Under $100: Virginia Beach, Va.

While you may not immediately think of Virginia Beach the next time you’re dreaming of sandy shores, this location can be an excellent choice if you’re looking for a beach vacation that won’t drain your bank account.

Before hitting the shore, walk over to Citrus for a myriad of breakfast choices starting at $4, from The Inlet Eggwich to a turkey and avocado breakfast croissant. Citrus prides itself on sourcing as many of their ingredients as possible from local farmers and producers.

After breakfast, take the time to visit the historic Cape Henry Lighthouse built in 1791. You can climb to the top and get some great photos overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse is located on a military base, so be prepared to go through a security check and provide a form of ID before being allowed on the historic site.

The King Neptune Statue © Leslie Banks | Dreamstime

Grab lunch at the beachfront Catch 31, where you can experience the relaxing ambience created by open kitchen and outdoor bar. The lunch menu is extensive, featuring everything from sandwiches and tacos to pastas and salads. As you would expect, there’s an abundance of fresh seafood on the menu. You can expect lunch to be about $10–15.

If the weather is nice but not quite right for tanning on the beach, pay a visit to the Virginia Legends Walk in a park near several Virginia Beach resorts. Here you’ll find an outdoor museum of sorts celebrating past Virginia residents who have made significant contributions to society. Inductees include Booker T. Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ella Fitzgerald and Cyrus McCormick among many others.

For an eatery with a fun and unique menu, head to Eat, An American Bistro. Just the appetizers are a culinary adventure, with such offerings as their Ants on a Log, which is basil-fed escargot and roasted bone and marrow on a garlic, parsley and butter-grilled baguette. If you’re not feeling up to something new; however, they have tamer entrée options such as a vegetable lasagna and shrimp and grits. Dinner will run you around $25.