Virginia Beach is famous around the world as being one of the top tourist destinations on the east coast. After all, this city of roughly 450,000 people landed in the Guinness Book of Records for having the longest swath of pleasure beach in the entire world. With 35 miles of coastline that fronts both the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, both visitors and residents have their choice of busy tourist spots -- three miles of this coastline is hugged by a bustling boardwalk that fronts every manner of shop, restaurant and entertainment option you might desire -- and those that are tucked away from all the hustle and bustle of a popular resort city.
While Virginia Beach has all the features of a top resort city, there are other notable attributes that can be found within it as well. Home of the annual Neptune Festival -- attended by 500,000 people -- the city also sees a large influx of people for other annual events such as the East Coast Surfing Championship and the North American Sand Soccer Championship, all of which take place along its oceanfront, Virginia Beach encompasses almost 500 square miles of area with about half of this area is designated as water while the other half is land.
Chicks Beach Virginia Beach is located along a roughly two-mile rectangle of land off Shore Drive within the city. It also runs into the neighboring city of Chesapeake once you pass the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, the longest such bridge-tunnel combination in the world and an amazing feat of engineering abilities. Also sometimes spelled Chic's Beach, the history of the neighborhood notes that its namesake was Chic Ledington. He was the owner of a cheerful, cinder block hot dog stand that sold lemonade and hot dogs during the 1940s and 50s. Some visitors can find that parking is a problem with only one public lot that fills rapidly serving the area of Chesapeake Beach -- yet another name the neighborhood is sometimes called. In addition to the spelling of its name -- you will hear sometimes-heated debates on whether or not the name is spelled with a "K" and if it contains an apostrophe -- Chic's Beach is best known for its breathtaking sunsets that include sensational views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Residents of Chick's Beach average in age between 35 and 50. They tend to work as professionals, such as lawyers or medical personnel, so annual incomes for the neighborhood are typically in the six figures. Visitors also come to this small neighborhood to enjoy the gently lapping waves of the Chesapeake Bay that are perfect for allowing children to enjoy the water.
Chicks Beach provides relaxing beach living near the Chesapeake Bay, shopping, dining spots and more. A quiet neighborhood, Chic's Beach offers homes, condos and apartments to those Virginia Beach residents who want to step back from the pulsating vibe of a resort city. While there are many modern bay-front properties in this neighborhood, you can also find quaint homes that date back to the early days of its settlement. Not only does this diversity provide character to the neighborhood, it offers a variety of styles and price ranges to suit different budgets. That being said, potential buyers can expect to pay a premium for even a small beach cottage because home values are high. Recent listings ran the gamut from a $375,000 three bedroom condo along Shore Drive and a two bedroom townhome for just under $170,000 to an executive-style home fronting the Bay with an asking price of $999,990.
Clean, dotted with small dunes and a fantastic vantage point from which to view the pods of dolphins that are often seen in the area, the laid back lifestyle that Chicks Beach is best known for is something that the Chesapeake Beach Civic Club is eager to protect. While there is often plenty of parking along the residential streets, any signs that restrict parking should be honored or else vehicle owners could see their cars towed. The same fate could befall those vehicles that block driveways. These measures are efforts made by law enforcement in conjunction with the civic club to keep the Chicks Beach area as low key and family friendly as possible.
Established in 1919, the Chesapeake Beach Civic League sponsors many events that are beneficial to the community. These include picnics and other neighborhood gatherings, a neighborhood watch program and an annual display of fireworks. The civic league works closely with city officials and neighbors to provide the best quality of life for the residents of Chicks Beach. Virginia Beach stands as a city of many contrasts. While it is suburban in nature, the city is known as one of the world's most famous resort areas and is the most populous city in the state, even when stacked up to more urban areas such as nearby Norfolk and the capital city of Richmond. The city's boardwalk is where many tourists find themselves yet tucked away from all the action and people of the tourist area is Chicks Beach -- a little-known secret that is also a slice of paradise for its residents who want to welcome newcomers, but also desire to stay under the radar of the tourists that come to the area.
