Things to Do in Virginia Beach
50 curated spots from Virginia Beach itineraries
Activities & Attractions
30 curated experiences
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Explore exhibits of sea turtles, sharks, rays, jellyfish, and marsh habitats in two buildings connected by a wooded nature path; the short walk between buildings has a nice, jungle-like feel.
2h 30m · $30
ViBe Creative District Free Explore
Stroll the small arts district just inland from the beach; look for colorful murals, small galleries, and coffee shops while you wander a few blocks at your own pace.
1h 30m · Free
Mount Trashmore Park
Climb the grassy hill built on a former landfill for broad city views, walk around the lake, and watch skaters at the skate park; there are open lawns and scattered trees for a semi-wild urban park feel.
2h · Free
Chesapeake Bay Beach at First Landing
Relax on the calm bayfront beach inside the park—expect pine trees near the shore, gentle waves, and fewer people than the Oceanfront.
2h · Included with park entry
Cape Henry Lighthouse Area
Visit the historic lighthouse grounds and enjoy the surrounding views near the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.
1h 30m · $10-15
First Landing State Park
Explore cypress swamps, shaded ‘jungle’ trails, and quiet Chesapeake Bay beach areas; the Bald Cypress Trail and Live Oak areas feel especially wild and green for photos and short kid-friendly hikes.
3h · $7-10 per vehicle (parking/entry)
First Landing State Park – Live Oak & Cypress Trails
Walk the Bald Cypress Trail or Live Oak Trail through towering trees, Spanish moss, wetlands, and boardwalks that feel like coastal jungle.
2h 30m · $10-15 per vehicle (park entry/parking)
First Landing State Park Trails
Hike an easy loop like the Bald Cypress Trail through dripping Spanish moss, cypress swamps, and dense maritime forest that feels like a coastal jungle. Trails are mostly flat; you can choose a short 1–2 hour walk or extend it if you’re enjoying it.
2h · $7-10 per vehicle (park entrance)
Norfolk Botanical Garden
Spend the morning exploring themed gardens, wooded paths, and lakeside viewpoints; you can also take the small tram tour if you want to walk less.
2h 30m · $18-20 per adult (approx.)
Ocean Breeze Waterpark
Spend hours on family slides, wave pools, and a lazy river in a tropical-themed setting; rent a locker and consider a cabana if you want a guaranteed shady base.
3h 30m · $45-60 per person depending on season
Red Wing Park
Chill neighborhood park with wooded trails, a Japanese garden-style section, and open fields; trees and plantings give a subtle ‘jungle garden’ feel in places.
1h 30m · Free
Rudee Inlet Evening Stroll
Walk along the inlet’s waterfront sidewalks, watching boats and maybe spotting dolphins from the shore.
1h · Free
Sandbridge Beach Free Time
Relax on this quieter residential beach area with dunes, grasses, and a more natural vibe than the main Oceanfront strip.
2h 30m · Free
Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium
Try treetop obstacle courses and ziplines set in a wooded area next to the aquarium, with views over the marsh below.
2h 30m · $50-70 per person (course access)
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Spend the afternoon on wildlife trails, dunes, and observation points for a more remote coastal landscape.
2h 30m · $4-8
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge – Short Walks
If you’re up for a drive, explore short trails and boardwalks over marsh and dunes; keep it simple by choosing one or two loops near the visitor area.
2h · $5-10 per vehicle
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge – Trails & Beach
Walk sandy and boardwalk trails through marshes, maritime forest, and dunes to a wide, natural-feeling Atlantic beach with plenty of wildlife and greenery.
3h · $5-10 parking/entrance (approx.)
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge – Trails & Overlooks
Head south toward Sandbridge and walk the refuge trails through marsh, forest, and dunes; look for observation platforms and quiet spots overlooking water channels and reeds.
2h 30m · $2-5 refuge fee (if applicable)
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Optional Half-Day)
If you want a more remote feel, head to Back Bay for boardwalks and trails through marshes, dunes, and forests, plus the chance to see birds and other wildlife; it feels like a quiet, coastal jungle far from town.
3h · $5-10 entry/parking
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge & Beach Walk
Wander through coastal marshes, ponds, and dunes on easy trails and boardwalks, then walk the quiet, undeveloped beach that feels wild and remote compared to the main Oceanfront. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
2h 30m · $5-10 per car (refuge fee)
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Beach & Dunes
Walk through maritime forest and marsh boardwalks to reach a wide, undeveloped oceanfront with dunes and sea grasses.
2h 30m · $5-10 per person (refuge fee, if applicable)
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Beach & Trails
Walk the refuge’s sandy paths and boardwalks through dunes, marsh, and maritime forest, then continue onto the wild oceanfront beach.
2h 30m · $5-10 per person (refuge fee/parking)
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Beach Walk
Head to the refuge for long, less‑crowded stretches of beach backed by dunes and marshland. Walk along the sand or take the simple trails over boardwalks through wetlands with lots of greenery and birdlife.
2h 30m · $5-10 per vehicle (refuge fee; check current rates)
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Trails
Walk or bike along flat trails through marshes, forests, and dunes with boardwalks over wetlands.
2h 30m · $2-5 per person (approx.)
Bayville Park & Trails Free Explore
Stroll shaded paths, small wooded sections, and open grassy fields in this large local park, with a mix of trees and waterways nearby.
1h 30m · Free
Cape Henry Trail Free Explore
Use the easier sections of the Cape Henry Trail near the park’s main parking areas for a leisurely bike ride or stroll among tall pines and sandy forest floors.
1h 30m · Included with park entry; bike rentals extra if used
Central Oceanfront Beach & Free Explore
Use the afternoon as free explore time between the beach, arcades, souvenir shops, and shaded spots under the boardwalk’s plantings and dunes.
