plan your adventure

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  Grommet Island Park

  Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground For EveryBODY, a 100% handicap accessible oceanfront park, is the first of its kind in America! Now, anyone with a disability can have a day at the beach.

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  Water Activities

  Sailing, surfing, swimming...you name it; we've got every water activity under the sun sure to please kids of all ages. Grab the kids and get on the water today!

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  First Landing State Park

  Outdoor activity for the entire family abounds in Virginia's most visited state park. First Landing offers boating, swimming, nature and history programs, hiking, biking, camping, picnicking, a boat launch, cabins and 19 miles of trails on 2,888 acres.

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  Mount Trashmore Park

  Once a landfill, over 60 feet high, 800 feet long and 165 acres. Home to Kids Cove playground, skate ramps, and many special events. Fitness trail, water wise gardens and many more recreational amenities.

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  The Boardwalk

  Our three-mile boardwalk is the perfect playground for biking, rollerblading, and just having fun. There are outdoor cafes and nautical sculptures on one side, and a wide beach and Atlantic Ocean on the other. What more do you need?

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  Virginia Aquarium

  Virginia's marine environment is represented through 700,000 gallons of aquariums, live animal habitats, more than 300 hands-on exhibits, a nature trail, aviary and larger-than-life movies on a 3D IMAX® screen.

  717 General Booth Blvd.
  757-385-FISH

  IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation.

  Learn more

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  Play It Safe

  Virginia Beach wants your visit to be enjoyable, so please keep in mind the following safety tips:

  • Never swim alone. Swim near a lifeguard.
  • Ask a lifeguard about water conditions.
  • Red flags = dangerous water.
  • Know your swimming ability.
  • Stay close to shore.
  • Flotation devices are no substitute for swimming ability.
  • If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore.
  • Never leave children unattended.
  • Don't dive. Go feet first.
  • Avoid the water at night, dawn, or dusk, and avoid shiny jewelry or swimwear.
  • Body surfers should keep their arms in front to avoid injury.
  • Protect your skin. Use sunscreen.

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  Find a Kid Program

  To ensure the safety and security of the little ones in your vacation party, many Virginia Beach hotels and motels participate in the Find-A-Kid Wristband Program. By way of an identification wristband distributed at hotel front desks to children 10 and under, this free and voluntary program helps locate wandering children and gets them back to their parents as quickly as possible.

  Ask your hotel if they participate in this security program.

  View hotels with kid programs

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  Protect Against the Sun

  Sun care tips:

  1. Put enough on. The recommended application for adequate protection is 35 to 40ml per person per session (a handful). "So someone may think they are applying SPF15, say, but if they don't use the correct amount then it may only be equivalent to SPF8," says Richardson.
  2. Budget brands are just as effective as the more expensive brands.
  3. Apply correctly. Sunscreen should be applied to clean, dry skin 30 minutes before exposure to the sun which allows it time to absorb properly.
  4. Take time out in the shade between 11 am and 3 pm when them sun is strongest, but still apply sun screen because sand, concrete and water can reflect harmful rays.
  5. Reapply. Perspiration, exercise, swimming and towel-drying removes sun creams from the skin so you should reapply after taking part in any of these activities, even if the product is waterproof.
  6. Everyday use of sun lotions on your face and back of the hands will limit the chances of developing dry leathery skin, wrinkles, mottling and other signs of premature aging and skin cancer.
  7. Cover up in the sun with loose cotton clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection.
  8. Use a "broad spectrum" sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 to protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays.
  9. Overcast weather still requires sunscreen in summer because 80 per cent of ultra-violet radiation is still present on cloudy days.
  10. Children and babies need greater protection so use specially formulated kids ranges with gentler ingredients and higher SPFs.

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  Bike Rentals

  One of the many things to do on the boardwalk of Virginia Beach is rent a bike with your family. You can generally fit 4-6 people on a Surrey bike that can be rented, and since the boardwalk offers a bike path, you'll have plenty of room to ride. Rentals available at: 39th St, 35th St, 24th St, 22nd St, 20th St, 19th St, 13th St, 10th St, 8th St, & 2nd St.

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