Things to Do in Virginia Beach with Kids

Situated at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is an independent metropolitan city. It is set in and around the Hampton Roads, which is one of the world's biggest natural harbors. The city of Virginia Beach is the 39th largest city in the US, and one of the major tourist attractions in Southern United States.

If you are planning to spend your holidays in Virginia Beach, then let me tell you that this place is likely to be a real treat for your eyes as well as the soul.

The sandy beaches, oceanfront resorts, historical treasures, numerous amusement parks, and the humid subtropical climate of Virginia Beach, makes it one of the hotspots for the tourists of all ages and predilections.

Although most of the vacation spots in Virginia Beach are cited to be a lover's paradise, there are a lot of things to do with kids and family too. So let's cut to the chase and find out how you can spend the best family holiday in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach has always been a culturally significant place in the United States of America. The influential historical background of Virginia Beach dates back to the time of the earliest Chesapian inhabitants and the Jamestown colonists, who chose this place to begin their US expedition.

The city also possesses traces of its progress in various other fields like arts, literature, science, sports and recreation. The city is home to numerous historical sites, more than 293 city parks, including amusement parks, community parks, and a lot of open spaces for fun-loaded activities.

Numerous beach fronts and beach activities have given this city the honor of being the longest happy beach in the world; in the Guinness Book of Records. Once you land in the city, there won't be the time when you many need to think about where to stay in Virginia Beach, with kids; as the city has loads of hotels, motels, and family resorts at your service.

Places like Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, Four Sails Resort, Holiday Inn, and many such hotels and resorts are just perfect for you to stay in Virginia Beach with your kids. Now, something about the attractions around, that are the must visit places when you are in Virginia Beach with kids.

One of the most popular city parks of Virginia Beach, Mount Trashmore Park, is a paradise for kids. Developed in the year 1978, this city park is spread across 165 acres of land, that consists of various man-made hills and recreational spots like picnic shelters, open playgrounds, restrooms, multiple walking trails, and a lot more.

The park itself is the best example of how beautifully the city landfill area can be reused, since it is located on one. Daily park timings are from 7.30 am until the sun sets, and it is open 24x7.

The best attraction for the kids here is the Mount Trashmore Skate Park, which is located at the northeastern corner of the park, and the Kids' Cove; which is an extremely innovative playground designed for numerous interactive sports for kids and their parents alike.

Also known as the Seashore State Park, First Landing State Park is located at Cape Henry. The park has various well restored historical sites that tell you about the colonial past of the city. It has numerous outdoor activities on offer, which makes it a real treat for you and your kids, if they are outdoorsy.

It has various cabins, fishing, camping and swimming sites, and numerous natural trails that serve as an excellent opportunity for your kids, if they enjoy hiking. The park also hosts a nightly First Landing Play, that makes you relive the time when the colonists first entered this region.

All in all, the First Landing State Park is a good place to visit and invoke the historical quotient of your kids.

As the name suggests, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is an aquarium and marine science center which is located just south of the Rudee's on the Inlet restaurant. The aquarium exhibits more than 700 species and 12,000 animals.

It is spread across two main buildings - Bay and Ocean Pavilion that contains three aquariums (Chesapeake Bay Aquarium, Chesapeake Light Tower Aquarium and Restless Planet) and Marsh Pavilion that contains various marsh creatures and injured and rescued animals that are found on the nearby shores.

The center also has an aviary and a long natural trail that connects the entire area. Visiting the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center would definitely be a unique experience for you and your family.

There are a lot of other things that you may like to do with the kids, to make Virginia Beach city a highly unforgettable vacation spot for kids and your entire family, for that matter. Go through the following list and get a few more ideas to spend the best holiday in Virginia Beach.

▶ Enjoy Irish ocean dancing or step dancing, at the Rhythm of Ireland School of Irish Dance.

▶ Enjoy your vacations by attending Hermit Crab Beauty Pageant and the Miss Curvaceous Crustacean Beauty Pageant!

▶ Enjoy the Food on Foot Tour, wherein you can enjoy a variety of food at a relatively low cost.

▶ Visit the Motor World for motor racing and go-carting. Play at the Paintball Splat Zone and Shipwreck Golf.

▶ Visit the Ocean Breeze Water Park (more than 15 slides) and cruise on Eight Pirate Cruises with friendly pirates.

▶ Visit the Hunt Club Farm, which is a treat for your kids who have never been to any animal farm before.

▶ Visit the Adam Thoroughgood House, which is the oldest brick house in the US.

▶ Visit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which is one of the 7 wonders of the Modern Engineering world.

▶ Visit the Fort Story Army Base, near the First Landing State Park. It has a series of lighthouses and less crowded and rather deserted beaches.

▶ Visit the False Cape State Park, that has the most undisturbed coastal environment in the whole of Virginia Beach.

▶ Visit the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, for the perfect twitching and hiking experience with your kids.

The last but certainly the best thing to do in Virginia Beach, especially with kids around, would be to do nothing at the numerous beaches in the city. You see, people who enjoy the seafronts and the salty sea breeze, hardly need any reason to visit a beach. And when it is the world's longest happy beach, it's in itself a reason enough! So do enjoy and have a happy holiday!