Virginia Beach, Virginia sits where the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay meet. This old beach town has been a favorite of Northeast seaboard residents for more than a century. Those who love the winter can take long walks along the beach and enjoy a hot beverage in one of the many establishments along the boardwalk. During the summer months there are bands on almost every corner, bicycling and skating along the boardwalk, and fishing on the pier. The beach hasn’t been hit directly by a hurricane for many decades, so while travel medical insurance is always a must, Virginia Beach might be an exception to the rule. On this note, high tide and erosion have always been an issue. In the 1970’s, the high tide brought the surf almost to the boardwalk and threatened the hotels, homes, and businesses there. Through careful planning, funding, and some extensive work, the beach has been restored with room to spare for the many who vacation there.
Sanibel Island, located just off the shore of Fort Myers, Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, has become a favorite beach area to many. When the Sanibel causeway was completed in 1963, residents of the island fought over-development. In 1974 the Sanibel Comprehensive Land Use Plan was drawn up and has been instrumental in the conservation of the island’s ecology. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most visited refuges in the U.S. with around one million visitors a year. It features a five mile wildlife drive. Beaches are plentiful here; parking is scarce. Bowman’s Beach is the most pristine and secluded beach on the island where there are no hotels in sight.
Tybee Island is located on the Atlantic Ocean just outside of Savannah. Many of the cottages, motels, and restaurants are decades old and have a historical feel to them. The lighthouse offers tours where history buffs can get a feel for the life of those charged with the care and upkeep of the lighthouse. Climbing to the top of it offers a splendid view of the beach, marshes, and the Atlantic Ocean. Tybee Island gets its name from the native Euchee tribe; “Duh-bee,” meaning salt, was their name for it. This is one of the many barrier islands of the Georgia coast that the Euchee tribe once navigated in canoe dugouts. The area offered the natives fish and fresh water. Wild game could be taken in the forests of the island interiors. Tybee Island is a favorite of Georgia residents because of proximity and the hospitality of the town.
These beaches are all unique in some way, and will provide visitors with plenty of memories.
