Virginia Beach offers families fun, sun and one-of-a-kind attractions
(ARA) - Virginia may be for lovers, but Virginia Beach, for sure, is for families, with ample hotel deals, fun kid-friendly attractions and, of course, great beaches.
Whether you desire beachfront resorts or motels a few blocks from the water, you can find a Virginia Beach hotel to fit your family's needs and budget. Do you need free breakfast so that looking for a place to eat doesn't cut into your time on the beach? Do you want stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean? Do you need comfortable and clean accommodations on a shoestring budget? You can find it all.
A car rental is a great way to get to Virginia Beach from nearly anywhere on the eastern seaboard. Or, fly into nearby Norfolk Airport, when you find great airfares on travel Web sites like Travelocity. Once you've booked your car rental or cheap airfare to Virginia Beach, hop online to look for family-friendly attractions.
Here are some things to do and see guaranteed to appeal to all members of the family - many are free or cost little:
The beach - No visit to Virginia Beach would be complete without enjoying a few visits to the 35 miles of beaches from which the city draws its name. Virginia Beach offers beaches on both the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic where you can find everything from a quiet, natural setting to a vibrant 3-mile long boardwalk linked with outdoor cafes and nautical sculptures. Public access and parking are plentiful, although you may have to park a short walk from the beach during high seasons if you're not staying at a beachfront hotel.
Mount Trashmore - Leave it to ingenious Virginians to turn what could have been an eyesore - a towering closed landfill - into a family attraction kids will adore. A 165-acre park, Mount Trashmore is located in the heart of Virginia Beach. The landfill was closed and covered in layers of soil in the 1970s and is now a haven where adults can relax and enjoy the view while youngsters race gleefully up and down the towering slope. It's also a favorite spot for kite-flyers as the top of the hill catches fantastic breezes. At the base of the slope are two lakes where water plants act as natural filters to catch pollutants, a wooden playground for kids, a skate park, walking trails, volleyball courts and picnic area. The park is free and open to the public.
First Landing State Park - Families can enjoy more than 2,800 scenic acres of unspoiled Virginian countryside in Virginia's most-visited state park. Founded in the 1930s, the park offers family-friendly activities such as boating and swimming, 19 miles of hiking and biking trails, a boat launch, a picnic area and nature and history programs. Campsites are available and equipped with water and electric connections, and restrooms and showers are provided.
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center - Kids love aquariums, and this one is just a short drive from the great Virginia Beach hotels located on the oceanfront. Harbor seals hang out in a pool near the aquarium entrance, and families can watch them dine and train during shows at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Plenty of hands-on exhibits encourage children to get involved in the more than 700,000 gallons of aquarium and animal habitats. A 1/3-mile nature trail joins the two buildings that make up the center, and travels along the water through marsh and forest landscape.
Whichever attractions you visit, you'll have a host of Virginia Beach hotels to choose from, miles of wonderful beach to enjoy and plenty of fun memories to remind you why Virginia is for lovers and families.
Courtesy of ARAcontent