A Tale of Three Beaches

Travel quiet waterways by kayak, meet the high seas by charter boat, conquer the boardwalk by bike or just rule from the comfort of your beach chair. Chesapeake Bay Beach is family-friendly and relaxing, with shallow waters, a calm shore and plenty of dockside restaurants available for grabbing a quick bite. Resort Beach is hopping with things to do, from biking or rollerblading the bustling boardwalk to kayaking and people-watching. For a more secluded experience, head south to quiet Sandbridge Beach, where nature and wildlife await. Take a trip to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel to fish the pier and watch the huge ships come in from two scenic overlooks.

Coasting Through Nature and History

Here you can explore trails through diverse forests and marshlands and get a dose of history at the same time. Visit the Cape Henry Lighthouses on the grounds of Fort Story and just outside First Landing State Park, site of the Jamestown colonists’ first landing in 1607. See First Landing Cross, a monument honoring the pilgrims’ first steps into the New World, then hike or bike 30 kilometers of trails (or rent a cabin and stay all night).

At False Cape State Park, walk unfettered beaches tucked away between Back Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Or, head to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to kayak alongside dolphins, scope bald eagles, watch osprey along the shore or catch an otter scuttling up the bank. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center’s Whales and Wildlife Sea Adventure boat tour will bring you nose-to-nose with the most fascinating creatures of the sea. You can also explore the center’s indoor treehouse or zipline through the Adventure Park.

Have a Culinary Experience

The best way to experience the signature coastal cuisine here is through a foodie tour. Taste Virginia is your entrée to the food, wine and craft beer scenes. Try the Locavore “Shore” Tour to sample farm-to-table fare right on the farm or take the Town and Country Wine Tour, which starts from the smallest and most rural winery here and goes all the way to the area’s first urban one. Always wanted to see an oyster farm? Pleasure House Oysters farm tour takes you out on the Lynnhaven River, puts you in waders and shows you exactly how to harvest these sumptuous shells straight from the sea.