Virginia Beach is crowded.  It's hard to find a spot that appears empty and yet captures the simple beauty of our area.  At least, that's what I thought until I stepped onto the beach at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.  Each time I had been to Back Bay, I'd concentrated on the bay side; walking along the trails, biking to the state park, shooting sunset from the shore.  But from the ocean side, you have a clear view of the curved shoreline of Virginia Beach.  On a clear, sunny day, that view can extend for miles.  The beaches are less crowded here, due to the park entrance fee and the restrictions of a wildlife refuge.  But the views are plentiful, the birds are soaring, and the only sounds are the lapping of the waves on the shore.