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| Don't miss the Virginia Beach Aquarium! |
All of these attractions are within 20 minutes or so of the Virginia Beach oceanfront. But if you're willing to travel further afield, there's even more. Click here for Virginia Beach Attractions beyond the Beach area.
And if you're on a budget, check out our Cheap or Free Family Vacation Ideas page.
Virginia Beach VA Adventure Attractions
Adventure Parasail
Adventure Parasail is your chance to soar up to 1,200 feet for a bird's eye view of the beach under a colorful parachute. Don't worry--they have a perfect safety record. They also offer jet ski, kayak, and boat rentals, plus inshore and offshore fishing excursions. Check out their website for a slideshow of what they offer.
Hours: They open at 9 am daily.
Adventure Parasail address: 300 Winston Salem Avenue,Virginia Beach. Adventure Parasail phone number: 757-422-UFLY (8359). Adventure Parasail website: http://www.beachparasail.com. Google Adventure Parasail map
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| Take a ride on the Rudee Rocket! |
Jungle Golf
Just off Atlantic Avenue and 22nd Street, this African animal-themed miniature golf attraction has an air-conditioned game room and snack bar, free parking (access it from 23rd street). Here's a twist: you don't play by the game, but rather by unlimited golf during the day, or unlimited golf in the evening. Look in the local visitors guides for coupons or click here for online coupons.
Hours: Mon-Sun 24 hours a day from Memorial Day to Labor Day; various hours during the off-season. Admission: $9 for adults, $7 ages 4-8 and seniors 55 and up, free for 3 and under. This gives you unlimited games from morning until 6 pm (day golf). Fees are the same for unlimited games from 6 pm to midnight (evening golf).
Jungle Golf address: 22nd Street and Pacific Avenue, Virginia Beach VA. Jungle Golf phone number: 757-425-7240.
Laser Quest
Laser Quest is live action laser hide and seek-- like paint ball but without the mess! Play with friends or by yourself. Laser Quest games last up to 15 minutes.
Hours: Mondays by appointment for private group events; Tues-Thurs, 4-9 pm; Fri, 4 pm to midnight; Sat, 10 am to midnight; Sun, 10 am to 8 pm. Admission: $8 per game.
Laser Quest address: 2682 Dean Drive, Virginia Beach VA. Laser Quest phone number: 757-463-6300. Google Laser Quest map
Motor World of Virginia Beach
Eleven race tracks, 250 go karts in 16 different styles, plus a new Kiddie City center for the little ones. Sounds good? There's more: they also have the VB Splat Zone for paintball and Shipwreck Golf, with two different 18-hole miniature golf courses. They also offer a snack bar, parking, and birthday party amenities. They're right next door to Ocean Breeze Water Park, so why not combine both attractions?
Hours: Open year-round daily, weather permitting: 10 am to 10 pm;Labor Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend: 10 a.m. to midnight. Admission: Free admission into park, $4-$6 per ride per person. Look for coupons in the local visitors guides.
Motor World address: 700 S. Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach VA.Motor World phone number: 757-422-6419. Motor World website: www.vbmotorworld.com. Google Motor World map
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| Get wet and wild at Ocean Breeze Water Park. |
Ocean Breeze Water Park
Virginia Beach's only water park, complete with 16 slides, a huge wave pool, and a Buccaneer Bay playground for the kids. For details, photos, and how to get a discount on admission to Ocean Breeze Water Park, click here.
Pieces of Eight Pirate Cruises
Cruise the oceanfront with your scurvy mateys! Friendly pirates will entertain you with pirate stories, face painting, dance parties, secret maps and treasure, a full service bar, and free soft drinks...perfect for birthday parties. They offer free round-trip shuttle service to the ship from their lot next to the Schooner Inn.
Hours: Cruises are offered in season at 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm daily.
Pirates of Eight address: 2nd Street and Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach VA. Pirates of Eight phone number: 757-417-7272.Pirates of Eight website: www.piecesofeight.com.
Rudee Inlet Jet Ski Rental
Jet skis are only one of the things you can rent here to cruise the inlet: rent Wave Ventures, sports boats, jet boats, and kayaks too. It's next to Big Sam's Restaurant and Raw Bar on Rudee Inlet. They also offer full and half day sport fishing charters.
Hours and Fees: Call for details and be sure to look for coupons in the local visitors guides.
Rudee Inlet Jet Ski Rentals address: 300 Winston Salem Ave, Virginia Beach VA. Rudee Inlet Jet Ski Rentals phone number: 757-428-4614.
Rudee Inlet Parasail
Another option for parasailing (see Adventure Parasail above). Check their website for coupons for romantic sunset parasailing deals. They also specialize in wedding proposals and group flights!
Hours: Open 8 am; call for detailed hours and up to date prices. Look for coupons in the local visitors guides.
Rudee Inlet Parasail address: 200 Winston Salem Ave, Suite #100, Virginia Beach VA. Rudee Inlet Parasail phone number: 757-422-9600. Rudee Inlet Parasail website: http://www.rudeeinletparasail.com/home.htm
Rudee Tours
Rudee Tours offers six different adventures on the water: whale watching on the Rudee Whaler (Dec-March only), dolphin watching on the Rudee Flipper, hour-long high speed tours on the Rudee Rocket, more casual day cruises on the Rudee Explorer, sunset cruises and deep sea fishing.
Hours: open daily 8 am; call for detailed hours. Admission:
- Rudee Rocket- $20 per adult, $15 kids 39 inches to age 11.
