Things to do in Virginia Beach

5 to 4 hours from Washington by car, too far for a day trip, so plan on at least one overnight. The draw is a 3-mile oceanfront boardwalk lined with hotels in the $150-$300 a night range in summer, plus a wide sandy beach that gets crowded on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Water stays swimmable roughly June through September, with summer air in the mid-80s Fahrenheit; by October it turns too cool for most swimmers. This is a separate town from Norfolk's naval harbour 20 minutes inland, and a different coastline entirely from the Chesapeake Bay towns covered under Maryland.

Parking near the boardwalk runs $10-$20 a day in peak season.