For families, single adults, mature visitors and outdoor enthusiasts,
Virginia Beach is the dream vacation.

(Virginia Beach, Va., 2008) – Virginia Beach delivers the classic beach getaway – regardless of how a "classic" beach getaway is defined. Spend lazy days indulging in the sun's heat on the oceanfront, stroll along windswept beaches, kayak alongside bottlenose dolphins, hit the links on championship–caliber golf courses or paint the town red in the nightlife scene. With a year–round climate as pleasant as its southern hospitality, Virginia Beach is the favorite vacation destination for families, single adults, mature visitors and outdoor enthusiasts.

Families | Singles | Mature Visitors | Outdoor Enthusiast

 

1. Visit the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, home to 700,000 gallons of aquariums and more than 300 hands-on exhibits. Experience the wonders of harbor seals, river otters, sea turtles, sharks, an aviary and more. www.virginiaaquarium.com
2. Embark on a Whale or Dolphin Watching boat cruise. Each winter, the fin and humpback whales visit Virginia Beach and in the summer, the bottlenose dolphins frolic off the coast. www.virginiaaquarium.com
3. Spend long days on the sun–drenched beach, boogie boarding, building sandcastles and running through the waves. www.vbfun.com
4. Celebrate the sounds, sights and flavors of the world at Virginia Beach’s Festivals - from Latin Fest, Soul Music Beachfest and the Hermit Crab Challenge to the American Music Festival and Holiday Lights at the Beach. www.beachstreetusa.com
5. Grab an oar or a surfboard and explore the ocean and waterways. Guided kayak tours through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge bring you face to face with the wildlife. Learn to shred the waves during surfing lessons. www.vbfun.com
6. Tour Virginia Beach's Naval Air Station Oceana, fomr to the F/A-18 Hornets. NAS Oceana is the East Coast's only master jet base. www.nasocean.navy.mil
7. Splash around at Ocean Breeze Waterpark with a million gallon wave pool, 16 thrilling water slides and delightful water features. www.oceanbreezewaterpark.com
8. Feel the need for speed? Motor World Thrill Park offers high-endurance racing with nine go-kart tracks and 14 different style go-karts.www.vbmotorworld.com
9. Fly a kite, skate the ramp or relax with a picnic at Mount Trashmore Park, one of the city’s most popular parks with 165 acres. Once a solid waste management project and active landfill, it now serves as a recreational treasure, with playground, walking trails, ponds and a skate ramp. www.vbgov.com/parks
10. The Haunted Fun House at the Virginia Beach oceanfront create the ultimate experience in fear, featuring live actors and special effects. www.vbfun.com

 

1. Indulge in the flavors and ambiance of Coastal Cuisine. Nearly 300 restaurants in Virginia Beach serve up succulent seafood dishes, such as fresh Chesapeake Bay crab cakes and the local favorite, striped bass. Produce from local farms create a distinctive Virginia Beach style. Pair the feast with a wine crafted right in Virginia. www.vbfun.com
2. Treat yourself to a massage at the Association of Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) spa, or a couples massage at the Flowering Almond Spa. The A.R.E was founded by Edgar Cayce, a noted psychic and father of holistic medicine. The 10,000-square-foot Flowering Almost Spa is Virginia Beach's largest spa, offering a private conservatory and heated indoor pool. www.edgarcayce.org/spa and www.floweringalmondspa.com
3. Art enthusiasts, look no further. The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia is one of southeastern Virginia’s leading art institutions, featuring regularly changing exhibitions. www.cacv.org
4. The Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater, a 20,000-capacity outdoor concert venue, features the hottest performers in pop, rock, adult contemporary, rhythm and blues, country, jazz and oldies. www.vbfun.com
5. Located where the food-rich Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is home to a multitude of freshwater and saltwater fishing opportunities. Striped bass, tautog, mahi-mahi, king mackerel, yellowfin tuna, marlin, and wahoo are abundant at various times of the year. Tow your boat, embark on a half-day or full-day charter or cast a line from one of Virginia Beach's four piers. www.vbfun.com
6. Sail off on a sunset tour – from 31st Street to the Chesapeake Bay – on Virginia’s Jewel, a luxury charter yacth. www.virginiasjewel.com.
7. Tee off on one of Virginia Beach’s golf courses to experience challenging greens for all handicaps. Designers such as Palmer, Jones and Dye created intriguing layouts, featuring miles of bent Bermuda grasses and hardwood forests. Golf packages are available. www.vbgolf.com
8. Hike or kayak through one of Virginia Beach’s state parks. First Landing State Park, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park contain miles of hiking trails through beach,forest, tidal marsh and cypress swamp, boasting songbirds, otters, deer, fox, feral pigs, horses, and more. www.vbfun.com
9. Experience the artistry of dance, music and theater at the new Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, a 1,300-seat facility showcasing local, regional and national performing artists. The center is located at Virginia Beach's new downtown area, Town Center, where the stylish and chic gather for exclusive dining and nightlife. www.vabeachtowncenter.com
10. Shop ‘til you drop in Virginia Beach, from sophisticated to hip to classic. Spanning 17 blocks with upscale retail and outdoor cafés, Town Center offers shops such as Ann Taylor Loft and Men's Wearhouse. The Hilltop area features a variety of shopping centers with merchants such as Williams–Sonoma and Talbots. Lynnhaven Mall is one of the larger malls on the East Coast with over 160 specialty stores. www.vbfun.com
    

