(Virginia Beach, Va., May 25, 2010) In Virginia Beach, families can enjoy the sweet sounds of the ocean waves, paddle a kayak, hop on a surfboard or simply enjoy digging their toes into the sand. This summer, Virginia Beach comes alive with festivals, events and family-friendly activities that equate to a perfect, memorable summer vacation.
Take to the high seas for a dolphin watching excursion: Climb aboard the Rudee Flipper, the
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s 65' catamaran that takes passengers on a dolphin watching adventure. Set sail from Rudee Inlet and watch the waters come alive with the jumps, leaps and acrobatics of bottlenose dolphins that migrate off the coast of Virginia Beach during the summer months. Lured by the food-rich waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, the Mid-Atlantic’s largest populations of bottlenose dolphins migrate off the Virginia Beach coast during the warmer months, creating a dolphin playground. Trained interpreters teach passengers about the dolphins – including physical characteristics, social behaviors and the latest dolphin research. Families can also journey through the Virginia Aquarium, boasting more than 800,000 gallons of aquariums and over 300 interactive exhibits. Harbor seals, rays, sea turtles and sharks all await discovery. The Virginia Aquarium’s newest exhibit, Restless Planet, showcases the ecological history of Virginia through interactive and immersive habitats that exist in the world today.
Friday Family Adventures abound in Virginia Beach:The
Friday Family Great Adventures Series provides a fun combination of discovery and entertainment at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. On select nights during the summer, families can take part in an interactive adventure that leads them to various sites along the boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue to unravel a mystery. During each adventure, participants can dress up as characters, compete in contests, and settle into the sand for a family-friendly movie shown on a giant inflatable screen on the beach.
Sink your teeth into sweet, juicy strawberries: Beyond the 35 miles of bay and ocean beaches lie acres of sprawling farmland on the southern end of the city, producing everything from squash, blueberries and soybeans to the local favorite – strawberries. Held annually on Memorial Day weekend, the official kick-off to summer, the
Pungo Strawberry Festival draws more than 120,000 attendees to enjoy a weekend-long celebration of summer’s sweetest crop. Strawberry picking, a pie eating contest, entertainment, a parade and one of the largest carnivals on the East Coast are a must see for families.
Embark on an eco-adventure through Virginia Beach’s natural landscapes: Home to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, First Landing State Park, False Cape State Park and the North Landing River Natural Area Preserve, Virginia Beach offers more than 18,600 acres of
state parks and wildlife refuges, giving visitors a variety of landscapes for exploring the great outdoors. Back Bay offers summer tram tours aboard the “Blue Goose,” which takes visitors through the wildlife refuge and into the adjoining False Cape State Park. Upon arrival into False Cape, riders can relax at the visitor station, hike to the ocean or bay or continue along the path to Wash Woods Cemetery and Church Site trail. Enjoy a kayak trip through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge or a sea kayaking trip, where you can paddle along with a bottlenose dolphin. Budding surfers can learn to shred the waves at surf lessons and surf camps geared for both kids and parents. Experienced instructors guide participants through beach and weather education and safety, surfing etiquette, equipment knowledge and learning how to read the ocean’s tides, rip currents and swells. Individual instruction, 2-hour classes, one-day, 3-day and 5-day camps are all available.
Virginia Beach entices visitors to “Live the Life” year-round! Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For visitor information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800/822-3224) or visit www.vbfun.com for online trip planning. For media information and digital images, click on www.vbpressroom.com. Please follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/vabeachcvb and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Beach-Live-The-Life.
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