Travel is an exciting word. As a verb, it means to go from one place to another, typically over a distance of some length. As a noun, it is defined as a journey, especially to a distant or unfamiliar place. I decided this summer to lean into the noun by embarking on a journey to get more familiar with the city of Virginia Beach. Never mind it has been my resident zip code since 2017, when my family and I moved here from Washington — the pandemic made me realize I hadn’t really traveled to this area.

For the longest time, travel, for me, involved packing a suitcase, getting a visa and flying to some distant land. The pandemic made me revisit that line of thinking so much that I decided to travel to Virginia Beach this summer. It was like the movie Into the Wild where Penn, a son of two wealthy parents, graduates as a top student and athlete but chooses to go a different direction by throwing away a prestigious and profitable career, giving his savings to charity, ridding himself of all possessions and going on a journey to the Alaskan wilderness to challenge the status quo.

Like Penn, this year, instead of going long distances, my family and I chose to challenge the status quo and make this year a journey within our very own city. That being said, I have to give a nod to the city of Virginia Beach. It was surprisingly just as enjoyable as being out of town.

A few of the ladies from work and I went on a boat cruise with Jolie Cruise. I had an amazing time! We were revived with refreshments, bubbly, music, great conversation and relaxation; I was literally in good company (just like the show I host on Cox’s TV channel called Yurview). We sailed to Chick’s Restaurant and had our fill of crab cakes, scallops and all things fresh seafood. Its pull-up bar is delightful. I was nothing short of pleased. We got an up-close view of the homes of the rich and famous along Lynnhaven Inlet, where we relaxed and soaked up the sun and, every once in a while, dipped our toes in the water. It was great to see the smiling faces and watch people enjoying themselves and their families.

During my “trip,” I was able to refresh myself alongside a few of my family members with a massage and facial. It was fire! This massage was from one of the most-recommended spas in the area, Flowering Almond Spa at Founders Inn Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

I was also able to squeeze in a massage for my soul by taking time to rest and recharge on the beach at the Oceanfront, walking 3 miles each morning in Old Beach before sunrise and finishing just in time to see the beautiful sunrise.

This journey was more than I expected and gave me great relief. Cheers to Virginia Beach!

I can’t wait to share my trip to California next. Stay tuned!

— Nneka Chiazor, Globility Board member