Pictured above: Old Beach Farmers Market in the ViBe Creative District
Virginia Beach is broken up into several different districts with distinct personalities. These areas are all appealing in their own way but added together makes Virginia Beach such a well-rounded, dynamic city.
ViBe Creative District
Several blocks from the oceanfront is a unique district known as the ViBe Creative District. While all kinds of people appreciate this section of the City, it is a special destination for art lovers. This artsy neighborhood is where Virginia Beach’s talented local artists congregate. Upon arriving in this district, its vibrant pulse is immediately apparent due to its bold, colorful public art displays throughout the community. Painted murals and interesting structures are seen on and among buildings, roads and sidewalks.
The ViBe Creative District is home to both the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the Virginia Beach Art Center, which holds an artists’ cooperative called The Artists Gallery, including more than 50 artists, inside its doors. The Old Beach Farmers Market, an outdoor market held on Saturday mornings most of the year, is a popular attraction with dozens of vendors selling homegrown produce, handmade goods and so much more. Furthermore, the eclectic neighborhood is also full of local restaurants, coffee roasters, breweries and distilleries.
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
With a bustling 3-mile boardwalk as its epicenter, the Virginia Beach Oceanfront is the hub of the resort area, filled with a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants and attractions. Like the rest of the City, the oceanfront remains humming all year long, not just during the warmer months. Along with the active boardwalk and wide-open beaches, where locals and visitors alike gather to enjoy the coastline, Atlantic Avenue draws crowds due to the many shops along the roadway, from beach retailers to ice cream shops. Live concerts are a common sight on the oceanfront’s beaches, parks and stages, and large community races, such as the Shamrock Marathon in March and the Wicked 10K in October take place on its boardwalk and local roads.
Shore Drive
North of the oceanfront is a community on the Chesapeake Bay with a busy road named Shore Drive. This is an area where many locals of Virginia Beach live and play. Along with local bars and restaurants, with waterside dining and fresh seafood a staple on menus, this section of Virginia Beach is full of natural beauty. Chic’s Beach offers a relaxed beach atmosphere where locals like to chill, but it also boasts a number of other impressive attractions. The popular First Landing State Park as well as the historic Cape Henry Lighthouse are both a must-see. Also water enthusiasts will want to check out Pleasure House Point Natural Area, which offers amazing opportunities to kayak and canoe. The natural area also has designated trails for hiking.
Town Center
Located inland, Town Center is right off of I-264 and is fairly easy to spot thanks to the grand size of The Westin Tower building standing in its district. With a more urban feel than Virginia Beach’s other sections, Town Center is where you will find Coastal Virginia’s local business crowd. Along with a variety of businesses, restaurants, shops, Town Center is a hotspot for the area’s arts & culture scene. Town Center is where the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts is located, as well as other attractions such as a comedy club and a family-friendly entertainment center.
Pungo
Experience Virginia Beach’s rich agricultural heritage up close with a visit to Pungo, in the southern section of the City. Stretching from NAS Oceana to far beyond Sandbridge, this rural area is mainly made up of farm land and country roads. A peaceful part of town, Pungo is a refreshing retreat from the City’s busier districts. Come explore the City’s farm attractions including farm markets, pick-your-own produce, petting farms, seasonal events and much more. It is no surprise that this district is full of farm-to-table restaurants. If you appreciate dining on local cuisine and supporting local businesses, then Pungo is definitely for you.