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Your tires are extremely important to your vehicle.  Not only do they make the car move, but also they affect fuel efficiency and safety.  This is why vehicle owners must take proper care of their tires, or else they could suffer a dangerous blowout, or be spending more money on fuel than needed.  Here are a few tire maintenance tips that we feel every vehicle owner needs to follow in order to keep them rolling in tip-top condition. Rotate the Tires Regularly Your tires should be rotated every 5,000-7,000 miles, or what the owner’s manual recommends. During a rotation, each wheel and tire is removed and the put back in a different position on your vehicle.  This ensures that the tires wear evenly and last longer. more Maintain Proper Pressure In order for your tires to perform optimally, to be safe, and to provide proper fuel economy, they must be inflated to the proper pressure. Every month drivers should check their tires, when the tires are cool, with a pressure gauge. It is difficult to tell by sight if a tire is under- or over-inflated, so a properly working gauge is necessary.  If you’re not sure what the pressure should be, check the owner’s manual.  Sometimes these numbers can be found in the doorjamb, fuel hatch or glove box.  If you have a tire pressure monitoring system in your vehicle, do not ignore any alerts. Avoid Excessive Spinning If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being stuck in the snow, mud, ice or sand, avoid spinning your tires to try and break free. If you get the tires spinning too fast, they could actually explode or shoot out debris that will hurt a bystander.  It will also wear them out tremendously. Instead, use a gentle back and forth rocking motion to free your vehicle, and never exceed 35 mph. Contact our service department if you have any questions or concerns about your vehicle’s tires.   Image via Pixabay

Are you one of those drivers with a lead foot? Speeding is dangerous, but it also hurts your brakes when you have to slam on them in a dangerous situation.  Your brakes are critical to your safety and the safety of others on the road, so you should make sure to treat them with care.  If they malfunction or are not working properly, it can lead to a dangerous collision, plus they are costly to replace.  Take our tips for extending the life of your brakes: Slow Down As we already mentioned, coming to a stop from a high speed is terrible for your brakes. Even a 10-mph difference in speed can make a huge difference when coming to a quick stop.  The motion of the vehicle creates kinetic energy, which is turned into heat by the brakes.  Less speed equals less energy and heat absorbed, which is better for their life. Follow the speed limits and gradually slow down instead of slamming on the brakes at a stop. more Don’t Follow the Leader Did you ever catch yourself hitting your brakes just because the driver in front of you did? It’s human nature, but we often follow the leader, and chances are the first driver had no good reason for hitting the brakes. Good news is that you can train yourself to simply coast when others brake for no reason, especially if you keep looking up ahead. This will save unnecessary wear and tear on the brakes. Drop Extra Weight It’s time to clean out your vehicle and get rid of unnecessary items that are weighing you down. Take those golf clubs out of the trunk in the winter and don’t customize with heavy wheels and tires.  The heavier your car is, the harder your brakes have to work to stop, so the lighter the load, the longer your brakes will last. If you think you’re having problems with your brakes, contact our service department to schedule an appointment today!   Image via Pixabay

Are you into bird watching?  It is one of the most relaxing activities you can participate in, and it is exciting when you catch a glimpse of a species for the first time. Since the 17 th century, Chesapeake has been providing sanctuary to birds, making it a nationally recognized watcher's oasis. Here are a few of the best spots in Chesapeake to catch a glimpse of our winged friends. Dismal Swamp Canal Trail The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is 8.5 miles long, and birders can see over 200 types of birds that come to the refuge annually. The linear trail is multi-purpose, to accommodate bicyclists, horses, joggers, walkers and boaters. The trail runs alongside the Dismal Swamp Canal and weaves through many historical and ecologically important habitats in the United States. The Dismal Swamp Forest and wetland area covers 111,200 acres, and over half of the species in the area call it home. If you’re patient, you could spot a Swainson’s Warbler, White-Throated Sparrow or Great Egret. more Bell’s Mill Park The Bell’s Mill Park footpath is a natural area with an elevated overlook of the Elizabeth River’s Southern Branch.  Check out the birds while traveling the two-mile circular running trail.  This area was once a landfill and has been revitalized into a thriving ecosystem for many species of birds. Common birds you will see at Bell’s Mill Park include Doves, Swallows, Jays, Crows, Wrens, Warblers, Sparrows, Blackbirds, finches and more! Be sure to get a free copy of the Birder’s Checklist for the park. Chesapeake Arboretum With the purpose of promoting environmental and horticultural awareness, the Chesapeake Arboretum is a natural classroom that sits on 48 acres of land.  The headquarters is a farmhouse from the 18 th century that is surrounded with theme gardens, including an antique rose and fragrance garden.  The historic farmhouse was built in 1730. View birds along the nearby trails that are part of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail South Chesapeake Loop. Polish your binoculars and head out to one of these serene bird watching spots in Chesapeake!   Image via Pixabay

