I know there's a few ODU students on here in addtion to those of us who went to high school in VA Beach. Why isn't anybody answering!?!
I visited last summer for the first time in 10 years so my knowledge is not current.
When I think of VA Beach I think (in order): military (lots of local Navy bases), tourists (VA Beach is a haven for Canadians and New Yorkers), religion (700 Club) and history (nearby Colonial Williamsburg).
Mainly in VA Beach you gripe all summer about the stinkin' tourists and wait until late September/early October for the Neptune Festival to signal the end of tourist season.
http://www.neptunefestival.com/index.php
One of the greatest things about VA Beach is the location. Since, it's pretty much smack dab in the middle of the East Coast anything that the Tidewater area doesn't have can be found within a day or two day drive.