Sunny skies, breath-taking views, and endless entertainment is everything you want in a family vacation.
And what kid doesn’t love making sandcastles and chasing waves?
Give your whole family a vacation not even your teenage daughter will complain about and bring them to Virginia Beach; where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.
This coastal city in southeastern Virginia has so much to offer, you won’t be able to see all of it in just a couple of days.
But with this four day itinerary we’ve made for you, you can catch all the highlights that will make you coming back for more!
Day 1
Grab a box of made-to-order donuts at Duck Donuts on 31st St. for breakfast and get the day started with a bang.
These delicious donuts are made fresh with many unique flavors to try. Your family will appreciate the quick meal so they can sink their toes in that long-awaited sand.
After the sugary delights, get your bags packed for a day by the ocean. Sunscreen, umbrellas, sand toys, and swimsuits are all a must.
There are beach chairs and umbrellas to rent at different points on the beach if you’d rather travel light.
Don’t stress if you forgot any other essential items because the shops by the boardwalk have everything you need right there.
You can pack a lunch to save money, or grab something that won’t cut into your seashell hunting time at one of the many pizza places right near the water.
After a fun and exhausting day at the beach, you can bet everyone is going to be famished. Clean up and head out to Jake’s Smokehouse BBQ on General Booth Blvd.
The upbeat atmosphere will keep you in vacation mode, while the large portions of BBQ ribs and fried pickles will keep the kid’s hands busy.
You may have to hose them down before getting in the car, but you will all leave with full bellies and ready for the next day’s adventures.
Day 2
Head out to The Bee & The Biscuit for an early morning meal, because this popping restaurant fills up quick.
This cute spot near Indian River Road is about 20 minutes outside of the main strip, but boasts a beautiful countryside drive.
The Bee & The Biscuit offers produce from local farms and freshly made biscuits that people line up outside the door for. They even have valet parking at this cottage restaurant if you want to class it up.
After a satisfying breakfast, head over to First Landing State Park, where 2,888 acres of beautiful and diverse parkland awaits discovery.
Fronting the Chesapeake Bay and displaying 1.25 miles of beach, hike through salt marsh habitats, forests, dunes, and swamps.
With freshwater ponds and the rare, endangered maritime forest community, there is so much to see, making First Landing the most visited park in Virginia.
For the history buffs, First Landing got its name from the English settlers who landed here first in 1607 before going up the James River to found Jamestown.
Bring a lunch with you, maybe some subs you bought en route, because this place won’t have the eatery selection you get on the boardwalk.
After you bond with nature, get back to the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk to catch dinner at
Mannino’s Italian Bistro Oceanfront.
The restaurant may not look like a million bucks, but the perfectly blended entrees of seafood and Italian will be sure to satisfy.
Located right on Atlantic Ave, you can enjoy the sounds of the ocean as you indulge in a decadent cannoli for dessert.
Day 3
Doc Taylor’s Restaurant on 23rd St. is another breakfast eatery you don’t want to miss out on. You have to try the banana pancakes in this cozy and friendly stop.
There is a long wait on the weekends during prime breakfast hours, so come early, or order a cup of coffee as you wait for the well-deserved stent.
But don’t take a doggy bag after breakfast, because you’ll want to go straight to the 800,000 gallon Virginia & Marine Science Center.
There are hundreds of hands-on exhibits for the kids, and a Geographical 3D Theater that beats any movie you can watch in your home town.
Don’t forget to dress appropriately for the nature walks and marshlands, because this aquarium is like none other, which is why it’s said to be one of the best in the country.
There is a small café for lunch, but pickings are slim. You can also pack a lunch to eat at one of the many outdoor benches if you don’t want to take the time to leave the grounds.
After exploring all that the aquarium has to offer, you’ll want to go back to the hotel and freshen up.
For dinner, be a little adventurous and stroll Atlantic Avenue for a place you haven’t tried. There are plenty of options and something for every picky eater.
Day 4
Hit up Sunnyside Café right on Atlantic Avenue for the last breakfast of your getaway. This small restaurant offers patio seating so you can soak up as much sun as possible before you go.
Then do all the exciting beach excursions you haven’t tried yet.
Rent a surrey, which is a bike with benches the whole family can ride, and cycle down the boardwalk.
You don’t have to worry about any skill level because the 3 mile boardwalk that stretches from 2nd to 40th St. has a separate bike path from the pedestrians.
Go horseback riding along the oceanside with a guided horseback excursion. The horses are well trained and used to the route, so don’t worry about being Buffalo Bill.
For the those who need more of an adrenaline rush, there are surfing lessons, parasailing, and shark watching.
After you have done one of everything, end your night watching one of the many live shows on the boardwalk featured on the weekends or playing at Atlantic Fun Park.
Fun Park is located at the corner of 15th and Atlantic Avenue and offers arcade-style games, as well as thrill rides like the Slingshot, which shoots you high enough to see for miles.
There is plenty of kid-friendly fare around Fun Park too – think the kind of food you would get at a fair.
After all the excitement, the whole family is sure to crash hard that night, leaving everyone refreshed for a bright and early start back home in the morning.
Though no one will want to leave Virginia Beach, you may be able to bribe them with a promise to stop at Duck Donuts again on the way out.
On the way back home, talk about all you experienced at Virginia Beach, and what everyone’s favorite activity was, or what you could have done without.
Most importantly, talk about the next time you should go back!
And please tell us in the comments section if you have been to any of the places we suggested and what you thought of them!
(h/t Proud American Traveler)