It can sometimes feel as though all you do is say ‘no’ to the kids and all their wants. While you can’t say ‘yes’ to everything, such as candy for dinner or staying up late on a school night, you can certainly accommodate their needs with a little more flexibility on vacation. If you’re planning a weekend vacation to Virginia Beach, VA, and want to give them the weekend of ‘yes’ they deserve, these tips may help make it happen:
Reserve Child-Friendly Accommodations
Before setting off, don’t forget to book child-friendly accommodation. There are multiple vacation home platforms online, such as Branson Premier, that include filters to help you narrow down the most suitable options. When traveling with one or more children, aim for at least two bedrooms and find properties with flexible cancellation policies in case your plans change.
Visit High-Energy and Water Adventures
Your idea of a perfect vacation might be relaxing on white sandy beaches, but your children probably have other ideas. For the action-loving kids in your family, visit some of the attractions offering the most thrills and spills!
Ocean Breeze Waterpark, just two miles from the main Oceanfront, has over 30 slides, a wave pool, and the ever-popular high-speed Hurricane ride. You could easily spend all day here soaking up the sunshine and playing in the water. iFLY VA Beach is also a great activity option for adventurers. It’s an indoor skydiving experience for the whole family!. If you’re visiting during summer and your children would love to learn to surf, catch waves at Little Island Park in Sandbridge with Surf & Adventure Company Surf Camp.
Don’t Forget Education
You’re on vacation, but the kids can still learn as though they’re in school! Add education to your vacation with a trip to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Touch rays, see sharks up close, and be mesmerized by over 300 marine species. Children four and under are free. For less-structured education, enjoy getting out into nature at First Landing State Park. Hike the trails, go bird watching, and play on the sand at Chesapeake Bay.
Choose Family Restaurants
As every parent and caregiver knows, dining with kids can be challenging. The good news is that there are plenty of family-friendly restaurants in Virginia Beach with child-friendly menus and layouts to make mealtimes a little easier.
For a casual lunch or brunch, head to the Leaping Lizard Cafe. It’s a quiet, secluded cafe with a kids’ menu bound to impress the fussiest eaters. Waterman’s Surfside Grille also has a children’s menu, as does The Rustic Spoon. You also can’t go wrong with pizza at Dough Boy’s Pizza or North End Pizza.
Bring Comforts from Home
Despite all the fun and excitement of being in a new location with parents who say ‘yes’ more often than ‘no,’ it’s not uncommon for children to feel a little uncertain once night falls and they need to sleep somewhere unfamiliar. To help with bedtime and general comfort in a new city, take note of these tips:
- Bring a familiar sleep sack or pajamas
- Invest in a DIY blackout solution, such as blackout shades
- Bring a small, familiar nightlight to prevent fear in the dark
- Pack their favorite security blanket or stuffed animal
- Stock up on their favorite snacks
Any trip to Virginia Beach is memorable, but it can certainly be even more so for the kids when they get to do so many fun things! Participate in exciting activities, enjoy delicious food, and stay in comfortable accommodations. It could easily become a vacation your kids remember for a lifetime.
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