Full of beautiful beaches and waterways, and top-notch attractions and events, Virginia Beach is a great vacation choice during any season.
By Julie Matthews
With a rich maritime heritage and convenient proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach and water recreation go hand in hand. Thanks to pleasant temperatures nearly year-round, fishing, boating, swimming, surfing, paddling and other water recreation are common activities at Virginia Beach beaches, from the North End down south to Sandbridge.
At its pulse, the Virginia Beach Oceanfront is where you’ll find a lively three-mile boardwalk and bustling Atlantic Avenue filled with great restaurants and shops. This is also the year-round site of endless events from huge high-energy music festivals to beloved annual mainstays like the Neptune Festival to more chill concert series. Known as the event capital on the East Coast, Virginia Beach knows how to entertain. The Dome is the City’s newest venue and boasts a state-of-the art re-imagined version of The Dome that stood in the same spot from 1957 to 1994. The new Dome is a part of the Atlantic Park entertainment center that is currently under development. (Check out the article about The Dome and Atlantic Park in this guide for more exciting details.)
Community centric and family friendly is also a way of life here. The newly renovated Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is a must-do interactive experience and First Landing State Park, Virginia’s most visited state park, is loaded with outdoor adventures. Virginia Beach’s newest outdoor attraction, Owl Creek Landing Nautilus Tower features a fully ADA-accessible, eight-story high steel spiral tower with 360-degree panoramic views. (See the column on the right for more new happenings.) Also wheel chair accessible, Grommet Island Park on 2nd Street at the Oceanfront is a beach-themed playground younger children will love. Art enthusiasts will feel right at home in the ViBe Creative District brimming with amazing local artwork and outdoor markets, and the Virginia Beach Town Center is a perfect place to grab dinner and see a show. Virginia Beach’s dining scene offers something tasty for every palate. Fresh and sustainable seafood, farm-to-table, American fare, global flavors, beach bites—it’s all here, along with stunning water views, abundant outdoor patios and local libations.
With so much to do and see, it’s no surprise that over the years Virginia has racked up countless accolades, with recent kudos including topping U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2024-2025.”
Enjoy your visit!
