The town's happy combination of beach, sunshine and calm surf makes it perfect for anyone seeking relaxation and adventure. Walk the golden sand beach for miles, or just claim a spot near the boardwalk and catch free entertainment any night of the week. You'll find enough fun, free things to do in Virginia Beach that you'll want to make the trip an annual family tradition.
Beaches and More Beaches
Get ready! Get set! Run for the beach! Virginia Beach has the longest pleasure beach in the world according to Guinness World Records. Park your towel on its 35-mile sandy expanse for free any day of the week, then splash, swim, surf or picnic. When you tire of the wall-to-wall sunbathers, a 12-mile drive to Little Island City Park in the Sandbridge neighborhood buys you more elbowroom. Or, check out one of the last undisturbed oceanfront areas in the region, with a visit to False Cape State Park in southern Virginia Beach. No cars allowed, but you can hike in, bike in or boat in for free.
Beach Street USA
Enjoy the spectacle of puppets, bands, jugglers and magicians without ever straying far from the beachfront. Beach Street USA explodes along the sidewalks of Atlantic Avenue from 17th to 25th streets every night during the summer with free, lively entertainment. Dance the night away to live music, laugh at theater performances, or just lie back and watch fireworks fill the night sky with magic. If you visit outside the summer season, you'll still rock and roll to the music of the different free oceanfront festivals throughout the year like the Latin Festival, FunkFest and Blues at the Beach.
Mount Trashmore Park
Experience the wacky, glorious, one-of-a-kind Mount Trashmore, a hill some 60 feet high and 800 feet long made of compressed layers of the city's excess landfill and topsoil. This famous landmark rules over a 165-acre park crammed with family-fun areas including two fishable lakes, several playgrounds, a volleyball court, a super skate park and ample lawns for picnicking and kite flying—all for free.
Fall Migration Adventure
Listen for the sound of thousands of wings beating together at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge during fall migration season. Ten thousand snow geese arrive here every year, as well as tundra swans and dozens of species of duck. What a treat for your family to watch the birds take shelter in the protected bays of the managed wetlands. You'll pay no entrance fees to the refuge between November 1 and March 31.
Old Beach Farmers Market
Fresh, free, eco-friendly and only six blocks from the beach! If you’re visiting Virginia Beach on a Saturday between May and October, take your family on an outdoor shopping adventure to the Old Beach Farmer’s Market. Head to the corner of 19th Street and Cypress Avenue to delight in the vibrant colors and smells of the stalls of local produce. It might be easier to list what you can’t find here than what you can. Fill those baskets (or reusable bags) with a splash of bright, seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also pick up a selection of meats—pork, bison, beef, chicken, turkey, sausages or charcuterie—as well as seafood, cheeses, eggs and delicious baked breads and sweets. The market is a “certified Virginia Green market” run by volunteers who do everything possible to support eco-friendly practices.
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