This 8500-acre slice of heaven is for the birds, but in the loveliest way possible. Created in 1938 to provide a protected spot for migrating and wintering waterfowl, nature lovers will be enchanted to potentially glimpse over 300 bird species (depending on the particular season) including the snow and Canadian goose, the Tundra swan, many duck species, songbirds and shorebirds. Threatened and endangered species can be spied as well including the Loggerhead sea turtle, Piping plover, Peregrine falcon and Bald eagle. Even a President got to have a say in protecting this important part of Virginia: a Presidential Proclamation closed 4,600 acres to migratory bird hunting decades ago.
Several walking trails, some just a quarter mile long; others three miles long, are located in Back Bay as well, beginning just a half mile from the Visitor Contact Station. The trails are flat so a jogger stroller works beautifully. To protect the wildlife, pets are allowed in Back Bay from October through March only.
A Jewel to Note: Close to Back Bay is Little Island Park with beach access, a great picnic spot and it's own pier.
Virginia Beach Attractions
Virginia Beach Attractions
 | Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge 4005 Sandpiper Road Virginia Beach, VA • 757-721-2412 Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Bike Rentals Virginia Beach, VA Second to lounging seaside is the perennial favorite of renting a bike or surrey and pedaling down the ribbon of Virginia Beach boardwalk. There's something just plain exhilarating about the experience. Not a bad idea to plan a morning or evening ride to avoid the heat of a summer day. Rentals are located all along the Virginia Beach Strip. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Boardwalk Amusement Park 15th Street Virginia Beach, VA Looking a bit like the amusement park in Tom Hank's "Big" (only smaller), the Boardwalk Amusement Park in Virginia Beach is sheer kid-fun with it's Ferris wheel and whirly rides that'll make you wish you skipped the funnel cake. Kids don't need the big-ticket amusement parks -- even these small parks with their yesteryear vibe will charm everyone. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | First Landing State Park 2500 Shore Drive Virginia Beach, VA Located by the Chesapeake Bay and created in the 1930s, the First Landing State Park is Virginia's most visited state park. With over 2,800 acres, this stunning park offers a bevy of outdoor activities including biking, boating, hiking, tent camping and comfortable cabins. Once known as Seashore State Park, the name was changed in the late 90s to reflect the glorious American history that took place on this hallowed land: The first pilgrims to settle Jamestown first alighted from their ships on this very shore. Visit early in the day before the heat descends and the animals are still out and about. A short trail walk and you'll find yourself amazingly close to foxes, snakes and other wild animals. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Ocean Breeze Waterpark 849 General Booth Boulevard Virginia Beach, VA • 757-422-4444 When you're tired of the sand and your kids have that "now what?" look on their faces head for the Ocean Breeze Waterpark just five minutes from the Virginia Beach strip. Kids 12 and under will love this very fun water park that boasts 16 water slides, a one million gallon wave pool and an exciting Jungle Falls. The littlest kids have been kept in mind too with rides created just for them: Little Amazon (an easy, lazy river), Buccaneer Bay Water Playground (specifically created for the 48 inch and under crowd) and the Silly Slides (a trio of slides that plop kids into a shallow pool. Best of all parents can ride too!). Children can ride in front of their parents on kiddie caverns and Grape Escape. Families of small children can play together in Buccaneer Bay, the Water Playground and the Runway Bay Wave Pool. Water shoes are allowed on the rides and are a smart idea for protecting little (and big!) feet and toes. For the quietest time to visit get to Ocean Breeze on Monday mornings when tourists are still at the beach. Friday and Sunday evening are also quiet times to visit. Ocean Breeze provides story time on Mondays at 11:00 a.m., which means mom and dad can rest their eyes (and backs!) for 45 minutes and the staff will entertain the kids with stories, songs, games and a snack. Best for kids under 6 but kids up to 9 have been known to break a smile. Important to note: Cabanas and chocolate-covered frozen bananas sell out fast. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Old Coast Guard Station 24th Street and Boardwalk Virginia Beach, VA • 757-422-1587 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared a Virginia Historic Landmark, the Old Coast Guard Station houses an impressive museum collection (with two gallery floors) honoring the oceanic past of Virginia Beach. With over 1,000 photos and 1,800 museum pieces the entire family will get an exciting education into Virginia Beach's seaside past. Later at dinner you can enjoy a rousing discussion of famous "wrecks and rescues," women in the Coast Guard and battles from World War I and II. