By Carrie Cochran Mandala Travel Blog Guest Post
Thousands of people come to Virginia Beach, Virginia, to enjoy its expansive beaches and lively boardwalk every year. But there’s more to this gorgeous area than just the beachfront scene.
Virginia Beach is a gorgeous area filled with stunning nature, watersports, history, and art. If you’re looking for a multi-dimensional beach vacation with a lot to offer, check out these top activities to try on your next trip to Virginia Beach!
1. Explore First Landing State Park
Few state parks offer the incredible diversity that you’ll find in First Landing State Park. Located in the northern corner of Virginia Beach, this area is where the English settlers initially landed in 1607 before heading north to Jamestown. It’s also where the famous pirate Blackbeard supposedly hid some of his treasure!
First Landing State Park offers a mesmerizing range of habitats to explore in such a small area, including cypress swamps, forests, beaches, and marshlands. You’d have no problem spending an entire day here if you chose!
2. Take a Dolphin Kayaking Tour
Combine a great watersport workout with up-close action with some of the cutest sea creatures in the area with a kayaking tour! Several local companies offer these unique experiences to explore the local waterways and bays. Most tours last for a couple of hours, and the expert guides know just where to find pods of friendly dolphins!
For an especially enchanting trip, choose to go at sunset for some of the most stunning sunsets you’ll find on the East Coast!
3. Visit the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Speaking of sea creatures, the Virginia Aquarium is a prime spot to really get to know about the oceans and waterways of Virginia Beach and the rest of the state! The aquarium features fish, reptiles, and sea creatures that you’ll find throughout Virginia, organized by rivers, oceans, the bay, and more.
The Virginia Aquarium also offers some lovely walking trails along Owls Creek and an adventure course. It’s a fun and educational adventure that the whole family will enjoy!
4. Tour the Vibe District
Did you know that Virginia Beach is a thriving art scene? In addition to the Museum of Contemporary Art located a few streets back from the beachfront, you can experience a wide array of local art in the Vibe District!
This fun area spans from Pacific Avenue to 16th street and is covered in all kinds of street art: wall murals, painted sidewalks, art-covered electric boxes, and sculptures! The murals represent a wonderfully diverse range of art forms and artists and really encompass the fun vibes that make Virginia Beach so great!
5. Check Out Town Center
Virginia Beach’s Town Center is a thriving, high-class area where you can enjoy a little bit of everything. This area abounds in fine dining and entertainment, from Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse to Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. There’s also a local comedy club, a professional non-profit theater, and some incredible bakeries.
If you’re in the mood for shopping, Town Center has that covered, too. You’ll find a wide array of local gems and popular chains, from Lululemon and Free People to Monkee’s of Virginia Beach and Muse Paintbar. When you’re in the mood for a beach vacation that offers more than just sunbathing, Virginia Beach is the place to be! Come visit us this summer and experience the unique vibes of this beachfront city!
Note from StarGazerStays: What other ideas can you add to this list that the author may have not mentioned?
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Carrie is passionate about giving information about guides to amusement parks, info on animal adventures, new discoveries on hiking destinations, latest travel update, and your expert in exploring the different tropical paradise.
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