 

1. For a more secluded stay, the pristine shores of the Sandbridge area on Virginia Beach's southern shore are untouched by the hands of modernization. No hotels. Just breathtaking oceanview rental homes, condos and peacefulness fill the Sandbridge shoreline, bordering Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. www.vbfun.com
2. Mix and mingle at the Virginia Beach resort area. Luxurious oceanfront hotels are within a quick walk or drive to some of the restaurants, shops and attractions. Many hotels offer package deals for experiences like golf, fishing, dolphin- and whale-watching and more. For budget-conscious travelers, hotels offer incredible rates in the shoulder season. www.vbfun.com
3. Peek back in time at Virginia Beach’s historic homes. Near the Lynnhaven River sits the 17th-century Adam Thoroughgood House. The late 18th-century Francis Land House Historic Site is a plantation home featuring period rooms and gardens. The 18th century Lynnhaven House is one of the most unaltered survivors from this period. www.vbfun.com
4. Discover the history of those who risked their lives on the sea to save others at the Old Coast Guard Station. Formerly a U.S. Life-Saving/Coast Guard Station built in 1903, it is the only existing station in Virginia open to the public. www.oldcoastguardstation.com
5. Step in the footsteps of the Jamestown Settlers. Virginia Beach’s Cape Henry Cross is a national landmark, where the Jamestown settlers first landed in the New World in 1607 and later traveled to Jamestown. Located nearby, the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is the first public building authorized by the federal government. www.vbfun.com
6. Indulge in a massage at the Association of Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) spa, or perhaps a facial or acupuncture. The A.R.E was founded by Edgar Cayce, the father of holistic medicine and a noted psychic. Take a guided tour of the Association’s library to learn more about Cayce’s teachings. www.edgarcayce.org
7. Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Ashe, Patsy Cline and Thomas Jefferson are Virginians who made significant contributions to the nation, and are honored at Virginia Legends Walk at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. www.va-legends.com
8. Visit the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, home to 700,000 gallons of aquariums and more than 300 hands-on exhibits. Experience the wonders of harbor seals, river otters, sea turtles, sharks, an aviary and more. www.virginiaaquarium.com
9. Experience the rural side of Virginia Beach at the Farmers Market, a country-style, open-air market that features fresh, locally grown produce, homemade jams, plants, as well as homemade baked goods. www.vbfun.com
10. Explore your spiritual side at the Christian Broadcasting Network, the first Christian television station in the nation. Experience the energy of a live TV show, then take a behind-the-scenes look at this international television network. www.cbn.com

 

1. Virginia Beach is a wonderland for physical adventures. More than 18,600 acres of state parks and wildlife refuges, over 121 navigable miles of waterways and 35 miles of ocean and bay beaches give visitors a variety of landscapes for exploring the great outdoors. Explore Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, False Cape State Park or First Landing State Park. www.vbfun.com
2. Embark on a sport fishing charter in Virginia Beach, the “Striped Bass Capital of the World” where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Charter a boat to hook tuna, marlin, striped bass, red drum or hundreds of other species. Stay inshore and troll through the Chesapeake Bay or cast a line off one of four piers. www.vbfun.com
3. The annual North American Sand Soccer Championships in Virginia Beach features soccer with a sandy twist. Approximately 7,200 players and 720 teams, including international entries, test their sand soccer skills to win the cash prizes. www.sandsoccer.com
4. Jump on a surfboard, boogie board, canoe, kayak or jet ski to brave the waves. Or just go under them on a swimming or scuba diving adventure. www.vbfun.com
5. The annual Sandman Triathalon tests your physical conditioning with a 1K open ocean swim, 14-mile bike ride and 5K run. Get moving in the annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon on Labor Day weekend and in March, try your luck at Killian’s Irish Red Shamrock Marathon and Half-Marathon. www.vbfun.com
6. To get up close with the bottlenose dolphins each summer, enjoy a dolphin-watching kayaking trip off the Virginia Beach shoreline. www.vbfun.com
7. Stay in shape on the beautiful three-mile Virginia Beach boardwalk.Between the people-watching, the dolphins, and the cafés, the scenery is motivating as you jog, stroll, or bike along the thoroughfare. For a more relaxing jaunt, rent a surrey! www.vbfun.com
8. Watch others sweat as you relax for awhile. Catch a collegiate or professional sporting event at the Virginia Beach SportsPlex, including the USA Rugby Collegiate National Championship and the NCAA Division II Soccer Championships. www.vbsports.com
9. Tee off on one of Virginia Beach’s golf courses to experience challenging greens for all handicaps. Designers such as Arnold Palmer, Rees Jones and Pete Dye created intriguing layouts, featuring miles of bent Bermuda grasses and hardwood forests. Golf packages are available. www.vbgolf.com
10. For the avid bird-watcher, the Seashore to Cypress Birding Trail showcases birds that range from huge northern gannets to tiny warblers that migrate through in spring and fall. www.vbfun.com
    

Virginia Beach entices visitors to “Live the Life” every season of the year! Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of Washington, D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For visitor information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800/822-3224) or visit the Web site www.vbfun.com for online trip planning and more information about Virginia Beach’s new $202.5 million convention center. For media information and digital images, click on www.vbpressroom.com.

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