Virginia Beach: Ocean Breeze Water Park ( www.placestogoinvb.com)

When we plan a trip or vacation, the first thought that rules the roost is the list of attractions the place offers. The considerations and elimination starts and finally you zero down your search to a place which is ideal for a vacation in every sense.

I belong to the same thinking species, where the attractions will influence the decision. Going to a place were I can enjoy with my whole family was on my priority list. Off course the options were few but my mind refused to compromise on any front.

Finally the mariners compass pointed towards Virginia Beach which is not only popular as lovers’ destination but also a great family vacation spot. A place abounds with theme parks, water parks,

Virginia Beach: Colossal Structure Of Hugh Mongous ( courtesy: www.baltimoresun.com)

beaches, water sports and other fun filled activities.

What else one needs when you take you family to place where the pollution is at its minimum and the beaches are cool and simply amazing. The mere mention of Boardwalk will make things clear for those who already have been to

Virginia Beach but those who are still to visit this place, I am happy to impart some information.

It is obvious for you to think, I may talk about famous Boardwalk, I thought why not talk about a place which has something or the other to offer for all the age groups especially for children. Playing on the beaches is not enough; give you children more to enjoy.

Take them to Ocean Breeze Water Park and just look at the smiles on their faces when they come out. This park is built in a huge 19 acre area with the sole aim of entertaining people with all sorts of recreational activities and rides. Even the most sluggish of creatures, experience adrenaline rush in their body and cannot resist from enjoying the bliss, this place offers.

The only waterpark in Virginia Beach, is well maintained and is the best summertime activity. Ocean Breeze Water

Virginia Beach: A Complete Family Entertainment ( courtesy: www.oceanbreezewaterpark.com)

Park is the paradise for children were they can have unrestricted and undeterred enjoyment. Enjoy the wave pool with million gallons of water giving the true essence of being in the ocean and facing the water currents.

Children have their special zone of children’s water playground, kiddie pool and slides. To add to the thrill there are Paradise Pipeline, Kiddie Caverns and Grape Escape. There are lot many surprises for youngsters and adults too. Ride all the way with splash and feel of water on Largo Loop and Jungle Falls. Get the true taste of great adventure by riding on the fastest ride Bahama Mamma.

I am sure instead of making you tired; these fun activities will pump in more energy, have more fun with few more attraction like Kool Running, Toucon

Virginia Beach: Boys Enjoying The Slides (courtesy: www.virginia.org)

Tunnel, Pelican Falls and Coconut Drops. But all these fun activities will definitely make you hungry, get you stomach fill from the restaurant in the waterpark. If you feel the need, sit for a while on the private poolside Cabana and relax.

Recently two new body slides have been introduced, a 200 feet dark tunnel with 50 feet drop, ‘Walk The Plank’ and breathtaking ‘ Pirates Plummet for true daredevils. Wait kids, I am not done with you yet! Toddlers too have their share; let them toddle near the water slides, rides around Li’l Amazon and Loony Lagoon with water splashing fire engine, water dumping buckets and several water slides. A must visit place in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach Old Coast Guard Station (preserved building courtesy www.roundamerica.com)

During my visit to Virginia Beach, I felt like a free bird, bask in the golden sand and take a long stroll in the evening with your beloved. The best part within this resort city Virginia Beach is the Broadwalk. The moment you step on it, it makes you feel you are on vacation. Everything seems so eye catching and captivating.

Moving on the Broadwalk your eyes will never ignore the old building of Old Coast Guard Station. This conspicuous white building is visible even through huge and big buildings. The building dates back to 1903 as a life saving station and later from 1915 to 1969 as Coast Guard Station.

A time came when the building was no longer in service, remained idle for decades. There were plans to demolish it but thanks to the people of this city whose timely intervention and financial backing not only saved it but gave a new life by transforming it into a Maritime Museum. Now this old fashioned oceanfront museum has become a must see site of Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach: Old Coast Guard Station ( hand colored postcard picture of 1907 courtesy: www.oldcoastguardstation.com)

The credit of restoring it goes to the citizens who preserved the honor of brave coast guard, the history of Virginia’s coastal communities and maritime heritage. The moment you step inside, you are automatically getting carried away in that era, as if in a trance. The exhibits are displayed on two floors.

The lower gallery, once an old boat room and the upper gallery were surf men used to sleep now has around 1000 photographs and more than 1800 artifacts that speaks volume of US Life-Saving and Coast Guard services, shipwrecks off Virginia coast. The shipwreck gallery with close to 600 artifacts of shipwreck tells the innumerable ship wreck stories.

Virginia Beach: OCGS Museum Artifacts ( courtesy www.vbfun.com)

It is better to move along with volunteer docent, who will tell you the story behind every artifacts and shipwrecks. There are ship wreck maps, inscription about the value of boats and cargo along with surfmen’s handwritten logs from the shipwrecks, metal ID tags of surfmen’s and much more.

Another brick to the wall is the Towercam which enables visitor to take the sight of the passing ships on the horizon. This is not all; the high powered camera transmits the pictures to the computer for the visitors to view.

The museum store is the new wine in old bottle, featuring amazing books, jewelry, clocks, toys, barometers, nautical gifts and Pirate Gear. The

museum store is one effort to make this place interesting and the other one is Story Time for children which are held every Wednesday in summers.

For many it may not sound that attractive but museums of paintings, decorative arts and relics are many but museums like Old Coast Guard Station are rare and one of its kind.