- Rudee Explorer- $5 per person/$3.50 for members of Virginia Aquarium. Kids 2 and under are free.
- Rudee Flipper- $18 per adult/$14 per child 4-11. Kids 3 and under free.
- Rudee Whaler- Call in November for 2008-2009 prices.
- Rudee Sunset Cruises- $18 per adult/$14 per child 4-11. Kids 3 and under free.
- Rudee Deep Sea Fishing- call 757-422-5700 for prices and schedules.
*Be sure to look for coupons in the local visitors guides.
Rudee Inlet Tours address: 200 Winston Salem Ave, Virginia Beach VA. Rudee Inlet Tours phone number: 757-425-3400. Google Rudee Inlet Tours map
Virginia Beach Amusement Park
It's pretty small and a bit cheesy, but Virginia Beach Amusement Park is those traveling carnivals you remember from your childhood. Their Skyscraper ride takes you 165 feet at 65 mph, and they have a family log flume ride plus several kiddie rides and a variety of carnival type games. And its on Atlantic Avenue and 15th, just a hop and skip from the beach.
Hours: March through August, 1 pm-1 am daily. September weekday evenings and weekends; October and November weekends only. Admission: Entrance to the park is free; ride tickets are .70 cents to $1 dollar each, and most rides require 4-6 tickets. Or you can buy unlimited ride wristbands for $19.95 (1 pm to 6 pm) and $29.95 (1 pm to 1 am)
Wednesday deals: June 22-Aug 31, ride from 1 pm-6 pm for only $14.95. Discounted day passes are available at the Harris Teeter grocery store on 28th and Arctic Avenue, and at Holiday Dept. Stores on 12th, 20th, 29th and Atlantic Ave.
Virginia Beach Amusement Park address: 233 15th Street, Virginia Beach VA. Virginia Beach Amusement Park phone number: 757-422-2307.
Virginia Aquarium
What has over 300 hands-on exhibits, 700,000+ gallons of aquarium tanks, and the only place in the nation where you can directly interact with seals? Yep. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. This world-class aquarium has a wonderful IMAX, lots of interesting programs, and is easily accessible from the oceanfront via the VB Wave Trolley. For more on the Virginia Aquarium, plus how to get discount admission, click here.
Virginia Beach VA Historic Attractions & Museums
Adam Thoroughgood House
The Adam Thoroughgood House (circa 1680) is one of the oldest brick homes America. This Virginia Beach VA house got its name from an indentured servant (indentured servant were freemen who paid off their debts by agreeing to work as a servant for 7 years) who became wealthy through raising tobacco. His success story made him a symbol for the power of hard work in achieving upward mobility in the new nation. Affiliated with the Chrysler Museum, the house offers tours inside and in the gardens.
Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm; Sun 1 pm-5 pm. Admission: $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for student/kids 6 and up. Free for kids under 6. They offer group discounts and free parking.
Adam Thoroughgood House address: 1636 Parish RoadVirginia Beach VA. Adam Thoroughgood House phone number: 757-4000. Google Adam Thoroughgood House map
Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum
This museum is for the birds...literally. Devoted to wildfowl (seagulls, herons, geese, cardinals, and any other type of bird imaginable) the museum features artwork and wooden carvings of—you guessed it—birds. Not being a bird aficionado, I haven’t taken the time to go there myself, but apparently it has nice ocean views and is housed in a 19th century cottage built by Virginia Beach’s first mayor. And hey, you can’t beat the price (it’s free, with donations requested), and it's close to the Boardwalk area, so check it out.
Hours: Tues-Sat from 10 to 5, and Sun Noon to 5. Admission: Free!
Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum address: 113 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach VA. Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum phone number: 757-437-8432. For a Google Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum map, click here.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
It's more than just a bridge and tunnel...it's considered one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern Engineering World. Take it to visit Chincoteague Island--home of the Wild Pony Run in July--and the northern shore, or just go to the southern end to eat at the restaurant, take pictures of the bay, and learn how this marvel was built. For details on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, click here.
Fort Story
It's one of the hidden gems in Virginia Beach VA. This army base at the north end of the strip boasts two lighthouses, First Landing Cross (site of where the Jamestown colonists first set foot on the New World), and lovely, deserted beaches. Here's what our kids love to chase at Fort Story.
Lynnhaven House
This historic house is built on what used to be a 250-acre plantation. Built by Francis Thelaball III in 1725, this all-brick home has costumed guides who lead you through rooms full of period furniture and discuss life in the 18th century. It's an excellent way to get an idea of what life was like for middle-class Virginians during the the 1700's.
Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-4 pm; Sun 12 pm - 4 pm. Admission: $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for student/kids 6 and up. Free for kids under 6.
Lynnhaven House address: 4405 Wishart Road, Virginia Beach VA Lynnhaven House phone number: 757-460-1688. Google Lynnhaven House map
Virginia Beach VA Parks
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| Beautiful Back Bay Wildlife Refuge. |
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
This hiker's and bird-watcher's paradise is an amazing wildlife preserve for migrating and wintering birds. Definitely a place to get away from it all enjoy nature for a day or for a camping adventure. For our full description of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, click here.
False Cape State Park
This is Virginia as Pocahontas and John Smith might have seen it. Virginia's most remote park, it's one of the last undisturbed coastal environments on the East Coast. Hike, camp, and see wildlife, including wild horses. For our full description of False Cape, click here.
Mount Trashmore
Virginia Beach VA's most popular park is built on a pile of trash. Yes. But not just any pile of trash. It's now the highest point in the city and full of innovative playground sets. For more details on Mount Trashmore, click here.
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