Monthly Archives:October 2021

Rudee Inlet

Rudee Inlet is center of the watersports culture Virginia Beach is known for. With parasailing, jet skiing, fishing, and dining on some of Virginia Beach’s best seafood, a day at Rudee Inlet is sure to be a day your family will remember forever.

Adventure Parasail & Rudee Inlet Jet Ski has been operating in Virginia Beach since the 1980s. They are a one-stop-shop for all watersports! Take to the skies on one of their signature parasailing trips by yourself or with your friends; Adventure Parasail can accommodate up to three people in one flight. Enjoy the ocean breeze as you glide over the beautiful Virginia Beach. They offer gentle and dry takeoffs and landings from a Coast Guard-certified parasail boat.

Rudee Inlet Jet Ski offers a large selection of one, two, and three-person Yamaha WaveRunners for you to take out into the Atlantic Ocean inside of their riding area (which happens to be the largest in Virginia Beach)! Between the sky and the seas, Adventure Parasail & Rudee Inlet Jet Ski have you covered for a day on the water.

Looking for something a little more high-speed? Hop on board The Rudee Rocket! The Rudee Rocket is a 70-foot long Ocean Rocket and is the only vessel of its kind in Virginia. The Rocket is the fastest (and wildest) way to see dolphins, lighthouses, and the Virginia Beach oceanfront!

If you’d prefer to stay in a boat, Rudee Tours offers various charter fishing experiences for the whole family. They fish offshore, nearshore, and inshore virtually year-round. With proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, the bite out of Rudee Inlet is always promising! Each of their fishing tours are unique; they host 12-hour bass fishing trips, full day fishing, private fishing charters and more! If you are interested in fishing but not sure if you want to dedicate a whole day for the trip, sign up for a night fishing trip or a half day fishing trip.

If you would like to learn more about Virginia’s marine life without fishing, check out one of Rudee Tours’ wildlife viewing trips. Dolphin watching, whale watching, and season-specific wildlife tours are sure to bring some excitement to your vacation and serve as wonderful educational experiences for children and adults alike!

A day on the water is sure to work up an appetite, and luckily Rudee Inlet is home to some of the most amazing seafood this area has to offer. Rockafeller’s Restaurant is just one of the legendary restaurants situated right next to the marina and has been a local favorite since 1989. Sit back and enjoy Virginia Beach’s freshest catch while watching fishermen bringing in their daily haul. The laidback atmosphere offers the perfect place to unwind after a fun-filled day.

Rudee’s Restaurant & Cabana Bar sits right around the corner from Rockafeller’s. Rudee’s has something for everyone: a delicious raw bar, mouthwatering appetizers, fire pit tables, seafood and steak. Because Rudee’s is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, guests can view the bustle of the marina all day long.

Many of the activities Rudee Inlet offers can be weather-dependent, so it is best to reach out to the vendors directly for more information regarding specific tours and events.

Photos taken from the websites listed below:

Rudee Tours:

https://www.rudeetours.com

Adventure Parasail & Rudee Inlet Jet Ski:

https://beachparasail.com

Rockafeller’s:

https://rockafellers.com

Rudee’s Restaurant and Cabana Bar:

https://www.rudees.com

Hunt Club Farm

The fun doesn’t stop with the end of summer in Virginia Beach!  One fall staple in the area is Hunt Club Farm’s Harvest Fair!The Harvest Fair runs from September 25^th through October 31^st, 10am to 6pm daily.

Harvest Fair features a treat for all ages — the farm tour hayride.  Enjoy the crisp fall air and autumn views from your seat in the hay wagon!  Hayrides are available, one per hour, Monday through Friday from 11 AM until 5 PM.  On Saturday and Sunday, hayrides run continuously from 10 AM until 6 PM.  The last hayride heads out around the farm at 6 PM.

A family favorite is the famous Hunt Club Petting Farm. Home Stop by to make some new friends with the goats, chickens, pigs, and llamas, or buy a Birdfeed Stick and hang out with the parakeets in the beautiful Bird Walk Aviary.

Hunt Club Farm is the perfect place for a photo op, especially during the Harvest Fair; their huge pumpkin patch is bursting with color!  For one of the coolest views of the farm, climb into the branches above on the brand new TreeWalk Adventure.  Visit the Farm Market for pumpkins and gourds, a sip of hot cider or hot chocolate, or some of the many treats from the wonderful vendors.

