Plan a Coastal Virginia visit
Choose where to stay, discover a meal worth planning around and find 30 places to explore. Start with your interests, then narrow the trip by city.
The North End, resort strip, Sandbridge and downtown Norfolk create different kinds of trips. Choose a setting that puts your favorite activities close at hand.
Choose between the residential North End and the northern resort hotels, with beach access and distance to the Boardwalk shaping each stay.
Keep the Boardwalk, restaurants and resort attractions at the center of the trip, with a hotel chosen around your favorite stretch of the Oceanfront.
Combine the southern Boardwalk with inlet dining and a boat outing. The Aquarium area adds another way to spend an afternoon.
Make the vacation rental your base for beach time and the Back Bay area, then build meals and outings around that part of the city.
Build a stay around waterfront attractions, a performance, a cruise departure or a night at the ballpark.
Stay close to Town Center dining, shops and performances, with an Oceanfront beach day as a separate outing.
Start with the area you will already be visiting, then compare the restaurant menu and reservation details.
A night out in downtown Norfolk
Seafood & raw bar
A street-level setting for seafood and a raw-bar meal before a night downtown.
Italian dining & wine
An Italian restaurant, wine studio and piano-bar setting on the second floor.
Rooftop beer garden
Head to the fifth floor for a rooftop beer-garden atmosphere and Elizabeth River views.
Hotel and restaurant photography: The Main.
Cavalier / Virginia Beach
Garden dining at the Historic Cavalier. Check menus and reservations when planning a special meal.
Northern resort area / Virginia Beach
Compare the resort's restaurants, including Hunt Room and Orion's Roof, by menu, setting and reservation availability.
South Oceanfront / Virginia Beach
Oceanfront dining at 415 Atlantic Avenue, with lunch, dinner and brunch information on the restaurant's site.
Rudee Inlet / Virginia Beach
An inlet-side option for a meal around your boat outing. Check indoor and outdoor dining arrangements.
Resort area / Virginia Beach
A seafood-focused restaurant in Winston's Cottage on 23rd Street. Check its current dinner days and reservation guidance.
Explore places across all seven cities, from surfing and go-karts to museums, wildlife and waterfront outings.
30 places to explore
Walk or cycle the oceanfront promenade, stop by the beach and choose a meal nearby. Start here when you want a flexible outing without a timed attraction.
Plan it: Plan your parking around the stretch you want to explore.
Book a surf session or lesson at the Oceanfront lagoon. The operator offers different ability levels, so choose the experience before choosing a time.
Plan it: Surf sessions and beach access are different products. Check age, arrival and equipment requirements.
Choose go-kart tracks, mini-golf and amusements for a more active break from the sand. Families can compare the rides before buying their tickets.
Plan it: Track eligibility depends on height and, for some rides, age. Check the operating calendar.
Visit the petting farm, aviary and TreeWalk, or plan a separate seasonal outing. The Harvest Fair and Haunted Hunt Club offer very different experiences.
Plan it: Use the daytime farm calendar for younger children; review the haunt's guidance before booking an evening visit.
Explore marine life and exhibits, with optional tours and special programs. This is a useful starting point when your group wants an indoor attraction near the Oceanfront.
Plan it: Check which buildings, experiences and timed programs your ticket includes.
Climb aerial courses and travel between the trees on ziplines. This is a separate attraction from aquarium admission.
Plan it: Review age, supervision, clothing and weather policies before reserving.
Slides, water play areas and a wave pool make this a summer-planning option. Keep it in your vacation shortlist when the operating calendar matches your trip.
Plan it: A seasonal waterpark choice for a summer visit.
Choose a forest trail, a Chesapeake Bay beach outing or a ranger program. The beach and trail entrances serve different parts of the park.
Plan it: Check the trail map, parking and current alerts. Bay beach access does not mean lifeguard service.
Explore the landscape beyond Sandbridge through wildlife observation, walking and refuge programs. Make this a nature-focused outing rather than an amusement stop.
Plan it: Review current access, trail and seasonal restrictions before setting out.
Head to the Pungo area to explore the museum's historic aircraft collection. Check the museum calendar for special programs before choosing your day.
Plan it: Aircraft flight experiences and special events may have separate arrangements.
Explore a historic lighthouse at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. This is a planned visit with entry requirements, not a casual drive-through beach stop.
Plan it: Read the current military-installation access, identification and climbing guidance before traveling.
Choose a sightseeing, wildlife or fishing trip departing from the Rudee Inlet area. Compare the actual trip descriptions to find the outing that suits your group.
