About Sandbridge Beach   Go to Sandbridge Beach report »

If you're fed up with Virginia Beach but unwilling to leave the state or even the city, Sandbridge is the place to go. While it lasts, that is. Every hurricane and nor'easter that rocks the East Coast threatens to wipe Sandbridge off the map. Several cottages have been claimed by the sea, and many more sit precariously close to the surf.

There are four main surfing breaks along Sandbridge -- Little Island Pier, S-Turns, Rock Lane and the Market. With the exception of an occasional pier shorebreak, the others generally break on an outer bar that leads into a deep spot. These spots can hold a bit more size than Virginia Beach proper without the oppressive presence of police, lifeguards and crowds.

While only a couple of miles from Virginia Beach's resort strip, Sandbridge is cut off from the circus by Camp Pendleton, making it a 20-minute trek from the 1st Street Jetty. This relative isolation gives Sandbridge its allure. Many surfers live along the multi-mile stretch of beach, allowing them V.B. residency without the crowds. This townlet has just one market, known as "the market," and isn't looking to expand any time soon. While Sandbridge is known as the place in Virginia Beach to escape the crowds, summer can get downright crowded. Fortunately, there is room to breathe, so it's easy to paddle away from the pack.

Unlike the resort strip, there are no hotels in Sandbridge. Everything is a weekly, monthly or seasonal rental.