Each Earth Day, we look to do our part to help preserve and protect the environment of our beautiful city so that future generations can enjoy it as we have. From helping support our local agriculture to learning more about how we are protecting and restoring our local, natural resources, here are some ways you can join us in keeping it green this Earth Day.

• Take in the wonders of the Virginia Aquarium. The marine science center’s primary goal is to inspire conservation through education, research and sustainable practices, and they’re always recruiting visitors of all ages to join them! You can sign up to take a behind-the-scenes look at the daily operations, join its award-winning stranding response team to help rescue and learn more about our local sea life, or join in on the team’s efforts to build new oyster reefs.

• Visit one of our many You-Pick farms, located within Pungo’s farming community, and enjoy a variety of handpicked produce.

• Dive in to some fresh, local seafood for a cause at one of our many sustainable restaurants. The Virginia Aquarium works hard to promote sustainable eating through its Sensible Seafood Program, encouraging locals and visitors alike to enjoy ocean-friendly seafood. Through a series of Sensible Seafood partners, the program focuses on the importance of buying local, which in turn delivers a fresher and tastier dish to your table.

• Hop aboard an unforgettable oyster-farming boat tour with Pleasure House Oysters, and help harvest the legendary Lynnhaven oysters, which are known for their delectable size and saltiness.

• Attend an event at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, the country’s first convention center to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Gold certification and to meet the strict standards of the Living Building Challenge.

• Enjoy a stunning view of the Lynnhaven River while engaging in hands-on and enriching outdoor educational experiences at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center, one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the world.

With so many fun, fulfilling and tasty ways to give back to our planet, we not only look forward to Earth Day each year, but think it is cause for celebration. Thanks to a host of eco-friendly ways in which to enjoy our unique coastal surroundings, living the sustainable life in Virginia Beach has never been easier.