Scenic Byways in Virginia Beach

Green Sea Byway

Did you know Sandbridge is the starting point for a Virginia Scenic Byway?

The “Green Sea” is the pseudonym for the wetland area surrounding Back Bay. The name comes from American lawyer and surveyor William Byrd, whose 1728 survey of the area revealed a green sea of wetland reeds and other indigenous plants. The Green Sea is home to all sorts of waterfowl, reptiles, and wetland mammals. Those looking for a gorgeous drive through some of our area’s farmland and wetlands can pick up the byway in Sandbridge.

The Green Sea Byway was designated a “Virginia Scenic Byway” for its natural beauty and cultural significance on January 16, 2003. The first of the road’s two stretches which make up the byway runs in a semicircle around Back Bay. This portion begins in Sandbridge and follows the edge of the bay through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge via Muddy Creek Road.

By returning to Princess Anne Road via Nanney’s Creek Road, travelers can cruise to Pungo Ferry Road in the second leg of the Green Sea Byway and cross the bridge over the North Landing River Natural Area Preserve. Continuing will lead you through the small town of Blackwater and down to the North Carolina line. If you continue south on Princess Anne Road instead of taking Pungo Ferry Road, you will find yourself on your way to Knott’s Island. Knott’s Island is a small marshy island, home to the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. Eagles, snow geese, and tundra swans are a few of the many species dependent on the refuge.

A drive along the scenic byway is a great way to get outside and immerse yourself in the unique coastal environment along the Virginia-North Carolina border.