Virginia is an important state of United States both historically and culturally. The first English settlement started here in Jamestown on the Atlantic ocean on 13th May 1607 which started European colonisation in North America. Then by 1776 after America declared independence, a major battle with british happened in Yorktown nearby. Then during American civil war, siege of Petersburg near capital Richmond was the turning point of civil war in which Union won against confederate states. So, we went around and explored Virginia a bit.
Summertime is when schools are closed, kids at home and all American families rush to the beach with kids to enjoy the warm weather carrying with all paraphernalia to last the whole day, folding chairs, umbrellas, tents, beachwear, towels, hats, sunglasses, lotions to protect and cool box with all their drinks. They lounge around the beach sipping beer or cola and going in and out of the water, bathing, swimming, some reading books. This is at display at most of the beaches on the atlantic coast during summer.
Virginia geography is such that it Chesapeake Bay on the east with 4 rivers emptying out causing a craggy coastline. In the morning we had been to Norfolk which is another city technically and went to its shore on Cheasapeake bay at a park which was good enough for strolling. Norfolk and adjoining coast of Cheasapeak bay is largest US Navy base and also one of the largest commercial ports and one could witness that with number of Navy ships visible in distance and other ship movement.
From there we drove along the road hugging the ocean. We stopped at a community beach which was full of people lounging on the beach. The sand was reflecting lot of light it was pretty bright difficult to keep eyes open. This particular beach had gentle waves perhaps due to shape and layout.
From there we went to Cape Henry lighthouse which is inside a military base. We had to leave the car in parking and board a shuttle to go to lighthouse after thorough checking and restrictions on what all we can shoot. The lighthouse had ticket to climb up but it was worth it. We could see panoramic views of the atlantic ocean, a distant loaded container ship most likely coming in or going out of Norfolk port and the landscape far off.
Virginia beach which is actually name of the city has the long, straight stretch of beach in the state directly on the Atlantic beach beyond the bay. Naturally it is flocked by everyone. It has many ocean facing hotels, restaurants and properties in a limited happening area. We frolicked in the water for some time. Even in the peak summer, water was cold. The dry wind was raising the sand on the beach which broke a number of umbrellas and tents that day. The same wind was giving chills when out of the water. The authorities have good arrangement of showers at little distance for once to clean up. There is a 3 mile long walkway known as broadwalk and an adjacent bike lane. There is an iconic Neptune statue on the northern side. We strolled on the broadwalk taking in the atmosphere. By dusk, the street lights came up giving a different hue to the atmosphere. Dinner was drink and some finger food at one of the beach facing restaurant.
Next day we woke up to a cloudy and little colder day than previous day. After breackfast and check out we went to Sandbridge beach which is further south. The road with wooden houses on stilt with very less traffic, we thought there would be less people but there were plenty already out on the beach with their paraphernalia for the day. This beach is last motorable point beyond which lies the wildlife protected area and another back bay. We walked on the pier which jutted into the Atlantic and sea being rough gave a different feeling of vastness of ocean. We too plonked ourselves for some time which we walked up and down. We could even see the far off Vriginia beach hotel buildings as the land was flat with clear air.
After that we went to Military Aviation museum which has a rich collection of old military planes in different hangars from WW1 & 2 from allied countries. There was even a joyride available in an old plane which we saw takeoff and land from ajacent grassy strip. The collection was impressive and made me imagine what kind of action these planes must have seen in their heydays.
From there we went to Mount trashmore park which is small hill curated by covering a lot of junk and garbage and then carpeting with grass. There was good view from the top and rolling down the hill slope was fund for our sun.