Regardless of how you choose to enjoy the Harvest Fair, you are sure to create some wonderful family memories at Hunt Club Farms.

For more details, visit huntclubfarm.com or call (757) 427-9520.

Photos taken from www.huntclubfarm.com.

Rip Currents

There’s nothing more relaxing than a day at the beach, and we want to help keep it that way! Becoming more knowledgeable about beach hazards (like rip currents) and how to be prepared will keep your beach days safe and peaceful.

Rip currents are channelized currents of water which flow away from shore. Typically, rip currents can be found near common beach structures like jetties or fishing piers but can also be found along breaks in sandbars. Any beach with surf has the potential for rip currents to form.

According to the National Weather Service, the average speeds of rip currents are 1-2 feet per second, but they have been measured as fast as 8 feet per second—faster than an Olympic swimmer!

You may be able to see the locations of rip currents from shore. If you notice an area of calmer (sometimes darker) water between break areas of white water, it is a good indication a rip current is present. You might also notice an area of sea foam or other debris moving away from shore in a line. Rip currents can be very narrow or more than 50 yards wide. When a potential rip current is identified, the area should be avoided.

If you find yourself in a rip current, the most important thing you need to remember is to remain calm and not panic! By remaining calm, you conserve energy and maintain the ability to assess the situation clearly. Remember that a rip current is a channel of water which pulls you away from the shore, so the best way to get out of that channel is to swim parallel to shore.

If you cannot swim parallel to shore, or feel yourself getting tired, conserve your energy. Do NOT try to swim directly against the rip current—the force of the water is extremely strong and will only tire you out more quickly. Wave and yell for help, try to relax as best as you can, and tread water.

If you see someone in a rip current and in need of help, try to get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, try to direct the person in the rip current to swim parallel by using arm motions. You can also throw them a flotation device or an inflatable beach toy to help them conserve their energy.

The best way to protect yourself from a potentially dangerous situation with a rip current is to always be prepared. Before you head to the beach, check out the latest weather service forecast for local beach conditions. Never swim alone, and if you’re in doubt about the surf conditions, don’t go out!

Visit this government site for more helpful tips on rip current safety!  The NWS’ Virginia Surf Forecast can be found here.

Photos taken from the National Weather Service/NOAA.

Rip Currents

There’s nothing more relaxing than a day at the beach, and we want to help keep it that way! Becoming more knowledgeable about beach hazards (like rip currents) and how to be prepared will keep your beach days safe and peaceful.

Rip currents are channelized currents of water which flow away from shore. Typically, rip currents can be found near common beach structures like jetties or fishing piers but can also be found along breaks in sandbars. Any beach with surf has the potential for rip currents to form.

According to the National Weather Service, the average speeds of rip currents are 1-2 feet per second, but they have been measured as fast as 8 feet per second—faster than an Olympic swimmer!

You may be able to see the locations of rip currents from shore. If you notice an area of calmer (sometimes darker) water between break areas of white water, it is a good indication a rip current is present. You might also notice an area of sea foam or other debris moving away from shore in a line. Rip currents can be very narrow or more than 50 yards wide. When a potential rip current is identified, the area should be avoided.

If you find yourself in a rip current, the most important thing you need to remember is to remain calm and not panic! By remaining calm, you conserve energy and maintain the ability to assess the situation clearly. Remember that a rip current is a channel of water which pulls you away from the shore, so the best way to get out of that channel is to swim parallel to shore.

If you cannot swim parallel to shore, or feel yourself getting tired, conserve your energy. Do NOT try to swim directly against the rip current—the force of the water is extremely strong and will only tire you out more quickly. Wave and yell for help, try to relax as best as you can, and tread water.

If you see someone in a rip current and in need of help, try to get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, try to direct the person in the rip current to swim parallel by using arm motions. You can also throw them a flotation device or an inflatable beach toy to help them conserve their energy.

The best way to protect yourself from a potentially dangerous situation with a rip current is to always be prepared. Before you head to the beach, check out the latest weather service forecast for local beach conditions. Never swim alone, and if you’re in doubt about the surf conditions, don’t go out!

Visit this government site for more helpful tips on rip current safety!  The NWS’ Virginia Surf Forecast can be found here.

Photos taken from the National Weather Service/NOAA.