- Bike, roller-blade or rent a surrey for a leisurely ride along the path running adjacent to the boardwalk, while joggers and walkers can use the boardwalk itself. Open-air cafes along the way are super spots to dine or have a drink.
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Take in theatrical shows and live concerts from mid-June through Labor Day on boardwalk stages at 7th, 17th, 24th and 31st streets. During the spring and fall, events are staged on weekends.
See fireworks during the summer, launched from the water near 20th Street. -
View bird-related antiques, carvings and artwork at the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum at 12th Street. It's housed in the 22-room DeWitt Cottage, an official Virginia Landmark built in 1895. Stroll the house's seaside garden filled with sturdy trees, shrubs and flowers.
Visit another Virginia Landmark and National Historic Landmark, the Live-Saving Station at 24th Street. It's been converted to a maritime museum filled with photos and artifacts.
Pick up unusual souvenirs and gifts in the shops at both museums. - From April through October, fish from the Virginia Beach Pier at 15th Street. There's a fee, but you don't need a fishing license. During the summer, the pier is open 24 hours a day.
- Attend a carnival at 15th Street, complete with rides. It's open seven days a week during the summer, but on weekends only through September, and it's closed the rest of the year.
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Read the laser-etched granite storyboards of historical events captured by the Naval Aviation Monument, unveiled in May 2006 at 25th Street to honor Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviators from the early 1900s through today. The bronze figures were created by sculptor Mike Maiden.
Read the message etched on the famous Norwegian Lady Statue, also at 25th Street. She honors all the souls involved in the shipwreck of the Dictator, which sailed from Moss, Norway, in 1891. An identical statue stands in Moss. Both were crafted by Norwegian sculptor Ørnulf Bast to re-create the ship's figurehead, which washed ashore in Virginia Beach.
You haven't been to the boardwalk if you don't see the 34-foot-high bronze King Neptune Statue at 31st Street, created by sculptor Paul DePasquale. Nearby Neptune Park hosts many outdoor events, including the annual Neptune Festival held the last weekend in September. -
The Atlantic is accessible to everyoneIf you're disabled, reach the beach from the boardwalk via ramps at each block. Wooden walkways go all the way to the water at 8th, 17th, 24th and 30th streets.
