Virginia Travel Guide - Virginia Travel Guide 2026
Coastal Virginia: Hampton Roads
2025-11-24 04:41:20
5 WAYS TO SPEND YOUR DAYS
Celebrate PrideFest on the waterfront in Norfolk with live performances, local vendors, and their iconic Pride Boat Parade.
Stay the night in the lighthouse at Smithfield Station, complete with a spiral staircase leading to panoramic views from the lantern room.
Sunset, sightseeing, or pirate cruises for small swashbucklers — take your pick with Yorktown Sailing Charters’ tall ship Schooner Alliance II.
Don’t miss the iconic Virginia Beach Boardwalk, a 3-mile stretch of restaurants, live music in summer, and a towering King Neptune statue.
Take the kids to the Children’s Museum of Virginia, the state’s largest, in Portsmouth for hours of hands-on fun.
Family Fun for All Ages in Hampton Roads
From high-speed thrills to historical wonders and wildlife encounters, Coastal Virginia: Hampton Roads offers family-friendly experiences that entertain and educate — and make it easy to create lasting memories.
Coastal Virginia is a playground for families, blending heart-pumping attractions, hands-on learning, and rich history into one unforgettable destination. Whether your crew is full of thrill-seekers, animal lovers, or history buffs, this region has something for everyone.
Test your limits on all-ages obstacles 42 feet in the air at Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park in Williamsburg, then fly through the trees on zip lines. Back on solid ground, cool off at Water Country USA with twisting slides, lazy rivers, and splash zones perfect for kids of all ages.
At Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, history comes to life through immersive exhibits and costumed interpreters. Kids can try on 17th-century armor, churn butter, and talk with blacksmiths, soldiers, and Colonial settlers. Drive or bike the Colonial Parkway, a scenic 23-mile roadway with pull-offs to watch the James or York rivers or to read plaques about the region’s rich history.
In nearby Newport News, the Virginia Living Museum blends nature and science in a way that keeps kids engaged. Exhibits showcase everything from native wildlife, like river otters and red wolves, to a planetarium. Don’t miss Dinosaur Quest, where future paleontologists can dig for fossils, test their prehistoric knowledge, and try not to get spooked by the animatronic dinosaurs.
©Virginia. View All Articles.