7 Days One Day in Virginia Beach With a Toddler
We packed up the car in New York and drove down to Virginia Beach for a quick family getaway. We had one day, so we kept it simple: beach time, bikes, seafood, ice cream, and staying out until sunset.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
No Activities Scheduled!
Interstate 95
Roovio — Google — We hit the road early and drove from New York toward Virginia. With a toddler in the car, we kept the morning easy and saved the real vacation fun for when we reached the ocean.
Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Roovio — Once we got to Virginia Beach, we dropped our bags at the Fairfield by Marriott Inn, then headed straight for the sand. The hotel is right by the beach, so we didn't have to drive anywhere before letting our little one run around, play in the waves, and collect every little "treasure" he could find.
Staff is very helpful and kind! The hotel itself is well maintained, there are a few signs of aging in the rooms (paint peeling) but that does not effect the quality of the room it was very clean & the bed was comfortable! There is a restaurant next door that was loud until late night on a Saturday but thats to be expected and not the hotels fault! Loved that we could bring our pup along and the beach access was easy and quick with a little one. They even have a very nice "borrow bin" for beach items. Thanks Fairfield!
We came here for a 3 day reset before school starts and had the best time. The location and service were great. The room was spacious and very clean. All the staff was very friendly but Nelson stood out the most as we had multiple requests for blankets and towels and he was always pleasant and accommodating. We will definitely be returning soon!
We stayed here for three nights and had a wonderful time overall. The ocean view was very nice, the staff was welcoming, and the stay itself was comfortable. Breakfast was good. The only downside was the late checkout situation. When we checked in, we were told it should not be a problem, but on the day of checkout we were told it was not possible. I understand policies can change based on availability, but it would have been better if that was clearly explained from the beginning. Other than that, the staff was great and we enjoyed our stay.
Good rooms with a great view. We had a complicated reservation for three rooms where everyone was showing up at different times and we needed a late checkout as well. The staff, in particular Amanda, we're so kind and friendly and accommodating! She made everything super easy, and we were very thankful for her work!
Paulette and CJ (and Mackenzie) at the front desk earned these stars for check-in and especially, after we’d checked out and driven more than 10 hours home, for assisting with a left-behind laptop 😱. Some hotels earn 5 stars because of amenities or location, and while this has both those, I’m giving top stars for service. CJ and Paulette especially provided as much info as they could on the laptop, with a promise to follow-up asap. Every staff member I interacted with during the week we were there greeted me cheerily, and exhibited hospitality I’ve come to expect from Marriott properties with dedicated people being kind and wanting to help others and ensure they have a relaxing stay. Housekeeping on the 4th floor was positively attentive and, while the laptop remains TBD, the attentiveness by Paulette to customer satisfaction remains exemplary.
Cheries Bike & Blade Rental
Roovio — After some beach time, we stopped at Cherie's Bike & Blade Rentals and grabbed bikes for a ride along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. It was an easy way to see more of the oceanfront without making our toddler walk the whole stretch.
Best bike rental experience we've had at VA Beach. Liz was so sweet and incredibly helpful. The bike was in great shape and gave us no issues. Very fun family activity!
These surreys are heavy, and that translates to difficult to propel. They’d be more fun if my knees didn’t hurt from riding them. They’re old and ready to be replaced by a lighter, safer design that better accommodates children and varying adult heights. Inadequate seat belts and exposed gears and chains are not desirable. The price was $40 for one hour, $50 for two hours.
I paid for two hours and arrived back in one hour. The employee said the owner doesn't allow refunds. I would have paid my card if l wouldhaveknown. .
This was a very cool experience BUTT we got a Tarentum which seats two and I’m not gonna lie. It was really hard to pedal. We did make it and we didn’t realize we were going faster than people walking, but it was a little crazy at first trying to figure out how to steer because the left steering wheel works in the right one doesn’t. It’s also kind of hard to stop, but it was super cool experience what I do it again no
We had a great time! We are in Virginia to visit family and we came down to the boardwalk! We wanted something to do and this was perfect to bike around! Liz was so nice and friendly!! I definitely recommend! Virginia beach has the perfect bike path to bike along the beach!
We Scream Ice Cream and Coffee Shop
Roovio — Of course, we stopped at We Scream Ice Cream and Coffee Shop for ice cream. We grabbed a treat along the Boardwalk and let our little explorer enjoy his favorite part of the afternoon.
We were visiting in January, so not peak ice cream season, but they were open and the kids wanted a sweet treat. We didn't have any service issues and everyone enjoyed the ice cream. There is indoor and patio seating, and it's just steps from the ocean front. They are also a coffee bar.
I’ve stayed at this Marriott a couple of times, but have stayed across the street at the Cavalier more times and have been here for conferences many times and have never stopped into this ice scream spot until this recent visit. Service was great, friendly, and helpful. They have tons of great, appetizing flavors here as well. I tried their Italian Orange Sorbet and it was really good. Definitely will stop back in when here next!
Asked about samples and were told no. We decided to go with flavors we thought were safe rather than try something unusual like carrot cake ice cream. Both the Carolina peach and Dubai chocolate flavors were ok, not special. $8 for two scoops in a cup. I wish I had gone to Dairy Queen instead.
One of the best places to get ice cream in Virginia Beach. If you make your way all the way down to the one end.. definitely stop in and give them a try.
Absolutely terrible ice cream. My husband got a cereal milkshake that was supposed to taste like fruity pebbles and it tasted like spoiled milk! It was so nasty we threw it out after the first sip! My flavors of ice cream did not taste good and as they don’t do samples you are left to hoping that your pick tastes as close as possible to the description. Definitely will not be going back, such a shame as our stay in the hotel was wonderful and wished the ice cream shop would have been as well!
