Since opening in 1986, the Virginia Aquarium has strived to increase understanding and appreciation of the state's marine environment.

 

Virginia Beach is divided into seven economic sectors -- agribusiness, business and industry, construction and real estate, conventions and trade shows, military, retail and wholesale trade, and tourism.

 

The Norwegian Lady stands near the shoreline of Virginia Beach, her anxious gaze fixed on the ocean. The story behind the 9-foot bronze statue is a tale of the merciless sea and the bonds that unite strangers in times of trouble. It begins with a vicious early spring coastal storm in 1891.

 

In 1940, the U.S. government bought 329 acres in Virginia Beach and three years later used the land to open a small auxiliary air field for Norfolk's military complex. There's nothing small about it now.

 

No wonder so many people visit First Landing State Park. There's outdoor camping, cabins for those who don't want to get too close to nature, hiking, boating, fishing, swimming and nature walks, for starters.

 

Watch out. You might get dinged by a low-flying kite at the top of Mount Trashmore. Or bump into hordes of children scrambling through Kid's Cove, a play area with enough nooks, crannies, twists and turns to excite restless toddlers for hours.

 

Road trips, traveling and vacations normally wear me out. On a recent trip to the Beach, I discovered how to relax in a city bustling with tourists, traffic and trolleys.

 

In Virginia Beach, Fat Frogs ride a mean bicycle. The "frogs" meet at 7:30 each morning at Fat Frogs Bike and Fitness for coffee and a ride of at least 21 miles.