Virginia Beach: Mt. Trashmore Park
We all are the living with the technology and experiencing tremendous progress. At the same time we have realized the dearth of environment friendly habitation. In the morning we get up with the honking of horns and not the chirping of the birds. Our way to the office are concrete paved ways and not the lush green walk way.
We live in the world of cement and concrete. Going to the parks and gardens which are a rare commodity in metros
Virginia Beach: Mt. Trashmore Park ( it's green all over courtesy: www.wikipedia.org)
are also a far fetched idea, for it needs to overcome a hell lot of traffic to reach there and way back home.
But there are few cities were special care and prime importance has been given to parks and one of them is Virginia
Beach. It is the proud owner of 208 parks that cover 4,000 acres of area. There are community parks, district parks neighborhood parks and much more. The best part is every park has its own distinct identity, appeal and ambience.
Creative things have always attracted me. And if the creativity is from the trash then definitely, one would not stop praising the person, in whose brain the idea must have taken birth. Mt Trashmore is one such idea. Virginia Beach is basically a flat surface area with no mountains or hilly areas what so ever, but an artificial mountain made of trash.
It is rightly said necessity is the mother of invention, the rising concern for environment and ecology, made people
Virginia Beach's Mt Trashmore (sixty stairs to climb courtesy: www.city-data.com)
realize and focus on covering the dump and making proper utilization of the place. If you are completely new to this place the name might click in something otherwise looking at it, I would say ignorance is bliss.
From the time it has been opened for public, in 1973 it has been a constant source of entertainment and a venue for several events. These 165 acres of area has lakes, open grounds, jogging track, exercising ground, basket ball court, walking trail, picnic shelters, four volleyball areas, landforms vending machines and rest rooms in totality. Either choose the sixty one stairs to reach the mountain or to add the flavor of adventure climb or run to reach the top.
The whole mountain is covered with green grass and devoid of uneven surface. It would sound weird but just remove your shoes and walk over it; it will tickle your feet the moment they touch the soft grass giving you a very good and sensuous feeling.
The two lakes, Lake Trashmore and Lake Windsor partially surround the mountain, and both are well stocked with
Virginia Beach's Mt.Trashmore, Hub For various Sports Activities (courtesy: www.concretedisciples.com)
fish, making fishing a favorite activity along with kite flying and other activities. Children too can participate in the race of kite flying. Talking about children it reminds me of the huge wooden structure called Kids Cove with special surprises for children.
The creation inside is superb and it can draw even the most mellow kind of kid and transform it into the wildest form. The whole family can have their share of uninterrupted fun activity in the park. When in park one cannot stop thinking about the people of Virginia Beach and their whole hearted commitment for protecting the environment.
Seeing at the handicapped accessible playground, it stirred my heart, I would say this is the most commendable effort, which can bring smile on the faces of such children.
Virginia Beach: Christmas Celebration ( courtesy:www.photo.xanga.com)
“Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do – or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so” - Stanley Crawford
Virginia Beach: Holiday Light Display ( courtesy: www.flickr.com)
Winter makes a bridge between one year and another and I feel the best way to narrow down the extent of this bridge is to illuminate it with lights of fun and frolic. This is exactly what the people of Virginia Beach believe in doing and one of the strong reasons that instigated me to travel all the way to this city.
Winter season means shorter days and long cold nights. But, the people of Virginia Beach do know how to charge up these long nights and continue to have fun and entertainment going at its full stride. As Christmas celebrations where soon approaching, I didn’t want to miss on to any of the excitement, especially when we are talking about Christmas celebrations in Virginia Beach City and I booked myself on the very first flight.
All around the world Christmas is a time for lights and celebrations, but, Virginia Beach has its own charm of
Virginia Beach: Festoons Of Light ( courtesy: www.gosoutheast.about.com)
Christmas celebrations, which start from 22 November and extends till the 1 of Jan. With this, I am sure I have succeeded in tickling your curiosities as to what could be the difference in Virginia Beach Christmas celebrations and celebrations in other parts of the world.
But friends, you got to see to believe and I am sure as you read along you will know for yourself where the difference lies. Christmas in Virginia Beach means a luxurious and leisurely drive around the city, to witness the thousands of lights that light up the city streets. Virginia Beach has to its credit, one of the best Holiday Light Displays in the world.
Being an exceptionally unusual visual treat for people like me, I couldn’t help but gape at the marvelous display of lights. I literally had my jaw falling down at the exuberant play of lights. The huge lighting displays along the boardwalks was something way beyond my imagination and if you happen to be someone with a musical inclination
Virginia Beach: Christmas Lights In The Form Of Riverbanks Zoo And Lights( courtesy: www.about.com)
like me, who loves to listen to soft songs while I drive, you ought to have a CD of holiday music playing along to add that extra charm.
Coming back to the lights, these are no ordinary festoons of lights; in fact, there are a whole lot of animated nautical and holiday-themed displays of lights depicting jumping dolphins, mermaids, frolicking porpoises and everything that represents the raw wilderness of Virginia Beach.
During one such drive along the boardwalks, I was informed that the credit for this dazzling display of lights goes to Verizon Wireless, who with their amazing display of nearly 500,000 lights contributes in a major way to over 100,000 tourists coming to Virginia Beach each year in winters. It’s not only the boardwalks that are decked up with lights, but, there are a whole lot many other places which are known to have an ornamental display of lights.
One such place that I fortunately happened to visit is called the Winter Wonderland Christmas Barn. Believe me guys; it would have been a great misfortune if I had missed on to this place. Decorated in the theme of “A Magical Forest Toyland”, you would be amazed to see the complete barn decorated with tons of toys, elves and other animals blending beautifully with an animated display of lights. While you need to drive to enjoy the lights along the boardwalks, to enjoy the lighted ambiance of this barn, it’s always better if you can walk through.
Though, it’s been almost a year since I had attended the Christmas celebrations in Virginia Beach, the memory of that sparkling display of lights is still fresh in my mind. At times I just get lost when I come to think of those lighted streets and barns and once again I am filled with a strong desire to visit Virginia Beach during Christmas.
