Hotel at a Glance: Best Western Plus Sandcastle Beachfront Hotel

Set along the coast, this hotel puts guests near the fun in Virginia Beach. On one side of the hotel, the city’s boardwalk stretches along the oceanfront. On the other, Atlantic Avenue is lined with quirky shops.

• Free breakfast starts each day with items like french toast and eggs.
• Fresh catch: Ocean’s 14 Restaurant and Bar serves up seafood including crab-cake sandwiches and coconut shrimp.
• Ocean views are available in select guest rooms, along with balconies.
• In-room amenities: a mini fridge and microwave good for prepping snacks
• Best way to relax: with a swim in the heated indoor pool
• Open 24/7: a fitness center with cardio and weight-training equipment

Virginia Beach, Virginia: Award-Winning Boardwalk and Seaside Museums

English settlers from the Virginia Company of London first stepped foot onto American soil in what is now Virginia Beach, Virginia. They would go on to found Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement, along the James River. But before they left the shoreline, they erected a cross on the spot where they had disembarked. Today, the First Landing Cross commemorates this momentous event. Needless to say, a lot has changed in Virginia Beach since the 1600s. The seaside town has become a family-friendly destination known for supersize beaches and a 3-mile-long boardwalk dubbed one of America’s best by Travel + Leisure.