Evening star., 1954-05-30
Summers o-Conin' In
Summers ocomn,n
Virginia Beach's New Strand Ready for Visitor.
By Alex r. Preston
Sior Siaff Correspondent

29.-A lot of people just couldn't
wait for Memorial Day-the ira
ditional resort season opening
date-to come here.
For the last few weeks. espe-
cially on pleasant week ends,
vacationers have trooped to the
country'S newest beach, dredged
up last year to replace one pre-
viously washed away.
The $1,250,000 beach project
was finished in 1858 and some
100000 has been spent since
then on collateral improvements
to various hotels and cottages
along the three miles of ocean
front. The beach itself now ex-
tends in widths UP to 160 feet
between the Atlantic Ocean and
the new aluminium railing on
the concrete-and-steel board
walk.
Leo Hearty, manager Of the
Chamber of Commerce, is ex-
pecting the most successful sea-
son this year. The chamber,
clearing house of the 200-odd
hotels, motels and cottages, is
the place to send inquiries con-
cerning facilities and rates.
Accommodations can be OBJ
tanned in about any price range.
From Memorial Day until late in
June, rates are somewhat lower
than for the balance Of the sea-
son through September.
Rates vary from 50 a day up
wards, and the various hostelries
offer accommodations either un-
der the European plan or with
full or modified American plans
at which two or three meals are
included.
An Eosy Drive
Virginia Beach is 210 miles
from Washington and Is acces-
sible by all means of transporta-
ton.
Washington area motorists
may take a variety of routes.
They can follow the highways
recommended by the American
Automobile Association through
Richmond, Petersburg and Suf-
folk, by-passing Norfolk entirely.
Or they can go by way of Fred
ericksburg and down the North
ern Neck country, using the
James River Bridge or either of
two ferries into Norfolk.
Another route with more va
riety crosses the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge to Maryland's Eastern
Shore and moves south into
Virginia for a much longer ferry
ride from Cape Charles to Little
Creek.
Some motorists prefer to drive
onto the Old Bay Line steamers
leaving regularly from Washing
ton and Baltimore for Norfolk.
After a nights rest aboard ship,
they arrive with their car the
next morning.
Five railroads, the Pennsyl-
vania, Norfolk & Western. Sea-
board. Chesapeake & Ohio and
Atlantic Coast Line, serve Nor
folk. only 18 miles away. Three
airlines, National, Capital and
Piedmont, serve the Norfolk air
port. railways buses go directly
from Washington to Virginia
Beach.
The Intercoastal Canal, which
provides protected passage for
small craft from Florida to the
North, is only a few miles from
Linkhorn Bay. which contains
the Cavalier Yacht and Country
Club marina.
Dromo, Fish, Beauties
Two famous pageants are
within easy driving distance of |
Virginia Beach, "The Common |
Glory" at Williamsburg, and |
1.-THE Lost Colony" at Manteo.
N. c.
Legitimate stage shows are put
on at the Theater- -Go-Round on
Sixty-sixth street by a profess
Sional stock company during the
summer season. It uses the arena
technique of presentation.
All types of fishing are avail
able. from surf casting on the
beach itself and fishing off the
quarter-mile pier on Fifteenth
street to deep sea fishing in the
Gulf Stream. Smaller boats for
fishing closer in shore or in pro-
tected waters. are available in
Lynnhaven Bay. Fresh water
angling is available at several |
nearby lakes, notably in the Back |
Bay region a few miles to the |
south.
The annual Sand Festival is
one of the highlights of the sea-
son with the selection of Vir-
ginia'S candidate for the Miss
America beauty contest. This
year. the festival is scheduled for
June Is and 26.
Big Golf Meet
In the immediate offing is the
second annual $4,000 Virginia
Beach Open golf championship |
at the Cavalier Yacht and Coun-
try Club. June 1913. Among the
pros already entered are Art |
Wall. Cary Middleton, Julius
Boros. Fred Hawkins, Gene Lit
tier, Bob Toski and AL BesSelink.
Among changes listed by the
Chamber of Commerce for hotel
accommodations, The Cavalier,
which switched to a resort club |
operation last year. is offering |
optional air conditioning. The |
Pocohontas Dining Roof has /
been redone.
The Gay Manor Hotel, par
TALLY damaged by fire during the