Virginia Beach.
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Sitting twenty miles east of Norfolk International Airport along Interstate 264, Virginia Beach meets both the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. It is built around working waterways and thirty-five miles of sandy coastline, known for coastal ecology, cold-water oysters, and military aviation. Virginia Beach is worth visiting if you want to eat wild-caught blue crabs on the bay and kayak through bald cypress swamps without losing oceanfront comforts. Look elsewhere if you want a compact, walkable historic core, quiet beaches free from high-rise hotels, or the ability to explore without a car.
Last updated 9 Sept 2026
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What to do in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
The city divides cleanly into distinct territories: the high-energy Atlantic Oceanfront with its wide boardwalk, the calm residential shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay at Chic's Beach, and the wild southern salt marshes of Sandbridge. Days here flow between morning beachcombing, quiet estuary walks, and late afternoon seafood shacks. It suits travellers who like open water and coastal air without having to rough it.
24 hours in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Start early with a walk along the Atlantic boardwalk before the sun heats the sand. Grab a crab cake sandwich near Rudee Inlet for lunch, then spend two hours walking the mossy trails at First Landing State Park. Finish the evening at Chic's Beach with raw oysters and an orange crush as the sun sets over the Chesapeake Bay bridge. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Devote day two to the ViBe Creative District for morning coffee, murals, and small artisan shops. Afterwards, drive twenty minutes north to Cape Henry to climb the 1792 lighthouse tower. Spend your evening dining on fresh sea scallops and she-crab soup along the Lynnhaven River while watching the fishing trawlers tie up for the night. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
A third day lets you head south away from the hotels into the rural Pungo farming community for roadside fruit stands. Keep driving to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge for an unhurried bike ride through coastal dunes into False Cape State Park, an untamed Atlantic barrier spit accessible only by foot, bicycle, or seasonal tram.
Virginia Beach Virginia United States itineraries by interest
Local Seafood in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Slurp salty Lynnhaven oysters on the half shell and crack steamed blue crabs dusted in Old Bay at docks along the Lynnhaven River and Rudee Inlet.
Coastal Walks in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Walk the concrete three-mile Oceanfront Boardwalk past the King Neptune bronze, or take wooden boardwalk paths through the dunes at Sandbridge Beach.
Maritime History in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Climb the 1792 sandstone Cape Henry Lighthouse, stand where English colonists landed in 1607, and inspect naval artifacts at the Surf & Rescue Museum.
State Parks in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Hike the Bald Cypress Trail inside First Landing State Park, crossing brackish swamps draped in Spanish moss and wooded lagoons near Broad Bay.
Surfing & Watersports in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Rent a board near the 1st Street jetty where the East Coast Surfing Championships run, or paddle a kayak through the calm waters of Linkhorn Bay.
Aviation History in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Tour the Military Aviation Museum in Pungo to inspect flyable vintage World War I and II warbirds, hangars, and a transplanted 1940s German hangar.
Farm Produce in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Drive south to Pungo farm stands for Pungo strawberries in May, roadside sweet corn, blackberries, and fresh-baked peach pies along Princess Anne Road.
Wildlife Watching in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Board winter whale-watching boats for humpbacks off the coast, or spot loggerhead turtles and osprey in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Marine Life in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Walk the glass tunnels at the Virginia Aquarium to watch sand tiger sharks, harbor seals, and river otters along the Owls Creek nature path.
Local Craft Drinks in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Sample crisp IPAs and coastal gose at craft breweries clustered in the ViBe Creative District, or try spirits at Tarnished Truth inside The Cavalier.
Arts & Culture in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Stroll 18th and 19th streets in the ViBe District for painted murals, visit the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, and meet local ceramicists.
Kayak Trails in Virginia Beach Virginia United States
Launch a touring kayak from Back Bay or North Bay to paddle past maritime marsh islands, bald eagles, and wild coastal marshes toward False Cape.