For the museum-hopper:
What better time to hit an attraction or two when steamy beach days are in the rearview mirror? Virginia Beach has a slew of enticing, enriching options.
There’s art…
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in the ViBe Creative District is home to an eye-popping piece by glass master Dale Chihuly and so much more, guaranteed to add some color to your winter palette.
Aviation…
Meanwhile, the Military Aviation Museum in Pungo is one of the top Virginia Beach attractions, holding one of the largest flying collections of World War I and World War II-era military aircraft on the planet. Even if your aviation knowledge begins and ends with Snoopy and the Red Baron, you’ll enjoy it.
Aquatic life…
Who doesn’t love an aquarium? Head inland to Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center—a great option for families and anyone who loves a close-up look at toothy reptiles, playful sea otters and the rest of the crew, representing hundreds of species.
For the thrill-seeker:
From world-class surfers who master the waves to the Amphibious Forces in the United States Navy’s Atlantic Fleet, Virginia Beach has always appealed to adventurous souls. Come along and share the vibe.
Take flight…
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nope, it’s you, skydiving! Well, kind of. Indoors. At iFLY Virginia Beach in Oceanfront a vertical wind tunnel from four mega-fans generates 1600hp of air, creating a safe float-zone, no parachute or tether needed. C’mon, you know you want to.
Solve a crime…
Rather use your head than your flailing appendages? An escape room offers all of the mystery, and no actual murders (we hope) of an actual who-done-it. At Breakout Games, you and your bunch will have 60 minutes to work out brain-testing clues to solve a kidnapping, uncover ancient relics and more adrenaline-spiking fun.
Be a ninja…
If the idea of dodgeball doesn’t evoke awkward childhood moments, may we suggest Surge Adventure Park? It’s an indoor trampoline park and then some—think basketball courts, ball pits, a trapeze, a ninja warrior course and, yes, dodgeball.
For the nature lover:
Winter in Virginia Beach is perfect for exploring nature parks without breaking a sweat—or a snow shovel. Take a “hike-cation” at First Landing State Park, where the trails are cooler than your favorite beanie. Or wing it at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where birdwatching is a “tweet” escape from holiday stress.
Take a hike…
Psst, hiking is really just walking in a pretty place, and it’s especially nice in winter when the VB landscape is cool and sparkly. Tune into the glories of First Landing State Park, Virginia’s most-visited state park, featuring seven distinct ecosystems. Nineteen miles of hiking trails skirt 1.25 miles of Chesapeake Bay beachfront and snake through protected salt marsh, freshwater ponds, dunes, tidal marsh and cypress swamp, even rare maritime forest. Your Instagram posts never looked better.
Practice your bird calls…
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, one of the last remaining undeveloped places on the East Coast and a Virginia Beach must-visit. More than 300 species of birds have been identified here, a prime stopover for migrating birdlife. Join a Winter Waterfowl Walk for a one-mile hike along the Refuge’s Raptor Trail, guided by expert birders. Other resident critters include river otters, deer and foxes.
Play ‘spot the humpback’...
A great reason to bundle up: winter whale watching. The cooler months are actually the best time to see migrating whales in the waters off Virginia Beach. Rudee Tours is a well-known operator for these boat trips; the major thrill is spotting humpback whales, engaged in whale behaviors like breaching, flipper slapping and tail lobbing.
For the foodie:
Due to years of witnessing peeps snapping pics of their entrees at restaurants, we’re all foodies now. If food is your love language, the vibrant dining scene in Virginia Beach will make your palate happy.
Fresh seafood…
For seafood so fresh, you’ll think it flipped out of the water and onto your plate, VB is the place. December and January are peak seasons for rockfish (striped bass,) striper, black sea bass, flounder, speckled trout and blueline tilefish, snagged in nearby waters.
