The Virginia Beach Convention Center

The Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, located in the historic de Witt Cottage on the Virginia Beach oceanfront, displays art and artifacts documenting migratory wildfowl that pass through Eastern Virginia. Exhibits of wildfowl and shorebird carvings trace the evolution of this American art form from the simple traditional decoys to the contemporary lifelike carvings. Make sure to visit our museum when you are in Virginia Beach

Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, First Landing State Park is located on the Chesapeake Bay. The park, which is Virginia’s most visited state park, is nestled in Virginia Beach. First Landing offers boating, swimming, nature and history programs, hiking, biking, picnicking, a boat launch, cabins and 19 miles of trails on 2,888 acres. It also has campsites that have water and electric hook-ups and nearby access to restrooms and showers. The park's name was changed in 1997 from Seashore State Park to First Landing State Park to reflect its heritage as the first place where members of the Virginia Company landed. They went on to settle Jamestown.

The VirginiaZoologicalPark seeks to increase understanding of the world's flora and fauna and to add to the growing body of knowledge about them; to display animals respectfully, in a way that encourages their natural behavior; to conserve animals and their habitats; and to offer opportunities for learning and enjoyment to the public. It will strive to fulfill this mission through education, conservation, research and recreation. The mission of Virginia Zoological Society is to ensure that the Virginia Zoo thrives as a superior zoological institution, reaching its fullest potential to serve people, animals and the environment through programs that emphasize recreation, education and conservation.

Today, the old Cape Henry Lighthouse silently guards the entry way into the Chesapeake Bay. Standing near the spot where in 1607 Captain Newport raised a cross to offer thanks for their safe crossing of the Atlantic, the Lighthouse is opened to the public on a seasonal schedule. The architectural integrity of the tower is representative of one of John McComb's best and most important constructions. The Light also symbolizes the first bold steps the nation's new government took to fulfill its obligations to its people. With the construction of the Cape Henry Lighthouse, the waters of the Chesapeake Bay became navigable and safe ensuring steady trade and commerce on the Virginia and Maryland coasts. There had been a need for a lighthouse since before the Revolution. The Colony of Virginia and then the state of Virginia could never raise the funds needed to build the structure. By November 1789, the Virginia General Assembly provided conveyance of the land "lying and being in the County of Princess Anne at the place commonly called the head land of Cape Henry" to the new government "for the purpose of building a lighthouse." Alexander Hamilton contracted with John McComb, Jr. of New York on 31 March 1791. McComb had been the designer of the Government House, the planned residence for the President, in New York City.

Come explore over 700,000 gallons of one of the best aquariums and live animal habitats in the country at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Check out our hundreds of hands-on exhibits, outdoor aviary, nature trail, and marshlands. Plus you won't want to miss our 3D IMAX® Theater.

The Virginia Beach Fishing Center located at the Rudee Inlet has the largest charter and party boat fleet on the Virginia coast. All of our competitively priced charter boats have U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains and are outfitted with the latest safety, navigation and fish-finding equipment. Our marina is a full service, deep water marina equipped to handle boats up to 100'. Charter packages are designed for up to 6 people, so call up five of your friends. Your charter adventure fee includes ice, bait, tackle, and even someone to bait your hook! Come have a great day on the ocean.

Ocean Breeze Waterpark is Virginia Beach's ONLY water park. Located less than 2 miles south of the Oceanfront, it's a quick trip from wherever you are Ocean Breeze Waterpark offers 16 waterslides, the 1 million-gallon Runaway Bay wave pool, the Buccaneer Bay Water Playground and other fantastic attractions. Enjoy our private poolside cabanas, Island Trader Gift Shop or any of our annual events and daily activities!

The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia is a nonprofit, noncollecting institution founded in 1952 to foster awareness, exploration and understanding of the significant art of our time. Regularly changing exhibitions feature painting, sculpture, photography, glass, video and other visual media from internationally acclaimed artists as well as artists of national and regional renown. By balancing its four primary activities--gallery exhibitions, studio art classes, educational outreach programs and outdoor art shows--the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia seeks to involve a diverse regional public in the rich and active language of contemporary visual art. The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia is funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from the City of Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission. Additional support is provided by Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Business Consortium for Arts Support and The Norfolk Foundation.