Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area in the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.  It is the most populous city in Virginia and the 41st largest city in the United States, with an estimated population of 435,619 in 2006.

Virginia Beach is best known as a resort, with miles of beaches and hundreds of hotels, motels, and restaurants along its oceanfront.  It is also home to several state parks, several long protected beach areas, three miltary bases, a number of large corporations, two universities, and historic sites.

The modern city of Virginia Beach was created in 1963 and encompassed 497.3 square miles and is divided into seven boroughs:  Bayside, Blackwater, Kempsville, Lynnhaven, Princess Anne, Pungo, and Virginia Beach.

The climate can be considered humid subtropical, due to the moderating effect of the ocean.  However, the winters can bring prolonged cold periods, but snow is rare.  Summers are hot and humid with warm evenings.  The mean average temperature is 60 degrees F (15 degrees C).

Virginia Beach is home to 208 city parks, encompassing over 4000 acres, including neighborhood parks, community parks, district parks, and other open spaces.  Each park is unique and offers something for everyone, from wide open spaces to playgrounds, picnic shelters, and ballfields.

Additionally, the famous 3-mile boardwalk at the oceanfront is often packed with fascinating entertainment, outdoor cafes, concerts and people.  Made of concrete, the boardwalk links forty hotels and other attractions and has a bike path.