Images from Sandbridge Beach, VA

The first reunion was in 1989, and it’s still going strong

I’ve written about Sandbridge (at the southern tip of Virginia Beach) before, but thought I’d share some images from this year’s annual reunion of the Keiser clan. It started there 35 years ago. Amy was a 2-year-old, and now she has a 2-year-old of her own! Plus an infant.

I’ve been thinking about it a lot since I got back. It’s one of those time markers that makes you realize how precious the days are.

It’s a vacation that gets more special every year, as “the kids” are having kids of their own.

No boardwalk, just an endless beautiful beach, a few shops and restaurants, and lots of nature nearby. A pool in the backyard is a plus.

The kind of quiet vacation with a kitchen that never closes and where you might come close to running out of jigsaw puzzles, even when you find some in the house.

Here are some words about Sandbridge from that other post, link here:

https://debrakeiser.substack.com/p/wheres-sandbridge

This is not the place if you like busy boardwalks, amusement parks and lots of noise. Only two roads run between the bay and the beach. . . .

So it seems pretty safe to ride bikes. Having your own bike is great, but you can always rent some.

There are some old-fashioned beach shops and the Sandbridge Market, where people line up for fresh donuts every morning. This is indeed a tradition for our crew. It wouldn’t be the same without a bike ride to get coffee and an apple fritter or chocolate glazed donut savored out on the lifeguard chair, while watching the dolphins swim in the early morning.

More of us on the chair now.

Sandbridge is a spot with quiet, uncrowded beaches, easy waves, lots of kids, and the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a 9,000-acre barrier area where you can hike, bike, kayak, see all sorts of animals, the largest dragonflies ever (hundreds of them) . . .

. . . and interesting spiders.

And everyone has fun in the playground at Little Island Park. Even the big kids.

Sandbridge might not be for everyone; it is off-the-beaten path, as they say, and it’s not exactly easy to get there. But we all fell in love with it, and a week doesn’t seem long enough. Sad when it ends, but we all head home smiling with warm memories, lots of stories, and hopeful plans to do it all again next year.