7 Cheap or Free Things to do in Virginia Beach When you Can’t go to the Beach

The beach is one of my FAVORITE places to be, but sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate. I’m going to share 7 cheap or free things to do in Virginia Beach when you can’t go to the beach.

7 Cheap or Free Things to Do in Virginia Beach when you can't go to the beach

7 Cheap or Free Things to Do in Virginia Beach

Living on the East Coast, I have visited LOTS of beaches. Typically, you plan your trip in advance, but the weather doesn’t always get on board with your plan. 

It’s best to have a backup plan when you can’t go to the beach in case it is cold or rainy. You can also use these “7 cheap or free things to do in Virginia Beach when you can’t go to the beach” ideas for things to do at nighttime or for ANY beach area that you are visiting in the United States. 

Virginia Beach

The post “7 Cheap or Free Things to Do in Virginia Beach When You Can’t Go to the Beach” may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). All opinions are my own and no products were received in exchange for my opinions. Click here to see details of my full disclosure policy.

1) Tasting Spirits in Virginia Beach

Chesapeake Bay Distillery

Distillery tasting, or wine tasting, is my “go-to” activity to do on vacation when it’s cold or rainy. Chesapeake Bay Distillery was a really cool place that was exactly what we were looking for. It is conveniently located right on Virginia Beach Boulevard

Virginia Beach Distillery Tour

They have a variety of spirits to taste such as vodka, rum, whisky, tequila, and more. You can do a tasting of either the straight spirits or you can taste a variety of their delicious mixed drinks. I thought the tasting of 4 mixed drinks for $10.00 was perfect!

Virginia Beach Distillery

The Hunt Room

If you would like a more sophisticated experience then I would suggest going to The Hunt Room, which is part of the very elegant Cavalier Hotel

At The Hunt Room, you can sample spirits from Tarnished Truth Distilling Company for $20.00 per person. It includes a tour, a tasting, and a glass

If you are looking for an exquisite hotel to stay at while you are in Virginia Beach, I HIGHLY recommend the Cavalier Hotel. In addition to the on-site distillery, this hotel also has a luxurious spa, fitness center, 3 exquisite restaurants, an incredible pool, a Beach Club, and a secluded beach. 

Things to do in Virginia Beach Visit Hotel
Things to do in Virginia Beach Visit Cavalier Hotel

This hotel is out of my budget, but it’s still a great place to see. While you’re there I would suggest you stroll through the hotel because the decor is absolutely breathtaking!

Things to do in Virginia Beach Visit Cavalier Hotel
Things to do in Virginia Beach Visit Cavalier Hotel

For help finding the perfect accommodations read Top 5 Things You Need to Know When Finding a Hotel! 

Virginia Beach Bar Hunt

One of the cheaper fun things you can do is the Virginia Beach oceanfront views and brews tour. I mentioned before that one of the best ways to make memories when you travel is to take a tour. 

You use an app for this unique tour which takes you to popular attractions and hidden gems. You will answer trivia questions and participate in challenges to get the next clue. Along the way, you can enjoy a drink to celebrate your progress! 

There is no minimum age so you can have fun on this scavenger hunt with your whole family.

2) Self-Guided Virginia Beach Mural Tour

Virginia Beach Mural

If you read about my “Top 10 things to see and do in Nashville, Tennessee” then you know I enjoy seeing murals while traveling during the holidays, when most attractions are closed. This is a perfect activity to do on an overcast or chilly day!

This is one of the best free things to do when you have a large family and/or small children that you can bring in a stroller or wagon.  Don’t worry, the murals are in close proximity so you can see several of them in a short amount of time.   

Virginia Beach Mural

The “ViBe Creative District” is a really cool area in VA Beach. You can download the Walking Tour Map and take your time strolling around to see 60 different murals from local artists and business supporters. I’d suggest wandering around this art district while stopping into the various restaurants for a drink or bite to eat.

Check out the ViBe website for special events during the summer months

Virginia Beach Mural

If you’re looking for an “adult vibe” for your guided mural tour then Viator has a cool ViBe District Art Tour and Craft Beer Tasting. This is a 2-hour long guided tour. This is one of the top things to do so make sure you get your tickets in advance. If your plans change they offer free cancellation within 24 hours prior to your experience. 

Hey! Maybe you’re thinking, “Dang Andrea, you know ALL THE GOOD TRAVEL TIPS!” GREAT NEWS… you can  SUBSCRIBE with your email to get notified of new posts so you never miss a thing!

