Last Updated on June 6, 2025
With 38 miles of stunning beaches, Virginia Beach has been attracting visitors since the late 19th century. No wonder this resort area is the largest city in the state! But there’s much more to Virginia Beach than just its beautiful coastline.
The famous Virginia Beach Boardwalk spans three miles and boasts everything from souvenir shops and restaurants to amusement parks, nightclubs, and oceanfront stages. Whereas, the newly developed Town Center offers upscale retail stores, luxury living condos, boutiques, cafes, and high-end merchandise. And history buffs will love exploring landmarks like the Adam Thoroughgood House, Cape Henry Lighthouse, and Norwegian Lady memorial statue.
Virginia Beach is home to highly ranked schools like Princess Anne High School and local options for higher education like Atlantic University and Regent University—making it a great place for both families and young adults. And outdoor enthusiasts find plenty to do in Virginia Beach too, from hiking and biking to kayaking with dolphins or watching wild horses at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park. The city is a golfing destination, and sports fans regularly flock to events at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.
Thinking about visiting this gem of a coastal community? Here are 8 of the best ways to spend time in Virginia Beach, VA.
Stroll down the famous Virginia Beach Boardwalk
There’s a good reason why the Virginia Beach Boardwalk is the city’s number one attraction. Spanning three miles, tens of thousands of locals and vacationers visit the boardwalk every day during the season. With everything to experience from souvenir shops and restaurants to amusement parks, nightclubs, and oceanfront stages, there’s something there for visitors of all ages. In addition to the large walking path, there is also a bike path for use, and handicap ramps are placed at every block, leading down to the waterline.
Tour Town Center
Virginia Beach’s centrally located Town Center is the place to be! With 36 acres of carefully curated mixed-use spaces, the Center offers 450,000 square feet of upscale retail stores, boutiques, cafes, and high-end merchandise. An additional 162,000 square feet of entertainment space is also available to explore, including Regal Cinemas, Sandler Center For The Performing Arts, and Zeiders American Dream Theater. Three luxury living condos feature more than 800 units, offering in-town living at its finest with a very reasonable commute.
Experience history at hand
Located near some of the oldest European settlements in America, history buffs will love exploring landmarks throughout Virginia Beach. To name a few: The Adam Thoroughgood House is one of the oldest surviving Colonial homes in the country, dating back to 1719. Cape Henry Lighthouse was the first federally funded public works project of the newly formed United States, authorized by George Washington, overseen by Alexander Hamilton, and completed in 1792. And the Norwegian Lady memorial statue commemorates the tragic loss of the Norwegian bark “Dictator” in 1891.
Explore the outdoors
Best known for its beachfront, of course, Virginia Beach also boasts plenty of inland activities and watersports opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking and biking are popular activities, as is kayaking with dolphins. Many enjoy a trip to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge for birding, watching wild horses, or spotting any of the other hundreds of species of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and fish. At False Cape State Park, visitors can experience nature in a unique, primitive setting at one of the last remaining undeveloped areas along the Atlantic coast.
Hit the links
Golfers flock from all over the country to try out Virginia Beach’s well-regarded golf courses. Virginia Beach National Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 course that offers challenging tees spanning 7,205 yards. With a beautiful natural setting and a variety of packages available, if you haven’t played here, you’re missing a great round of golf. Up the road, Red Wing Lake Golf Course was designed by George W. Cobb. Recently, every green was rebuilt, shaped, and seeded with Bent grass.
Fill your plate at Waterman’s Surfside Grille
Waterman’s Surfside Grille has been serving up the best catch for lunch, dinner, and brunch since 1981. Their fresh, sustainably-sourced seafood menu includes everything from classic fried seafood platters to upscale lobster tails. Meat lovers will enjoy their slow-smoked ribs and certified Angus steaks. And their famous orange crushes prove there’s something for everyone when you stop in for a visit.
Make memories at Heirloom
Heirloom is an award-winning, farm-to-table, and forward thinking destination for casual fine dining. The family-owned and -operated restaurant is dedicated to creating seasonally inspired dishes crafted from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Their happy hour menu includes options like blue crab nachos, oysters Rockefeller, and pork belly bao buns. They also offer a wide selection of wines and unique craft cocktails.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Krem Bakery & Cafe
A weekend in Virginia Beach is not complete without a visit to Krem Bakery & Cafe. This modern European-style bakery whips up expertly crafted, delectable treats with precision, skill, and love. Ukrainian-born Iryna Kremenchugskiy began selling macarons out of her house to raise funds to support the war in Ukraine. Five thousand macarons later, her brick-and-mortar storefront now specializes in cakes, macaroons, eclairs, and sandwiches.
If Virginia Beach, Virginia, sounds like a place you’d love to be, let the experts at Howard Hanna find the right home for you.
Allen Tate is the Carolinas’ largest real estate company with more than 70 offices and 1,800 RealtorsⓇ in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country, Upstate SC, Highlands/Cashiers, and Asheville/Mountain regions. Allen Tate is a partner of Howard Hanna Real Estate, the largest privately held real estate broker in the U.S., with 480 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title, and escrow service offices serving 15,000 sales associates and staff across 13 states. For more information, visit allentate.com and howardhanna.com.
