Guide to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk 

A colossal statue of King Neptune welcomes locals and vacationers alike who leisurely stroll from the sands to this 28-foot-wide, three-mile boardwalk in Virginia Beach. From roller coasters with ocean views to family-friendly festivals, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk brims with activities for everyone to enjoy.

1. Find Entertainment Along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk

From daytime concerts to nighttime fireworks displays, you'll find a variety of entertainment.

From fireworks and circuses to music and lectures, each summer day between Memorial Day and Labor Day brings a stunning array of entertainment. You'll find live music on oceanfront stages at 7th, 13th, 31st and 34th Streets and in the parks at 17th, 24th and 25th Streets. On Thursdays, head to the beach at 27th Street to take part in the Family Great Adventure; movies projected onto a huge portable screen after the sun goes down. The evenings kick off at 6 p.m. with interactive mysteries, scavenger hunts and other family-friendly activities.

2. Enjoy Virginia Beach Festivals

You won't want to miss the International Sand Sculpting Championship at the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival. Photo credit: Neptunefestival.com.

With more than two dozen festivals throughout the year, there's always something to celebrate in Virginia Beach. The annual Neptune Festival in September sprawls along the boardwalk for 32 blocks. Listen to live music, tantalize your taste buds at food booths or shop artisan crafts along the way. The weekend-long festival is the culmination of a month of activities that include sand sculpture competitions, a surfing classic and a wine festival, to name a few. Even winter doesn't deter the city—the Winter Wildlife Festival offers birdwatching activities in January and February.

3. Get Around Virginia Beach in Style

Walk, bike or rollerblade along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.

There’s no better way to stretch your legs than with a six-mile round-trip walk on the boardwalk. You won't have to wonder about points of interest if you have a smartphone or tablet. Use your device’s camera to scan in the bar codes on signs posted along the way to watch videos for in-depth information about attractions. If you don't want to drag your tired feet down the entire three miles, use pedal power on the adjacent bike path. Rent rollerblades, bikes or even a four-person surrey from vendors along Atlantic Avenue.

4. Enjoy Art Along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk

The boardwalk's most famous piece of art is the 34-foot bronze statue of King Neptune standing at the entrance to Neptune Festival Park.

Colorful marine statues of fish, shells and other nautical themes dot streets and businesses on the boardwalk, making perfect backdrops for photos. At 25th Street, the Norwegian Lady commemorates the 1891 shipwreck of the vessel Dictator just 300 yards offshore. The statue is a replica of the ship's original masthead that watched over the boardwalk for 60 years before being destroyed by Hurricane Barbara in 1953. Take a selfie with the boardwalk's tallest work of art, a 34-foot bronze statue of Neptune standing at the entrance to Neptune Festival Park. For more visual delights, the annual Boardwalk Art Show each summer is hosted by the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Step into the tents of the artists that line the boardwalk from 19th Street to 32nd Street.

5. Virginia Beach Attractions

Beyond the sand and waves of the beach, you'll find ferris wheels, go-kart tracks and more.

See the area from a bird's-eye view atop the 100-foot Ferris wheel in Atlantic Fun Park. Get your adrenaline fix on thrill rides like Gravitron and the swinging Sea Dragon. You'll find more than a dozen family rides, a go-kart track and tamer rides for the little ones. Learn more about the area at the Atlantic Wildlife Heritage Museum set in a historic cottage at 12th Street. Browse through indoor displays and dioramas, then head outside to breathe in the aromas of more than 50 types of flowering plants, trees and grasses in the seaside garden. Explore outbuildings that include the area's first library and a boathouse. A block away, Walk of Legends pays homage to famous Virginians.

6. SUN AND SURF

Rent rods and cast a line to catch flounders, mackerels and other fish.

If some family members have a hard time making it to the beach because of mobility issues, head to J. T. Grommet Island Park. The 15,000-square-foot wheelchair accessible park includes a shaded playground, a sensory board and sand tables. Want to catch dinner? Drop some bait over the edge of the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier to net crabs or angle for flounder, spot or mackerel. Pick up bait and rent rods at the pier store. Fishing prices range from $10 for adults to $5 for anglers under 12.

Ready to travel? Find hotels in Virginia Beach.