Virginia Beach Activities and Tours

Virginia Beach is in a perfect place for all kinds of tours and activities. At the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and right on the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach offers land, sea, and air tours. If you want great fishing, Virginia Beach is the place; if you are interested in outdoor activities such as golf, browsing at unique shops, or just lounging on the beach, you can be certain of plenty of sunshine here as well.

The Ocean and Bay

If the water is your thing, consider renting a fishing boat and trying for one of the prize striped bass that frequent the rich waters where the bay and ocean meet. There are whales and dolphins day-trip tours, romantic dinner cruises provided by the Spirit of Norfolk just up the coast, and public and private charters with Virginia's Jewel, a hundred-foot yacht.

Anglers love Virginia Beach for its record-setting bass fishing. If you prefer shellfish, you will still find some of the best oysters in America right off the coast.

And closer in to shore, there are perfect conditions for dozens of water sports. There are places where the breezes are perfect for windsurfing and sailing, or you can try your hand at surfing. Jet skis are popular for a little excitement. You can take a kayak out with a tour group and watch for the bottlenose dolphins that frequent the Chesapeake.

The City

With hundreds of excellent restaurants, dozens of amusement parks and kid-friendly destinations, and some of the best shopping on the Atlantic Coast, Virginia Beach offers tons of fun by itself.

If you have kids in tow, consider the Ocean Breeze Waterpark, or Watercountry USA up the coast near Busch Gardens. There is an excellent aquarium right in the city and an excellent zoo nearby as well. The Atlantic Beach Club features teen-friendly activities.

The Virginia Beach Boardwalk boasts the longest pleasure beach in the world, with three miles of developed sunny shores backed by bars, restaurants, interesting little shops, and even small amusement parks. In Virginia Beach, everyone can find something great to do.

The Beach

Virginia Beach has plenty to offer as well. Not only do you have the long expanse of the boardwalk, but also dozens of small beaches scattered throughout and just outside the city waiting for you to explore. If you are adventurous and like to go where few tourists travel, consider the False Cape State Park beaches, with access only by hiking, biking, or boating.

If that is too much, you can just lounge around on the more public beaches, covered in suntan lotion, and enjoy doing absolutely nothing while you listen to the waves slide onshore. That, in itself, makes Virginia Beach worth visiting.

The Country

Virginia has a great countryside, and the country is surprisingly accessible to Virginia Beach. First Landing State Park commemorates the first-ever landing of English settlers on the coast of America; a hundred or so Englishmen stopped here and established an elective government before moving inland to found Jamestown. Today, the park is beautiful, filled with graceful cypress trees, peaceful lagoons, and rare plants. You can hike through for the day, or rent one of the climate-controlled cabins in this beautiful area.

Farther inland, you can find kayaking and canoeing through the rivers and streams of Virginia, or explore some of the wild marshes and wetlands. Virginia Beach has many rare birds that nest and pass through the area; it is a birdwatcher's paradise.

For somewhat more civilized countryside, the golfing in the area is excellent. Choose from a dozen different golf courses in and just outside the city.

Whatever your preferences, you will find plenty of reasons to love Virginia Beach, and to keep coming back.