🌊 Weekend Escape to Virginia Beach 🏖️

After finals and a week full of meetings, I hit the road right after work on Friday heading to Virginia Beach (a 3.5-hour drive from Durham). So lucky to find sunny skies here—especially when it’s raining everywhere else! ☀️ As soon as we entered Virginia from North Carolina, the architecture started to change—those scattered little houses along the road totally reminded me of Monopoly! 🏘️🎲 The western part of VA is pretty hilly, but it flattens out near VB, with more high-rises and a bustling oceanfront lined with hotels. 📅 Saturday One-Day Itinerary: We stayed in an oceanview room facing the sea—perfect for sunrise… though I was too tired to wake up for it 😴 🥐 Brunch: Had an amazing lobster roll and crab roll—so fresh and delicious! 🦞♡ 🐬 Dolphin Tour – $28 per person We booked with Rudee Tours (1.5 hours). Sat outside on the boat—super windy! 🌊 After about 30 mins, the boat stopped, and the crew pointed out dolphin directions. They appear only briefly—getting a good photo is pure luck! 📸 It’s a magical experience! 🐬💫 You can also sometimes spot them from the shore! Up north, there are kayak dolphin tours—can’t wait to try those when it gets warmer. 🦈 Virginia Aquarium – $30 No trip to the beach is complete without an aquarium visit! 🐠 Spent about an hour exploring—loved watching sharks and sea turtles swim together 😍🦈🐢 Highly recommended for animal lovers! 🦪 Dinner: The Atlantic on Pacific Went for Happy Hour (4-6 PM) – oysters only $1 each! 🎉 Tried raw and cooked oysters—all so worth it. Their daily specials are even better than the regular menu 😋 🌅 First Landing Beach Perfect spot for sunset watching! Even on a cloudy evening, the sky was stunning 🌄 There’s also a park with hiking trails—saving that for next time! 🍳 Sunday Had a delicious brunch at Guangdong Taste (Cantonese food) before heading back 🥢🍜 Such a much-needed break! Can’t wait to explore more of the U.S. this summer… but first, back to reality (and rain) in Durham 😅🌧️ #StudyAbroadLife #USATravel #VirginiaBeach #BeachVibes #DolphinWatching #NorthCarolinaDayTrip #AquariumAdventure #SunsetChaser #OysterLover 🐚📸