I met King Neptune in Virginia Beach – the fourth stop on my U.S. road trip. I couldn’t have missed him if I wanted to: located on the boardwalk at 31st Street and Atlantic Avenue, the statue of the sea god towers at 34-feet and presides over the ocean.
With his gaze cast upon the shore, the statue is meant to represent the maritime legacy of Virginia Beach and also to act as a reminder of the community’s duty to respect and protect the natural environment. So, it is no wonder why King Neptune’s influence is evident throughout the beach town.
For starters, the Sheraton hotel, which is where I stayed during my visit, is walking distance from King Neptune – I could see him from my balcony.
The hotel’s design was very reflective of King Neptune and his representation of the water. The walls inside of my room were painted white and yellow, and featured photographs of Virginia Beach as well as some underwater animals. The furniture was blue and yellow, and the drapes and carpet had wave patterns all over them. The atmosphere inside of the entire hotel was tranquil – even at night. I would often leave my balcony door open so that I would be able to fall asleep with the sounds of the waves crashing in.
I spent many hours on the balcony just looking out into the ocean, down at the boardwalk and over at King Neptune glistening in the sunlight or the moonlight. Doing this made me feel calm, and listening to the waves and feeling the wind on my face really centered me.
I also attribute this feeling to the people of Virginia Beach who exhibited a sense of peacefulness. Many of the people I met were really in tune with the water and had a soothing aura about them. For example, my instructors for kayaking and surfing were both majoring in marine biology. They both believed in the preservation and sustainability of the natural environment and were very passionate about their beliefs and careers.
Being around people like this inspired me to be more secure about the choices I was making in my life. They also inspired me to be a little more daring. Before, I never would have imagined that I would be inclined, let alone excited, to kayak or surf – I’m not one for water activities…I usually just like to tan. But trying these activities really allowed me to be more open-minded. The coolest part by far was actually catching a wave on the surf board. I thought that I would never be able to do something so adventurous. But, once I felt the water glide through my fingers and forced my body to lift itself up and keep balance, I felt like I was in control, not only of that moment on the surf board, but also of the decisions I was making in my life.
I truly feel like the symbol of King Neptune has inspired the people and community of Virginia Beach. I have never been to a place where the people moved with such ease and I have never seen such stress-free faces and genuine smiles.
As I was packing up and concluding my visit, I stepped out on my balcony one last time and looked over at King Neptune – I wanted to hold on to his spirit and the spirit of Virginia Beach as I continued on with this journey.
*Virginia Beach will hold a full-day Neptune Festival Grand Parade on Sept. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. The 16 block parade will feature floats and performances. For more information on the free event, visit neptunefestival.com.
BOULEVARD 