The Virginia Beach Art Center is a non-profit organization formed to provide an educational and supportive environment in which to inspire people of all ages and skill levels to experience, engage with and create art. We fulfill this mission by bringing together Exhibitions, Art and Pottery Classes and The Artists Gallery with a full program of events and activities to engage the community. Located in the ViBe Creative District since 2019, the Art Center is a cornerstone for local art in the community. History of Artists Gallery Cooperative In 1987, seven local artists created an informal cooperative in order to affordably share the expenses of leasing studio and gallery space. Two years later, they incorporated to become The Artists Gallery cooperative for local artists. Over the next 31 years, under the direction of Constance Fahey, they have continued to grow and thrive. They now occupy the central area of the Art Center with 22 resident artists and 30 exhibiting artists. READ MORE
The Mermaid Factory located a short distance from the hotel has mermaids and dolphins, handmade locally. They are the ideal blank canvas to inspire your creativity. Paint and decorate your own today! They also have pre-made mermaids and dolphins that make great farewell gifts, gifts for visiting relatives or a memento of your time in Coastal Virginia, plus a large selection of mermaid, dolphin and nautical gift items. LEARN MORE www.mermaidfactory.com
There were about 200 submissions from Virginia Beach school students to create the new LOVE art that would be displayed at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade sent in their designs for the “LOVE! On Atlantic” art contest, presented by the Atlantic Avenue Association. The Atlantic Avenue Association is a collective of local business owners who aim to create and promote a positive experience for Virginia Beach residents, visitors and businesses along the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, specifically Atlantic Avenue. Click here to read more about Atlantic Avenue. On Wednesday, May 29, the winning students, their families and Mayor Bobby Dyer unveiled the new artwork and congratulated the winners of this competition. Mayor Dyer commended the talent of the students and their creativity in portraying life in Virginia Beach. Three winners were selected by the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art and awarded a $250 cash prize courtesy of the Atlantic Avenue Association. Five students were also recognized as honorable mentions for their submissions.
Virginia’s craft beer scene has been exploding over the last few years. Virginia Beach alone has seen a rise in new breweries bringing their microbeers to thirsty imbibers. Whether you consider yourself a beer aficionado or a more causal drinker, you’re sure to enjoy the local breweries along the VA Beach Beer Trail. About the VA Beach Beer Trail The VA Beach Beer Trail is a collective of unique local breweries. These breweries serve up small batches of IPAs, stouts, lagers and more. You can find these breweries throughout Virginia Beach, from the Oceanfront and Chic’s Beach to the inland neighborhoods as well. Exploring along the VA Beach Beer Trail is a great way to get a sip of the local flavor and have a different experience in Virginia Beach. Read More
As the hotel closest to Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach you are constantly reminded of fishing, seafood, water sports etc. As a maritime area there is no shortage of spectacular seafood. And what better time to enjoy that food than during your vacation to Virginia Beach. Across the Street from the Schooner…Rudee Inlet Across the street are some of the most iconic Virginia Beach Seafood Houses participating in Restaurant Week. Here is a rundown of some that are in throwing distance of the Schooner Oceanfront. Rockafeller’s Restaurant Rudee’s On The Inlet Restaurant and Cabana Chix Seaside Grill Waterman’s Surfside Grill Dont Miss These Great Entrees on the Oceanfront There is nothing bad on the sample menus but there are some items you have to try. Yes, this is opinionated but here are a few picks you want to make sure you do not miss. Rockafeller’s Restaurant Must Try: • Oysters Rockafeller: Makes sense to me with a name like Rockafellers • Inlet Trio:This is part of the $32 menu. It is worth it. You get to try three favorites from this gourmet seafood haven including shrimp with crabmeat, bbq bacon shrimp AND the ultimate jumbo lump crabcake Chix Seaside Grill..Don’t […]
Explore & Experience Come explore over 800,000 gallons of one of the best aquariums and animal habitats in the country at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Experience our hands-on exhibits, nature path, and marshlands. Admission. The Aquarium is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Aquarium & 3D Theater are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. READ MORE Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Museum 717 General Booth Blvd Virginia Beach, VA 757-425-FISH (3474) www.virginiaaquarium.com
Take in a gallery, go hunting among the area’s finest boutiques, then rest your feet at a sidewalk cafe and get ready to shop some more. The Virginia Beach oceanfront has resort wear, swimsuits, beauty treatments, menswear, art, accessories… many days worth of shopping within a few blocks. 31 Ocean 3001 Atlantic Ave Virginia Beach, VA (757) 213-3019 www.31ocean.comhttps://31ocean.com/