Waterman's Surfside Grille
Roovio — For dinner, we drove over to Waterman's Surfside Grille at 5th and Atlantic for seafood with an ocean view. After spending the afternoon outside, sitting down for a proper meal felt pretty perfect.
This place is Beautiful and the staff were so nice and welcoming and helpful. It's right on Virginia Beach and you can sit outside and watch the waves while you eat your food. Everything I've had here was delicious. The Best hushpuppies and crab cakes I've ever had. And the Orange Crushes were amazing too. Definitely will be back again someday. Was so good we ate here 2 days in a row.
My wife and I had a great experience here. The highlight of the meal was definitely the crabby fries. Hands down, they were the best fries I've ever had in my life. The fries were perfectly cooked, and the creamy crab topping was absolutely incredible. If you visit, do yourself a favor and order them. I also had the fish with vegetables and rice. The rice was a little average, but the fish was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The vegetables were fresh, well-seasoned, and complemented the meal really well. My wife ordered the shrimp and scallops with vegetables, and she absolutely loved it. The seafood was fresh and cooked just right, and she couldn't stop talking about how good everything tasted. In her words, this place was a 10/10. Between the amazing seafood, fresh vegetables, and the unforgettable crabby fries, we'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend!
This restaurant was recommended to us. We were seated right away and had a view of the beach. Our server was very friendly. Food was all delicious. We had the She Crab soup and Bacon Wrapped Scallops for appetizers. For entrees we had Parmesan Crusted Red Snapper and the Ribeye with Crab Cake for entrees. This was one of the few times I didn't have to use salt on my steak because it was cooked & seasoned perfectly. We would highly recommend it and will definitely be back.
This place was outstanding! Our waitress was Jessica and she was great. She had a very large section and was attentive to every table. She gave us food and drink recommendations. She told us to stay clear of some drinks and gave us recommendations of what she enjoyed. Our food was delicious. Everything arrived hot. The side of vegetables were fresh and arrived hot as well. The seafood we ordered arrived perfectly cooked. For dessert, I ordered their Key Lime Pie. This was probably the best Key Lime Pie I have eaten! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a nice seafood dinner at the beach. We will definitely be back!
Wow this place is amazing. The food was top shelf and good price for the quantity and quality. Seating was a little busy but you can sit in the bar area, first come first serve. Great atmosphere and many tv's for the games. Ashlee was good and served the food quickly. The crab dip was great. Needs to be shared. Could have used more chips. The Waterman's pasta was superb. Great seafood, so fresh and prepared excellently.
Virginia Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk
Roovio — We headed back toward Virginia Beach and stayed out for golden hour. Watching our little one laugh, run through the sand, and play while the sun went down ended up being one of our favorite parts of the trip.
We stayed at The Courtyard Marriot 3737 Atlantic Avenue Va Beach 23451. Elaine W checked us in. From the moment we walked in the door it was nothing but a great experience. Elaine was very professional and sweet, and very accommodating. We knew check in was at 4:00 and we arrived early. I went to see if our room was ready, and it was so we were able to check in which was great, as my three friends were in their mid 80's. Not only did we get to check in early but we were upgraded and the room was perfect with plenty of space to play games and move around. Every employee we came across or chatted with were super friendly and helpful. Nick who worked at the pool bar area and the gal that worked before her were fabulous too. Thank you Elaine for making our stay perfect.. from the cleaning gals and other employees their personalities were top notch. I think I can say that this was the best hotel experience I ever had.
Very clean, was crowded but it's peak season. We saw dolphins just offshore. Lots to do on the boardwalk as well. Fresh seafood, friendly locals, trinket stores. If you get bored it's your own fault. The aquarium is close by, buy tickets online to pick your time. It at Atlanta but it's still affordable and air conditioned.
One of the best oceanfront boardwalks on the east coast. There is a separate path for people with bicycles and skateboards. Lots of restaurants and hotels line the boardwalk. The guests have a great view of the Atlantic. Beautifully paved and well maintained at all times. The Neptune Statue close to 31st street is a major attraction. All in all, a must visit for adults and kids. Just walk around and enjoy the awesome atmosphere
Usually Virginia Beach is a great place during the day for families. This visit wasn’t that great, you couldn’t smell the salt air over the marijuana, there were groups of girls twerking on random vehicles with all of what their momma gave them hanging out. Not pleasant trying to keep my 3 littles under 6 from watching. Trying to find a bathroom for them was also a nightmare, but I want to thank 21st street grill for allowing us to use their restroom! We did have fun on the giant family bike, I recommend even if your not as in shape as you think (like us).
Virginia Beach Boardwalk is very spacious and allows for multiple people at one time to pass and so forth . There are many shops located on the boardwalk however I found that multiples of the shops were the same . Same name and same stuff one after another . There are multiple Sundance Beach shops along with CandyShops one after another . That was somewhat of a disappointment but it was a nice day trip to take . Not sure what the nightlife brings there but for going in March, there was a good crowd there this weekend . Parking is very affordable however I’m not to sure if that changed once a new season kicks in . I enjoyed the day trip here today but it’s not a place I wanna go spend the weekend at . I’ve visited several beach towns and although a Virginia Beach is nice and decent , I’ve been to other beach towns I liked better . This is my opinion only 💔
Interstate 64
Roovio — Google — We packed everything into the car and started the drive back to New York. One day was short, but between the road trip, beach, bikes, food, and sunset, it felt like we had squeezed a lot into it.
No Activities Scheduled!
No Activities Scheduled!
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