Set between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is a watery wonderland o’ fun. No matter the season, water babies of all stripes, from Baby Sharks to Big Kahunas, will discover a bounty of water-based adventures here. Step away from the world’s longest pleasure beach (30-plus miles) and into the blue. Here are some great ways to do it in Virginia Beach.
A boat navigates a marina with other docked boats and waterfront buildings under a clear blue sky.
Won’t you let me take you on a sea cruise?
Oo-ee, oo-ee baby. There’s nothing more fun than getting out on the water on a sparkly day. Dolphin tours are a big deal here: Everyone wants to commune with wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Frolicking Flipper and friends seem to love riding in a boat’s wake or popping up alongside the vessel, enthralling boatloads of tourists.
The folks at Virginia Aquarium are experts when it comes to local sea life and bird life. No wonder their narrated sea boat tours aboard the Atlantic Explorer and Atlantic Scout are wildly popular. In winter, they take passengers out to spot the humpback whales migrating to tropical waters on whale-watching boat tours. (You’ll be conversant with terms like “breeching” and “spy-hopping” when it’s over!) Rudee Tours in Oceanfront takes wildlife-loving guests on dolphin-themed cruises aboard the Rudee Flipper and the fast-and-fun Rudee Rocket. They take their commitment to dolphin sightings seriously—if the cetaceans don’t appear, you can ride again for free.
When it comes to unique tours, Virginia Beach is your oyster. Foodie at heart should book a Pleasure House Oyster Farm tasting tour on the Lynnhaven River and discover why Lynnhaven oysters are so prized. Slurp oysters, drink wine (tours are BYOB) and enjoy splendid scenery while you cruise. For an ostreaphile (oyster aficionado,) it doesn’t get better than that. Book their “Chef’s Table Tour,” and you’ll also get dinner served while you’re actually in the river—a true Virginia Beach experience. Or go the family-friendly route and book the longer “Waterman Tour” and get your hands dirty and your feet wet digging shellfish at the oyster farm.
Two people in life jackets kayaking on a calm lake, surrounded by trees and clear skies.
Won’t you be my kayak king?
Even if you’re the king or queen of paddling, you’ll be dazzled by the sheer number and variety of paddling spots around Virginia Beach. From the lush marshes of the Back Bay to calm Little Creek and the allure of the open ocean, there’s so much to see as you glide along the water.
If you’re the DIY type, rent a vessel and plot your course. If you’re visiting, we recommend connecting with an outfitter to book a guided kayaking tour. Dolphin Kayak Nature Tour, Chesapean Outdoors and Go Kayak! offer dolphin-watching kayak tours, while Tula Adventure Sports explores the eco-glories (oysters and crabs among them) of First Landing State Park (off 64th street.) These are a few great of the options available in this paddler’s paradise.
Two people paddleboarding on calm water with trees in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
Hey, whatSUP?
Want to add a core workout to your sightseeing experience? Three letters: S-U-P. Stand-up paddling has really caught on in VB; try it once and you’ll see why. Head out into Rudee Inlet with owner Randy Harris of RISUP (Rudee Inlet Stand Up Paddleboard) and enjoy a cool twist on the sport, like paddling with dolphins and humpback whales or doing sound meditation and yoga on the paddleboards. Even newbies can participate, but you must be able to swim to take part. Chesapean Outdoors offers a popular SUP tour of Linkhorn Bay. Look at you, heading home after vacay more fit than before! Unless you overindulged on Forbes Candies’ saltwater taffy, that is.
Two people fishing on a boat, with one holding a fishing rod. Buildings are visible in the background across the water.
Gone Fishin’
Angling for a fun fishing trip? Fisherfolk know that the waterways of Virginia Beach are a bounty of rockfish. (Fun fact: 70 to 90 percent of the world’s rockfish—aka striped bass– come from the Chesapeake Bay.) But rockfish is just the R in the A-Z list of fish caught here year-round—a fiesta of fins that includes amberjack, bluefish, cobia, mackerel, mahi-mahi, skipjack, wahoo and plenty more.
A family shops for surfboards in a store, with colorful surfboards displayed in the background.
Surf’s Up
Do sports get any cooler than surfing? Not around here, they don’t. The birthplace of East Coast surfing and the East Coast Surfing Championship, Virginia Beach is a swell place (pun intended) to master the sport—or discover the thrill of riding your first wave. If you’ve already felt the stoke of surfing, rent a board from Surf & Adventure Co. and harness that Big Shredder Energy, or go home with the ultimate in surfer souvenirs, a handcrafted surfboard from MAR Surf Exchange. Want a private lesson, or a surf camp session? Virginia Beach is swimming in them, and the gentle waters here are perfect for newbies.
A person parasailing over the ocean, attached to a parachute, with a view of waves and a distant city skyline under a partly cloudy sky.
Parasailing, Anyone?
Does parasailing count as a water sport, since you’re mostly above the ocean? Harnessed in, under a canopy, aka parasail wing, you’ll fly over the Atlantic from 1,000 feet up, feet dangling—with a perfect bird’s-eye view of the Oceanfront. (That high-pitched sound you hear is you squealing!) Safety is a significant focus for outfitters such as Pirate Parasail (their captains are USCG-certified).
Marina with numerous docked boats and yachts under a clear blue sky, surrounded by residential buildings and a parking area.
Grab the crew and get slippery— Adventure Parasail also offers 30-minute banana boat rides for ages four and up (40 pounds and over.) You’ll need a group of four (although they might be able to pair you with other thrill-seekers.) Hop aboard a big, bouncy banana-shaped float and fly through the water from 1st Street to 31st Street and back. After the banana boat experience, set your sights on an orange-centric experience with a Virginia Beach-famous Orange Crush.
About Our Writer:
D. Chérie Bair
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.
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