HAMPTON, Va. — Author's note: The video above is on file from May 2021.
If you're looking for a place to take a walk along the beach, check out the 500-acre Grandview Nature Preserve, a calm and secluded wilderness in the eastern part of Hampton.
According to the City of Hampton, the preserve features a saltwater marsh, tidal creeks and a beach along the Chesapeake Bay.
To experience the preserve, you'll walk along a trail through different landscapes. AllTrails, a hiking guide app, described it as easy and suitable for all skill levels of hiking.
Photos: Grandview Nature Preserve
The trail starts at the preserve's entrance on State Park Drive. According to AllTrails, you'll start with a half-mile view of the marshlands. Along the way, there are benches where you can take a break. The trail ends at the beach, which you can then walk along for 2.5 miles.
The City of Hampton said the preserve is a great place to comb the beach, observe birds and take pictures. Since it's past Sept. 15, you bring your pet as long as it's on a leash.
According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the preserve is an ideal spot for birdwatchers.
During the winter months, the DWR said you can see northern gannets or tundra swans as they fly off the shore. During spring, the beach’s dunes are home to the largest colony of least tern birds on the Atlantic Coast.
Other shorebirds, including the black skimmer and American oystercatcher, are said to frequent this beach.
Getting into the preserve is free and limited street parking is available by the entrance. It's open daily from sunrise to sunset.