Virginia Beach Hotel Recommendation...?

Hi,



I am going to Virginia Beach for Memorial Day weekend. I have never been there before and would appreciate some advice from someone who is familiar with the area please. I am a young 35 years old and am travelling with my girlfriend, friend and his girlfriend. We are looking to sit on the beach, eat seafood and party a bit.



1. HOTEL: I am willing to spend between $150-$250 a night and think I want to be on the beach. Should I be near the boardwalk? What area is best? Any specific hotel that is not too old? I am open to ideas... Norfolk?



FOOD: Where do we NEED to go for seafood? The best please.



BARS: Is there a bar we must see? Maybe a popular beach bar or a rooftop bar?



ACTIVITIES: We are pretty much chilling but if there is something you feel we should do while there please let me know.



TRAVEL: I think I am training it from NYC. Is the train station in town?



FIREWORKS: Are there fireworks for Memorial Day? My girlfriend loves them!



Thanks a lot!!! Any advice is MUCH apVirginia Beach Hotel Recommendation...?
If you're looking to be in the middle of the action for the weekend, within a couple blocks of nightlife, etc, you want a hotel on Atlantic Ave between 17th and 24th Street. Ocean Sands comes to mind. Norfolk is 20 minutes West of the Oceanfront by car, so not the best option if you're focus is on the beach.



I'm not sure what interests you, but here's a couple ideas:



If you head into Norfolk, you can tour the USS Wisconsin battleship for free at Nauticus (Waterside Dr @ Main St). Then walk along the riverfront through Town Point Park. There's a ferry across the river to Portsmouth for only $1 if you enjoy being out on the water. Round-trip is about 30 minutes.



South of the VB Oceanfront is the Virginia Aquarium (formerly Virginia Marine Science Museum, which is what most of the locals will know it as), and that's not a bad stop.



Very likely that there will be fireworks on the Oceanfront for Memorial Day.



Train access to Virginia Beach sucks. Amtrak claims they service Norfolk, but the tracks end in Newport News and you have to take a shuttle bus to the Amtrak depot in Norfolk. I don't recommend it.



For future reference, you can usually fly from Laguardia to Newport News on AirTran for as little as $100 round-trip if you purchase in advance.



The drive isn't terrible from NYC - less than 7 hours if you take a smart route. If you drive, DON'T use the New Jersey Turnpike below exit 9, you will sit for hours, especially on a holiday weekend. Get off exit 9 and get on Route 1 South. After about 20 miles, you'll run into I-295... Use 295 South all the way to Delaware. Then pick up Route 13 South (New Castle / Dover), which will merge with DE 1 after a few miles... Stay with 1 until you get through Dover, and then there's signs for Norfolk all the way down Route 13 from there. You'll cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel about 3 hours South of Dover ($12 toll)... once you've crossed the bridge, take the very first exit, and turn left on Route 60 East, which will take you right to the VB Oceanfront.



Enjoy the trip.Virginia Beach Hotel Recommendation...?
For hotels I would try these places:

http://www.atlanticsandsvb.com/

http://www.barclaytowersvb.com/

http://www.beachcarousel.com/

http://www.beachquartersinn.com/

http://www.courtyardoceanfrontnorth.com/

http://www.cuttysarkvb.com/

http://www.dolphininnhotel.com/

http://www.va-beach.com/flagship/



For places to eat I would try these:

http://awfuls.com/

http://www.bonefishgrill.com/

http://www.captaingeorges.com/

http://www.charliesseafood.com/

http://www.coastalgrill.com/

http://www.dirtydickscrabs.com/

http://www.lynnhavenfishhouse.net/

http://www.oceaneddiesvb.com/

http://www.tradewindsrestaurant.com/

http://www.watermans.com/



For places to see I might check out some of these:

http://www.apva.org/capehenry/

http://www.hrnm.navy.mil/

http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/



Have a good trip!