The family and I are moving to Northern Virginia in a few weeks and want to kill some time and was thinking about the Virginia Beach area. We were thinking of renting a place there and then checking out the surrounding areas.

Any tips or suggestions for a family with little kids?

Thanks

Spend a day in downtown Norfolk touring the battleship Wisconsin!

Beaches are ok, stay on the North Side if you can. The further south on the beaches the rougher and more ghetto it gets.

Traffic is a donkey show, probably better than NOVA but it’s pretty bad. Lots of historical places to see in the Peninsula.

Personally if you just want more relaxing vacay, skip VAB and go to the Outer Banks NC.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Personally if you just want more relaxing vacay, skip VAB and go to the Outer Banks NC.

I second this, whole-heartedly!

JP

There is a military aviation museum near Norfolk that is awesome. It’s not huge (3 hangers) but all the aircraft are flyable and the people who work there are great. Plenty of good eating places near Wisconsin. Take the Naval Yards tour. I enjoyed the Aquarium and nature trails around it immensely.

VA Beach itself was ok. There was live music nightly on the boardwalk while I was there and kind of an old school carnival vibe. There is a pretty awesome statue of Neptune that’s worth a photo and a Navy Seal monument. Food is ok and overpriced. It’s not the prettiest beach, but in fairness I’m spoiled in that regard.

Eat seafood!

The aquarium there is great. I especially like it when aquariums teach about the local area and ecosystems. Virginia Beach's aquarium does a great job of that.

Not Virginia Beach per se but close by, there is Williamsburg. Colonial Williamsburg is usually interesting, go see the rifle maker there. There's also Busch Gardens with some of the best roller coasters that I've rode.

Several good restaurants in Va Beach, in fact until recently, I said they had the best restaurants in Virginia but the other areas have improved. One we like is Il Giardino, an upscale Italian spot, although be careful. Last time I was there, I got a ticket for not putting money in a parking meter at 8:30 at night. A great lunch spot is the No Frills Bar and Grill on Laskin Road, several miles back from the beachfront. Check out the newly renovated Cavalier Hotel. There is a long boardwalk (actually concrete) for walking or bicycling. A good gunstore is Superior Gun and Pawn away from the beachfront on Virginia Beach Boulevard. If you like jet fighters, there's a steady stream of them going in and out of Oceana Naval Air Station. Hope you come and have a great time.

Colonial Williamsburg is nearby and is worth the trip I you have any interest in colonial history. I especially enjoyed visiting the gunsmith shop where they build period firearms.

Busch gardens is one of the few amusement parks
I actually enjoy

and I had a great time at water country USA last time I Took the family there

How young of children?

There is a lot to do in that area to be sure.

History is phenomenal, but with too young of children, maybe a little early.

As an aside...

Since you are moving here, it is the absolute opposite direction, but I believe you will enjoy Hershey Park. It is laid out very well for families. Rides for all sizes are fairly intermixed, and lots of shade from trees. Can find deals on tickets, and they have a preview plan... Visit night before at 7 pm, pay for parking, enjoy evening until it closes. Come back next day, show already paid parking and tix, enter for free. Chocolate world is a free ride, and you even get candy at end of ride, can do that before 7 as it is outside of park entrance.

There's not much to do at the beach except the beach. There's a water park near the beach. But unless you like walking up and down the boardwalk, or shopping, there isn't that much.

First landing State Park is kinda cool. Walking the trails and seeing all the Spanish Moss is neat. But this time of year it is miserably hot and humid.

I'd take a trip over the Hampton Roads Bridge tunnel and come to Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown. Lots more history on this side of the harbor. Not as crowded. Just a nicer atmosphere.

If you are dead set on an ocean-beach vacation, the Outer Banks of NC is much nicer.

quote:

Originally posted by jprebb:

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Personally if you just want more relaxing vacay, skip VAB and go to the Outer Banks NC.

I second this, whole-heartedly!

JP

I live in Chesapeake. If you want to relax, try to rent a place in the outer banks, NC. If you want busy touristy stuff, VA Beach is it. Otherwise, this area is a history buff's dream with LOTS of American Battle history here.

We like the Military Aviation Museum, but watch for events, as some are pricey for entry. Nauticus is a maritime museum in Norfolk, next to the battleship Wisconsin. There's an awesome restaurant off the bow called Todd Jurick's (sp?), but you won't want to take your children $$$.

The VA Aquarium is the right size for 5-10 year olds as it just takes a couple hours to get through, but is priced a bit high for the general entry (we use zoo swap to get in). Norfolk zoo is also great for a couple hours.

Across one of the bridge-tunnels is the Peninsula, with a host of its own stuff including the Virginia Air & Space Center, and a bunch of old Forts.

Keep in mind that all of this stuff is 45 minutes from each other, and Williamsburg is just a bit farther (15-30 more minutes northwest).

Battleship Wisconsin and while there YOU HAVE TO DO THE NAVAL BASE CRUISE. It's on the Victory Rover. I've done it 8 times and it never gets old. $26 for an adult on a 2 hour narrated cruise.

https://www.navalbasecruises.com/

Must have dinner at Tautogs on 23rd street. Great food.

http://www.tautogs.com

Of the East coast beaches, VB would not be my first choice. Realize that the city goes right up to the water, to the extent that the beach itself is almost entirely in the shadows of buildings after about 5:00PM.

The other beaches within a few hours drive of DC are much more pleasant without the urban atmosphere. With kids, I'd recommend the OBX, Bethany, Fenwick, and even OC. Without kids, Rehoboth and the OBX.

If history is your thing you absolutely have to check out the triangle of Yorktown, Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg.

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
The family and I are moving to Northern Virginia in a few weeks and want to kill some time and was thinking about the Virginia Beach area. We were thinking of renting a place there and then checking out the surrounding areas.

Any tips or suggestions for a family with little kids?

Thanks

We go to Va beach every year and have found tons of stuff my 5yr old loves.

1. The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News
2. Virginia aquarium in Va beach
3. Hunt Club Farm is a petting farm in Va Beach
4. Battleship Wisconsin in Norfolk
5. Rudee inlet dolphin tour


Surfrider restaurant is our favorite seafood in the area. Sugar Plum Bakery is our favorite dessert place.

On the way in or out of town, I would check out colonial Williamsburg and the Jamestown settlement.

I would personally avoid air and space in hampton. It is very small and pricey for what it is. We just did it this week and almost all of the interactive displays were broken.

The military aviation museum is much much better. Might not hold a small child's attention unless they really love planes.


There's an observation area to watch planes take off an land from NAS Oceana.

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
No Frills Bar and Grill on Laskin Road

I second that. Also the Maritime Museum in Newport News is a great venue.

Oh yeah, and traffic will be terrible wherever you go, any time of day or night.

quote:

Surfrider restaurant is our favorite seafood in the area

good call. I liked the atmosphere at the Marina Shores one best.