Virginia Beach Official Visitors Guide - 2025/2026
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
2025-10-08 10:29:47
Explore Our Parks
Whether you’re into invigorating hikes, adventurous trails or scenic routes, the natural areas have you covered in Virginia Beach.
At First Landing State Park, you can hike through seven distinct ecosystems. In fact, this registered Natural Landmark was the site of the European settlers’ first landing in 1607 and has since become Virginia’s most visited state park. Walk along 1.5 miles of beachfront to take in the beauty of dunes and tidal marsh. Or follow 20 miles of interpretive hiking, running and biking trails through protected habitats, including one of the most endangered types in the world — the maritime forest. Along each trail you’ll encounter a different scene, from freshwater ponds and Spanish moss to stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay.
Farther south in Sandbridge, the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge provides incredible scenic hikes along several trails through dunes, woodland, marshes and ocean beaches. Given its remote location, the park has become a haven for loggerhead sea turtles, peregrine falcons and bald eagles, all of which you’ll have the opportunity to encounter as you explore the refuge — a local favorite!
Feeling extra adventurous? Hike through the refuge to reach False Cape State Park, accessible only by foot or boat. Featuring 6 miles of pristine beaches, False Cape is a wildlife watcher’s delight and a destination for more than 300 species of birds, including a snow-goose population of 10,000.
5 Places to Camp in Virginia Beach
1- FIRST LANDING STATE PARK
Two hundred campsites are nestled on the northern beachfront side of the park. Options vary from small sites for tent camping to those with water and electricity hookups that can accommodate 50-foot RVs. The south side of the park has 20 rustic cabins with running water and electricity, as well as heating and air conditioning.
2- FALSE CAPE STATE PARK
Go primitive camping right on the beach! This site can only be reached by hiking, biking, small boats and the park’s tram service, so be sure to pack light!
3- VIRGINIA BEACH KOA CAMPGROUND
Just a quick drive from the Oceanfront. Choose from sites for tents, RVs and deluxe or rustic cabins, depending on your need for modern amenities.
4- HOLIDAY TRAV-L-PARK
Book one of 700 traditional camping sites, RV spaces and rustic cabins just a bike ride from the beach. Includes an 18-hole miniature-golf course, swimming pools and a dog park.
5- NORTH BAY SHORE CAMPGROUND
A quick drive from Sandbridge Beach and surrounded by the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, this area includes sites for tents and RVs, as well as both cabin and pop-up rentals. Enjoy a boat ramp to Back Bay with canoe, kayak and rowboat rentals.
Virginia Beach Cycling & Bike Trails
Virginia Beach has over 200 miles of bikeways and trails, not counting trails in our 230 parks and natural areas.
Plus, there are 23 miles of unpaved paths in two state parks and a federal wildlife refuge. With new paths, lanes and routes being added regularly, it is no surprise that we are frequently voted one of America’s healthiest cities and that our residents love to wheel around.
Scan the QR code to explore bike trails in Virginia Beach.
Water Activities
With miles of beautiful oceanfront, the Chesapeake Bay and meandering inland waterways, Virginia Beach is an aquatic playground for fun and adventure. Paddle, sail, cruise, surf and swim to experience the beautiful waters of this vibrant coastal community.
STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING
Hop aboard a stand-up paddleboard and explore one of the last great salt-marsh habitats on the East Coast. Rent equipment from a local outfitter and let the adventure begin.
SURFING
Surfing is woven into the fabric of who we are in Virginia Beach, home of the esteemed Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships — the longest continuously running surf competition in the world. The best of the best compete here each August, including more than 200 of the world’s top professional surfers, as well as an estimated 300 amateur surfers. In addition to the competition, visitors enjoy food and drink concessions and live music on the beach.
Not a pro yet? Our calmer, gentler waves make diving in and catching your first wave easy. Surf shops offer equipment rentals, lessons and camps that will have you upright and in the water in no time.
KAYAKING
Kayaking is one of the best ways to explore our waterways. Whether you have your own or opt to rent from an outfitter, it’s easy to get in a kayak and get going in Virginia Beach.
PARASAILING
For a completely new perspective and spectacular views of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Rudee Inlet is a great place to take off for parasailing tours. If you haven’t experienced the serenity that comes with floating 1,000 feet above the water, there’s no better time than now to try it!
Top 10 Places to Take Sunrise & Sunset Photos
To see the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean and set over the Chesapeake Bay in the same day is an experience that is uniquely Virginia Beach. Whether you are using a camera or phone, you’re guaranteed to get the perfect shots at these places.
SUNRISE
A sunrise in Virginia Beach is a sight you won’t soon forget. With the world still sound asleep, the show is about to begin — and you have a front-row seat.
