10 Best Family Things to Do in Virginia Beach

Home to over 10,000 animals which represent 300 species, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is as exciting as it is educational. The hands-on exhibits highlight the protection and research of Virginia’s marine environment. There are over 800,000 gallons (3,000,000 liters) of aquariums and live animal habitats on the premises.

Examine sharks, jellyfish and sea turtles as well as other aquatic animals and a large variety of birds. View rare Southeast Asian animals at the Malaysian Peat Swamp, handle horseshoe crabs in shallow touch pools and be mesmerized, and perhaps frightened, by seahorses and cobras at the Mediterranean Sea exhibit. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center has enough variety to keep the whole family entertained.

With over 30 rides, slides and attractions, Ocean Breeze Water Park is a family friendly, fun-in-the-sun alternate to the beach. As an added bonus, the park offers free parking, free sunscreen and free inner tubes.

Start your day on the Adventure River, slowly floating past shimmering waterfalls. For those looking for adventure, head on over to the water slides. One of the most thrilling water slides at the park, the Sea Serpent is fully enclosed and thrusts riders through high banking curves and insane spins and turns. Once you’ve had your fill of thrill, make your way to Runaway Bay, the park’s huge wave pool, and spend the day floating away.

A prime animal attraction, the Virginia Living Museum features hands on exhibits, a planetarium and a nature trail with 250 species of plants and animals. Kids have the chance to get up close and personal with wildlife native to Virginia, including endangered red wolves and bald eagles.

Be sure to check out the Dinosaur Discovery Trail. This permanent outdoor exhibition gives you the chance to get up close and personal with 16 massive dinosaur species which roamed the earth millions of years ago. A walk through the woods will transportation you back in time as you’ll come face to face with realistic, full-size replicas of various dinosaurs. Visit the 16-ft-tall (5 metres) Brachiosaurus for some memorable vacation photos.

An abandoned landfill turned into a city park, Mount Trashmore is massive. The park offers a skate park and vert-ramp as well as 2 large playgrounds. There are 2 lakes, as well as 2 man-made mountains. The biggest mountain is 60 ft (18 metres) tall and 800 ft (246 metres long. It was created by compacting layers of solid waste and clean soil.

Truly an environmental feat, the former landfill features a water-wise garden that utilizes xeriscaping, ensuring a minimal use of water. The smaller mountain is known as Encore Hill. Scattered across the grounds of Mount Trashmore Park are picnic shelters, charcoal broils, volleyball courts, outdoor fitness stations, and horseshoe pits. Various sports equipment is also for rental.

False Cape State Park is an expansive state park that’s secluded and yet to be developed, which gives it a very wilderness feel. You can expect to experience nature in a unique coastal setting.

The Terra Gator is a major attraction for exploring the park. Essentially, it’s a fun beach transporter with massive wheels. The vehicle is in high demand and only operates weekends from November to March, so do book in advance. The Terra Gator takes you to False Cape State Park through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge on the beach. Spend a few hours exploring the Barbour Hill area, home to a massive migratory bird population as well as a variety of wildlife, plants and trees.

The Atlantic Fun Park is also known as the Boardwalk Amusement Park and offers a variety of thrill rides, kiddie rides, family rides and go-kart tracks. The Ferris Wheel is the biggest in Virginia Beach while the popular and hair-raising Gravitron ride is likely to scare even the biggest thrill seeker. 

For the little ones, there is a cool Kiddie Train to hop aboard. The Midway has 12 games to choose from such as Cork Fun Gun and Frog Bog. Simple and fun, these Midway games are sure to instill a healthy sense of competition among siblings.

Learn to surf in Virginia Beach with Wave Riding Vehicles (WRV) Surf Camp & Lessons. WRV offers private and customized surf lessons. Expert surf instructors are trained to work with people of all ages and skill levels to ensure specialized attention is received.

The waves on the coast of Virginia Beach are consistent and range in size from 3 to 6 ft (from 90 cm to 1.8 meters). Surf lessons are available all year round, but best to schedule 24 hours in advance. If you’ve always dreamed of catching a wave, Virginia Beach is a great place to learn. Round up your squad and enlist in a family lesson or 2 so that you can all enjoy the water together.

The largest in the state, the Children’s Museum of Virginia is a place where families can imagine, explore and discover together in hands on playscapes. Here, kids are encouraged to touch, play and push the exhibits in order to figure out how they work.

The museum is home to a variety of exhibits including a working port, a bubble maker, local grocery store environment as well as a train exhibit and planetarium. If you’re traveling as a family and looking to keep the little ones entertained, the Children’s Museum of Virginia aims to capture their attention for hours on end.