Thinking about taking a drive out to Virginia Beach, Virginia during spring break or summer vacation with your kids? You’ve come to the right place!
My family and I moved to Virginia Beach almost three years ago now and we feel like we’ve become true locals quickly. That mainly means we freeze now if the weather gets below 50 degrees Fahrenheit 😂
All jokes aside, the weather does stay relatively nice year round, with an average winter high of 50 degrees and an average summer high of 90 degrees. Many people come to the Hampton Roads area to vacation, but Virginia Beach during the spring break and summer break seasons see the peak tourist amounts.
Now that I am a local living here with my husband and 3 (almost 4) kids, I want to give you all the insider secrets!
Virginia Beach Beaches
The most popular tourist attraction in Virginia Beach is… the beach!
Did you know that there are actually 5 different beaches along the coast to choose from? Let me give you a brief overview starting in the north.
Local Tip: Be sure to check the city calendar before booking your stay. There are many festivals that occur over the summer on the boardwalk, which means more traffic and people throughout the entire city. Maybe you’ll be interested in attending the festival, but maybe not.
Chic’s Beach: This is more of a local favorite as there aren’t many vacation homes near Chic’s Beach for tourists to stay in. The perks for younger children are that it’s by the Chesapeake Bay so the waves are mild and the water is warmer. There is also free street parking – if you can find a spot!
First Landing State Park: This is also a popular spot for locals because most tourists don’t think about getting a state park pass. Like Chic’s Beach though, the water is slightly warmer and the waves aren’t too big. If you do want to venture out, a day pass for parking is only $7 or $10 on the weekends from April to October.
Virginia Beach Boardwalk: The boardwalk is what most people come here for, and where they stay. Along the boardwalk there are many hotels, restaurants, and shops so tourists can spend all their time soaking in the sun. Although it’s super convenient, it’s also the most crowded and busy. Plus, during the peak season between April and October, street parking is metered at $2 per hour.
Croatan Beach: This is hidden in the Croatan neighborhood with only one parking lot, but well worth it if you can find a rental home in the neighborhood. In regards to your kids, just know that the entrance to the beach is just for surfers. Once you pass the wall, swimming is allowed. If you can convince your family to have an early start, parking is free if you arrive before 10am!
Sandbridge Beach: Sandbridge is another hotspot for locals during the summertime. It’s kind of like an island, where very few locals actually live themselves. Instead, it’s full of vacation rental homes just waiting to be booked by a family like yours. This beach is further away from the rest of Virginia Beach and only has paid public parking, but it sees the most sea creatures!
@mariahafrench SAVE this for your next vacation to Virginia Beach! 👆 Ask me any questions you have in the comments! @visitvirginia #virginiabeach #beaches #chicsbeach #sandbridgebeach #travelrecs #firstlandingstatepark #beachrecommendation
Unique Virginia Beach Attractions
If you want to escape the sun and sand for a while, but still want to experience what Virginia Beach has to offer, let me make a couple suggestions that my own family enjoys.
Jerrassic Park: (Yes, I spelled it correctly). This is a free outdoor area with large, life-size metallic dinosaurs. My son loves it! It’s not very big, but smaller kids can run around and feel like they are really among the prehistoric dinosaurs. There is also a picnic area if you want to bring lunch and make a day of it.
Military Aviation Museum: Just further down the driveway of Jerrassic Park is a large aviation museum. It is paid, but worth it if you have airplane or history enthusiasts with you. They have several hangars full of planes from different wars and you may even get to see some of them flying!
Thoroughgood House: Also for history lovers, this small home was built in 1719 and is very well preserved. You can take a free, guided tour with your family anytime, but they offer special tours every Thursday night in the summer. Last year we went when they had a children’s emphasis and my kids got to make corn husk dolls!
Airplane Viewing Areas: When you’re next to the Naval Air Station, why not take the time to watch some of the magnificent airplanes and pilots at work? Although there is no set schedule for the flights, we’ve noticed they fly more when it’s nicer weather outside. Many people park at what is now known as the NAS Oceana Jet Viewing Area (you can Google it).
Local Tip: My family likes to park at the Flame of Hope Memorial a little ways down Oceana Boulevard and have a picnic while watching the jets. We never see anyone else there so the kids get to run around all the open grassy space.
Classic Virginia Beach Family Attractions
Of course, lots of locals do live in Virginia Beach and we keep certain attractions busy year-round. These are some of the classic options that your family might find comforting.
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center: Going to an aquarium before or after a beach day is a great way to encourage learning with your kids. How fun is it to learn about whales, then see one in real life!
Ocean Breeze Waterpark: My kids are still young and not the biggest fan of getting their heads wet, so we actually haven’t been to this waterpark yet, but we have many friends who love it.
Motor World: Again, we haven’t been here ourselves yet, but we definitely want to when our kids get older! This place has go-karts, mini-golf, and small amusement rides.
Norfolk Botanical Gardens: If you head into the city of Norfolk, you’ll see a beautiful arrangement of plants and flowers, including a Japanese garden, children’s garden, and enchanted forest.
Virginia Zoo: I don’t know about you, but my family loves a good zoo. This one isn’t super big, but it definitely takes several hours to look at all the animals, including a petting farm section.
Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads has other standard family activities like bowling, escape rooms, and mini golf too. Basically, if you think it, we’ve got it 😊
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These look like some really fun attractions! Our family loves aquariums, so that would be a must for us!
Yes! The aquarium also hosts traveling exhibits so there’s always something new!
Excellent list of recommendations. The Japanese Garden in the Botanical Garden is my favorite.
They are so peaceful!
This is a great roundup before I visit my nephews in Virginia Beach! Thanks for sharing!
Of course! I hope you have fun with your nephews!
I haven’t been to Virginia Beach since I was a kid! This post brought back memories of that trip 🙂 I’d love to go back in the future.
I hope you can come back and visit soon!