The finest fine dining…
One bite, and you’ll see why these restaurants are perennial award-winners and featured on every Virginia Beach ‘best’ list: James Beard-recognized Terrapin specializes in creative twists on classic dishes; Chef Rodney Einhorn is a leader in the local farm-to-table movement. Then there’s Zoës Steak & Seafood, where the perfectly cooked protein is matched by a Wine Spectator Award-winning wine list. At Orion’s Roof Garden & Dining at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, fabulous Asian-fusion cuisine meets amazing rooftop views. Meanwhile, The Atlantic on Pacific, a mainstay in Oceanfront, is a haven for fresh seafood. It’s worth a visit just to watch them swiftly shuck oysters at the raw bar. (Name-drop alert: VB native Pharrell Williams pops in from time to time!)
Where breakfast rules…
If you agree that breakfast is the best meal of the day, we have the spot for you: Commune. Located in the ViBe Creative District, this beloved hole-in-the-wall makes everything from scratch, sourcing over 90 percent of its ingredients from local farms and producers. So, so good. For the ultimate breakfast-slash-comfort food, nothing beats a pancake. The fluffy goodness of a pancake at the fun and funky Pocahontas Pancake House is unparalleled; even the Food Network was impressed.
For romantics at heart:
We see you dashing off text messages filled with heart emojis. You’re the poster kids for Cute Coupledom, looking for the next cozy spot to canoodle. We have a few suggestions.
Long walks on the beach…
Like John Legend songs, long walks on the beach ooze romance. Virginia Beach makes it easy-peasy. The views are gorgeous in any season.
An art-splashed ramble…
Another fun place to walk hand-in-hand is the ViBe Creative District. Within a 15-block span, you’ll encounter 63-plus pieces of public art, from murals to…painted parking meters. For real. Download a map and get ready for the most colorful ramble ever. When you get chilly (or hungry,) pop into one of the many coffee shops and eateries in this hipster district.
Bunk up in style…
Hey, we’re just getting started with the mushy stuff! Book a room at the Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club and immerse yourselves in luxury. The city’s classic hotel hosted legends Judy Garland and Bing Crosby in days gone by. Now, it’s modern and posh, with the fabulous SeaHill Spa (or check out more VB spas!) and Tarnished Truth Distilling Company, the only hotel-based distillery in the U.S.
Share an Orange Crush with your crush…
Speaking of adult beverages, you’d be crazy to come all the way to Virginia Beach and not toast your true love with an Orange Crush, the city’s signature libation. Why not go directly to the source, Waterman’s Surfside Grille, the O.G. of this delicious orange vodka-spiked cocktail?
Indulge your pasta cravings…
As romantic settings go, a cozy Italian restaurant is tough to beat. (Maybe all those viewings of “Lady and the Tramp” at a tender age, or that Billy Joel song?) For “a bottle of red, a bottle of white,” and all the delicious hand-made pasta you can handle, try Sorella’s, an Italian eatery located Inland.
For fun-loving families:
Did somebody say ‘winter break’? A trip to Virginia Beach is an easy-going escape for a week or a weekend.
Commune with a Komodo dragon…
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is one of the city’s top attractions for small fry. Displays of fresh- and saltwater habitats are populated by intriguing denizens of the deep–300-plus species in all. Plan to see a show at the National Geographic 3D Theater, and before you go, download our scavenger hunt to make the visit even more fun and kid-friendly.
Find a cool pool…
There’s one unbreakable rule when traveling with kids: Gotta have a swimming pool! Little ones love a pool, and they’ll really love the pool situation at Holiday Inn & Suites Virginia Beach-North Beach: an indoor pool with a lazy river. Bonus: Kids aged 18 eat for free when sharing a room with their grown-ups.
Satisfy your sweet tooth…
Unlike ice cream, candy has no season. Ask an expert (aka a Virginia Beach kid) and they’ll direct you to the sweetest spot in the city: Forbes Candies. Since 1935, they’ve captured kids’ hearts and allowances with rainbow shades of saltwater taffy. For a real taste of summertime—it will be here soon enough—there’s nothing like a sky-blue blob of taffy!
About Our Writer
East Coast-based writer D. Chérie Bair covers travel, food, and outdoor recreation for newspapers, magazines, and online travel sites. She has contributed to several guidebooks for Fodor’s, Michelin, Lonely Planet, and Frommer’s. A global traveler, Bair admits she is “besotted” with Virginia Beach. Her favorite things to do there include paddling with dolphins in Rudee Inlet and loading up on taffy at Forbes Candies.
