Where’s Sandbridge?

Far away and fabulous

The first question I get when I say the family reunion is at Sandbridge Beach is, “Where is that?” 

The family joke answer: “Sandbridge! Convenient to no one!” 

And there’s some truth to that. With Saturday traffic, it takes about 10-12 hours to drive there from NY, whether you take the NJT or the Garden State and my favorite boat ride, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. A highlight of travel is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, an engineering marvel, that goes both over and under the bay, for a total of 17.6 miles, and challenges those who are either or both agoraphobic and claustrophobic. At some points, no land is in sight. In the tunnel, it’s a two-way, two-lane road.

And then some family members fly from places like Colorado, Chicago and Georgia. The nearest airport is in Norfolk, about 25 miles away.

And you know what, it’s worth the trip. 

But to seriously answer the question, Sandbridge is the southern tip of Virginia Beach, part of the slender land bridge that links the Virginia and North Carolina beaches. This makes Virginia Beach the northern end of the Outer Banks, and Sandbridge more closely related, at least in style, to the Outer Banks than the Virginia Beach most people know. 

And this summer, finally, after a three-year Covid hiatus, we made it there in July. The area still seems undiscovered, but hardly as quiet as it was in 1989, when the first reunion was held there. 

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.

Here, it’s just a few restaurants. The Baja, which is on the bay, is the definitive place to go, a casual indoor-outdoor open-air setting serving a good variety of seafood, burgers, poke bowls, great drinks, etc.

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.

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 discover amazing private beach vistas, where you might just get away with a little skinny dipping if you’re lucky.

If you’re brave, you can do an extraordinary bike ride to the North Carolina border through the Back Bay and False Cape, the southernmost Virginia state park. That ride was, without a doubt, the most challenging and best bike ride of my life (even at a mere RT 25 miles). Just bring lots of sunscreen and water. Don’t try it on a rental bike. And don’t go alone. It’s not heavily traveled, making it risky if you should have an accident.

So, dear reader, that’s the setting. The adult siblings of the group – Sue, Gretchen, Joe and Julian (“team elder”), were all on hand this year. Their first cousins weren’t able to make it this time, and Shirley, you and yours were greatly missed!

Over the years, the kids who were babies in 1989 have grown (“team younger”) and now have families of their own, including my daughter, Amy, and her new baby. So this year, more than any other, I felt how precious the days and moments are. It’s bittersweet how quickly time goes by. (Sorry for cliche, but it’s true.)

In 1989, we could all fit in one house. This year we needed four. Two groups actually stayed in separate condo units, but I think the consensus is that a house is much preferred. The units were fine, but parking was tight, the pool crowded, cell service iffy, and, well, we’ll leave it at that. Just not as good as staying in a house.

There were some complications. Julian came down with Covid just before vacation. He was well enough to make the trip, arriving a day late and stayed in his brother’s RV, which was graciously offered. (Thank you, Joe and Suzanne!) Because dinners are almost always outside (on decks or patios), he didn’t miss too much, and by Wednesday, he tested negative.

Someone else made a trip to the emergency room (does this seem like an annual tradition too?), but everything turned out fine. 

So what keeps us busy? Lots of low-key family activities: 

Nearly daily trips to my favorite store, Harris Teeter, or Food Lion (also called by some Lion King) for household and food supplies, including wine and beer. (Stock up on some Duke’s creamy mayo and see for yourself if it’s better than Hellmann’s – I think it is, and Luzianne Sweet Tea, tough to find up north. The teabags make the easiest and most delicious pre-sweetened, no-calorie tea.)

Cooking and enjoying wonderful raucous dinners for the whole crowd with each family rotating as hosts.

A final night of pizza on the beach.

Walks to the beach and back (sometimes several times a day).

Swimming.

Lots of lounging under umbrellas at the beach and catching up on life’s happenings.

Kids playing games. 

Cocktails at the Baja. 

Puzzles on the dining room table (four completed this year, but they were only 500 pieces).

Kayaking and jet skiing on the bay.

Football on the beach. 

Finally, pick up the Summer Events brochure at the Back Bay Visitors Center and find nature activities for kids and adults. There’s a free Friday evening Tram Tour that runs June to September and makes it easy to experience the Back Bay. Sadly, I haven’t done it yet, but maybe next year? Info: (757) 301-7329. Back Bay

The TV gets turned on only briefly and basically for the Weather Channel. 

Regarding weather, it was hot, not unusual in Virginia, but not very different from the temps in the Northeast. I guess with climate change, this should not surprise. 

At least in Sandbridge, it’s a quick walk to the gorgeous beach for a swim in the ocean.

It’s hard to improve on a tradition that’s some 30 years old and a large part of our lives. 

I think we have to thank Joe for finding this slice of heaven when he was living in Richmond.

So see you next year, Sandbridge. 

Till then, we’ll all be talking about how lucky we are to have made it.