Virginia Beach Official Visitors Guide - 2024/2025
THINGS TO DO
2024-11-20 13:07:54
Things to Do in Virginia Beach
Expand your horizons and discover your best self here in Virginia Beach. Whether you’re looking for playgrounds and mini golf or nightlife and brewery tours, pet-friendly attractions or paddling tours, you’ll find new things to love and great ways to connect in our welcoming destination.
Things to Do With Kids
Virginia Beach is a perfect vacation destination for kids of any age. Itineraries include fun, sun, sand, surf and plenty of entertainment. Beyond the beach, these attractions are hits for those with little ones in tow — many of which can be enjoyed throughout the year, rain or shine.
MILITARY AVIATION MUSEUM
A remarkable collection of restored aircraft with interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. See them take flight during demonstrations on the airfield.
ATLANTIC FUN PARK
A slice of classic Americana, the family will enjoy rides, midway games, a Ferris wheel, fun fair foods and much more.
IFLY INDOOR SKYDIVING
Experience the rush of skydiving without having to jump out of a plane thanks to iFly’s mega-powerful vertical wind tunnel, which creates variable wind speeds in excess of 180 mph.
GROMMET ISLAND BEACH PARK
This accessible Oceanfront playground is designed for everybody, with sand tables, sensory boards, a sway boat and more.
OCEAN BREEZE WATERPARK
A visit to this island-themed destination offers more smiles per gallon with over 30 water slides. With free parking, free inner tubes and free sunscreen, it’s an easy way to spend a sunny day.
SKY ZONE INDOOR TRAMPOLINE PARK
Put a little (or a lot!) of bounce in everyone’s step with wall-to-wall trampolines for jumping, flipping, flying high and landing in a foam pit.
VIRGINIA AQUARIUM & MARINE SCIENCE CENTER
With thousands of animals and amazing hands-on exhibits, there’s gallons of fun for everyone at the aquarium, one of the best in the country. Get ready for incredible exhibits and amazing animals representing hundreds of species. Holding nearly 20,000 gallons of water and more than a dozen species, the South Building’s renovated spaces have immersive experiences with interactive exhibits, play areas, touch pools, an observable veterinary-care center, interactive water-quality lab, outdoor play areas and so much more.
Pro tip: Be sure to purchase your ticket online before you arrive.
APEX ENTERTAINMENT
There’s no bigger spot in Virginia Beach for indoor entertainment, with numerous on-site activities ranging from axe throwing to go-cart racing.
Families can bond over friendly competition on the bowling lanes, challenge each other to arcade games, work together to solve escape-room puzzles and laugh the day away on laser tag, mini golf, bumper cars and more.
Historic Homes & Museums
As the landing site for our country’s first settlers, and only about an hour away from the Historic Triangle of Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg, the foundations of our country began right here. Virginia Beach History Museums represent the diversity of Virginia’s heritage in its historical homes and museums spread throughout our coastal city. Visit one or all of them, and discover the hidden histories of our region — and their place in the rich history of the United States.
Virginia Beach Tours
With so much to see in Virginia Beach, sometimes you just need someone to help show you the way.
From boat rides to see dolphins and whales to stand-up paddleboarding through our many inlets to oyster boat excursions to sample tasty bivalves plucked straight from the water beneath you, tours show you things in Virginia Beach you may never have seen on your own.
Our many chauffeurs, captains and tour guides are chock-full of knowledge and ready to show you what living the Virginia Beach life is all about.
Use the QR code to explore tours in Virginia Beach.
Arts & Entertainment
From epic displays of the visual arts to comedy shows and concerts, the arts and entertainment options in Virginia Beach have claimed their spot in the sunlight.
LIVE! ON ATLANTIC
From dazzling firework shows and sidewalk-chalk masterpieces on the boardwalk to blow-out concerts and music festivals right by the water, Live! On Atlantic keeps the good times rolling throughout the Oceanfront district all summer long. Enjoy seasonal shows along the boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue with the free Oceanfront Concert Series, as well as a lineup of summer festivals, street entertainment and performances.
CELEBRATE NEPTUNE
Standing tall at 34 feet, the majestic bronze statue of Neptune welcomes everyone to King Neptune Park. Celebrate his reign during the Neptune Festival, more than 40 events across all three of the city’s beaches each September and October.
Enjoy art from around the nation, sip Virginia wines at tasting events, catch a wave, run an 8K and see how sand sculptures come to life during the 10-day International Sandsculpting Championships.
CREATIVE HOT SPOTS
Find live theater year-round at the Little Theatre, just 6 blocks from the beach.
See an exhibition and take a pottery class at the Virginia Beach Art Center.
Browse paintings, ceramics, photography, sculpture and more at October’s Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show.
Take a wonder-full walk through the geometric “Seashore Cathedral” murals under the Rudee Inlet Bridge.
Watch musicals, dance companies and big-name musicians at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.
A Beach for Everybody
Virginia Beach is a beach for people of all abilities. Our boardwalk provides accessibility to individuals with varying degrees of mobility to explore the lively strip that runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean. Ramps are available at each street to take visitors from the boardwalk to the sand, and free beach wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
GROMMET ISLAND PARK & PLAYGROUND
Grommet Island Park, the first beach playground in the country designed specifically for children and adults of all physical abilities, is located right on the sand across from the Rudee Loop. Soft play sculptures, accessible play equipment and cushioned play surfaces on the sand make up this one-of-a-kind playground.
YMCA AT JT’S CAMP GROM
A short drive from the Oceanfront, Camp Grom was developed specifically for children and adults with differing physical abilities and wounded veterans and their families, as well as the families of fallen war heroes.
