Vacation rentals in Ocean View Beach

Bordering Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, Ocean View Beach is a natural area 20 minutes east of the waterfront city of Norfolk, where green grass pokes through the white-sand beach that stretches more than seven miles along the coast. Walking north along Ocean View Beach from the southern end brings you to a large, wooden pier leading to the center of local activities at the Ocean View Beach Park. The open, grassy park grounds host community events throughout the year from musical performances to local festivals.

Just south of Ocean View Beach’s coast is the First Landing State Park and its mixed landscapes. Some of Virginia’s most pristine beaches are protected here, and the interior of the park contains freshwater swamps filled with tall, skinny cypress trees. More than 20 miles of walking trails lead you through Spanish moss and cypress trees until reaching dark swamp waters. Blue herons, turtles, and small crabs are some of the swamp’s main inhabitants. More than just an outdoor destination, the area immediately surrounding Ocean View Beach is also full of history. The largest stone fort ever built in America, Fort Monroe houses a museum on its own island in the Chesapeake Bay, telling the story of this former military installation’s significance spanning more than 400 years.

Summers are warm and humid, with ocean water that’s perfect for swimming. Securing an oceanfront vacation rental on Ocean View Beach during the summer offers easy access to the swim-friendly Chesapeake Bay. Spring and fall are cool and comfortable, making both seasons ideal for a hike through the wooded First Landing State Park, or a visit to the Cape Henry Lighthouse, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Winter can get cold, and it’s the driest time of year in the Ocean View area. A visit to the Chrysler Museum of Art, home to more than 30,000 pieces of artwork from ancient to contemporary times, is a great indoor activity on a chilly winter day.

First Landing State Park

A 20-minute drive north of Ocean View Beach, First Landing State Park encompasses 3,000 acres of beach, wildlife, and trails. The two-mile Bald Cypress trail makes a loop around the park’s freshwater swamplands while trailhead and wooden bridges lead you to an elevated dock over the swamps filled with leaning cypress trees. As you walk toward the swamp areas, colorful lizards might run along the path beside you, and you can keep an eye toward the trees for a bald eagle sighting.

Fort Monroe National Monument

The Fort Monroe National Monument sits on an island in the Chesapeake Bay and can be dated back to the early 1600s. Over the years, the fort has been through various conflicts and seen visits from numerous presidents and political leaders. Despite its long history, it is well preserved and nowadays serves as an educational museum. The area surrounding Fort Monroe has also seen its fair share of action over the centuries. All of this history, and more, can be gleaned on a guided tour during your visit.

Ocean View Beach Park

Ocean View Beach Park is home to local, outdoor festivals and regularly scheduled live music shows. A short walk from the green park space toward the coast will bring you to a wooden boardwalk with stairs to the white-sand Ocean View Beach facing Chesapeake Bay.