There’s just something about the start of the New Year that sets us into motion and motivates us to get back on track with a healthier, more positive outlook. Having been consistently ranked among America’s Fittest Cities, it’s no surprise that Virginia Beach is a great place to put your best self forward in 2026. To get you motivated, we’ve pulled together some of our own resolutions, inspired by what’s available to us here along our coastal destination. Whatever resolutions you set for yourself, may they have you feeling your absolute best.
Eat Fresher and Cleaner
A cleaner, fresher diet seems to be at the top of everyone’s resolutions list — and with fresh seafood and a bounty of local produce, eating well is both convenient and delicious in Virginia Beach. Our area’s food is good and good for you; here are a few local joints dishing out wholesome, delicious options.
Green Cat Juice Bar
Located on the Oceanfront, this quaint little spot is a health nut’s dream and is sure to get your day up and running with a selection of made-to-order juices, including staples like Gingerella and Moon Mylk. Be sure to leave room for their refreshing smoothie bowls, or make plans to return for one of their soul-satisfying salads.
Town Center Cold Pressed Cafe
If you want to take your juicing to the next level, there’s no better place to start than with Town Center Cold Pressed Cafe’s Cleanse packages (your choice of Easy or Hard, based on your needs), including their expert team’s recommendations on what works best for you. Not ready to jump aboard the cleanse train? No problem. Their vast selection of smoothie bowls, oatmeal bowls, salad bowls, craft coffee drinks (superfood lattes, anyone?) and basic cold-pressed juices are on the menu every day.
Heritage Natural Market
Since 1969, Heritage Natural Market has been a beacon of health and wellness in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia Beach — offering fresh prepared sandwiches and salads as well as an extensive selection of pre-packaged natural foods that cater to diverse dietary needs and lifestyle choices. Whether there’s a food allergy or special dietary preference in your family or you’re just looking for a wholesome meal to take along for the day’s adventures, this is a great option.
Get Moving
A new year always has us feeling like we can train harder and run faster (or run at all, in some cases), and fortunately for us, Virginia Beach makes for one inspiring training ground, thanks to countless year-round races, a variety of hiking, running and biking trails … and even an outdoor fitness park.
Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend
Get your year off on the right foot by training for March’s most exciting weekend. Named one of National Geographic’s “100 Runs of a Lifetime,” the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend welcomes 25,000 runners for a legendary sell-out weekend featuring the Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K and other events. You’ll experience the best of Virginia Beach as you run through mild spring weather on this flat, fast and scenic course before crossing the finish line next to the Atlantic Ocean. The celebration continues after the race with festivities on the beach, including Yuengling beer, Irish stew and live music.
Hiking and Biking Trails
With a well-established system of lush parks and natural areas to explore throughout Virginia Beach, you’ll have no excuse to not get moving. Hike through seven distinct ecosystems at First Landing State Park, a registered Natural Landmark; for a more adventurous take, hike through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to reach False Cape State Park.
If exploring on two wheels is more of your thing, our 200+ miles of bikeways and trails will surely pave the way for an invigorating experience across our city. Pack your own or rent a bike from Cherie’s Bike & Blade Rentals, with convenient locations all over town. Or, if you’re headed to the Sandbridge District, don’t miss the opportunity to rent fat tire bikes from Surf and Adventure Company or Ocean Rentals LTD for a day spent exploring the beaches of Little Island Park — rolling right along on the sand.
Hillier Ignite Fitness Park
Fitness should be fun — and at 36th Street on or gorgeous Oceanfront, it’s pretty much child’s play. With rings, beams, bars and ropes, the Hillier Ignite Fitness Park features a variety of strength-training options and body-weight-based exercise equipment — all located right in the sand.
Shop Smart
As the holiday-shopping frenzy comes to an end, the New Year presents a good opportunity to assess our shopping habits and reflect on surrounding ourselves with the things that make us feel good. Whether it’s thoughtfully made wellness items, sustainable goods, or fresh, locally sourced foods, Virginia Beach has got plentiful options to help you shop smart this year.
Farmers’ Markets
Get your fix of fresh, locally sourced fruits, vegetables, baked treats, jams and much more at one of the city’s beloved farmers’ markets, like the Old Beach Farmers Market in the ViBe Creative District, or the longstanding, year-round Virginia Beach Farmers Market. Not only will you walk away with delicious, thoughtfully made items, but you’ll get the satisfaction of hearing directly from the hands that cultivated or crafted them — in our book, there’s no better feeling.
Glow Apothecary
Now’s the time to start pampering yourself. Set your at-home wellness routine in motion with new self-care products. From holistic, high-performing skincare products to chic, sustainable clothing, Glow Apothecary is sure to leave you feeling that glow all year long.
Locally Made, Sustainably Sourced Items
Few things are better than knowing exactly where your favorite items came from. We’re especially lucky in Virginia Beach to have an array of local artisans making beautiful, functional and durable items that reflect our quintessential “coastal casual” aesthetic — all of which are sure to become your most-used, most-loved items. Some of our favorites include North End Bag Company, Jars of Dust, and Mrs. Bones Pet Bowtique; our pups deserve to start the new year strong, too.
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Written by Valeria L. Palmertree
Valeria has cultivated her passion for storytelling throughout a 20-year communications career that has granted her the opportunity to find, write and tell stories on behalf of a variety of brands, including destinations across the country. A native of Buenos Aires and raised in Miami Beach, Valeria has called Virginia Beach home since 2014. At first unsure of what she’d find here, she quickly grew fond of our coastal city’s laidback style and learned that everything she thought she knew about seafood and farm-fresh ingredients wasn’t enough. Over the past decade, she has had a front-row seat to seeing some of her favorite restaurants emerge, alongside a collective of local artisans who have provided VB with its distinctly vibrant vibe. A lover of food culture, some of Valeria’s go-to spots include Commune, Prosperity Kitchen, Hearth and the newly opened Nami Nori at Atlantic Park. When she’s not savoring the local dining scene, Valeria can be found chasing sunsets over the Chesapeake Bay, writing, reading, cooking, traveling, listening to live music and taking in the outdoors with her husband and young daughter – First Landing State Park is one of their most beloved spots! As a full-time communications consultant, Valeria helps clients unearth, craft and share their stories through a portfolio of strategic communications services. Learn more about Valeria’s work – and read her musings on food, travel and more – at ThePalmTreeType.c
