Things to Do in and Around Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Convention and Visitor Center
https://www.visitvirginiabeach.com/
Start at the buzzing Oceanfront, where watersports meet the iconic Boardwalk and live music fills the air. Then branch out: take in wall-to-wall murals in the ViBe Creative District, shop or catch a show at Town Center.
With 35 miles of coastline — where the peaceful Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic’s longest stretch of pleasure beach — Virginia Beach is closer than you think: just an hour from Richmond, three from Raleigh and three-and-a-half from D.C. And the seafood? Next level. Think oysters kissed by the ocean, peel-and-eat shrimp piled high and just-caught dishes that set a new standard for fresh.
Whether you’re chasing dolphins with your best buds, exploring trails with family or working on a solo three-day tan, Virginia Beach stays with you — in snapshots, in stories, in the way you’ll wish you never had to leave.
Military Aviation Museum
https://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/
America’s Flying Museum
Located in Virginia Beach, the Military Aviation Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of flying vintage military aircraft. Our purpose-built airport facility includes over 50 aircraft from the World War I and World War II era.
The museum is also home to historical structures located on 130 acres. With static displays and regular flying demonstrations featuring some of history’s most iconic aircraft, the museum is a must-see attraction.
The Mariners’ Museum and Park
https://www.marinersmuseum.org/
The Mariners’ Museum and Park connect people to the world’s waters, because through the waters, through our shared maritime heritage, we are connected to one another.
In 1930, at the outset of the Great Depression, Archer Huntington owned Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, and Homer Ferguson served as its president. Concerned for the well-being of shipyard workers and their families and about keeping their skilled labor force together while the demand for shipbuilding was low, Huntington and Ferguson used shipyard workers to build a museum and library dedicated to promoting all things nautical and maritime.
Explore one of the nation’s largest privately owned and maintained parks, complete with stunning lake views and an array of recreation activities. The 550-acre Mariners’ Park is free and open to the public. It offers visitors a quiet and serene place to walk, hike or run amongst rolling woodlands on the award-winning five-mile Noland Trail, surrounding the 167-acre Mariners’ Lake.
Colonial Williamsburg
https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/
18th-century people — Colonial Williamsburg is a living city populated by people from the past — from Thomas Jefferson to an enslaved Black pastor. Their stories tell us who we were and point us to a future rooted in the ideals that came to life in this place.
Cape Henry Lighthouse
Since 1792, a towering sandstone pillar has held a silent vigil at the southern entrance to the Chesapeake Bay — a critical defense, commerce and travel hub since the area’s settlement in 1607. As the first lighthouse authorized by a brand-new U.S. government, the Cape Henry Lighthouse is a must-see for history buffs and an interesting place for visitors to spend a few hours.
Today, the lighthouse sits on the active Fort Story Military Base and is open to the public seven days a week, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., weather permitting. To visit and climb the 191 narrow, winding steps to enjoy a breathtaking view of the bay, catch the shuttle at the base gate. Be sure to double-check the base and lighthouse visitor requirements prior to your trip.
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
Winner of a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center is a must-see attraction for families and nature lovers alike. It’s home to more than a dozen species of sharks, rays, eels and reptiles — plus North American river otters and harbor seals. You can even see a few tomistomas (a freshwater crocodile) and Komodo dragons.
This is a place where you’ll find plenty of learning opportunities, not to mention oohs and ahhs, around every bend.
Virginia Beach Hiking Trails
In and around Virginia Beach, you’ll find miles of easy and family-friendly hiking trails that crisscross beautiful state parks, nature preserves, wildlife refuges and natural areas. These trails meander across freshwater swamps, alongside lakes and to overlooks for panoramic views across the ocean and the bay.
When you’re ready to get in tune with nature, these relaxing hikes in Virginia Beach are ready for you.