Virginia Beach Travel Guide

First Landing State Park sits along the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach and is one of the oldest and most historically significant state parks in Virginia. In 1607, English colonists first landed here before establishing the Jamestown settlement, making this the true birthplace of American history. The park spans over 2,800 acres of diverse ecosystems, including sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests, and freshwater ponds. More than 20 miles of hiking and biking trails wind through dense canopy and tranquil marshes, offering an outdoor paradise. Unlike the rough Atlantic coast, the bay-side beaches feature calm waters perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, and family swimming. The park also offers camping and cabin rentals, letting visitors fall asleep to gentle waves and wake to birdsong.

The Cape Henry Lighthouse, located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach, is one of Virginia's oldest and most historically significant lighthouses, witnessing the important history of Atlantic coast maritime safety in early America. Commissioned by the Continental Congress and first lit in 1792, it was the first lighthouse built by the United States federal government, marking the first public works project of the newly independent federal government. The original lighthouse was replaced in 1881 by a new lighthouse, about 48 meters tall, with cast iron structure lined with brick, still standing at Cape Henry today. The lighthouse location is where English colonists first landed in Virginia in 1607, and the strategic choke point where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic, with extraordinary maritime and colonial historical significance. Visitors can climb 191 spiral steps to the top for panoramic views of the Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay, while the old lighthouse base and military fortification ruins beside tell the story of WWII coastal defense. It is both a maritime history pilgrimage site and one of the best Atlantic coast viewing and photography spots.