A Weekend in Virginia Beach

So we have lived in Richmond, VA for four years now. Prior to this we were in NC where we frequented the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast beaches. While these are definitely our favorite beach spots, now that we are in VA they are a bit further and a little harder to do for a long weekend. I was unfamiliar with VA beach before moving here although after a few trips I think we've found our favorite spot! And being that it's only two hours away from Richmond, it's perfect for a long weekend.

Travel:

We only travel by car as it's only 2 hours away. Travel tip - if you're in the Richmond area or traveling via I-64, take 95S to Petersburg and get on 460 which takes you through Suffolk. It takes the same amount of time with no traffic!! The closest airport to VA beach is Norfolk International Airport (ORF) - it's about a 20 min drive to the beach.

Stay:

After trying out a couple different hotels at different points on the beach, the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront is our favorite place to stay. There are actually three different hotels in this complex - Marriott, Embassy Suites, and the historic Cavalier resort. Each has their own pool and beach areas but you can enjoy the restaurants, bars and other amenities at all 3! We like the Marriott because 1) we are Marriott members and this is usually the best deal and 2) there are suite options that overlook the ocean! We have stayed in both the seperate one bedroom suite as well as the junior suite. Both have a king bed, one full bathroom, and a designated living room space with pull out couch. If you have young kids, the one bedroom suite is nice because there is a door that seperates the bedroom from the living room. This is such a great option if you have napping kids or kids that go to bed early, so you have a separate space to hang out.

Fun:

Well it's probably pretty obvious that we spend most of our time at the beach here! It's an easy walk out to the beach. Two beach chairs are complimentary and staff will carry and set them up for you. You can purchase an umbrella for the day for $10 or bring your own. There aren't any community beach toys but we always bring our own. There is also both an indoor and outdoor pool for swimming located right off the beach. If you have really small kids who aren't swimming yet, the indoor pool has a shallow portion with some sprinklers and fountains which is a fun option for little ones! It's also a good way to get out of the sun but still enjoy the pool.

I love how this hotel complex caters to families and kids as they have lots of activities throughout the summer. There are movie nights on Mondays. On weekends they have a jungle jack program where small animals and reptiles are brought in for kiddos to pet or hold. We also got to experience a visit from a mermaid in the pool on saturday! My boys didn't think much of this but all the little girls in the pool were obsessed! There is a bocce ball court and cornhole boards right outside the hotel which were a favorite for my kids. There are bike rentals available right outside the hotel which are perfect for the 3 mile boardwalk. Along the boardwalk you will see the famous Neptune statue or the beachside playground! We also got to join in s'mores making at the Cavalier resort on

Saturday evening after dinner.

If you need a break from the sun or have a rainy day, there's also a lot of fun indoor activities in the area. We loved the Military Aviation Museum which has over 50 aircraft from WWI and WWII. There is also the Nauticus museum which has fun interactive exhibits for the kids about the maritime industry. You can also explore a real battleship - the Battleship Wisconsin! And while personally we haven't had the chance to explore it yet, there is the Virginia Aquarium nearby too! If you plan on visiting the aquarium, it's best to reserve tickets ahead of time as they can sell out.

Food:

If staying at the Marriott, Embassy or Cavalier, there are lots of food options! We had breakfast every morning at Tulu in the Marriott. There is a buffet which has lots of kid friendly options including a waffle making station. I love a buffet option for kids for breakfast as my kids are usually ready to eat first thing in the morning! There is also a menu for both kids and adults if you would rather order off the menu. Kid's options include items like pancakes or french toast. We also had lunch here one day and there is a kids menu. Also, there is a coffee shop and ice cream shop in the lobby! We enjoyed ice cream most evenings after dinner.

One of our favorite lunch spots was The Deck which is right off the beach in front of the Cavalier pool. You have great views of the beach and the food was so good! They have several kid friendly options including chicken tenders and hamburgers. If you can, try to get a spot at one of the rocking canopy tables!

For dinner on our most recent trip, the first night we traveled off the resort to Hot Tuna, which was about a 15 minute drive away. This was our favorite meal! Fresh seafood and lots of great options for the kids! The second night we dined at Orion's Roof at the Marriott. The views are amazing as you are on the top floor of the hotel! Reservations are recommended and try to get a spot by the window - our kids had the best time just looking out all the windows! We thought the food here was average, the best part of this place is the view. The kids menu is comprised solely of bento boxes which come which an asian themed protein, side salad, carrots/celery sticks and fries. My kids tend to be picky eaters and didn't eat much of their meal here.

Dinner on our last night was at Becca at the Cavalier resort. This was definitely our "fanciest" dinner spot of the trip. They do have a kids menu here that includes the standard pizza, burger, pasta and chicken tenders. The food and service are excellent but plan on being here for at least an hour and a half (that's without ordering dessert). Our kids did great sitting down for the entire meal but that's a long time especially with babies or kids under 2.

***Also in the past we have had dinner at the Hunt Room at the Cavalier which is a great casual spot with kids. In the Embassy Suites there is Arbuckle's bar and grill and Tacos-N-Tequila though I've not tried either one of those.

Overall we love this beach spot and will probably end up there again before the summer is over! Please let me know if you have any comments of suggestions!