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7 Most Beautiful and Underrated Cities and Towns in the U.S.

Compliments of ODUR8R from his site at ....

http://www.escapehere.com/destination/7-...the-u-s/5/

http://odubleedblue.com/mbb-schedule-first-impressions/

Thank for all your great information.

http://odubleedblue.com/

Apparently they didnt take the "beach week riots" into account from a few months ago.

Hidden gem indeed.

Virginia Beach is a commercial zoo and an absolute dump. They make these lists for 2 reasons: it is a little nicer than the Jersey Shore and it is paid marketing... but if you really think it is among the better beaches in the country, you haven't been very far. The city is a decent suburban place to raise a family with respectable schools, but the beach sucks unless you have a ton of money and own private property away from the "strip". I especially like these nuggets:

Quote:For avid surfers, these beaches also welcome large and abundant Atlantic Ocean waves.

Right... unless there is a hurricane, the waves might be bigger on the James River. Worst surfing destination ever.

Quote:Vacationing families can enjoy the thrill and excitement of the Busch Gardens amusement park. Virginia Beach is also extremely close Jamestown, which is America’s oldest existing settlement.

Yeah, if they want to sit in 3 hours of traffic. I wouldn't consider 60 miles and 3 hours to be "extremely close".

"hidden gem"....ok that is definitely overhyped, but it is a nice place to be and hang out. The beaches really aren't all that bad once you get past the mayhem of the boardwalk. Sure, you aren't going to get the solitude of a tropical beach, and you arent going to get the soft white sands of some of the beaches in Florida, but it doesn't make it a bad location by any means. I think VA beach is a really gorgeous area and it has improved immensely since the 90's! Then again, I am from Maryland and Ocean City is my beach....so most anything is an upgrade

From Sandbridge past the Northend to Chicks Beach, there's a bunch of good times. I like most locals stay away from the strip during the summer. But Va Beach is much than the 3 mile strip. Va beach has 40 miles of beach front, there are some hidden gems out there. Ride a bike thru the Seashore State park, go into Back Bay (a super nice beach), sail off Chicks Beach, go fishing out of rudie inlet, or night fish for huge red drum off the Sand Bridge pier. There are gems up and down the 40 miles of beach. The strip isn't my cup of tea either, but I did spend a many a Summer day at the Steel Pier.

(08-02-2013 09:42 AM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  From Sand bridge past the Northend to Chicks Beach, there's a bunch of good times. I like most locals stay away from the strip during the summer. But Va Beach is much than the 3 mile strip. Va beach has 40 miles of beach front, there are some hidden gems out there. Ride a bike thru the Seashore State park, go into Back Bay (a super nice beach), sail off Chicks Beach, go fishing out of rudie inlet, or night fish for huge red drum off the Sand Bridge pier. There are gems up and down the 40 miles of beach. The strip isn't my cup of tea either, but I did spend a many a Summer day at the Steel Pier.

Agree, but this is clearly talking about the strip.

Sandbridge and Carova beaches are my local hang outs. The Eastern Shore has some nice hidden gems for beaches.