There is nothing like sitting at the edge of the ocean and feeling the waves as they gently lap at your toes. Many of us only get this opportunity for one week out of the year, so why not make the most of it?  When you visit Virginia Beach, you get the spectacular sand and surf, plus so much more. Here are some fun things to do in Virginia Beach: Beach Combing You can't take a trip to Virginia Beach without looking for seashells.  Some of the shells you may find along the shore include: Atlantic horseshoe crab Blue crab Coquina clam Augers Periwinkles Oyster drillers Moon snails If you're really lucky, you might snag the shells of a Queen Helmet Conch or Scotch Bonnet. It can be difficult to find shells in one piece, but you can visit one of the beach's small shops for a wide variety of intact shells. more Virginia Beach Boardwalk The Virginia Beach Boardwalk is three miles of restaurants, hotels, museums, historic sites, a bike path, and more.  Visit one of the boardwalk's sculptures or monuments, especially Neptune, while listening to live entertainment on one of the many live stages. Kids will love the amusement park with rides and arcades.  Take a stroll on the Virginia Legends Walk, or cast out a line off the boardwalk's fishing pier. Your trip to Virginia Beach is not complete without visiting the boardwalk. Captain Jack's Pirate Ship Tours Step aboard Captain Jack's Pirate Ship for an experience the whole family can enjoy.  Set sail on a tour of the area with dancing and singing, pirate style. Adults can sip on ale while the kiddies are enjoying the festivities.  The ship, the Lost Pearl, is an exact replica of a 65 ft Spanish Galleon, strictly constructed to US Coast Guard requirements. Kids and kids at heart will have a blast firing off the ship's water canons. When you're in Virginia Beach, there is so much to do that you will forget your troubles and immerse yourself in your family and fun!   Image via Pixabay

You can't visit Chesapeake without indulging in crabs, oysters or other ocean delights.  Mariners have been scouring the Bay Area for centuries to bring you the best seafood fare in Virginia.  Before you start scarfing down your shrimp, take a look at this list of popular seafood restaurants in the Chesapeake area. Wicker's Crab Pot Seafood 4201 Indian River Road Chesapeake The Wicker's Crab Pot Seafood is owned by Ray Wicker Jr. and run by him and his family.  Ray is a fourth generation waterman who has been fishing the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for more than three decades. His seafood heritage goes back over 70 years to his great grandfather who crabbed soft shells in the 1940s. Sit on the Steam Pot Patio and enjoy crabs, shrimp, tuna, calamari, chicken and more. Open for lunch and dinner. more Pirate's Cove Restaurant 109 J/K Gainsborough Square Chesapeake Enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere at the Pirate's Cove Restaurant, winner of the 2014 “Best Crab Cake” and “Best Seafood” awards from The Pilot's Best of 2014 Gold Chesapeake. Sit outside on the patio when it's nice out or have a cocktail at their cozy bar.  Wednesday is Flounder night, which is now being served with a side of pirogues. Enjoy appetizers, fresh catches, steaks, light fare and desserts, and a children's menu. There is something for everyone at the Pirate's Cove. Chop's Seafood and Steak 336 Laskin Rd Virginia Beach, VA Not too far from Chesapeake is Chop's Seafood and Steak Restaurant. Chop’s is known for the best wet and dry aged steaks around. You can also find the freshest seafood prepared with the finest ingredients such as shaved fennel, asparagus, smoked Gouda cheese and risotto. The atmosphere is upscale, making it the perfect place for a date night.  Chop's offers Happy Hour food specials daily from 4pm-7pm, and has live music on their patio every Wednesday and Saturday night. A private dining room is available and on Sunday Chop's serves brunch. These are just a few of the many places in the Chesapeake area that you can get a fresh and delicious seafood meal!   Image via Pixabay

Calling all history buffs to Chesapeake, Virginia!  There are so many historic sites and museums here it'll make your head spin!  We've got battlefields, battle ships, war memorials, churches and so much more.  If you're not sure where to get started, here a few historic sites to visit in Chesapeake. Battlefield Park 1775 Historic Way Chesapeake Battlefield Historic Park is an area that serves as a tribute to the Battle of the Great Bridge. While at the park, visit the Interpretive Historic Pathway, Outdoor Auditorium, Re-Creation of the Causeway from 1775, monument to the British troops that lost their lives during the Battle and a family picnic area. The Daughters of the American Revolution were responsible for placing a large stone monument in the park back in 2007 to commemorate Patriot soldiers that fought for America's freedom. more Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel No matter in which direction you're driving, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is the ideal place to get a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. This engineering wonder is a travel convenience as well as a tourist attraction and has been considered one of the seven man-made wonders of the world. Become one of the over 100,000 million people to have crossed the bridge tunnel as it goes over and under water. Chesapeake Veterans' Memorial 306 Cedar Road Chesapeake The sacrifice and service of Chesapeake citizens from all branches of the military are commemorated at the Chesapeake Veterans' Memorial. The memorial is composed of a marble structure with over 1,800 pavers located on the municipal center grounds. Put this on your itinerary and show respect to our fallen and passed soldiers. Historic St. Luke's Church 14477 Benn's Church Boulevard Smithfield, VA Take a day trip outside of Chesapeake and visit the gorgeous Historic St. Luke's church. This institution represents the intricate American narrative of freedom, community and spirituality. Tours are given at the start of the hour daily. The guided tours cover more than 480 years of exploring the pursuit of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Virginia's oldest church has over 100 acres of grounds rich with history, cemeteries and a gift shop. Chesapeake is the ideal area to bring your children and educate them on important aspects of American history.   Image via Pixabay