Virginia Beach

During my visit to the Virginia Beach Resort area, initially I ventured out to play golf, and then became caught up in a never ending unintended plethora of opportunities, any of which were exciting and memorable.

There are many package deals that incorporate lodging, golf, meals and other perks too numerous to mention. To whet any golfer's appetite, for example, with any group booking of eight the group leader goes FREE. For more details call, 866-4-VB-GOLF, or contact them at www.vbgolf.com.

Virginia Beach is quite accessible by car; however, I chose air travel. The Norfolk International Airport is roughly 20 minutes from the oceanfront, and one can rent a car or use Carey VIP Airport connection to reach your intended lodging.

There is no end to the amount of places one can hang his or her “hat.” I decided on the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center. Sitting right on a white sandy beach of the Chesapeake Bay, this magnificent resort hotel has 295 exquisite bay view suites with private balconies.

The hotel offers two restaurants, a health club with all the amenities as well as professional massage services, an indoor/outdoor pool, a gift shop, an on premise beauty salon, and a fully equipped business center if one needs to stay connected to the outside world. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful in providing their guests a “suite” experience:     a truly one-stop shop.

Their TradeWinds restaurant offers not only a breathtaking view of the blue waters of the Chesapeake Bay, but from breakfast, Sunday Brunch (voted “Best of the Beach” for eight years), dinner appetizers, an entrée featuring martini shrimp to complement a very dry martini, to a succulent range of seafood and beef selections. Eat and drink to your heart's content, because your commute time is only one of the eight hotel floors. “What's not to like?”

Before golf, and yes, even before breakfast, why not pamper yourself with an exceptional holistic massage? Licensed massage therapists are receptive to among other amenities, a fast-paced hour of their world-renown Cayce/Reilly facial and massages designed to rejuvenate nerve endings from head to toe, front and back. It is transcendental meditation with a hands-on approach. A.R.E., the Association for Research and Enlightenment, was the brainchild of Edgar Cayce, a Kentucky native, with further adaptations of Swedish massage developed through information derived from the readings of Edgar Cayce, more than 14,000, which to this day, reflects a remarkable psychic phenomenon.

At the entrance of the A.R.E. building is a Labyrinth that is meant to be walked around, a ritual pre-dated over 4000 years ago by many major religious and ancient cultures. The spiral formation mimics a pattern found in our DNA structure, where its right and left turns help to initially relax the mind to help focus one's thoughts to become more centered and balanced. “I should do this before every time I even think about playing a round of golf.”

From a spiritual angle, the Labyrinth feeds off of our focused energy with a dual benefit. As a healing tool, it helps to heal our mind, body and spirit, and in return, our vibration penetrates into Mother Earth emitting its own earthly healing agents. “I thought golf was complicated.” Ironically to play better golf, one must free the mind. However, through Massotherapy, the mind is constantly being enriched through enlightenment. “(Huh??) Please don't kill the messenger.” Although seeing is believing; feeling is the ultimate high. “While in Virginia Beach, I strongly suggest a visit to the mystic Zen-like historic building for a mind blowing experience”.

Virginia Beach offers a smorgasbord of golf courses, with individual, family or group packages available to all you adventurous souls. Consequently, here is a small sampling of a seemingly endless stream of golf courses in a Mecca from the sublime to the absurd range that showcase green areas with flagsticks popping up all over. “You get the point!”

Bay Creek Golf Club, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer Signature Courses

Virginia Beach National Golf Club, A premier public golf course

From morning 'til night, Virginia Beach is home of the “Best of the Best.”. You won't leave hungry from these favorites. More....

Have you ever heard the expression, "so many places to go, so little time." This described Virginia Beach to a "tee."

What to do along a three mile boardwalk (paved by the way)? So much beach, so many shops, and oh so many eateries.

The highlight of the beach is a 24 foot carved bronze statue of King Neptune. If you can carry it away, it's yours. The King seemed to be about mid-point of the boardwalk. From the white sands (it was raining) just behind King Neptune, you can see for miles in all directions.

Other activities to choose from are: kayak tours, a dolphin (bottleneck) watching boat trip, fishing charters, scuba diving, whale (humpback and fin) boat trips, comedy clubs, Virginia Musical Theatre, many shopping galleries, and much more.