Day One: Beach Day
Morning
Summer may have bid farewell, but there’s plenty of time to relish a fun-filled day at the beach. The weather is still warm and beach-goers can enjoy ample space on the sand for their beach chairs. Set up on the Oceanfront Beach along the popular Virginia Beach Boardwalk, which offers plenty of casual restaurants, bike rental shops and a scenic fishing pier.
Stroll the boardwalk, making stops at Neptune’s Park to snap a selfie with 34-foot-tall King Neptune at 30th Street, and the Navy SEAL Monument at 38th Street where you can learn about the incredible work and dedication of our Navy SEALs. Kids will have an absolute blast at the 15,000-square-foot Grommet Island Park on the south end of the boardwalk at 2nd Street.
Ready for lunch? Head over to Chix on the Beach at 7th Street on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk for casual beachfront dining. The kids’ menu entrées range from hand-breaded fish strips, classic chicken tenders and even tenderloin steak bites. Plus, yummy milkshakes! A win for the whole family.
Afternoon
After lunch, gear up for adventure and warm ocean breezes by renting bicycles, rollerblades or surrey bikes from Cherie’s Bike & Blade Rentals. With 14 convenient locations along the boardwalk, you won’t have to walk more than a few steps when you’re ready for the fun to begin.Hit the brakes to check out all the statues and monuments along the boardwalk, including the Norwegian Lady and Naval Aviation Monument Park, both of which can be found on 25th Street. For a safe ride, dedicated bike lanes run parallel to the boardwalk. Don’t forget to wear a helmet!
Evening
Make your home base the family-friendly Hilton Vacation Club Ocean Beach Club Virginia Beach, which sits on the boardwalk at 34th Street. Spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom suites make this the perfect stay for families. As a bonus, there’s an indoor children’s pool with dumping buckets and a fun-filled game room. Before or after a refreshing splash, re-fuel without leaving the hotel at Tortugas Café & Tiki Bar. This beachfront gem not only offers outdoor seating and live music but also tropical cocktails and non-alcoholic fruit smoothies for little ones. It’s the perfect spot to soak up the beach vibes.
Day Two: Outdoor Adventure
Morning
Start your day off right with fluffy flapjacks at Pocahontas Pancake House, which is less than one block from the Hilton Ocean Beach Club. After breakfast, make the short drive to First Landing State Park for a two-hour morning kayak tour on a warm fall day with Chesapean Outdoors. Keep your eyes peeled for herons, egrets and ospreys as you paddle.
Once back on terra firma, revel in a shaded hike on the 1.8-mile Bald Cypress Trail. This easy loop hike will delight littles with its wooden boardwalks and unusual bald cypress trees that sprout right out of the freshwater swamp. What a way to evoke their sense of wonder!
At the visitor center, grab a Junior Ranger activity booklet for your little adventurers-in-training! Don’t miss the Chesapeake Bay Center to marvel at turtles and horseshoe crabs. Close to the visitor center is the park’s swimming beach. Plan to kick off your shoes for a stroll or a splash.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, make your way to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Start with lunch at the Mermaid Bay Café in the North Building or the Otter Bay Café in the newly-renovated South Building. Then let your littles roam free to see sharks, sea turtles, playful river otters, jellyfish, seals and even Komodo dragons.
Soar into adventure at the Adventure Park at the Virginia Aquarium where multiple ziplines and aerial ropes challenge courses await thrill seekers of all ages, starting from five years old and up. Soar through the air — up to 15 stories high — then tackle a series of obstacles on the ropes course. Navigate sky-high bridges that connect platforms in the trees for an unforgettable outdoor escape.
Evening
Keep the fun going with a round of mini golf at Jungle Mini Golf. Just two blocks west of the Oceanfront Boardwalk at 23rd Street, this super-fun mini golf course is open year-round. Kids will love putting around waterfalls and wild animals, like giraffes and hippos. For indoor mini-golf excitement, head to King Neptune’s Mini Golf at 25th Street for a cool blacklight experience.
After tallying your scores, head to dinner at one of many family-friendly restaurants just steps from the mini golf courses. Local faves include Dough Boy’s Pizza for pizza and pasta, as well as Lunasea for casual seafood with a Tex-Mex kick. Don’t forget about ice cream — Lolly’s is a must-try on a warm fall day. Order the Cookie Monster ice cream, and thank us later.
Day Three: Non-stop Fun
Morning
Wake up to coffee and waffles at Katie’s 33rd Street Café. With outdoor seating and a delicious menu, Katie’s specialties include delicious omelettes, eggs benedicts (aka Katie’s Bennys) and soft, buttermilk pancakes. For the grown-ups, indulge in mimosas and Bloody Mary’s at this oceanfront favorite.
Next stop: Mount Trashmore Park, a 165-acre park that was once a landfill. Today, the park includes a skate park, a walking trail and fitness stations. Let the kids burn off energy at Kids Cove, a super-size park with swings, slides and plenty of climbing structures. Bring a colorful kite to let it soar from the top of one of the park’s two man-made mountains.
Afternoon
From Mount Trashmore, take a short drive to the Town Center of Virginia Beach, a vibrant area hub for shopping, arts, entertainment and dining. With more than two dozen restaurants, coffee shops, juice bars and ice cream shops, there’s something to satisfy every craving. When hunger strikes, take a seat at a kid-friendly fave, like Shake Shack, Three Notch’d Brewing Company, and Quirks.
The Town Center features a 12-screen Regal Cinemas and Apex Entertainment, which is home to endless fun! We’re talking bowling, escape rooms, laser tag, go-karts, an indoor ropes course, mini golf, bumper cars and dozens of arcade games. With so much to do, you could easily spend a full day having a blast at Apex.
Evening
Before you head home, don’t miss a visit to the historic Cape Henry Lighthouse. At Fort Story, you’ll find two Cape Henry Lighthouses, but only one is open to the public seven days a week. Climb the 191 steps to the top for breathtaking views across the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Just a heads up - all climbers must be at least 42 inches tall.
As you wrap your adventure, treat your kids – and yourself – to Blue Cow Ice Cream Company for a hand-crafted scoop of creamy ice cream. Just a 10-minute drive from the lighthouse, the scoop shop is the perfect way to cap off this family-friendly itinerary with sweet, sticky smiles all around. It’s a delightful finale to an unforgettable family adventure in Virginia Beach!
About Our Writer
Erin Gifford is a Virginia-based travel and outdoors writer. She especially enjoys writing about road trips, outdoor recreation and national parks. Her credits include Parents, The Washington Post, Thrillist, TIME and AFAR.com. She has written three hiking guidebooks for Falcon Guides and has created a hiking website, GoHikeVirginia.com. She also runs half marathons and is working toward completing one in all 50 states (so far, she has checked off 36 states).
