Attractions to be found while on your Virginia Beach Vacation

Looking for attractions while you're on your Virginia Beach vacation? Check out our comprehensive Virginia Beach attraction listings.

Beach Street USA

Welcome to Beach Street USA!   Each night during the summer Virginia Beach's Beach Street USA comes alive with a diverse array of performances along the sidewalks of Atlantic Avenue from 17th Street to 25th Street.  Puppets, bands, jugglers, magicians, clows and many others will enternain you along Atlantic Avenue from 8pm - 11:30pm.  Live concerts and theatrical performances also take place seven nights a week from 6-10pm on stages at 7th, 13th, 17th, 24th, and 25th Streets along the oceanfront. Best of all, the entertainment along Beach Street USA is free to all.  So come on down, you never know what thrilling surprises await around the corner at Virginia Beach's Beach Street USA!

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Located less than 5 minutes from the Virginia Beach resort area, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is a must see.  Open daily, year-round, the Virginia Aquarium features over 800,000 gallons of aquariums, hundreds of hands-on exhibits, a nature trail, an aviary and even an 3D IMAX theatre.  Come get up close and personal with the sea life and wildlife found in the Atlantic Ocean and throughout Virginia Beach...sharks, sea turtles, harbor seals, stingrays, river otters and much more.  Visit the Virginia Aquarium online for more information.

Ocean Breeze Water Park

Didn't get your fill of water at the beach, then head just two miles down the road to Ocean Breeze Water Park.  This 19-acre water park features 16 different themed rides and water slides, a one million gallon wave pool, a childrens' water playground, private cabanas, a restaurants and tons of laughs.  Ocean Breeze Water Park is open daily, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.  Visit oceanbreezewaterpark.com for complete park information and visit the Virginia Beach Vacation Market for discount tickets.

Motor World

Motor World is Virginia Beach's premier, action-packed amusement park that features 8 exciting go-kart tracks, perfect for the entire family.  The park also includes Shipwreck Golf, Virginia Beach's largest and most challenging miniature golf courses. To top it all off, the park includes two paintball fields perfect for thrill-seekers!  If you're interested in fun and excitement for the whole family, Motor World in Virginia Beach is not to be missed! The park is open daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Visit Motor World online for more information.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Just a 30 minute drive from Virginia Beach, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is an action-packed, European-themed adventure park with 17th-century charm and 21st-century technology, boasting more than 100 acres of unparalleled fun and excitement for the entire family. Home to some of the country's top roller coasters, over 50 rides and attractions, ten main stage shows, a magical childrens' area and more, Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been voted one of the world's "Favorite Theme Parks" and one of the "Most Beautiful Theme Parks" for the last 15 years.  Visit Busch Gardens online for more information and visit the Virginia Beach Vacation Market for discount tickets.

Colonial Williamsburg - Jamestown

While in Virginia Beach, be sure to save some time for an educational and fun experience for the entire family.  Just a short 45 minute drive away from the Beach, you'll take a trip back in time and see how this country was founded.  Colonial Williams is a living, working colonial Village covering over 300 acres.  See blacksmiths practice their trade.  Listen to a phife and drum band.  Stroll around, and follow in the footsteps of some of our founding fathers, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry.  Visit Colonial Williamsburg online for more information.

Seashore / First Landing State Park

Seashore State Park consists of 2,270 acres of protected landscape stretching along the Chesapeak Bay coastline.  Visitors hiking on any of the park's 28 miles of hiking trails can see rabbits, raccoons, and a variety of other animals that inhabit the preserve. There is a park admission per vehicle, but admission is free to hikers and bikers. The Visitors' Center is open daily from 9am-6pm, April through November. Visit First Landing State Park online for more information.

Nauticus / Battleship Wisconsin

The Nauticus Maritime Museum is located in downtown Norfolk, a 30 minute drive from the Virginia Beach oceanfront.  At Nauticus, you'll get an interactive look into the area's rich naval and maritime history, learning such things as ship building to weather forecasting.  You can also take a tour of the Battleship Wisconsin, one of the largest battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy.  Visit Nauticus.org for for complete information.

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

The Atlantic Ocean on the East site and the Back Bay on the West Side, these barrier islands feature dunes, maritime forests, fresh water marshes, wild ponies, mule deer, wild boars and plenty of waterfowl.  Miles of hiking and biking trails are available throughout the park.  Kayak tours are also available through several area outfitters.  Visit Back Bay / False Cape State Park online for more information.

Cape Henry Lighthouse

A registered National Historic Landmak, the Cape Henry Lighthouse was the first public building authorized by the new federal government in 1789, and the first lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.  This lighthouse marked the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay from 1791 until it was replaced by the new lighthouse in 1881. The old lighthouse is open for visitors to climb and gain a view of Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay. Visit virginia.org for more information.

Virginia Zoo

Located in Norfolk, a 30 minute drive from the Virginia Beach resort area, the Virginia Zoo displays nearly 400 different animals representing more than 110 different species ranging from African elephants to Siberian Tigers and everything in between.  Newly renovated, the Virginia Zoo is a great change of pace from the oceanfront, and it's a great attraction to see if you travel to Norfolk for Nauticus.  Visit virginiazoo.org for more information.