The 70-acre beach-themed camp boasts an aquatic center, an outdoor lake with fishing, a gym, picnic shelters, a sports field, a water-spray park and an abundance of activities like ropes courses, lakeside trails, swimming, wakeboarding, putt-putt, archery and more.
The Virginia Gentlemen Foundation spent more than a decade fundraising to open up the camp in honor of a friend who loved being outside — and it was worth the wait!
Things to Do With Your Pet
Your four-legged family members are always welcome in Virginia Beach, and we want them to enjoy a paw-sitively perfect vacation with you! Before you travel, be sure to familiarize yourself with seasonal restrictions and, as always, be mindful of keeping your fur-baby on a leash and cleaning up after them.
GO FOR A WALK ON THE BEACH OR BOARDWALK
Outside the summer season, dogs are welcome any time on the boardwalk and can get a little sandy off-leash on any of our beaches. In summer, they can romp around these places at designated times.
HEAD TO A BREWERY
When you’re in need of a pint or two, our breweries are a great place to take the dogs and kick back for a day.
SPEND A DAY AT THE PARK
From state parks to dog parks, there are plenty of spots to let Fido run off some of that puppy energy.
FETCH A BITE TO EAT
You can also grab a bite at various pet-friendly patios and doggie decks around the city.
QUICK TIP
During the summer months, pets are limited to the Oceanfront North End above 42nd Street and the south end of Virginia Beach in the Sandbridge area before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
Use the QR code to learn more.
Budget-Friendly Virginia Beach
There is a wealth of activities that are easy on the budget, from exploring parks, beaches, museums and more.
WILDLIFE & HISTORY TRAM TOUR
Explore the maritime forest and False Cape State Park’s diverse wildlife.
BEACH DAY
Sandbridge, Chesapeake Bay and Oceanfront Resort Beach are all free.
ATLANTIC WILDFOWL HERITAGE MUSEUM
View the art of decoy carving, from primitive tools to the more elaborate carvings and artwork of today.
BEACH BLANKET CINEMA
Watch classic movies on summer Tuesdays and Thursdays on the big screen from your spot in the sand.
Artfully Yours, Virginia Beach
From world-class sculptures and installations to ordinary walls that have been transformed into anything but, you can find works of art in every corner of our coastal city. Whether you’re shopping at Town Center, gearing up for a relaxing day beachside at the Oceanfront or exploring the artisan shops and unique finds of the ViBe Creative District, you’re never far from an awe-inspiring masterpiece.
MERMAID WINERY MURAL
With artwork featured all around town, at places like Java Surf and Star of the Sea Church, as well as many murals in nearby Norfolk, OnieTonie has quickly become one of the most recognized and popular artists in the region. The newest installment of his signature fish design is at Mermaid Winery on Shore Drive.
MASER PROJECTS
Irish artist Maser was welcomed to our city for an artist’s residency in 2017. See the colorful and geometrically pleasing art installations he created around town, including a large mural, titled “People and Plants,” on the back of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art; a sculptural installation across the street from the Virginia Beach Convention Center; and a performing-arts stage in ViBe Park on Cypress Avenue.
MILLE COLORI
Translating to “1,000 Colors,” the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art’s “Mille Colori” certainly lives up to its name. This breathtaking 14- foot glass chandelier by renowned artist Dale Chihuly is made up of 520 separate blown-glass pieces and hangs as a permanent fixture in the sunlit Rodriguez Pavilion.
WAVE
Jeff Laramore’s soaring piece is a 38-foot stainless-steel sculpture marking the entrance to the Laskin Gateway, providing a strong sense of arrival at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. At night, an orchestra of LED lights change and illuminate different aspects of this nautical-inspired sculpture.
ANTICIPATION
Standing watch at Grommet Island Park at the Oceanfront, the first beach playground designed for adults and children of all physical abilities, “Anticipation” was created by local artist Richard Stravitz. The bronze sculpture was inspired by Josh Thompson, an avid Virginia Beach surfer diagnosed with ALS in 2006. More of Stravitz’s work can be seen at his studio near the Oceanfront, where he sculpts six days a week.
LIGHT GARDEN
Located in the Princess Anne Commons Gateway Park, Dale Eldred’s “Light Garden” features 32 sun-refracting glass panels arranged to resemble a grove of trees and to illustrate the movement of light throughout the day.
Things to Do on a Rainy Day
While sun and surf are our trademarks, there’s no shortage of places to go when the weather isn’t cooperating. From breweries and museums to indoor skydiving, taking it inside in Virginia Beach can take your vacation to another level.
LYNNHAVEN MALL
With 120 stores, it’ll be easy to get all your steps in no matter the weather. And you won’t have to leave when you get hungry — from leisurely sit-down restaurants to grab-and-go options and snack shops, all dining needs can be met! With a movie theater, barber shop, massage spa, Dave & Buster’s and a Get Air trampoline field, everyone in your crew will be grateful the rain came.
BEACHSIDE SOCIAL
Beachside Social offers 10,000 square feet of ocean-liner-inspired indoor shuffleboard, bocce ball and board games, as well as expertly crafted cocktails, craft beer and fast-casual cuisine. It’s the perfect setting to get social with both your friends and total strangers, rain or shine. (Shuffleboard and bocce courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
MUSE PAINTBAR
When you’re feeling creative, unleash your inner artist at Town Center’s Muse Paintbar, where the wine and paint flow in equal measure. With a menu of tasty finger foods and over 20 beers and wines from which to choose, Muse is the perfect spot to create your next masterpiece. Their Paint and Sip painting events happen seven days a week, and all ages are welcome. The theme changes each night, so check the events calendar to pick one that interests you!
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.
Use 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 saltmarsh 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 contest 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 district.
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 fishes 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.
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.
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.
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 district, 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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THINGS TO DO
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