May/June 2004
No Place Like Here
You don’t have to make a long trip for an enjoyable vacation
by Karen Haywood Queen
If you came home from last year’s vacation tired of sitting in your car, longing for your own bed, and broke, then it’s time to join the out-of-town tourons—oops, guests—and take a vacation here in Hampton Roads. We recommend calling any of the places listed to confirm hours of operation. Have fun and send a few postcards!
Where to Stay
1. Of course, there’s no place like home. You can sleep in your own bed, eat the food you already have and don’t have to hire a pet-sitter for the family dog. But if you decide to stay home, set some boundaries. Turn the phone off and let the machine take messages as if you were away. Splurge on some paper plates, plastic utensils and cups to save time on cleanup. Just for fun, splurge on some fun foods too—the junk food and treats you don’t normally buy so home will seem a little more special.
Cost: about $50 for extra junk food, plastic utensils, paper plates and cups.
Contact number: your phone number here.
2. On the Southside, First Landing/Seashore State Park (2500 Shore Drive) is a favorite for many people both from Hampton Roads and farther afield—it’s Virginia’s most popular state park. There are RV and tent campsites on the ocean and in the trees. One top camping spot is G-7, across from the ocean, shaded by trees and carpeted in pine needles with a fun sand dune for the kids to climb. The waves are gentle here. Wooded trails for hiking and biking will keep your family busy if you opt not to swim. For those who want a little more comfort, the park has cabins, too.
Cost for camping: $22 a night. Cost for cabins: $108 a night in season. Parking $3 weekends, $2 weekdays.
Gear: tent, trailer or RV; bedding and towels; swimsuits; flip-flops for showers; bicycles (optional) and beach chairs.
Contact number: 1-800-933-PARK for overnight rentals and 412-2300 for park.
Time: camp for a week, a weekend or allow several hours to enjoy the trails and several more hours to enjoy the beach.
For the rest of this story, you can order the May/June 2004 issue of Hampton Roads Magazine.
