It’s almost summertime. Get ready to roll those windows down and crank up your favorite summer jam. In honor of Coastal Virginia Magazine’s 25th anniversary, here’s our list of 25 reasons to love summer in Coastal Virginia.
By Leona Baker
THE SUN
Come August, we might feel differently.
Until then, bring on the SPF. Those UV-inspired endorphins are a real thing, and until at least the Summer Solstice on June 20, we’re here to bask like a box turtle on a log.
The real beauty of those longer summer days lies in the added hours of light after work in the evenings. Meet a friend for happy hour at your favorite outdoor dining spot, go for run on a local trail or get in some gardening while the getting is good.
THE SAND
Everything is just better at the beach.
We have plenty of sandy shores to choose from around here. The Virginia Beach Oceanfront, of course, all 35 miles of it. Head north or south of the Boardwalk to beat the crowds.
But there are lots of other options for places to put your toes in the sand and feel the salt air on your face. Lounge like a local at Ocean View, do the Shore Drive Shuffle all the way to the Bay, or bring the kids to Buckroe Beach.
THE SUN
Nothing defines our region like water.
That’s true any time of year. But, unless you’re sporting a full wetsuit or bundled up on the boat, summer is the time for becoming one with the waves or wading through brackish tides.
Maybe the neighborhood pool is more your speed. Or even Ocean Breeze or Water Country with the kids. But whether you are bathing or boating, fishing or floating, make some time this season to commune with what Da Vinci called “the driving force of all nature.’
THE WAVES
Summer means long days and longboards.
As local surfer Jason Borte wrote in the pages of this magazine, “Whenever my surf hotline blings, and the name of one of my peeps lights up on the screen, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing: I’m going surfing.”
While summer isn’t necessarily the best times for waves if you’re a pro (unless there’s a hurricane offshore), it is a great time to get on a board and learn if you’ve always wanted to. Enlist an experienced friend to paddle out with you or take a local class.
THE BOATS
Live your best boating life all season long.
Whether you’re cruising the Chesapeake Bay, fishing in the Atlantic or sailing down the Elizabeth River, the boating lifestyle is woven into the fabric of life in Tidewater. The sound of the motor, the rush of the wind, the feeling of freedom: it’s part of who we are.
Pull up on a sandbar party in Lynnhaven Inlet for an afternoon of fun in the sun or dock your center console at Blue Pete’s or Smithfield Station and head inside for crabcakes and cold brews.
THE PADDLES
Go by canoe, kayak or paddleboard.
While many people rightly associate our region with the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, there are countless smaller waterways to explore, and doing so from inside or atop a personal watercraft is highly recommended.
From Back Bay to the Blackwater River, Kiptopeke State Park to Lee Hall Reservoir, paddling is a relatively inexpensive, fun and easy way to immerse yourself in nature and outdoor adventure. Need help picking a kayak, canoe or board? Head to Great Outdoor Provision Co. in Virginia Beach for expert tips.
THE PEDALS
Traveling on two wheels is the deal.
Something about seeing the world from the seat of a bicycle makes everything more vibrant, tactile and alive. Get that beach cruiser out of the garage and brave the Boardwalk. Discover the magic and history of Virginia’s Capitol Trail and stop at Spoke & Art. Bike your way from brewery to baseball diamond along the Elizabeth River Trail. Take in the scenery and wildlife on the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail.
Need a bike? Hit up a locally owned shop like East Coast Bicycles or Freedom Bike Works.
THE MUSIC
Live music hits different in the summer.
Lucky for music fans in Coastal Virginia, your choices of where to find it have been turned up to 11 lately. That includes the opening of The Dome in Virginia Beach and The Annex in Norfolk. Check out our Current section in this issue for more on those.
Then there is the lineup of national acts at our regional amphitheaters, summer concert series like Sunsets on the River at The Hermitage Museum and the 25th anniversary season at The NorVa historic venue in Downtown Norfolk.
THE FESTIVALS
We never met a festival we didn’t love.
