A Local Boater's Summer Checklist for Hampton Roads
Ask anyone who's spent enough time on the water around Hampton Roads, and they'll tell you the same thing: the best days of summer don't happen on shore.
They're spent chasing fish at sunrise, floating at the sandbar in the afternoon, and pulling up to a waterfront restaurant before heading home at sunset.
If you're boating in Hampton Roads this summer, here's the local checklist.
✓ Spend a Saturday at the Lynnhaven Sandbar
If you haven't anchored up at the Lynnhaven Sandbar yet, summer hasn't officially started.
It's where families swim, friends raft together, and boaters spend entire afternoons enjoying everything that makes Virginia Beach boating special.
✓ Grab Lunch at Chicks Oyster Bar
Cruise through the Lynnhaven Inlet and tie up at one of Virginia Beach's most iconic waterfront restaurants. Chicks has been a local boating tradition for generations and remains one of the most popular dock-and-dine destinations in Hampton Roads.
✓ Pull Up to Dockside Restaurant
Just around the corner from Chicks, Dockside is another local favorite best experienced by boat. It's the perfect stop after a morning at the sandbar or a cruise through the Lynnhaven.
✓ Chase Cobia Around the Bay
For many local anglers, cobia season is the highlight of summer.
Whether you're searching around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel or scanning open water for cruising fish, few things get Hampton Roads fishermen more excited than spotting a cobia on the surface.
✓ Find a School of Spanish Mackerel
When the birds start working and bait starts spraying, it's time to grab a rod.
Spanish mackerel fishing is fast-paced, fun, and one of the best ways to spend a summer morning on the Chesapeake Bay.
✓ Take the Long Way to Dinner at The Porch
Cruise through Broad Bay and Long Creek before docking at The Porch for dinner. Between the waterfront views and incredible sunsets, it's one of the best evening boating destinations in Virginia Beach.
✓ Make the Run to The Back Deck
Looking to stretch your boating legs?
Plan a cruise across Hampton Roads to The Back Deck in Hampton. The ride offers incredible waterfront views, passing everything from working marinas and naval vessels to open stretches of the Chesapeake Bay.
✓ Watch a Sunset from the Water
Locals know the best sunsets aren't viewed from a restaurant patio.
They're viewed from the bow, the cockpit, or anchored in a quiet creek somewhere between your last stop and home.
✓ Spend More Time on the Water Than You Planned
It happens every summer.
You leave the dock for a quick afternoon cruise and somehow don't get home until sunset.
One minute you're heading to the Lynnhaven Sandbar, the next you're grabbing lunch at Chicks, chasing Spanish mackerel, or making an unplanned stop along the way.
That's boating in Hampton Roads.
Your Boat Should Fit Your Summer
The way you spend your weekends should determine the boat you own.
If your perfect day includes cobia fishing, Chesapeake Bay adventures, sandbar afternoons, waterfront restaurants, and family cruising, Norfolk Marine has a boat built for exactly that lifestyle.
Whether you're looking for a Grady-White for offshore fishing and family adventures, a Sportsman for all-around versatility, a Regal for entertaining and cruising, or a Bennington for relaxed days with family and friends, the right boat simply helps you do more of what Hampton Roads summers are all about.
Because around here, the best stories usually start with, "We were only planning to be out for a couple hours..."