Ocean View Park Beach doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is: Norfolk's accessible, unpretentious stretch of sand where the city comes to breathe. You'll spread your towel on beige sand that's firmer underfoot than its southern cousins, the kind that doesn't cling annoyingly to sunscreen-slicked legs. Behind you, the park's mature trees and open lawns absorb the sounds of volleyball games and birthday gatherings, while ahead the waters of the Chesapeake Bay lap in gentle, murky green waves.
“Norfolk's only beach where you can count naval destroyers and cargo ships while building sandcastles in the shadow of an urban oak canopy.”
Credit: FlickrSanta Cruz California - Shoreline view from the cliff
The beach runs parallel to Shore Drive, making it almost impossibly easy to reach—you'll park, walk thirty paces, and sink your toes into sand. Families colonize the same spots weekend after weekend, setting up pop-up canopies near the fishing pier where anglers cast for spot and croaker. The pier itself stretches into the bay, offering views back toward the Norfolk skyline and out toward the endless parade of container ships and Navy vessels navigating the harbor entrance.
Come during the week and you'll share the sand with retirees walking the water's edge and mothers pushing jogging strollers. Summer weekends transform the beach into a neighborhood gathering, complete with portable grills smoking hot dogs and radios playing beach music. The water stays shallow for yards, perfect for wading children, though you'll want water shoes—the bay bottom here is more oyster shells than smooth sand.