Around here, the calendar is thick from spring to fall. There’s the Chesapeake Jubilee and Stockley Gardens Arts Festival in May. Blackbeard Pirate Festival and Norfolk Harborfest in June. The Totally Tribute Music Fest and Norfolk Latino Music Festival in July. The East Coast Surfing Championship and Crabtown Seafood Fest in August.
And the list goes on. If you love fireworks and food on a stick, live music and lots and lots of people, pick a date and bring a folding chair.
THE ARTS
Summer is a symphony of creativity.
We’ll spare you the Midsummer Night’s Dream quotes, but you can get your Shakespeare fix for free at TCC’s annual Shakespeare in the Grove outdoor production series typically held in June.
If you want to escape the summer swelter, head inside the Chrysler Museum of Art where you can roam from ancient art to the works of modern masters.
The Virginia Symphony plays a series free outdoor concert in the summer as does Symphonicity. And The Virginia Arts Festival’s programming continues into the summer months.
THE ANIMALS
Come all ye creatures great and small.
School’s out and the little ones love to visit their favorite furry, finned and feathered friends at Bluebird Gap Farm, The Virginia Zoo, The Virginia Aquarium or the Virginia Living Museum.
But did you know there are fun events for grownups too? Check out Adult Night at The Zoo or Sharks After Dark at the Aquarium.
Or take a behind-the-scenes tour at one of these attractions, where you can get up-close and personal with amazing creatures. Summer is also a great time for dolphin watching tours.
THE HISTORY
Hope you’re in the mood for a revolution.
This summer will see a significant ramp-up in festivities for VA250, part of a nation-wide celebration of the 250th anniversary of The American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence leading up to July 4, 2026. Look for special events in Colonial Williamsburg, The Historic Triangle and far beyond.
But history is big in our tri-cornered corner of the world all the time. From the Mariner’s Museum to Fort Monroe, the Cape Henry Lighthouse to MacArthur Memorial, learning about our past enlightens our future.
THE FOOD
It doesn’t get much fresher than this.
Ruby red strawberries ripening from Pungo to Gloucester. Gorgeous greens, plump tomatoes, crisp corn and colorful squash bursting from the stands at nearby farmers markets. Then there’s the bounty of blue crabs, summer flounder and mahi-mahi straight from local watermen’s latest catches.
Your favorite restaurants around the region will be dishing it all up, many with alfresco or even dockside dining options. And don’t forget your favorite local cold treats, delicious scoops and creamy shakes from Brown Dog Ice Cream to Hilton Creamery.
THE DRINKS
Perfection comes in an ice-cold glass.
Arnold Palmers and cherry limeades. Orange crushes and mango mimosas. Or maybe a summer shandy, crisp hefeweizen or tart gose is more your style. Whatever your poison, cocktail or mocktail, there’s a local sipper to quench the thirstiest of thirsts (no, not that kind—this is a family-friendly publication).
Some of the area’s best mixologists will be helping us kick off summer with the return of Coastal Virginia Magazine’s CoVa Cocktail competition, sponsored by Waterman Spirits and taking place at Rivers Casino Portsmouth on May 14.
THE MARKETS
We’ve cornered the market on markets.
A few years back in this publication, we featured a guide to summer farmers markets around the region and quickly found ourselves overwhelmed by produce purveyors and specialty food sellers. A good problem to have.
You can go directly to the farms themselves, like the family-run Pickett’s Harbor Farm in Cape Charles or Henley Farms in Virginia Beach. Or one of many weekly farmers markets from Williamsburg Farmers Market in Merchants Square to Norfolk Farmers Market at Blair Middle School in Ghent.
THE GRILLS
Time to fire up all that flame-kissed flavor.
Let’s start between the buns, hon, because burgers are where it’s at. Craft your own or let the chefs do it for you at Coastal Virginia Magazine’s CoVa Burger Battle on June 14 at Chesapeake City Park. Get a preview in our Dish section.
For you home grillers, whether you’re slathering kebabs with zesty sauce (pick some up from Redwood Smoke Shack) or smothering a s’more in chocolate (get ’em ready to roast from S’mores Amore), backyard BBQs make eating an adventure.
THE THRILLS
It’s big, it’s bad and it’s back for revenge.
One of Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s most beloved coasters past is making a comeback for the park’s 50th anniversary summer season.
We’re talking about the all-new, family-friendly inverted roller coaster, The Big, Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge. Conquer your fears before having a pint at
Das Festhaus.
Beyond the world’s most beautiful theme park, you can find plenty of stomach-dropping opps in and around Hampton Roads—from skydiving in Suffolk to parasailing in Virginia Beach, ziplining in Williamsburg to go-karting in Portsmouth.
THE PARKS
Make the most of public green spaces.
From urban green spaces to scenic nature preserves, we’ve got a little bit of everything to keep you outdoors. Head to the Norfolk Botanical Garden for a quiet stroll among colorful blooms or bring a picnic to the expansive grounds of the new Machicomoco State Park, where history and nature meet the York River.
For an uphill kind of day, check out Mount Trashmore Park, where you can walk, bike, fly a kite and experience their colorful new hillside slides and climbers for kids.
THE SPORTS
Ready for a little friendly competition?
We mean the kind of sports you play outside for fun. And exercise. And also schooling your buddy who thought he had more game than you.
Summer is the time to hit the court and play some ball, tee up at your favorite course or pick up that racket that has been collecting dust in the closet. Then there’s the pickleball craze, which has everyone and their mom (and their mom’s mom) thwacking their way to neighborhood noise complaints. But it’s so much fun.
THE TIDES
The boys of summer are here for a while.
In case we need to clarify, we’re not talking about the ebb and flow of the Atlantic or the Bay. We are talking peanuts, Cracker Jacks and pops flies.
Your very own Triple-A Norfolk Tides baseball team is back at Harbor Park through September 21. Check their home and away season schedule including for special events like Fireworks Nights and Bark in the Park dog-friendly games. This is your chance to see rising stars before they make it to Big Leagues.
THE DRIVES
Pack the car snacks. It’s road trip time.
With an open mind and a little strategic planning around tunnel traffic, it is possible to rediscover the joy of hitting the road. Take a scenic route along 460, 17 or 58 to destinations north and west, the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains, wineries and natural wonders, capital cities and campgrounds.
Venture farther south to the Outer Banks, the Crystal Coast, Charleston, Savannah or all the
way to Duvall Street in Key West. Or make it a cross-country voyage to the Pacific.
THE STAYS
There is a fine art to the staycation.
The pandemic era made it a household term, but getaways that are just down the street have always had their perks. If you forget your toothbrush, you can just go get it.
But more importantly, there are so many boutique and enchanting overnight experiences to be had right in our own backyard. Go glamping in Williamsburg, rent a unique Airbnb on the Eastern Shore or book a stay at a historic home in Suffolk. Pretend you travelled halfway around the world to get there.
THE VACAYS
Summer is the time for time off.
Sure, the kids count down the days—and hours and minutes—until that last school bell rings, signaling freedom. But summer break is a state of mind we could all stand to embrace in this mad, mad world we live in.
Maybe you have an exciting trip planned on the other side of the country or the globe. Or maybe you just need a long weekend to do nothing but sit on the back porch with a glass of wine and a good book.
THE PEOPLE
Yes, we mean the tourists. No, really.
Sure, locals love to grumble about summer traffic and besieged beaches, but let’s face it, those throngs of visitors make our economic engine go vroom.
Plus, we find one of the great joys of living in an area known for luring seasonal guests is the chance to show off all those favorite local spots and hidden gems to visiting friends and family who may not know about them.
Be a tourist in your town. Take them to First Landing, Colonial Williamsburg or the USS Wisconsin.
See also Camping with the Kids.
Leona Baker
Leona Baker is the former Editor-in-Chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine. She is a writer, creative, communications professional, food freak, news junkie, nature and travel lover and mom. She holds a degree in English from James Madison University and a degree in Dance & Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She previously served as Senior Copywriter for Spark 451, Director of Marketing & Communications at Virginia Wesleyan University, and Senior Editor of Port Folio Weekly.
