CORONADO, Calif.  Like a Hollywood star, Coronado's 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.

VIRGINIA BEACH Virginia Beach's park system is rated seventh among the nation's 40th largest cities by a national conservation group. The nonprofit Trust for Public Land gave Virginia Beach's system four "park benches" on its recent ParkScoreTM rating system.

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. Zack Marzec hovered above sand dunes, becoming a neon-shaded wing against a cloud-speckled sky. Beachgoers gazed upward as he floated, wind rippling their clothing. It seemed almost effortless. Marzec gripped a silver bar and moved it when the wind nudged him. "He's so relaxed," fellow glider David Fynn said.

VIRGINIA BEACH It’s the kind of event where happy mixes with sad. On May 20, I Need a Lighthouse, a suicide-prevention group in Virginia Beach, is holding its fifth annual Beacon of Hope 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Memory Walk at the Oceanfront.

Starting this weekend, active-duty military members and their immediate families won’t have to pay entrance fees at thousands of national parks, recreation areas and public lands.

VIRGINIA BEACH
It’s National Bike Month, a good time to clear the cobwebs from your bicycle handlebars, pump up the tires and go for a spin. For avid cyclists like Paul Gordy, however, rolling wheels gather no dust.

NORFOLK A commission will try to transform the city into a safer and more enticing place for bicyclists. The Bicycling and Pedestrian Trails Commission is primarily focused on making the city more bicycle-friendly. The commission is an advisory board for the City Council and had its first meeting Thursday, just in time for the city's Bike Month.

The fabled surf fishing area known as The Point on Cape Hatteras has been closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Virginia Beach’s Julie Ball continues to add to her resume as one of the top female anglers in the world. The International Game Fish Association will honor her April 14 in Florida as the No. 3 All-Tackle Release world record holder. The IGFA’s release record division is new and Ball quickly embraced it, setting several release records in Virginia waters.

VIRGINIA BEACH And they thought last year was the big time.

This summer’s 50th East Coast Surfing Championships already makes last year’s event pale in comparison.