VA Beach recommendations

quality time

Well-Known Member
Oct 30, 2007
2,352
Upper Chesapeake Bay
Boat Info
Miss Stress
2006 50' Post
Engines
Series 60 Detroits
Thinking about making VA Beach a stop on our vacation next year but not too familiar with the area. We've been to Norfolk and Hampton a few times.

We will be traveling with a 50' sportfish with a 5' draft and a couple teenagers so we will need a pool since it will be June/July.

It doesn't look like there are any pools at the few marinas in Rudee's Inlet so I'm thinking either Lynnhaven or Little Creek and renting a car which is probably better for exploring the area and restocking.

Initial thoughts are the Marina at Marina Shores in Lynnhaven as we should be okay with the 26' bridge clearance since neither of us have outriggers. Or Bay Point Marina in Little Creek looks easier to get into and is just another 15 mins further from the attractions by car. Also looks to be recently renovated.

Anybody have any thoughts or recommendations?
 
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My only recommendation - be ready for the noise! We stayed on VA Beach a few years back. We weren't quite aware of the quantity and volume of the Navy flyovers in that area before arriving there. It can be a bit excessive at times...at least that's how we felt.

That said, they do stop in the evening and don't restart again until you'll be ready for your first bloody mary :)
 
Yeah, my thought is, don't go. Been there by boat and land for overnighters, not a fun place. VERY touristy, loud, teenagers, kids, a bit "trashy" IMO, commercially, etc.

That said...we stayed a couple of nights at Rudee Inlet Station Marina. We came from an overnighter in Hampton, and prior to Hampton, Smithfield Station, which I highly recommend (pool, nice walk to a charming town). Rudee Inlet Station Marina was nice enough. Took the dinghy up the creek, which was nice.
 
Rudee is a close enough walk to the beach to not worry about a pool. But beware its a fishing marina so boats are roaring out of there EARLY, and we had guys throwing their gutted fish against our hull since we were next to the fish cleaning station. Pissed the hell out of me. Turned out one of the guys was a patient of mine and put a quick end to that. This was 11 years ago...
 
@mrsrobinson - Smithfield Station has been on my list for a few years. What kind of depth is there getting up the Pagan River?
I don't recall the depths but never gave it a thought with the 330DA then. Been there many times with boats your size and bigger. It was my favorite destination when I boated the James River.
 
We also would recommend Rudees Inlet. Had a good time staying at the marina and walking to the beech. Mile walk but wasn’t bad. Kids enjoyed the boardwalk. Good exploring with the dingy and paddle boards in the inlet also. Plenty of restaurants and bars. Would go back…
 

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