Virginia Beach, VA

On the sand, near 25th street is a HUGE King Neptune statue. I’ve always wondered why he is there or for what purpose. I still have no clue exactly, but the locals have turned the statue into a centerpiece for the King Neptune Festival held the last weekend of September.

We were able to experience the 34 year strong tradition this weekend. The festival centers around incredible sand castles built on the beach between 6 and 10th street. They had competitors from all over the world, including Italy, the Netherlands, and England, as well as some local folks.

The festival is billed as “the event that marks the locals taking back the beach”, but I noticed many tourists participating. The idea of “local” makes me laugh. Who is a local down here? Most of the folks I know are “from somewhere else” due to the strong military prescence in the region. I know a whole bunch of people, our family included, who retire from the military and stay in the area once their last tour is over. So, don’t be intimidated if you are visiting.

The only downside–the lack of parking. Go early, and/ or be prepared to walk and/or pay to park! I think we walked around a total of 4 miles on Sunday.

Hey, since official tourist season is over, dogs are allowed on the boardwalk, and we noticed a whole bunch. Next year, we’ll bring our dog as well.