Welcome to Coastal Virginia

I can’t believe it’s been 31 years since Living on the Virginia Peninsula magazine became an integral part of Living in Hampton Roads and through a community wide effort COASTAL VIRGINIA® was created to promote and support business and tourism within the entire Peninsula and Southside communities. Together we have transformed the area to be the #1 fastest growing region throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Coastal Virginia region is comprised of the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin/ Southampton County, Gloucester County, Hampton, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, York County, Williamsburg, and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. All are accessible by a major interstate highway system, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and two major airports in Norfolk and Newport News both served by low fare airlines.

Coastal Virginia makes a perfect vacation destination for those seeking clean beaches, outdoor recreation, fascinating history, fine arts culture, thrilling events and festivals, abundant shopping and coastal cuisine. Many people do not know where the James River ends. There is a magnificent, wide channel of water that connects the James River with the Chesapeake Bay called the Hampton Roads. The combination of the words as “Hampton Roads” was recorded as the channel linking the James, Nansemond and Elizabeth rivers with the Chesapeake Bay in an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1755, and they are the main tributaries of the Hampton Roads. The U.S. Postal Service changed its postmark for “Tidewater, Virginia” to “Hampton Roads, Virginia” beginning in 1983.

The Norfolk Southside has the Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world. The peninsula’s Northside has the Newport News Shipyard, the birthplace of many of our Naval Aircraft Carriers and Submarines, and the Historical Greater Williamsburg Triangle. Also, the Virginia International Marine Terminals composed of Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth are very important to the area.

The Hampton Roads is one of the world’s largest natural harbors — a “roadstead” or “roads,” as applied to a water channel. It is, generally speaking, between the Monitor and Merrimac and the Hampton Roads bridge tunnels. It empties into the Chesapeake Bay leading to the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on the sources of information, the Hampton Roads meets the Chesapeake Bay at points between Old Point Comfort on the north side and Sewells Point to the south. The beautiful, historic Fort Monroe with its magnificent view of the manmade Fort Wool, are mentioned as meeting points to the Chesapeake Bay, which is the largest estuary in the world.

Hopefully, you’ll enjoy learning more about Hampton Roads as you peruse the pages of this magazine. By the time you get to the end of it, you’ll realize what the locals know all too well — “Coastal Virginia-Hampton Roads” is the Best Place for Business and Family to “Live, Work and Play” in Virginia’s exploding #1 destination.

PUBLISHER

Paul Quillin Darden

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jackie Nelson Darden

ADVERTISING

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Mary Tod Gray

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Marcie Block

COVER IMAGE

Courtesy of Alexander’s Photography

©Copyright 2024 by Darden Publishing.

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The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

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Website: www.CoastalVirginia.net http://dardenpublishing.net

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