Virginia Beach, VirginiaListed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the "longest pleasure beach in the U. S.," this vacation town is also a bustling metropolis it's Virginia's most populous city. Several protected state parks, wildlife refuges and beaches keep Virginia Beach green enough to remain a classic American resort. The Old and New Cape Henry Lighthouses stand at its northern end.

an interior island

Its 87-foot-tall Fenwick Island Lighthouse was completed in 1859 to guide sailors past the island's notorious shoals

" is also a picturesque town boasting sandy beaches

Stately and elegant

In 1996 the lighthouse was moved 300 feet to a new location and restored to save it from an eroding cliff

is the oldest municipal building still in use

this storied city has a past that's steeped in tradition

Its quiet nature is appealing to families

earning it the nickname "Graveyard of the Atlantic

Nearly 200 years later

The full-time

The island contains mostly vacation rentals and homes but there is close to 100 full time residents