This was our second time visiting Virginia Beach. We have some friends that have been getting together each summer to enjoy the beach together. We joined them two years ago for a 40th birthday and were lucky enough to join again this year.
I think friends getting together like this is very important. It’s a good way to keep in touch but also have kids that can grow up together. The first time we joined we were newly engaged and now we have a one-year-old daughter.
It was so nice to see her interact with their kids. Especially, a 4-year-old girl that was super sweet and caring. She would give her hugs and kisses, look out for her getting too close to the water and even managed to carry Dahlia away from the water on a couple of occasions. We were close by to protect her but it was cute to see her watching over her.
The adults enjoyed some quiet time and drinks when the kids went to bed and even played a couple of games. If you haven’t played “Bad People,” check it out. It cards against humanity but more personal and funny. We also had some of the older kids stay up a little later one of the nights and we made s’ mores.
What to do
This was mostly a laid back vacation to relax by the beach. However, I’d like to share a couple of spots if you are ever in the area.
Capt. Jack’s Pirate Ship Adventures
This is an awesome boat trip to go on if you have kids. The staff is in character the whole time and they put on an interactive show for the children. The kids get to help a pirate discover treasure, load a cannonball, get a pirate tattoo (temporary) and shoot other pirates in the water. The boat also has snacks available for purchase. The kids leave with a treasure map, treasure and a pirate hat.
iFly
This place is awesome! When we bought tickets for it, we really had no idea how fun it would be. I have been skydiving before and didn’t think this would be as exhilarating it was! Obviously, in a totally different way.
You get to have a minute or two suspended in the air. It sounds simple but once you are actually in the tube it’s not as easy as it looks.
We booked for two flights and added the extra height at the end which made it even better. The instructor takes you up in the air circling up and down the tube, it’s hard to explain but it feels so cool! If you have an iFly near you, you should check it out! Also, upgrade your helmet! If you go with the basic helmet and glasses you will have your cheeks flapping around haha (we were glad we got the upgrade).
Atlantic Fun Park
This is a local carnival that is small but cute. Atlantic Fun park is located along the boardwalk by the hotel area so it’s pretty accessible. It has carnival staple rides like the Ferris Wheel, Bumper Cars, Kids Cars, Swing, and Graviton just to name a few. It was nice to wander around the carnival and even enjoy a couple of rides.
Beach
The best option of all is the beach! We had so much fun laying around by the beach all day. Pretty much-doing nothing but soaking up the sun and enjoying our friend’s company. With the hustle and bustle of New York, it’s nice to relax.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of hotels located on or near the beach. With Airbnb, you can also arrange to rent a room or home if that is your preference.
Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Ocean Front was the first hotel we stayed at in Virginia Beach. This hotel is great! It’s beach front so it doesn’t get better than this. I really liked this because it was easy for us to get a nice spot in the morning and had a nice set up for most of the day. If we got hungry or wanted drinks we could go to their restaurant. It was so convenient. My favorite dish here was the shrimp salad, the portion was generous and savory. I must have had it 4 times while we were there.
Where to Eat
Rudee’s Restaurant was just what we needed after Capt Jacks Boat Tour. It gave us a chance to enjoy seafood and cool down. The Rockefellers are an absolute must. They are so tasty, this was one of my favorite dishes here along with the Seafood Special. This special had lobster tail, lump crab meat, scallops, and shrimp. Other items that are pretty standard at seafood restaurants were the shrimp, scallops, and lobster roll.
CP Shuckers is a sports restaurant bar with an option for seafood and nonseafood dining. We ordered Rockefellers to start with, which were good but not as good as Rudee’s. I had the ahi tuna bowl as an entree, it was very refreshing.
We had ordered from CP Shuckers the day prior via DoorDash. I had the tacos and they were amazing. I have ordered fish tacos at a lot of restaurants but these were the biggest fish tacos of them all. The fish is breaded and flavored well while topped with mango salsa, cabbage, and aioli.
Note: This CP Shuckers location is located across the street from iFLy so you get a discount for dining in as long as you are still wearing your iFly bracelet.
Note: The restaurants I have mentioned are family-friendly. The servers provided kids menu that they could color in and children’s cups. I mention this because in New York this City this is not common (almost at all).
I hope this has been helpful and you might consider exploring some of these options. If you have any suggestions for places to check out in Virginia Beach or other beach towns please let me know.
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