and I see it all every night. I am very glad to see the police officers out every night. They are very underappreciated by the locals and tourists alike. People see them as invading their privacy, but I don't see it that way. I watch them every night, and they do not mess with people unless they have good reason. It is very intimidating to see so many officers, but if you are not doing anything wrong, then you should not be concerned.They will not bother you. A lot of people have complained about the spotlights along Atlantic Avenue. They are great and I am going to be very upset if they are turned off. They help the Oceanfront employees like myself be able to see what is going on out there. Without them it is very dark and if we have a problem we are not able to see who/what the problem is. The local drunks and homeless poeple are huge concerns, and it really needs to be addressed. They really take away from the family atmosphere. The beach itself is usually very clean during the summer. The off season it is not kept up as well. If you want a beachfront with very few people, this is not the beach for you in the summer. I do think though that the bicycles need to be banned from the streets because riders do not pay attention to where they are going, and think that the traffic laws do not apply to them. They are a big cause of traffic tie ups.
Reviewer: Jessica F. from Virginia Beach

One Star July 14, 2005
I moved here from Florida and visited Virginia Beach, at first sight I found it very attractive but later found it to be a tourist trap and a way for Virginia Beach city to collect much needed funds to help clean up their city. It would be nice if they could do this without having to have out of town guest pay for it, save your money and go to Williamsburg you'll enjoy yourself more and you will not have to deal with the police being rude and trying to find a way to get your hard earned vacation money away from you.
Reviewer: Steve B. from Portsmouth

Five Stars July 06, 2005
Its a Great Place to hang out with friends and great place to swim, bodyboard, or surf. They have decent fireworks on july 4th and the only problem is that the tourists that visit have no respect for the city. The Tourists are the only ones who shop there but you would think they could have some respect for the beach. The other ratings that I have read are not true, like the fact that the police are rude to the tourists but it is because the people that live there respect the beach and the tourists just trash it.
Reviewer: Evan Shearer from Virginia Beach

One Star July 06, 2005
RIP OFF ...Too much to park ...fireworks were the most pathetic I've ever seen . Gangs and thugs have taken over the boardwalk , decent people did not stay to shop .Police were rude to tourists(who are the ones spending the $$$ ) but let the gang bangers hang out all over the place .Only reason we go is because we have family ....Thank GOD they have a pool !!
Reviewer: . from

Four Stars June 21, 2005
I love Va Beach and the boardwalk where we ride ride bikes and rollarblade year round, living in Williamsburg allows us to visit often without having to rent an hotel. Parking is cheap and packing your own food makes it very afforable family fun! I am glad to hear of the police presence, i had seen some unsavory characters at times and we have small children, so that makes us feel better and keeps us coming back!
Reviewer: Kimberly H. from Williamsburg

One Star May 28, 2005
too crowded! They have too many police which we are told is to present a force against the idea of wrong doing but it also makes the visitors feel edgy and nervous. That many police means there is lots of trouble in the area - that's not a good feeling for visitors from other areas.
Reviewer: Julie Laliberte from Chesapeake

Four Stars May 25, 2005
Nice beach great place to meet people lots of shops restaurants clubs bars but police are very strict
Reviewer: Robert H. from FPO

Five Stars March 23, 2005
We visit the Oceanfront every summer and we have always liked it. There is something for everyone here(shops, restaurants etc.). The beach is great, free of debris, trash. There is a nice boardwalk to ride or walk on. Very nice place to visit.
Reviewer: Arthur S. from Virginia Beach

Five Stars September 06, 2004
I think you need a police prescent atteh oceanfront cause of all the disorderly drunks that come from the bars. They are also there to help people when they are in need. I know I did th eother day duringteh music fest I was walking across teh street when I tripped a fell and hurt my ankle I was glad that there was a policeman there to help me up he offered to get me an ambulance but I felt that I didn't need one for my sprain. He did take me and my dh to my car so that he can take me to the hospital to get it looked at. I would like to say thank you for helping me out .
Reviewer: Maple G. from Norfolk

Five Stars July 12, 2004
While relaxing this w/end at the beach with company from out of town, we were all amazed how clean the beach was. The sand was free of debris, i.e. cigarette butts, wrappers, etc. Very nice.
Reviewer: Linda A. from Va.Beach

One Star June 25, 2004
A response to the person who wrote about "Excited"officers pulling people over for nothing at all! Well unless your an officer and see what we see down at the beachfront and how we have to babysit all the drunk locals everynight. there is a concern to have a lot of police presence! So dont asume we pulled you over for nothing! why would we waste our time on "nothing"? I know i wouldnt! and we still have lots of beach cams, where? not telling!
Reviewer: Ch C. from Virginia Beach

Three Stars June 02, 2004
I think our Beach is very nice and has a variety of items for everyone. I do find the Holiday weekends to be overwhelming. This is not do to the visitors but the Police presents. I think The City of Va. Beach take things to far. Allow go'ers to enjoy the beach and not be worried about if an "excited" officer will pull them over for nothing at all!
Reviewer: Latasha S. from Va beach

Five Stars April 30, 2004
love it! come every summer! what happened to your beach cams....?
Reviewer: Valerie K. from Bremerton

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