3) Workout on the Beach

I traveled to Virginia with one of my best friends, who happens to be a fitness instructor. When most people plan their trip they think of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. Not my friend Susanne. She brought along equipment so we could do short workouts on the beach. (True story.)

If you are not able to bring your own equipment, Hillier Ignite Fitness Park has strength training and body weight-based workout equipment right on the sandy beach. It is located on 36th Street on Oceanfront Avenue. 

Virginia Beach workout

This fitness park has ropes, a balance beam, high and low bars, rings, parallel bars, and more. You can find people using the equipment all throughout the day. 

Virginia Beach Gym

Most people don’t like to workout while on vacation, but if you can workout ON the beach then you should definitely give it a try! It’s a fun experience. You can still workout on the beach, even when it’s cold or a little rainy.

Virginia Beach Gym

If you have young children that need to burn off some energy then take them to Grommet Island Park for play equipment.

Do you want more than just a beach workout? If so, then you should hit the Virginia Beach hiking trails. It’s a great opportunity to take a break from the beach and take in some nature and wildlife while you hike along the miles of trails. You might even see some bald eagles. 

Check out places like First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park for some great hiking trails. 

PRO TIP: if you want to avoid the beach crowds but still have decent weather, go to Virginia Beach AFTER Memorial Day Weekend or Labor Day Weekend.

4) Watch the Sunrise

This was probably one of the best things out of the 7 cheap or free things to do in Virginia Beach when you can’t go to the beach. I’m so glad that my friend suggested this and that we did it together!  This was a perfect place for watching the sunrise on the Atlantic Ocean

Sunrise Virginia Beach

I will DEFINITELY make it a point to watch sunrises more often when I travel. When thinking back to my post “Paris: Eiffel in Love with Travel” it would have been an amazing experience to watch the sunrise near the Eiffel Tower. I’d STRONGLY encourage you to add this to your next vacation, no matter where you go. It is one of those free activities that end up being priceless

Sunrise Virginia Beach

Can’t get enough of the great beaches on the US East Coast? CLICK HERE to read about the 14 Best Beaches on the East Coast! 

Sunrise Virginia Beach

Surprisingly, this is something I have never taken the time to do while on vacation before. All you have to do is check a weather app, like Accuweather, to see what time the sun is going to rise the next morning. Then, set your alarm to get up and be on the beach about 10 minutes before the projected sunrise time. 

Sunrise Virginia Beach

The actual sunrise does take quite a bit of time. You will want to stay there to watch the ENTIRE thing unfold before your eyes. Make sure you dress warmly and bring a blanket because you don’t want to hinder the experience by being cold and uncomfortable. 

PRO TIP: Check the Visitor's Center for discount tickets and information on free events.

5) Henna Tattoo

What is a henna tattoo?

In case you’re not familiar, a henna tattoo is done with ink from a henna plant and it is temporary. These temporary tattoos start to fade around two weeks and can last for up to four weeks. It really depends on the location of the tattoo and the type of ink used.

Henna Tattoo

Much like an actual tattoo, sometimes you can bring the artist a picture of the tattoo that you’d like. They also have many design options to pick from right in the store.

The great thing about henna tattoos is, unlike an actual tattoo there’s no pain, it’s not very expensive, and it’s completed in a matter of minutes. I wanted to try out a design for a tattoo cover-up that I’m considering on my lower back. My friend would like to get a tattoo on her forearm. She got a henna tattoo in that location to see how she would feel about it. We were very happy with our selections. I thought it was so much fun that I decided to get two of them.

Karma: 1704A Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451

While walking on the boardwalk we spotted a henna tattoo shop and decided to check it out. I have a few real tattoos, but I didn’t know much about henna. Read about the history of these temporary tattoos because it’s very interesting

Henna Tattoo

We had a lot of fun with this spontaneous adventure. I’d definitely recommend doing it if you are not certain of what you want because it is a great way to “try on” your tattoo first

Henna Tattoo

PRO TIP: A great way to save some money on food is to visit the Virginia Beach Farmer's Market. There you can grab some lunch and fresh produce for snacks.

6) Indoor 3-D Mini Golf

3D Miniature Golf

King Neptune’s Mini Golf: Pacific Avenue, Virginia Beach.

You will see the famous King Neptune statue on the beach, but did you know about his 3-D mini golf?

This underwater-themed indoor 3-D miniature golf experience is a lot of fun with the black light. When we went everyone in our group enjoyed playing. It’s hard to show you the experience in pictures because you wear the 3D glasses while you play mini-golf.