2h 30m · Free (activities like arcades extra)
Chesapeake Bay Beach (Chic’s Beach Area)
Relax on the calmer, bay-side beach with softer waves and wide skies; stay for sunset if the weather is clear for beautiful, low-key photos.
2h 30m · Free
Chesapeake Bay Beach (Evening & Sunset)
Head to the bay-side beach near Shore Drive for gentler waves and a quieter local crowd; stay for the sunset over the water.
2h 30m · Free
Chesapeake Bay Beach (First Landing Side)
Relax on the quieter bay beach inside or just beside First Landing, with gentler waves and dunes behind you.
2h · Free (with park or nearby parking)Restaurants & Food
20 local favorites
Java Surf Café & Espresso Bar
Surf‑themed café with wood, greenery, and a relaxed beach‑jungle feel. Halal‑friendly options: vegetarian or fish‑based dishes like veggie breakfast burritos (no meat), avocado toast, acai bowls, smoothies, and coffee drinks.
45m · $12-20 per person
Baladi Mediterranean Café
Small, cozy Mediterranean spot; order a vegetarian falafel wrap, hummus with pita, tabbouleh, or a veggie platter and double-check with staff that your choices are prepared halal/vegetarian with no pork or alcohol-based sauces.
1h · $15-25 per person
Commune
Farm-to-table restaurant with rustic wood, plants, and a cozy interior. Halal-friendly options: seasonal vegetarian mains, vegetable sides, and grain bowls—ask your server to recommend fully vegetarian dishes and confirm no meat stock or alcohol in sauces.
1h 15m · $20-35 per person
Masala Bites
Order halal-friendly curries, chicken biryani, tandoori-style dishes, or vegetarian options; avoid any non-halal meat items.
1h · $20-35 per person
Saffron Indian Bistro
Upscale‑casual Indian spot with rich curries and tandoor dishes in a warm, dimly lit setting. Ask specifically for their halal chicken and lamb dishes; safe picks include chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, tandoori chicken, and vegetarian options like chana masala and dal.
1h 15m · $20-35 per person
Three Ships Coffee Roasters
Hip coffee shop with baked goods; keep it halal-friendly by choosing pastries, toasts, and vegetarian items, plus hot chocolate or juice for kids.
45m · $8-15 per person
Alkaline (VB)
Trendy ramen and noodle bar where you can choose fully vegetarian bowls (no meat broth) and add-ons like tofu, veggies, and mushrooms; confirm your bowl uses vegetable broth only.
1h · $15-22 per person
Aloha Snacks
Casual island-inspired spot with a tropical surf vibe. Choose vegetarian poke-style bowls, fries, and veggie sides—ask for bowls without meat or fish and extra veggies/rice for a halal-friendly meal.
1h · $15-22 per person
Arba Restaurant
Pick a halal-friendly breakfast plate, baked item, or Mediterranean-style option if offered; ask directly about ingredients and keep the order simple.
1h · $15-25 per person
Azar’s Mediterranean Specialties
Mediterranean restaurant and market; choose vegetarian and seafood dishes like hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, grilled shrimp, and fish; avoid any non-halal meat items.
1h 15m · $20-30 per person
Azar’s Mediterranean Specialties (Shore Drive)
Mediterranean market and café; build a meal from falafel plates, vegetarian grape leaves, hummus, baba ghanoush, salads, and fish dishes, confirming with staff which items are halal or safely vegetarian.
1h · $20-30 per person
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Picnic (self-catered)
Pack a simple halal-friendly picnic from a grocery store (bread, cheese, hummus, fresh veggies, fruit, halal-certified snacks if you find them) and eat at the refuge picnic areas.
45m · $10-15 per person
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii
Coffee shop near the Oceanfront with a tropical vibe. Halal-friendly options: coffee, tea, smoothies, pastries, and simple vegetarian snacks—avoid any items with alcohol flavorings if present.
30m · $8-15 per person
Baker's Crust Artisan Kitchen
Order eggs, avocado toast, fruit, or other halal-friendly breakfast items; skip anything with pork and confirm no alcohol in sauces if you add brunch items.
1h · $15-25 per person
Baladi Mediterranean Cafe
Order a halal-friendly breakfast such as falafel wrap, hummus plate, or a Mediterranean omelet if available; keep it simple and filling before a beach morning.
1h · $15-25 per person
Bee & The Biscuit
Charming cottage breakfast spot in a semi-rural area surrounded by trees and fields. Halal-friendly options: vegetarian biscuits with egg and cheese, pancakes, fruit plates, and other meatless breakfast items—ensure your order is cooked separately from pork where possible.
1h · $15-25 per person
Belvedere Coffee Shop
Go for eggs, oatmeal, fruit, or a simple breakfast sandwich without pork; it is a dependable, low-drama start before park time.
45m · $12-20 per person
CAVA (Virginia Beach Blvd)
Modern Mediterranean bowls and pitas; build-your-own vegetarian or pescatarian bowl with falafel, roasted veggies, hummus, and salads, all easily kept halal-friendly by avoiding non-halal meats.
1h · $15-20 per person
CAVA (Virginia Beach Oceanfront)
Fast-casual Mediterranean with build-your-own bowls and pitas; stick to the clearly labeled vegetarian and seafood options like falafel, roasted vegetables, and salmon, and avoid meats that are not certified halal.
45m · $15-20 per person
Cheesecake Factory (Town Center)
Large menu with many vegetarian dishes such as four-cheese pasta, Evelyn’s favorite pasta (ask to hold any meat), veggie burgers, and big salads; avoid meats to keep halal-friendly.
1h 30m · $20-35 per personMore on Virginia Beach
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