Local Attractions

Located on the southeastern coast of Virginia, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach is known for its history as “America’s First Region.” The city is also home to gorgeous beaches and vibrant oceanfront resorts, boardwalk attractions, and events that most recently include Pharell’s “Something in the Water” music festival.

• First Landing State Park
• Virginia Beach Aquarium
• Virginia Beach Boardwalk
• Mount Trashmore Park
• Ocean Breeze Water Park and Motor World Go Kart Track

Check out the Virginia Beach Travel Guide or see more at Visit Virginia Beach.

Located at the core of the Hampton Roads, Norfolk is known as the area’s most urban cultural centers. The largest naval base in the world, Norfolk is also home to Norfolk Admirals hockey and Norfolk Tides Triple-A minor league baseball. The city also boasts plenty of restaurant and shopping districts, kid-friendly activities, entertainment arenas, and harborside events.

• Norfolk Botanical Gardens
• Virginia Zoo and the Chrysler Museum of Art
• Norfolk Premium Outlets Mall
• MacArthur Memorial and MacArthur Shopping Mall
• Nauticus and the Waterside District

Check out the Norfolk Travel Guide or see more at Visit Norfolk.

Portsmouth is most known for its naval shipyard and naval medical center. This quaint port town is also home to the Olde Town Historic District with kid-friendly activities and even a ferry system that connects Norfolk and Portsmouth.

• Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
• Children’s Museum of Portsmouth
• Old Towne Historic District
• Railroad Museum of Virginia
• Portsmouth Arts and Cultural Center

Check out the Portsmouth Travel Guide or see more at Visit Portsmouth.

With the second largest land area in Virginia, Chesapeake offers a diverse mix of farmland, forests, wetlands, and urban areas. It borders with North Carolina but is also located on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, providing distinct points of interest in its park system, outdoor activities, and shopping areas. Chesapeake is also international home for Dollar Tree.

• Chesapeake City Park
• Chesapeake Square Shopping Mall
• Chesapeake Skate Park
• The Chesapeake Bay
• Greenbrier Shopping Mall

Check out the Chesapeake Travel Guide or see more at Visit Chesapeake.

Offering miles of waterfront property on the Nansemond and James Rivers, Suffolk is a friendly community with large-scale land mass for biking, hiking, and exploring but with a small-town feel.

• Sleepy Hole Park and Golf Course
• The Great Dismal Swamp
• Skydive Suffolk
• Suffolk Peanut Fest
• Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum

Check out the Suffolk Travel Guide or see more at Visit Suffolk.

Located on the southeastern side of the Virginia Peninsula, Hampton is largely known for its Air Force base, space center, and NASA research center. The city also features historical sites, including Old Point Comfort and a moated bastion fort, and thrilling attractions, such as Langley Speedway and a NASCAR short track and more.

• Virginia Air & Space Center
• Casemate Museum of Fort Monroe
• Buckroe Beach and Park
• Hampton Coliseum
• Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway

Check out the Hampton Travel Guide or see more at Visit Hampton.

Located at the Peninsula side of Hampton Roads, Newport News is nested on the harbor and along the James River. The city has grown from a fishing village with farmland and underdeveloped land to include a major shipyard and a junction between rail and ocean. Fittingly, much of the city’s prime attractions are linked to its military and nautical heritage.

• Peninsula Fine Arts Center
• Mariner’s Museum
• James River Fishing Pier
• Virginia Living Museum
• Virginia War Museum

Check out the Newport News Travel Guide or see more at Visit Newport News.