Virginia Beach Official Visitors Guide • 2025/2026 • ACTIVITIES FOR ALL

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.

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.

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 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 Championship.

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.

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

BEACH DAY

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!