The Waterside, is a festival marketplace on the Elizabeth River in downtown Norfolk, Virginia, opened June 1, 1983. While the Waterside Annex was demolished May 16, 2016, the main portion was renovated and reopened as Waterside District in May 2017. The district will change the face of Norfolk, bringing together locals and visitors, families and fun-loving folks at one central gathering spot, entertainment venue and shopping and dining hub. Waterside District President Glenn Sutch shares details on some of the restaurants we can look forward to visiting. Harbor Club will boast incredible waterfront views, a stylish interior, an outdoor veranda and a signature food and drink menu for an unparalleled experience. Look for made-from-scratch, tapas-style, seafood delicacies like ahi tuna poke, Norfolk backfin lump crabmeat rolls, lobster tempura and crab cakes. Luk Fu will offer Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Thai cuisine with authentic menu items including sushi, ramen, dim sum, soups and noodles. “It will be a bar that you can cozy up to and enjoy some sushi made there right in front of you or grab some noodles or dim some and have some Asian cocktails to go with it,” Sutch suggests. Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse will combine the Food […]
Journey to mysterious places inhabited by exotic animals from around the world–without leaving Hampton Roads! Just board the Norfolk Southern Express train at The Virginia Zoo for an expedition to Asia – Trail of the Tiger or Africa’s Okavango Delta! Discover lions, bears, elephants, gibbons, giraffes, colorful birds and more! Watch the red panda climb through the trees just above your head. Go nose-to-nose with a prairie dog in an underground viewing bubble. Enjoy a stroll among our themed gardens and beautiful landscaping. The Virginia Zoo provides education and entertainment for people of all ages, and the Zoo is home to more than 400 animals on 53 beautifully landscaped acres. Our enriched exhibits encourage the animals’ natural behavior, and provide information about their habitats, what they eat and their worldwide conservation status. Visiting the Virginia Zoo is a fantastic thing to do with family and friends, and it’s a terrific value! The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except major winter holidays. READ MORE Virginia Zoo 3500 Granby Street Norfolk, VA 23504 (757) 441-2374 www.virginiazoo.org
While a kayak trip may not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning your winter trip to Virginia Beach, it can become one of the most memorable. When you explore by kayak, you experience nature at its most pristine and undisturbed. With no engines, or props, to propel you, you slow down and take a step back in time. You become more connected with nature. The birds, fish, and other wildlife seem to relax a bit…allow you to get a little closer. Your mind relaxes too. The stress of your every day life can be instantly melted with the sight of a beautiful sunset, the intoxicating scent of fresh air, spending real quality time with your family, or the sounds of un-touched nature. {More}
Military Aviation Museum is home to one of the largest collections of historic military aircraft. These vintage WWI and WWII aircraft, such as our P-51 Mustang, de Havilland Mosquito, Curtiss P-40 and Spitfire, have been restored to their original flying condition. The aircraft are occasionally flown on local demonstration flights and at regional air shows. Visit us at 1341 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach or call (757) 721-7767. READ MORE Military Aviation Museum 1341 Princess Anne Road Virginia Beach, VA 23457 (757) 721-7767 www.militaryaviationmuseum.org
This art museum is home to one of America’s great art collections and is one of the top 20 art museums in the country. 62 galleries for 30,000 works of art from around the world with exciting specil exhibitions, a wide variety of daily tours, lectures, concerts, films, and workshops. The Chrysler Museum of Art 245 West Olney Road Norfolk, VA (757) 664-6200 www.chrysler.org
This National Natural Landmark is Virginia’s most visited state park and one of the first state parks. It was established in 1936 (formerly Seashore State Park). The park’s new name reflects its unique history as the site of the landing of the first permanent English Settlers in 1607. The park offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including 19 miles of hiking trails, bike trail, a boat ramp, picnic areas, campsites, and cabins. Visitor center exhibits in the natural area explain the uniqueness of this environment featuring lagoons, cypress swamps and Spanish moss. 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. Regardless of how long you can stay, for a few hours or for a full day, you can have a nice time visiting the park. First Landing State Park 2500 Shore Drive Virginia Beach, VA (757) 412-2300 www.first-landing-state-park.org
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge contains over 9,250 acres, situated on and around a thin strip of coastline typical of barrier islands found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Habitats include beach, dunes, woodland, farm fields, and marsh. Approximately 10,000 snow geese and a large variety of ducks visit Back Bay refuge during the peak of fall migration, usually in December. The refuge also provides habitat for other wildlife, including loggerhead sea turtles, piping plovers, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles. Back Bay refuge is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia – south of Sandbridge, Virginia at the southern end of Sandpiper Road. Biking, hiking and tram rides available. Outdoor facilities are open daily dawn to dusk. The Visitor Contact Station hours are 8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. weekdays, 9:00 AM – 4:00 P.M. weekends. The Visitor Contact Station is closed Sundays, November through March; closed holidays with the exception of Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day. READ MORE Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge 4005 Sandpiper Road (757) 721-2412 www.bbrf.org
