Category: Road trip

King Neptune makes his home on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach.

The 26-foot-tall bronze statue has his back to the Atlantic Ocean and faces on the setting sun. King Neptune is located near 31st street and is easy to spot from a long way off, making him a convenient landmark for meeting people or taking selfies.

On a back road south of the beach at Virginia Beach I found something I didn’t expect.

At the entrance to the Military Avation Museum I was visiting was a collection of metal dinosaurs. The attaction was started by Jerry Yagen, owner of the museum – thus the name “Jerrasic.”

I wouldn’t have made a special trip to see the dinosaurs, but since I was there, it was a fun addition worth a little wandering around.

The Military Aviation Museum displays military aircraft from World War I and World War II.

There is a lot more to see than what I have here. Many of these plans can still fly. One of them had just come in for a landing when I was visiting. At certain times of the year on the weekend, you can even take a ride on one of the planes. Check their website for the details.

Official site: Military Aviation Museum: militaryaviationmuseum.org

When you look up Cape Henry Lighthouse, the first thing you learn is that there are actually two.

Both are located at Fort Story, still an active military base, at the north end of Virginia Beach.

The older brick lighthouse was authorized by the United States government and dates to 1792 – just after the American Revolution.

The newer black and white lighthouse was built in 1881.

The older lighthouse is usually open to the public to climb up the stairs. It was closed the very hot September morning I visited because it was considered unsafe to climb the stairs in the extreme heat inside. Bummer.

There is nearby statue honoring French admiral Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse – who engaged the British fleet in 1781 to help the American cause in the Revolutionary War.

Also on the grounds is the First Landing Cross to commemorate site of the first English settlers from the London Company in 1607.

National Park Service: Cape Henry Lighthouse: www.nps.gov/came/cape-henry-lighthouses.htm

Visit Virginia Beach: Cape Henry Lighthouse: www.visitvirginiabeach.com

A group of statues and plaques near the boardwalk in Virginia Beach pays tribute to service members involved in United States naval aviation.

Virginia Beach is located a short drive from Norfolk, Virginia, and Naval Station Norfolk – home port of the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command.

Virginia Beach in southeastern Virginia has a three-mile boardwalk and plenty of tan-colored sand.

The southern end of Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park exits near Waynesboro, Virginia.

When I visit a city for the first time, I usually look for public art, interesting buildings and food – not always in that order. In Waynesboro I found both within walking distance of my hotel.

At The River Burger Bar, I ordered the excellent “The Fun Guy” – an angus burger with sauteed mushrooms, grilled onions, bacon pieces, Swiss cheese and herb mayo. I also had a beer I had never seen before called “Ruby Red,” which went well with the burger.

Website: theriverburgerbar.com

Official website: www.waynesboro.va.us

Every highway I explored in Virginia was lined with greenery.

I hit some interstates and a few two-lane country backroads.

A month from now, the greenery will change to fall colors.

Skyline Drive runs for a little more than 100 miles through Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The northern park entrance is in Front Royal, Virginia – about 70 miles west of Washington DC. Skyline Drive winds roughly north and south to near Waynesboro, Virginia.

I got there about a month to early for the prime viewing of the fall colors in the park.

There are a number of overlooks and places to park along Skyline Drive, where the highest elevation is 3,680 feet.

Official Website: www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm