Virginia Beach with Teens: A Perfect Family Day

Morning

Before you head out on your family adventure in Virginia Beach, start your morning with a hearty breakfast at Mary's Restaurant, a local favorite just a few blocks from the Virginia Beach boardwalk. Offering a wide variety of omelets and other popular breakfast items, Mary's menu is full of items priced at $7 or less – perfect for feeding hungry teens!

Mary's Restaurant
616 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-428-1355
Hours: 6AM-3PM daily

After breakfast, head to Ocean Breeze Waterpark for a morning of water fun. The park is a local landmark (so is the giant gorilla statue at the entrance) and features 16 waterslides, a one million-gallon wave pool and activity areas for children and toddlers. The park is adjacent to a miniature golf course with other activities such as go-karts, so your teens will have plenty of things to do during the morning. Ocean Breeze is small enough that you can feel comfortable letting your teens roam under the watchful eyes of the lifeguards.

Insider Tip: If you only plan on spending a couple of hours at the park, evening admission prices are cheaper than full-day admission and the park is often less crowded. Hours change, so be sure to check them before you go.

Ocean Breeze Waterpark
849 General Booth Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-422-4444

Admission
Ages 10 and up - $24.99
Seniors - $17.99
Ages 3-9 - $17.99
Ages 2 and under free

Afternoon

Exploring Virginia Beach with teens can take a lot of energy, so you'll want to make sure to leave plenty of time for food breaks during your visit. What better way to explore the city than by sampling cuisine from local restaurants? Check out the Virginia Beach Food on Foot Tours for a culinary experience your family won't soon forget. Offered from May 1 through December 1 with limited hours in the fall, the tour leads locals and visitors alike on a three-hour food tasting excursion. The route is approximately a mile long with seven stops along the way. Besides sampling dishes from a variety of restaurants, tour participants will also hear stories and learn fun facts about the local area. A great option for lunch, the tour is $20 per person and offers enough variety to keep everyone in your family full and happy.

Insider Tip: You must make reservations in advance to participate in the tour. Tours can sell out, so it's helpful to plan in advance.

Virginia Beach Food on Foot Tours
Tour begins at 37th St. and Oceanfront Blvd.
757-647-3743
Tours begin promptly at 11AM and 3PM

The next stop on your family vacation itinerary is the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. With over 800,000 gallons of water, the aquarium has room for all kinds of creatures, including sting rays, sharks, otters and komodo dragons. The center also has hands-on exhibits, including two touch pools and a 3D IMAX theatre. Prepare your family for a great day in a cool atmosphere, but be sure to bring your walking shoes – it's a large aquarium.

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
717 General Booth Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-385-7777
Hours: 9AM-6PM daily

Admission
Adult (12 and older) - $17
Children (ages 3-11) - $12
Senior (62 and older) - $16
Children under 3 – free
IMAX admission extra

If you're looking for a family adventure and prefer to get up close and personal with ocean life, make a reservation with Rudee Tours, offering dolphin and whale watching tours narrated by a trained Virginia Aquarium educator. Pick up tickets at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center, then board the boat and keep your eyes peeled! Schedules vary based on the type of tour and the season, so be sure to call or check the website for the latest information.

Rudee Tours
200 Winston Salem Ave.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-422-5700

Dolphin Watching Tour Prices
Adult - $20
Children (ages 4-11) - $14
Children 3 and under are free

Whale Watching Tour Prices
Adult - $28
Children (ages 4-11) - $24
Children 3 and under are free

After your dolphin or whale watching family adventure, head to Flipper McCoys Family Entertainment Center for some family fun. Most teens are experts at modern video games, but they may be stumped by classics like Pac-Man, Tron, Centipede and Pinball. You may even have a shot at besting your teenager in classic games like skiball, knock down or air hockey. Regardless of who emerges as the ultimate champion, the variety of classic and modern games and other things to do at Flipper McCoys will keep your family entertained.

Flipper McCoys
2212 Atlantic Ave. (between 22nd and 23rd Streets)
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Evening

There's no doubt that exploring Virginia Beach with teens will leave your family famished. When it's time for dinner, head to Rudee's on the Inlet. Housed in a replica of a Coast Guard station, Rudee's is the perfect spot to relax, enjoy a great meal and watch the boats on the water. The menu features a variety of sandwiches, steaks, pasta and fresh seafood with an average price of $15-$20.

Rudee's
227 Mediterranean Ave.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-425-1777
Hours: Mon-Sat 11AM-till late, Sun 10AM-till late

No family beach vacation is complete without a competitive game of miniature golf. Pirate's Paradise, located at the intersection of 22nd Street and Pacific Avenue, offers a pirate-themed 18-hole putt course perfect for that parents-versus-kids or boys-versus-girls match up.

Pirate's Paradise
2109 Pacific Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-422-9822
Hours: 9AM-midnight or later in the summer

Prices
Adults - $9
Kids (5-12) - $8
Seniors - $7
Children 4 and under free with a paying adult
Free replays every day from 9AM-6PM

Wind down your day with a frozen treat at Kohr Brothers Frozen Custard. Advertised as "the original frozen custard," Kohr Brothers serves up creamy, homemade custard to locals and tourists looking for a break from the heat or a sweet ending to the day.

Kohr Brothers Frozen Custard
2204 Atlantic Ave.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
757-491-3180