Red Wing Lake Golf Course

Located at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Red Wing Lake Golf Course is equipped with: Practice facilities include a range, putting greens, chipping area & practice bunker Private and group lessons with PGA professionals Golf shop stocked with equipment and apparel Snack bar facilities, Locker rooms and tournament management Red Wing web site: http://www.redwinglakegolf.com/

The Tournament Players Club (TPC) of Virginia Beach

Designed by Peter Dye and Curtis Strange. This PGA TOUR facility is the Virginia Beach area’s premier public golf facility. Designed for tournament play and stretching to 7,432 yards from the professional tees, the course can challenge the best. Five sets of tees allow all golfers to find an appropriate level of challenge. The TPC of Virginia Beach features a great practice facility. 2500 Tournament Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 757.563.9440

Dolphin Watching Boat Trips

Observe playfull Bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. Power Catamaran Atlantic Princess is comfortable and quiet. Guides explain dolphin social behaviors and latest research. Reservations required Fee charged Late April to early September

Virginia Beach Amusement Park

Have fun in the summer sun at the Virginia Beach Amusement Park, located on the Virginia Beach oceanfront at 15th Street between Atlantic and Pacific Avenues. Thrill-seekers get their fix on Skyscraper, where you’ll soar 165 feet at 65 mph; and Cosmic Storm, a spinning sensation built just for the park. There are a host of great kids’ rides as well, and classic midway games like Mini-Basketball and Fish Pond to test your skill.

Virginia Beach Fishing Pier

Located on 15th Street and Oceanfront, Virginia Beach's fishing pier rents out fishing rods & bait.

Virginia Living Museum

Open daily year-round Closed New Year`s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Admission charged Three things to know: 62,000 square foot exhibition hall open in March 2004 with new displays and activities. Aviary showcases more than 16 species of birds that either breed in Virginia or fly along the coastal flyway, including pelicans, cormorants, egrets, herons, ibis and ducks. Approach the aviary on a new 800-foot boardwalk 11 feet above Derr Park Lake and into the treetops. Daily programs change and include astronomy and planetarium, summer programs for children and teens and fossial collecting. Want to know more? Click Here

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

Open year-round except Mondays Three things to know: 208 inductees including athlets, coaches, administrators, contributors and media from all parts of Virginia. Inductees include golfer Curtis Strange, Baltimore Orioles hard-hitting catcher Johnny Oates and Olympic gymnast Hope Spivey. Large collection of sports artifacts including Arthur Ashe`s tennis racquet and Sam Snead`s signature straw hat. Want to know more? Click Here

Water Country USA

Open weekends during May until mid-September Open daily from June 1 to August 31 Admission charged Some ticket programs also include admission to Busch Gardens Plunge into outrageous fun at the mid-Atlantic’s largest water play park, Water Country USA. Featuring a 1950s and ‘60s surf-theme, Water Country USA offers families tons of summertime fun with more than 30 slides, water rides and super soakin’ thrills. Hubba Hubba Highway is Water Country USA’s radical river adventure. Cool cats and groovy gals also are invited to gear up for high-speed toboggan racing aboard Meltdown. For more information, call (800) 343-7946 or visit watercountryusa.com

Association For Research And Enlightenment (ARE)

Founded in 1931 by late psychic Edgar Cayce, the "father of holistic medicine", the ARE is Virginia Beach's premier center offering spa services, sleep clinics, and a variety of holistic treatments. The Visitor Center, located off Pacific Avenue in the Virginia Beach resort area, hosts tours, movies, and lectures based on Cayce's readings. Want to know more? Click Here

Contemporary Art Center of Virginia

Considered the leading contemporary art institute in Virginia, Virginia Beach's Contemporary Art Center of Virginia focuses on 20th-century art in many forms and expressions.  The art center offers courses in ceramics, painting, drawing, photography, and other media.  Located just a couple blocks from the Virginia Beach oceanfront, changing exhibitions will prove to be an exciting stop for any Virginia Beach vacationer interested in art. Want to know more? Click Here

First Landing State Park

Open year-round. Admission charged per vehicle. Three things to know: Northernmost locaton on the East Coast where subtropical and temperate plants grow and thrive together-cypress and pines. Hiking/biking trails, picnic areas, boat ramp. Virginia's most popular state park; listed on the National Register of Natural Landmarks. Want to know more? Click Here

Adam Thoroughgood House

Open year-round. Closed Mondays. Closed New Year's Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Admission charged. Three things to know: Built circa 1680, named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1962 and is designated a National Historic Landmark. Hall and parlor house reminiscent of an English cottage, furnished with English furniture, ceramics, pewter, textiles and other 17th-century items. Costumed interpreters show the lifestyle of a wealthy Virginia colonist. Want to know more? Click Here

America Rover Cruises

Largest three-masted topsail schooner under U.S. flag. Narrated tour of Norfolk Harbor and the world`s largest naval base. Legend is that the distinctive red sails were a sailmaker`s mistake, but that the owners liked and kept them. Daily narrated 2/3 hr, day/evening cruises April 17-late Oct