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Virginia: Virginia Beach, Discovering  VB441Kayaksthe Secret Side - Green and Serene. It is common knowledge that Virginia Beach has an impressive Boardwalk, energizing free concerts, public fishing piers, terrific theatre, great restaurants and miles of beach ideal for any family vacation. It is also obvious that getting to Busch Gardens or Williamsburg for a day is easy, so practically speaking, the place is  a one-size-fits-all-family vacation spot. But did you know that there is a secret side - quiet, green and tranquil? On our day adventure we made the discovery.

Following directions hastily written on a paper napkin we turned left at 64th street and drove through a modest neighborhood continuing past the un attended gate house for the back side of First Landing State Park; the cathedral like green canopy made the road seem even narrower. We saw early morning bicyclists heading down Cape Henry Trail toward the Narrows of Broad Bay our rendezvous spot; our car windows were open to the the freshness of the morning and a choir of not-yet-visible birds.

At the end of the road our guide stood waiting – brightly colored kayaks were being unloaded and a small group of intrepid vacationers watched us as we parked and assembled our own gear. Randy Gore our guide for the day was waiting to explain our morning adventure - kayaking in First Landing State Park. Introductions and safety instructions complete we quickly launched from a sandy beach at the Narrows and our day adventure was underway.

The morning sun was just creeping through the forest canopy not yet cresting the tree tops. A soft breeze from the water kept the bugs away and made insignificant ripples on the surface of the estuary. The first few minutes of our journey Randy and his assistant paddled among the group providing individual coaching on kayaking techniques to ensure our day would be easy, stress free and above all fun. Randy Gore is passionate about kayaking and nature and his enthusiasm was in itself a bonus. I am sure he was at times appalled at the paddling methods practiced by our group ages eight to 68 but he has likely seen it all before and as our morning progressed he made everyone relax just by sharing local tidbits.

We moved along the shoreline not exactly as a group – some wanting progress and the rest of us wanting to enjoy the moment. The water covering the sand flats of Broad Bay was clear and in many places the sandy bottom reflected the light creating a mini view of the underwater and its inhabitants. One of the obvious benefits of kayaking is to be able to glide effortlessly and in near silence. I saw sun fish darting about and thousands of silvery fingers moving among the leaves. I discovered that as long as my paddle didn’t splash, the fish really didn’t care if I was above them. We glided over active oyster beds and through sea grass along the shore. The pace was steady and easy. An American bald eagle glided among the tree tops and unexpectedly dropped into its nest; a pod of dolphins paralleled our route as if declaring a race – all in the first hour of our trip. The shoreline alternates between salt marsh and secret stretches of sandy beach. We saw what remains of a once primary dune still reach 40 feet tall but now shaded by towering pines. Without our guide that would have gone unnoticed.

Just as we were all becoming comfortable with our strokes along the shoreline route Randy turned our group inland along a narrow waterway framed by tall marsh grass Our destination White Hill Lake and the osprey rookery at the far end of the lake but to get there took time and plenty of paddling single file along a natural water pathway. Fallen logs along the way were dotted with turtles sunning themselves; a great blue heron lunched in the shallows oblivious to our entourage; an occasional snake caused surface movement along the tannin-colored water alley; from a bald cypress tree snowy egrets watched our progress with suspicion; the rhythmic sound of pecking wood peckers seemed like chatter. This secret spot epitomizes nature in balance - it seems so simple. We paddled on in single file as our route narrowed and we scrapped under a park footbridge before reaching the lake itself.

White Hill Lake is a refuge not only for birds but for humans smart enough to discover its location. Along the lake’s perimeter high among trees we saw at least a half dozen osprey nests and heard osprey chatter which increased as we moved in for a closer look. This secret spot is rewarding to see because it also home to belted kingfishers, egrets, herons and terns. We missed the loons who only winter on the lake and the black birds which also go north for the summer - no matter there was plenty to see, hear and enjoy.

Our return trip was a breeze – literally. The wind had picked up and the paddling, while still easy took more energy so naturally the kids in the group moved to the head of the line setting the pace. I hugged to shore to avoid the waves and waved at boaters in the main channel who were causing more waves. Randy and his assistant encouraged our efforts and provided history facts and trivia about the area making. The kids in our group went swimming and we had a couple of water fights – all in fun. The surprising part of this excursion, I felt immersed in a “secret” wild kingdom yet I knew we were only about four miles away from the Boardwalk. It was for all of us (ages 8 to 65) a delightful morning which ended all too quickly - the perfect balance of exercise, relaxation and fun.

Make your family vacation happen. Virginia Beach CVB 2101 Parks Avenue Virginia Beach 23451. Toll-free 1-800-VA BEACH, (1-800-822-3224) or www.vbfun.com

Wild Adventure Resources

Kayak Nature Tours. Kayaking, dolphin watching tours and fishing adventures. 110 W. Randall Avenue, Norfolk. Toll-free 1-888-669-8368, (757) 480-1999 or www.TidewaterAdventures.com

Back Bay Getaways. Biking tours and kayak adventures. 3713 South Sandpiper Road, Sandbridge 23456. (757) 721-4484 or www.backbaygetaways.com

Chesapean Outdoors. Kayaking, biking and surf lessons. 313 Laskin Blvd. Virginia Beach, 23451. Toll-free 1-866-379-5188, (757) 961-0447 or www.chesapean.com

Sandbridge Eco Tours. Back Bay kayaking, ocean kayaking, dolphin tours and surfing adventures. 577 Sandbridge Road, Sandbridge 23456. Toll-free 1-800-695-4212, (757)721-6210. 

Wild River Outfitters. Kayaking, canoeing, and camping. 3636 Virginia Beach Blvd. Toll-free 1-877-431-8566, (757) 431-8566 or www.wildriveroutfitters.com

Local Green Resources
VB441KayakFamilyBack Bay Restoration Foundation. (757) 426 3643 www.bbrf.org

Chesapeake Association of Kayakers (757) 552-0292.

Coastal Conservation Association Virginia. (757) 481-1226 or www.ccavirginia.org

False Cape State Park. 4001 Sandpiper Road about five miles south of Back Bay. Terra Gator departs Little Island City Park in Sandbridge daily during the warm season and on weekends from Nov. 1 through March 31 each year. Reservations toll-free 1-800-933-7275, 1(757) 426-7128 or www.virginiastateparks.gov

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 4005 Sandpiper Road, Virginia Beach, VA. 23456-4325. (757) 721-2412 or www.fws.gov/backbay/Back

Bay Restoration Foundation. 3022 New Bridge Road Virginia Beach, 23456. For Blue Goose Express tram information call (757) 426-3643 or www.bbrf.com

Content and images provided by FamilyTravelFiles.com and Tidewater Adventures. Copyright 2008.

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