Virginia Beach is one
of the most popular tourist destinations in the state
of Virginia. Virginia Beach is bordered by the Atlantic
Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay and North
Carolina, and provides miles of beachfront for activities
in the Virginia sun. In Virginia Beach, you can
enjoy camping at First Landing State Park or head to the
scenic and historic Cape
Henry Lighthouse. Fisherman will find a wealth
of offerings for fishing charter adventures in Virginia
Beach, and a number of yearly events engage both visitors
and locals alike. Aside from enjoying the beach
and filling a day with fishing, consider the following
ideas for things to do in Virginia Beach.
Visit the Oceana Naval Air Station
Watch F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets take off and land at this major Navy jet base. The entire station is spread over 6,000 acres and trip to NAS Oceana will give you a whole new appreciation for what fighter pilots deal with. Base tours at the station are offered between June 4 and September 1 and you can schedule them with Virginia Beach HRT tours. Tours start at 24th and Atlantic Avenue, where you can buy tickets at the kiosk. You can choose either the 9:00 a..m. tour or the 11:00 a.m. one. While the tour itself is free, there is a $7.50 transportation fee for adults and $5 for seniors, children 12 and younger and those with disabilities. On the later tour, you will have the chance to partake in the $8 lunch buffet at the Oceana Officer’s Club. You must provide a photo I.D. for anyone 16 or older, and no back packs are allowed.
Take a Rudee Whaler or Rudee Flipper Cruise
Consider adding a Rudee Cruise to your list of things to do in Virginia Beach. If you are looking specifically for things to do for kids in Virginia Beach, they will certainly enjoy this experience. On these 1 ½ hour cruises, you can spy bottlenose dolphins swimming by and when the weather cools, you can even glimpse fin and humpback whales that come to feed along the Virginia coast. You can locate Rudee Tours at 200 Winston Salem Avenue and tours operate year round. They offer 6 different tours, with the Rudee Flipper and Rudee Whaler tours ranking among the most popular. The Rudee Flipper operates during dolphin season and costs $18 for adults, $14 for ages 4-11 and is free to children 3 and under. You can book a Sunset Cruise for the same fees. Rudee Whaler tours operate in the cooler months and the prices are to be determined.
Visit the Ferry Plantation House
Among the historical Virginia Beach attractions is the Ferry Plantation House, which has a history dating back to 1642. The current house on the site dates to 1830 and rests along Lynnhaven River’s west branch. The original Walke Manor House, which was finished in 1782, was lost to a fire. Currently, the Ferry Plantation House is being renovated, but you can take a tour if you would like. The plantation is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with hours of operation between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. A tour donation fee of $5 for adults and $2 for seniors and students will help in the effort to establish the house as an public educational center. You can find this welcome site for things to do in Virginia Beach at 4136 Cheswick Lane.
Explore Virginia’s Maritime History at the Old Coast Guard Station
This gem of Virginia Beach attractions houses two galleries that explore the history of the station’s life saving practices and examine various coastal shipwrecks. There is an interactive exhibit that help you identify the location of different ships along the coast. View over 1,800 artifacts and over 1,000 photos that give testament to the services offered by the Coast Guard. This Historic Landmark figures on the National Register of Historic Places and can be found at 24th Street and Boardwalk. The Museum is open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from Noon - 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is just $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and military personnel and $2 for ages 6-18. Children 6 and under get in for free.
Lace Up for the Virginia Legends Walk
On this self-guided tour, gain appreciation of various past Virginians who made notable contributions to the country and throughout the world. Inductees include the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Arthur Ashe, Patrick Henry, Edgar Allan Poe, Chief Powhatan and Captain John Smith. The Virginia Legends Walk’s location was picked for its accessability and its attractiveness. It can be found on 13th Street in the city’s resort area. There is no charge for the walk, as the site is sponsored by various corporations and organizations. Future expansion of the site will make room for recent inductees and future names.
Cool Off at Ocean Breeze Water Park
Things to do for kids in Virginia Beach don’t get much more fun than a day at Ocean Breeze Water Park. This is the only water park found in Virginia Beach and can be found a mile and a half from the Oceanfront area at 849 General Booth Blvd. Here, you’ll find 16 waterslides, a large wave pool and a special kids area called Buccaneer Bay. Jungle Falls is just one of the rides and this rough-water adventure is a sure-fire bet to be fun for the whole family. Grab lunch at the West Indies Barbecue, browse the gift shop or throw some quarters at the park’s arcade. Ocean Breeze Water Park is open from May through September and hours vary through the season. The park predominantly opens at 10 a.m. and closes around 7 or 8 p.m. During summer weekends, the park stays open until 10 p.m. General admission is $21.95 for adults, $15.95 for seniors and children 3-9, and free for ages 2 and under. Military families receive a $2 discount.
Take the Kids to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Located at 717 General Booth Boulevard, this destination is a favorite consideration for things to do for kids in Virginia Beach. Take a journey through Virginia’ waters with aquariums holding over 800,000 gallons of water. Kids and adults alike will have fun petting marine creatures like stingrays and horseshoe crabs. One of the museum’s main attractions is the 50,000 gallon aquarium that houses an impressive collection of native Chesapeake Bay fish. View free-roaming turtles and birds in the Coastal River Room. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission for the aquarium only is $11.95 for adults, $10.95 for seniors, and $7.95 for children 3-11. IMAX movies cost $7.50 for adults, $6.75 for seniors and $6.50 for children. You can combine the aquarium and IMAX experiences for $16.95, $15.95 and $6.50