Are you an outdoor enthusiast who’s looking for adventure and a full excursion of fun? Then you belong at The Adventure Park at the Virginia Aquarium! New this year to Virginia Beach, The Adventure Park offers multiple zip lines and 10 aerial ropes challenge courses suitable for kids, teens and adults. The courses include platforms located at varying heights throughout the trees and are connected by crossings, which could be bridges that participants can cross or cables that allow a person to zip from one station to the next. Swing through the trees just like Tarzan when you visit The Adventure Park at the Virginia Aquarium! Call 757-385-IZIP (4947), or visit www.virginiabeachtrees.com to learn more. READ MORE Adventure Park 3713 South Sandpiper Road Virginia Beach, VA 757-721-4484 www.virginiabeachtrees.com
During the colder months, it’s all about Virginia Beach striper fishing. BUT when spring and summer roll around each year it is time to concentrate on Virginia Beach offshore sportfishing. As winter goes so does striper fishing in Virginia Beach, it ends abruptly. But that is when the big boats gear up for Virginia deep sea sport fishing. Like many fishing charters our Captains try to fish year round too. And just as they are expert striper charters they are even better offshore sport fishing charters that fish for all the well known pelagic species like marlin, sailfish, swordfish, dolphin, wahoo, and tuna too. So when striper season comes to a close, point your rods to the awesome sport fishing off Virginia Beach and come aboard the Backlash, the Gannet, or the Waterman. Together, the Captains of all these boats have over 100 years of Virginia Beach sport fishing knowledge and experience which goes a long way in assuring you have a successful day of Va Beach fishing. Virginia Beach Sport Fishing Charters Too! www.virginiabeachstriperfishing.com
Rudee Inlet The other Virginia Beach Oceanfront playground. Maybe that is a little dramatic. But it is a hub for watersports, charters, and fishing equipment. Put simply, your Virginia fishing voyage might very well start here, all year round. It’s Striper Season As the water sinks to below 60 degrees, the Striper season begins. With it come the most die hard of fisherman willing to bundle up and brave the elements to catch this fish. Tactics and tips to catch the Striper If you are winter fishing off the Atlantic, chances are you probably have a good idea what it will take to catch the Striper. Nevertheless here are some tips. How to find Them Follow the seagulls: if you see birds diving into the water, safe bet there are fish there. Ask the Captians of the Charters. They are some of the most experienced in Rudee Inlet and if they don’t know, no one will. What is the right bait? I am going to summarize some tips I found on a website called stripers247 clams frozen bunker herring sand worms butterfish eels shellfish (clams) butterfish eels,worms jigs shad Who are some seasoned local charters in Rudee Inlet Looking […]
Since 1978, the Spirit of Norfolk has delivered a vibrant and unique combination of dining, dancing, entertainment and breathtaking views. Cruising year-round from The Waterside in Downtown Norfolk, Spirit Cruises offers Lunch, Brunch, Dinner, Cocktail, Moonlight Cruises and much more! Grand buffets. Breathtaking views of Norfolk harbor and the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet. DJs playing Top 40 hits. And an amazing wait staff singing show-stopping favorites. All included for one price. For your next special occasion or just an engaging way to see Norfolk, come aboard today. Call 625-FUNN for reservations. It’s Just Better Out Here. READ MORE Spirit Of Norfolk Waterside Drive Norfolk, VA 757-625-FUNN www.spiritofnorfolk.com
For the first-timer to the avid fisherman, something for the entire family! Dockside Fishing Center offers a variety of fishing trips on a year round basis. The fleet at Dockside has been known by local fishermen for over 35 years. All of our boats are U.S. Coast Guard inspected and equipped with the latest in fish finding technology. Bait and tackle along with helpful tips from our experienced crew are included on all of our trips. We are located just minutes from some of the best fishing the Chesapeake Bay has to offer. We also fish off the coast of Virginia Beach during the spring and fall for sea bass and tautog. Late fall and winter bring world class striper fishing to the shores of Virginia Beach. So if its your first time or you’re an avid angler, we offer the Virginia Beach Fishing Trip thats right for you. Give us a call for up to the minute prices and schedules. Dockside Fishing Center 3311 Shore Drive (by the Lesner Bridge) 481-4545 www.fishingvabeach.com
No Virginia Beach Vacation is complete without an eclectic mix of shopping, dining, entertainment, and living options covering 17 city blocks, Town Center has become one of Hampton Roads’ hottest destinations. Enjoy world-renowned performers at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or free live entertainment and festivals in the plazas. Grab a bite at a local eatery or a national restaurant. Shop at popular brand retailers and upscale boutiques. It’s all here waiting for you – so go ahead and live it up! The Town Center Virginia Beach Blvd. & Independence Blvd. Virginia Beach, VA www.vabeachtowncenter.com