SANDBRIDGE BEACH
Watch through the dancing sea oats on the dunes of Sandbridge as the waking sun glistens on the morning surf. Whether you take in the daybreak on Little Island Pier, from the beaches of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge or while relaxing on the deck of your vacation rental, you can’t go wrong.
KING NEPTUNE STATUE
For the quintessential Virginia Beach shot, we love getting King Neptune himself in the foreground with the colors of the sunrise peeking out from behind him.
VIRGINIA BEACH FISHING PIER
Like King Neptune, the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier is a local icon that makes for a great sunrise photo. Whether you actually take your shot on the pier or you get the silhouette of the pier from farther down the beach, it always makes for a great picture.
OCEANFRONT HOTELS
Although you can always get a great shot by standing on the beach or Boardwalk, the perspective that comes with our Oceanfront hotel balconies will bring it to the next level — literally.
CROATAN BEACH
This beach is a favorite of our local surfers, who often head out before the sun comes up to catch the waves. Catching their graceful riding in your pic makes a quintessential beach image.
SUNSET
After a busy beach day, you can’t beat a walk along the water’s edge at sunset. While the sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean, the angle of the Chesapeake Bay Beach sets you up perfectly to enjoy the sun setting over the water.
CHIC’S BEACH
Whether taking an evening stroll or setting up a beach chair to take in the show, this is the easiest spot to capture that unforgettable sunset shot in Virginia Beach.
CHESAPEAKE BAY
Get the perfect pic of the last light by dropping a paddleboard or kayak into the water and floating toward the horizon. Be sure to capture the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in the background for a classic Virginia Beach touch.
RUDEE INLET
With the bridge in the foreground and the boats of the marina against the sunset in the background, this is one of our favorite marina portraits.
BROAD BAY
At favorite local eateries like The Back Deck, Bubba’s Seafood Restaurant and Chick’s Oyster Bar, you can enjoy a sunset with a side of fresh seafood and delicious drinks while sitting out over the water in the Chesapeake Bay region.
THE NARROWS
The tapering waterway bordering First Landing State Park, known to locals as The Narrows, is one of our favorite hidden spots to snap a beautiful photo over the water.
Fishing in Virginia Beach
With our location abutting both the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach fishing offers abundant returns year-round. Opt for the diverse waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the endless opportunity of the Atlantic Ocean or one of many freshwater fishing spots.
Offshore, the 115 fathoms of Norfolk Canyon, just off the coast of Virginia Beach, are where the big fish like billfish and tuna reside. And when we say big, we mean BIG. The largest blue marlin caught in Virginia Beach waters weighed in at a whopping 1,093 pounds.
Hop aboard a charter leaving out of the Rudee Inlet and let the boat’s crew take you into the heart of the action. While billfish are released back into the water, you can match wits with the likes of yellowfin tuna, cobia, bluefish, wahoo and more — and take some home with you for a local seafood feast fit for a champion.
The Chesapeake Bay is another hotspot for fishing fanatics. As the largest natural estuary in the United States, the bay is home to 348 species of finfish, including flounder, red drum, cobia and the local-favorite rockfish, all of which can be caught in the summer months.
If you prefer to keep both of your feet on dry land, drop in a line from a pier. With the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier at the Oceanfront and Little Island Pier in Sandbridge, you’ve got options.
One of our favorite ways to get in on the sport is to hop in a canoe or kayak to get even closer to the action. With launching points at Dozier’s Bridge, Owl’s Creek Boat Ramp and many local outfitters, you can be out on the water in no time.
Take a Swing
Whether you’re looking to drive, chip, putt or ride around in the golf cart holding the cooler, Virginia Beach has what you need to make sure your game stays on par.
GOLF COURSES
The City of Virginia Beach offers four public golf courses, all of which are leased and privately operated and managed, including Red Wing Lake, Kempsville Greens, Stumpy Lake and Virginia Beach National. The last one was designed by golf greats Pete Dye and Curtis Strange and was a Tournament Players Club (TPC) course that is now available for anyone to play.
TOPGOLF
For those who spend more time in the hazards than on the green, swing into your day with brunch and a couple rounds of Topgolf. No matter how high your handicap is, Topgolf has a variety of games that are enjoyable for any skill level.
While you are technically outside, Topgolf is completely covered and open for business rain or shine, making it the perfect option when your usual round of 18 gets rain-checked.
MINI GOLF
If putting around is more your speed, look no further than the Oceanfront, which has miniature golf options that everyone in your group will enjoy. Whether you prefer to play golf among the waterfalls of Shipwreck Golf, Jungle Golf and Pirates Paradise Mini Golf, or even test your luck in one of our indoor, blacklight minigolf options, we have you covered.
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