Plan it: Confirm the boarding location, duration and weather policy. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
Build a walk around murals, studios, independent shops and a food stop just inland from the Oceanfront. Markets and organized tours add options on selected dates.
Plan it: Use the district calendar for market and tour dates; shop and studio hours vary.
Explore the maritime museum and battleship on Norfolk's downtown waterfront. Pair the visit with a nearby riverfront walk or meal.
Plan it: Review admission inclusions and the physical access requirements for ship tours.
Explore the museum's collection and check the Perry Glass Studio program. This offers a cultural stop that can anchor a Norfolk afternoon.
Plan it: General museum admission is free; check separate programs and studio reservations.
Plan an animal-focused outing in Norfolk, with exhibits and programs that give families a reason to spend time beyond the waterfront.
Plan it: Check the current admission calendar and any separately ticketed experiences.
Explore themed gardens and seasonal displays. Choose your route around the parts of the garden you most want to see.
Plan it: Special evenings, tours and seasonal programs may need separate reservations.
Make a baseball game part of a Norfolk trip when the team is home. Use the official schedule alongside promotions and ballpark information.
Plan it: Explore the team’s home-game schedule, promotions and tickets.
Look for Norfolk Admirals hockey, touring shows, concerts and other dated events at this downtown arena.
Plan it: Open the individual event for its date, tickets, parking, bag policy and accessibility details.
Choose a live theater production and plan the rest of the evening around its performance time. The company publishes season, ticket and visitor information.
Plan it: Review running time, age guidance and accessibility for the specific production.
Consider a sailing cruise from Norfolk for a different view of the waterfront. Match the sailing time to the rest of your downtown plans.
Plan it: Confirm the departure point, current sailing calendar and weather arrangements.
Explore a waterfront trail connecting several Norfolk neighborhoods. Choose one segment and nearby stops for a manageable walk or ride.
Plan it: Use the trail map and check conditions; the full route is longer than a casual downtown loop.
Plan a hands-on museum visit in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Give children time to explore rather than squeezing this between several long drives.
Plan it: Check tickets, session hours and visitor guidance before arrival.
Check the casino's dining and entertainment listings when planning an adult evening. The venue's individual show pages carry the current performance details.
Plan it: Casino-floor entry is 21+ with valid photo ID. Dining and entertainment are useful starting points for an evening here.
Explore a waterfront historic site with stories connected to military history, freedom and the Chesapeake Bay. Start with the park's visitor-planning information.
Plan it: Check which visitor facilities, tours and exhibits are open on your date.
Make aviation and space exploration the focus of a Hampton visit. Check the center's current exhibitions and theater offerings.
Plan it: Review ticket inclusions and showtimes before combining the visit with other stops.
Explore maritime stories at the museum, then consider time in the surrounding park if conditions suit your plans.
Plan it: Museum admission, special programming and outdoor conditions have separate details to check.
Connect natural history with living exhibits and outdoor exploration. This can suit families who want wildlife and science in one visit.
Plan it: Check current exhibits, planetarium programs and the day's outdoor conditions.
Take a woodland walk through a city-managed arboretum. It is a useful option for a quieter stop focused on trees and trails.
Plan it: Check the trail map and conditions and choose footwear for a woodland path.
Plan a refuge outing for wildlife, forest landscapes and the Lake Drummond area. Choose an entrance and route before driving out.
Plan it: Use the current refuge notices for access, routes and conditions; allow time for the trip you select.
No matches. Try another city or interest, or clear your search.
Suggested combinations, with the main reservation or attraction as the anchor.
Virginia Beach
Start with a Boardwalk walk, book an Atlantic Park session suited to your ability, then choose a restaurant in the resort area. Leave time for check-in, changing and travel between stops.
Norfolk
Build a downtown Norfolk day around Nauticus, a riverfront walk and dinner. Choose a Virginia Stage or SevenVenues performance before setting the dinner time.
Virginia Beach
Choose the daytime Hunt Club experience or a seasonal farm event. Add another activity only after checking the farm ticket, operating hours and the energy level of your group.
Hampton & Newport News
Choose Fort Monroe in Hampton or maritime exhibits in Newport News for the main part of the day. Check the bridge-tunnel route before deciding to combine both sides of the region.
Keep your plan practical.
Plan ahead
Use venue-specific information for parking, seating and access arrangements.
Calendar
Open CVA’s dated events and follow the organizer’s page for current ticket information.
Go directly to resort, hotel, casino and cruise-planning details.
Portsmouth · 21+ casino
Explore dining and entertainment for an adult evening in Portsmouth.
Virginia Beach fishing pier: BB DESIGN STOCK. Theater illustration: sommthink. Farm illustration: Andy Dean Photography.
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