“Live the Life Adventures” in Virginia Beach

Between the beckoning ocean waves, mouthwatering coastal cuisine and experiential travel programs, group travel to Virginia Beach, Virginia has never been more inspiring. Dive into interactive experiences that will awaken your senses. Sink your teeth into local flavor. Encounter the people and places of Virginia Beach’s past. And of course, enjoy the more than 35 miles of exquisite coastline where there is plenty of room to dig your toes into the sand and soak up the rays

Living the Life in a Whole New Way

Virginia Beach, every day holds the promise of discovery. Showcasing new ways to dive into the Virginia Beach experience, “Live the Life Adventures” feature the best of what makes Virginia Beach unique, and reveals it all through hands-on, interactive experiences. Designed for group travelers, the program provides access to some of the most enriching aspects of Virginia Beach. From a behind the scenes look at musical theater to an edible roots tour with a nature conservationist, the Live the Life Adventures itineraries lead the way through a range of interest-specific activities, opening the door to a world of adventure beyond your wildest imagination. Much more than a tour, this is an invitation to experience what makes life here so irresistible. The carefree, independent spirit that fuels life in Virginia Beach awaits discovery in every Live the Life Adventure.

Featuring four habitats from around the world that existed in Virginia millions of years ago, the new $25 million Restless Planet at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center features 12,000 square feet of spectacular new habitats, exhibits and aquariums. Home to 6,000 new animals and 367 new species – including Komodo dragons, exotic cobras, hedgehogs, and so much more – Restless Planet more than doubles the Aquarium’s animal collection. Explore immersive live-animal exhibits and engage in 36 new hands-on activities designed to demonstrate the processes that shaped Virginia’s current landscape. A Malaysian Peat Swamp, a Coastal Sahara Desert, the Red Sea, and Indonesia’s Flores Island habitats recreate the look, feel and smell of Virginia’s tumultuous ecological history.

Explore the Military History of Virginia Beach

The past comes alive in Virginia Beach’s historic museums and attractions found throughout the city. Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of naval aviation at the Military Aviation Museum, boasting one of the largest collections of vintage military airplanes in the world. The museum hosts events throughout the year, including the annual “Warbirds Over the Beach” air show. Held at the Virginia Beach airport just outside of the aviation museum, the event offers a magnificent display of aerial maneuvers featuring authentic military trainers. Visitors also have the chance to meet and greet WWII veterans and pay tribute to their service to our country

Vibrant Colors Paint the Resort City During Historic Garden Week

Featuring charming oceanfront cottages and stately historic homes, the Annual Historic Garden Week tour is held in Virginia Beach every spring. Virginia Beach radiates with vibrant pastels of hydrangeas and the sweet fragrances of lavender and Lady Banks roses. The tour includes beautiful homes featuring private gardens and varied art collections. For more information, visit www.vagardenweek.org.

See Green in Virginia Beach’s State Parks

Virginia Beach boasts more than 18,000 acres of state parks and wildlife refuges and 121 navigable miles of waterways. First Landing State Park, a 2,888-acre park that fronts the Chesapeake Bay, features 1.25 miles of beach front and more than 19 miles of interpretive hiking trails through protected salt marsh habitat, freshwater ponds, beach, dunes, forest, tidal marsh and cypress swamp. A registered Natural Landmark, First Landing is the most visited state park in Virginia and contains one of the most endangered habitat types in the world, the maritime forest community. BackBay National Wildlife Refuge is a 9,108-acre refuge made up of barrier islands, dunes, beach woodland, freshwater marshes, maritime forests, ponds and ocean beaches. Sharing a border is the 4,321-acre False Cape State Park, featuring six miles of unspoiled beaches in an ocean-to-freshwater bay habitat, as well as dunes, woodland, farm fields, salt marsh, maritime forest and wooded swamps. Groups can participate in guided hikes, educational seminars and other learning activities.

Virginia Beach entices visitors to “Live the Life” year-round. Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For visitor information, phone  (800) VA-BEACH or visit www.vbfun.com for online trip planning