With a huge fleet parked nearby at Hampton Roads Harbor, the city of Virginia Beach has a strong Navy influence. Virginia Beach is also a popular tourist destination – being the only major resort on the Virginia coast – as well as the largest city in the state.All sorts of people enjoy Virginia Beach vacations each and every year, from fun-oriented students on spring break to the flock attending Pat Robertson's Regent College to families looking for some ocean-side downtime. The best things to do in Virginia Beach involve the Atlantic, of course, and the city's long, narrow strip of coastline teems with beachcombers, sunbathers, swimmers and even surfers. Indeed, there are enough Virginia Beach tourist attractions to suit just about anybody's tastes. Definitely worth checking out is the bustling Virginia Beach boardwalk, and the downtown area's bars, restaurants and touristy shops are especially popular points of interest in the evening. Each summer, the Billabong Competition influences the scene by attracting surfers from across the country. To escape the Virginia Beach tourism throngs, visitors can take in several beautiful state parks in the area, including the scenic Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.