Virginia Beach - 9 Attractions You Must Visit

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) contains over 9,200 acres. Habitats include beach, dunes, woodland, and freshwater marsh. The majority of refuge marshlands are on islands contained within the waters of the Back Bay. Thousands of geese, swans and a large variety of ducks visit Back Bay NWR during the winter migration,

The Cape Henry Lighthouse was built in 1792. It started to crack in 1870 and was replaced with the new Cape Henry Lighthouse only 357 feet away, which is an active aid to navigation and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. Today two lighthouses stand at Cape Henry, guardians to the gateway of the Chesapeake Bay.

False Cape State Park includes hiking and biking trails, a visitors' center, environmental educational and primitive camping facilities. The park can be accessed from the north on foot, bicycle, or seasonally available tram through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, or from the south on foot or bicycle. Boat access is possible from any shoreline.

First Landing State Park is located on Cape Henry in North Virginia Beach. This 2,888-acre park offers a wide range of activities for visitors. You can go swimming, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, or enjoy a picnic when you visit First Landing.

The Military Aviation Museum is home to one of the largest private collections of World War I and World War II-era military aircraft in the world.

Mount Trashmore Park is a 165-acre urban park in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The park was created in 1974 on top of two man-made hills made from landfill material which are now covered in grass and trees. Since its opening, it is the most visited park in Virginia Beach, with over one million visitors a year.

Sandbridge is known for its somewhat remote location and receives a smaller volume of visitors than the main Virginia Beach resort strip located a few miles to its north.

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is an aquarium located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The two main exhibit buildings of the aquarium are the Bay and Ocean Pavilion and the Marsh Pavilion. The two are connected by a one-third mile outdoor nature trail running alongside Owls Creek Salt Marsh. Together the two buildings are home to more than 12,000 animals representing over 700 species.

The Virginia Beach Boardwalk, at the Oceanfront, is a 28-feet wide marvel that stretches three miles from 2nd to 40th Street and features a separate bike path, ideal for strolling, rollerblading and biking.