Tourism and Public Events in Virginia Beach
During the 2009 AAS/DDA Meeting and IAU Symposium 261

To the north of the Cavalier Hotel is Fort Story at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay (the site of the First Landing of the Jamestown party - they didn't stay long: didn't like the natives, or the mosquitoes). A historic lighthouse is located here (within Fort Story, an active US Army base). Also First Landing State Park surrounds the Fort and is a nice place for little hikes. To the south of Virginia Beach is Sandbridge and the Back Bay National Wildlife Refugee (essentially the northern edge of the Outer Banks).

Visitor Bureaus

Virginia Beach:

• Cape Henry Lighthouse/First Landing Cross (Fort Story)
• Virginia Aquarium (http://www.virginiaaquarium.com)
• Adam Thoroughgood House (c. 1680)
• Old Coast Guard Station (http://www.oldcoastguardstation.com)

Norfolk:

• Chrysler Museum of Art (http://www.chrysler.org)
• Hermitage Museum and Gardens (http://www.hermitagefoundation.org)
• Nauticus (including tours of the USS Wisconsin) (http://www.nauticus.org)
• Naval Base Cruises around Hampton Roads, home of the largest naval base in world... (http://www.navalbasecruises.com)
• Norfolk Botanical Gardens (http://www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org) (there is a nesting pair of bald eagles here, featured on a webcam; they should be back by meeting time)

Shopping:

• MacArthur Center
• Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown (including outlet malls in Williamsburg).

Events:

• Virginia Arts Festival http://www.virginiaartsfest.com
• Virginia International Tattoo (largest tattoo in US, patterned after Edinburgh tattoo)
• Czech National Theatre Ballet
• Tokyo String Quartet
• Kronos Quartet
• Jerusalem Quartet
• Ravi Shankar
• Simply Ballroom with Debbi Reynolds

• Azalea Festival (April 27-May 3) http://www.azaleafestival.org
• This is a festival in honor of NATO, this year it is honoring the Czech Republic (the Tattoo is also part of the Azalea Festival)