This 10 hole experience is $7.00 per person, but there is a discount if you have a group of 10 or more. This is one of the cheap things that is fun and unique to keep in mind when it’s cold, rainy, or late at night.

3D Miniature Golf

PRO TIP: The Neptune Festival is a HUGE event that takes place in September. It has daily concerts, arts and crafts, food, and shopping vendors.

Can’t get enough of Virginia? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Historic Virginia! 

7) Day Trip to Norfolk Virginia

Although there are tons of beach town attractions to enjoy, there are also some day trips that you can take from Virginia Beach. We decided on a day trip to Norfolk, Virginia.

There are plenty of free things to do in Norfolk. The Waterside District has a ton of cute shops, restaurants, live music, different types of live entertainment, and festivals. It’s a great place to see free concerts and fun street performers. 

The Cannonball Trail

We made a few stops on our day trip, that were part of The Cannonball Trail. There are 43 stops along this free self-guided tour. I would HIGHLY recommend looking at the brochure in advance to select some of the best places to stop and visit on your trip to Norfolk.  

Things to do in Virginia Beach

As I mentioned in “Have you Heard of the Historic Triangle in Virginia” history lessons don’t excite me. The history that we saw and read about on The Cannonball Trail was VERY interesting. I would definitely go back and complete more of the trail on my next trip to Norfolk.

Virginia Statue
#40 on the Cannonball Trail: Bronze Sculpture

Don’t let this picture fool you. We really are having fun. I asked her to pose just like the sculpture and she agreed. 

Virginia Battleship
#20 on the Cannonball Trail: Hampton Roads Naval Museum and USS Wisconsin

The Pagoda Garden

Virginia Oriental Pagoda
#22 on the Cannonball Trail: The Pagoda Garden

The thing that prompted the day trip to Norfolk was The Pagoda Garden.

Although it looks like a tourist attraction, the Pagoda is actually one of the cool local restaurants that serves international food with an Asian flair. We were excited to discover this little gem and really enjoyed exploring this space while in Norfolk.

With free admission into the garden area, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t want to stop in and take a peek. 

If you decide to visit these Oriental Gardens you will see the amazing architecture of the Pagoda building. You will also see water features, stone sculptures, and plants. This picturesque garden space doesn’t take long to stroll through, but the short walk is certainly a captivating sight.

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring Norfolk Virginia for the day.

You could also take the 2 1/2-hour Best of Norfolk guided E-Bike tour as a fun way to really see what the town has to offer! It will take you on some biking trails and through parks to experience some of the “must-see” sites in Norfolk.

I would encourage you to plan a day trip while you are on vacation! It is great to be able to see less popular towns that border the main tourist attraction.  

I hope these 7 cheap or free things to do in Virginia Beach when you can’t go to the beach were helpful to you. Do you have ideas of things you like to do when it’s too cold or rainy to go to the beach? Please share them in the comments below! 

Need more ideas for things to do in Virginia Beach?

Would you like to see suggestions for all different budgets? Click the banner below to search Viator for 30+ additional Virginia Beach attractions. 

Things to do in Virginia Beach Ad

Don't go to the beach without this...

I’ve got great news… I created a simple way to document your trip with a beach-themed DIY travel activity journal. 

Most of the work is already set up for you ahead of time. You just need to have a great time on your trip and fill in the blanks.

Here’s what you can expect to find in my ultimate travel journal activity books:

  • Journal Pages – lined pages and journaling prompts to help get you thinking
  • Activity Pages – themed travel games and activities to help pass the time during flights and drives
  • Scrapbook Pages – attach photos and keepsakes like ticket stubs and mementos

The most important thing is to make the most of your experience by documenting your lasting memories for your travel legacy! Your travel journal scrapbook will be a treasured keepsake.

If you enjoyed “7 Cheap or Free Things to Do in Virginia Beach When You Can’t Go to the Beach”, then you might also want to read Have You Heard of the Historic Triangle in Virginia!

SUBSCRIBE with your email to get notified of new posts.

Don’t forget to SHARE and PIN for later!

Make sure you are following along on social media so you never miss a travel tip! 

LET’S CONNECT: Do you like to take day trips when you are on vacation? Comment below and share your thoughts.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
56 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
More about the Travel Writer: Andrea Capone
Follow on INSTAGRAM: @a_capone_connection
Andrea Capone Instagram