Virginia Beach lands a spot on travel magazine’s list of best vacation destinations in U.S.
As travelers set their sights on a vacation next year, Virginia Beach is standing out among nearly two dozen top destinations in the country.
Condé Nast Traveler named the coastal Virginia town as one of the 23 best places to go in the U.S. in 2023, joining Boston, Las Vegas, Northern Michigan and others.
The list, released Tuesday, is a new segment of the reputed travel magazine’s global guide series highlighting remarkable spots around the world. This is the first year the editors have dedicated a list to tourist spots in the U.S., stating they were inspired by a resurgence in domestic travel during the pandemic and its effect on cities and towns around the country.
The magazine recognized Virginia Beach for boasting the world’s longest “pleasure beach” and the world’s longest continually run surfing competition.
“But beaches aren’t the only reason to visit this resort city, which is home to everything from Chesapeake Bay blue crabs to hand-crafted spirits, as well as the colorful ViBe District and indelible historic sites,” the article states.
Condé Nast Traveler gives a shout-out to the proposed surf park, backed by Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams, expected to break ground soon, and a nod to Williams for bringing back the Something in the Water festival in the spring. It also highlights a new extreme sports event, the Jackalope Fest, to be held in June, “featuring high-adrenaline competitions ranging from breakdancing to bouldering.”
Two Oceanfront distilleries — Waterman Spirits and Tarnished Truth — earned some ink. The magazine recommends a few hotels, too, including the historic Cavalier and the new Moxy hotel opening in the summer.
“It’s such a compliment,” said Kate Pittman, director of the ViBe Creative District, who saw the list Tuesday and shared it on social media. “Couldn’t be prouder of our city, couldn’t be prouder of our arts.”
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
