Winter Vacation Activities You'll Love

Winter's here, but there's still so much to do on a winter vacation, whether it's for a week, weekend, or just a day!

Tourists are mostly absent in Virginia Beach this time of year thanks to cooler temps-- which means so are the crowds and higher prices on accommodations-- so it's the perfect time to get out and see what makes Virginia such a great place to visit...and live.

Yes, winter temps can be cool...and snow is always a possibility (except at the beach, where it's rarely seen) but you'll be able to enjoy miles of beach practically to yourself while enjoying a bargain on hotel rooms and even off-season discounts on a number of attractions. That's one reason why Virginia Beach was recently recommended by Budget Travel as one of the Best Beaches to Visit in Fall.

Below you'll find a comprehensive guide to winter vacation and holiday-themed fun & festivities for the whole family during winter in Virginia, from whale-watching to water parks to the nationally-famous Polar Plunge in February. 

See a Whale on Your Winter Vacation

1) See a whale! December to March is prime whale-watching season in Virginia Beach. You'll see rare fin and humpback varieties, which can get up to 85 feet long and weigh 70 tons. 

And you can either see them on two to four-hour tours, or by taking advantage of a great hotel package deal which combines accommodations, whale-watching, and a visit to the Virginia Aquarium. For details, go to my Whale Watching page. 

Visit an indoor Water Park

Visit an indoor Water Park. That way you can enjoy an adventure the whole family will enjoy, while staying nice and toasty in a setting that's 84 degrees all year long. Consider these wonderful family spots:

- Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg - Our Favorite Indoor Water park - Check out my review plus tips for ways to save at the park and keep the kids occupied for hours.

- Massanutten Resort - From Snow Sports to an Indoor Water park - another great water park, this one in the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Enjoy a Winter Event or Festival

Take the Polar Plunge or participate in another area event! Check out this link:

Winter Events & Festivals in Virginia Beach (like the Polar Plunge and Restaurant Week!) 

The Polar Plunge is your chance to check out frigid water temps and raise money for the special Olympics, while Restaurant Week allows you to dine like a king at top Virginia Beach restaurants for less. 

Go Shopping or Visit an Indoor Attraction

Visit a museum - avoid the crowds by visiting off-season! Plus, most of them are inside where it's warm... like the Virginia Aquarium, Nauticus, the Virginia Air & Space Museum in Hampton Roads, or Richmond attractions like the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Virginia Historical Society.

And don't forget to Line up Discount Tickets for the Upcoming Season! Opening season for Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Kings Dominion, and Water Country USA are just a few months away, but it's not too early to find discount tickets to save you money on season passes.

Here's how to get discount tickets and save money on travel and fun in Virginia.

For more things to do, do check out my favorite museums and attractions, including many which are cheap or free (especially if you take advantage of my discount secrets).

Winter is also a great time to Shop Til' You Drop, finding great off-season bargains at these Virginia area shopping meccas!

Check out my shopping guide-- including Premier Outlets Williamsburg and the Williamsburg Pottery.