Enjoy Virginia Beach in Fall and Winter, Too!
The Oceanfront isn't just for Summer, Enjoy a late Vacation
Aug 28, 2008
According to the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitor's Bureau, nearly three million visitors included Virginia Beach in their vacation plans, and not everybody came in the summer. Tourism is a year-round industry in this town that borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. Average Fall and Winter temperatures in the 50s and 60s offer a pleasant atmosphere for post-summer beach strolls and area golfing and fishing, and though the water may be too cold to enjoy there is still plenty to see and do in Virginia Beach in the off-season.
The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, located just a short distance from the busy shoreline, provides guests with a fascinating, up close look at the Chesapeake region's aquatic friends. Harbor seals, river otters, and loggerhead turtles are among the many animals frolicking in the over seven hundred thousand gallons of water housed within this popular attraction. If you're visiting Virginia Beach in Autumn or Winter, you have the opportunity to embark on special chartered cruises for dolphin watching (June through October) and humpback whale watching (December through March). The Aquarium is open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; admission prices vary.
For tourists seeking higher ground—literally and cosmically—the Edgar Cayce Center on the north end of the Oceanfront offers visitors a relaxing respite from crowded shopping malls and boardwalks. Also known as the Association for Research and Enlightenment, the Cayce Center acts as both a museum dedicated to the late famed psychic Edgar Cayce and the second largest library of metaphysical materials in the world (only the Vatican’s is larger). Visitors may learn about Cayce’s life and amazing psychic abilities, meditate among the peaceful flora in the garden, and can even schedule a massage or facial at the adjoining A.R.E. Health Spa. The Center is open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; admission to the tour and daily lectures are free. Spa fees vary.
If you seek added incentive for visiting Virginia Beach late in the year, consider attending any of the various festivals and events celebrating beach life in cooler climates. From regional eats to holiday cheer, guests to the beach may enjoy exhibits and samples from local businesses and restaurants at the following:
- Neptune Festival – Held annually in September, this festival commemorates summer’s end with delicious Virginia wine and Chesapeake Bay seafood
- WaveDaze – A recent addition to the beach’s events calendar, WaveDaze showcases the best in motorized wave riding and jet skis.
- Oktober Brewfest – Two nights a year the Virginia Beach boardwalk transforms into an authentic Oktoberfest celebration, complete with German fare and beer and oompah bands.
- Holiday Lights at the Beach – A popular Christmas attraction! Drive along the boardwalk through a million twinkling lights configured into delightful winter wonderland scenery.
Just because the sun has set on summer doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a vacation in a summer beach town. Virginia Beach is open year round, and ready to accommodate visitors with many great attractions.
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