There are a lot of great things about living in North Carolina, but my favorite has to be that we’re only a few hours away from the mountains and from the beach. My family loves to travel, so whether we’re enjoying a weeklong family vacation or just a quick weekend getaway, I’m always on the lookout for new vacation spots. Virginia Beach is only a few hours away and has lots of fun activities for kids of all ages.
Here are some great ways to enjoy Virginia Beach:
Mount Trashmore Park: The Park covers 165 acres and contains two man-made mountains actually built up from layers of solid waste and soil. There are also two playgrounds, two lakes, a skate park, multi-use paths, three large picnic shelters, five mini picnic shelters, three volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, concessions and vending machines.
Dolphin Kayak Trip: Enjoy a scenic kayak trip while you look for dolphin, loggerhead sea turtles, bluefish and other marine life. No experience necessary.
Virginia Aquarium: See Virginia’s diverse and unique marine environment up close in over 800,000 gallons of aquariums and live animal habitats.
Adventure Parasail and Jetski: Soar through the sky along the coastline while enjoying the view from 1,200 feet in the air. Family owned and operated for over 20 years with a perfect safety record.
Dolphin Watching Boat Trips: Take the family on an exciting boat ride and have a chance to see bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. April through October.
Rudee Tours and Charters: Everything you can imagine on the water, from crabbing and fishing tours to thrill rides and a cheese and dolphin watching cruise every evening.
Stand Up Paddleboard: Paddle the serene waters on a wide, stable surfboard and enjoy the water without ever getting wet.
Grommet Island: JT’s Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground is the first of its kind in America. This 100% handicap accessible oceanfront park was created when Josh Thompson’s family wanted to go to the beach, but had difficulty getting Josh there because of difficulty getting his wheelchair to the beach. Josh’s dad, Bruce Thompson, took the idea of Grommet Island to the City of Virginia Beach where it was met with support and enthusiasm. Grommet Island contains 15,000 square feet of ramps and decking, shaded play areas, bench seating and picnic areas. There are soft play sculptures, wheelchair-accessible play equipment and cushioned play surfaces, all providing recreational opportunities for everyBODY. Special beach wheelchairs are also available for those who want to cruise on the sand.
For more information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800-822-3224) or visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com.
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach blogging program to earn My SocialMoms Rewards points. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on the topic, click here.
Jennifer Ziemer says
Great post! I actually live in Virginia Beach and love it! I say in my blog, it’s like being on vacation! What’s funny though is one of my favorite things about Virginia Beach is our proximity to North Carolina’s beautiful Outer Banks:) Thanks for sharing!