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Pirate's Paradise Mini Golf Course 2109 Pacific Avenue Virginia Beach, VA • 757-422-9822 If the kids need a dry activity surprise them with a trip to Pirate's Paradise Mini Golf Course just minutes away from the resort strip. Pirate's Paradise offers a nice challenge with 18 holes and lush water features. The best time to visit is right after lunch and you can play multiple games from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the price. Nighttime during tourist season is when Pirate's gets super populated when it stays open until 2:00 a.m. (Have you ever hankered for a round of put-put golf at midnight? Me either, but in case the urge hits when you're in Virginia Beach you're good.) Great photos ops thanks to the ay-matey decor and the waterfalls. Among other treats, the snack bar sells -- an amusement park favorite -- funnel cake. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Playgrounds on the Beach Virginia Beach, VA Three totally inviting play structures sit directly on the Resort Strip providing kids with all the digging, climbing and socializing they can juggle. The first beach climbing structure is located at 10th, the second at 31st Street. (The 31st Street playground is directly next to King Neptune's Statue so slip the camera into your purse for a classic Virginia Beach photo moment.) JT's Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground, located at 100 2nd Street -- a park that just opened in June 2010 -- has a bittersweet beginning. A surf enthusiast, Josh Thompson, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in 2006. Channeling his frustration into a park "that everybody could enjoy" became his mission and today the JT Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground -- the first of it's kind -- beckons both able-bodied and disabled children and adults to have a great day at the beach. The parking is pretty abysmal so walking or biking to Grommet's Playground is your best bet, but parking does exist (kind of, sort of) with coin meters so bring your quarters! Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9) |
 | Surf Lessons 4400 Ocean Front Avenue Virginia Beach, VA • 877-370-7873 Early one morning, from our 18th floor balcony, my 7-year-old boys spotted ants floating in the ocean below. And their world shifted on its axis. As did mine. I had to listen to endless begging about why surf lessons were a vital part of their childhood. No, I didn't give in on this trip, but plan to relent next time. (Maybe.) Several enthusiastic companies are dedicated to providing safe surf lessons for the entire family in Virginia Beach, such as Titus Surf School. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center 717 General Booth Boulevard Virginia Beach, VA • 757-385-3474 What an exciting and educational spot to take the kids (or even your adult selves) for meeting up with animals we normally only glimpse on television. Think about it: it's not hard to find a good show on sealife (thank you Netflix), but how often do you get to touch, stingrays, starfish, and crabs? When was the last time you marveled at infant sea turtles, native birds and bald eagles in the flesh? What about the last time you jumped into the water and (yes!) hung out with Harbor seals? After marveling at wildlife, check out the impressive 300-seat IMAX theater with wrap-around digital surround sound featuring movies about the sealife, tsunamis and more. (With an additional cost.) Good to know: Visit the Aquarium before 10:00 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m. for smaller crowds. If you don't feel like bringing food along, a cafe and two snack bars are available to fuel you and the kids. Wear comfy walking shoes -- there's a lot to see including a short fun nature trail walk. Plan for a four to five hour visit to really enjoy all that this gem of an Aquarium has to offer. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Virginia Beach Beaches Virginia Beach, VA Chesapeake Bay Beach This beach area has it all for families: great dining, sandy beaches and super mild surf. From the Resort beach take Atlantic or Pacific Avenue north. When the two streets merge near 42nd Street, keep driving north. Eventually the road becomes Shore Drive and the beaches will be on your right. Chick's Beach Chick's beach is the locals' secret treasure. No waves to be found here. Or tourists, for that matter. Bring a picnic, your iPod and good digging tools. Consider setting down stakes under the Lesner Bridge or the Bay Bridge for ultra-shady real estate. Let the kids play while you kick back. Sandbridge Beach Long considered the "Outer Banks of Virginia," Sandbridge Beach, 15 miles south of the Resort Strip, is the spot to get away from it all especially if you seek a nature-filled vacation minus the commercialism. Sandbridge is a five-mile peaceful strip of secluded beach ideal for chilling and reconnecting with your family. Expect to be pleasantly surprised by white dunes, surf-able waves and the sound of -- what's that? -- sheer silence. Lifeguards are on patrol from 9:30 a.m. to dusk every day from mid-May to mid-September at the public beach area. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Virginia Beach Resort Strip 2nd street to 41st street Virginia Beach, VA The main Virginia Beach strip is three miles of excitement teeming with people loving the sun and the surf. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk consists of two pristine cement paths parallel to each other. Once made of actual boards in the late 1800s today's boardwalk is perfect for walks, bike riding (rentals galore nearby), skating and absorbing people watching. For kids, stop by the playground structures right on the beach (my kids' favorite was Neptune's Park with a fun play structure behind King Neptune's statue at 31st Street. A hunky photo moment.) Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
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