Virginia Beach – Sustainable Journeys (2024)

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• Virginia Green

  Visit Virginia Beach is proud to be a supporting partner of the Virginia Green program, the state’s initiative to encourage green tourism practices in all aspects of the tourism industry. Certified Virginia Green Travel Partners have made significant commitments to reduce waste production and water and energy use, and to embrace other sustainable practices. You can reduce your environmental footprint during your Virginia Beach holiday simply by supporting certified Virginia Green partners. You can search for Virginia Green-certified businesses here.

  Virginia Green is run through a partnershipamong the VirginiaDepartment of Environmental Quality (DEQ), theVirginia Tourism Corporation(VTC),theVirginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association(VRLTA) and theVirginia Green Travel Alliance. The program seeks to reduce the environmentalimpacts of the tourism industry and raise environmental awareness.

• Cheasapeake Bay Foundation's Brock Environmental Center

  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center, located at Pleasure House Point in Virginia Beach, is one of the most energy-efficient, environmentally smart buildings in the world. The Center has achieved LEED Platinum, which is the highest possible rating the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Program can award. CBF’s award-winning environmental education programs are operated from this building and provide significant outdoor learning experiences for thousands of students, teachers, citizens, and community leaders. The facility is also home to local conservation groups, such as Lynnhaven River NOW. The facility offers conference rooms for community meetings and conservation training. Come be amazed and inspired and explore the Brock Environmental Center.

• Virginia Aquarium

  Virginia Aquarium’s mission is to connect people to the marine environment, inspiring a more sustainable future. The aquarium aspires to be a driver in conservation, education, tourism, and sustainability, leading the charge to save wildlife and their ecosystems.

  The Virginia Aquarium’s guided boat trips present the area’s best opportunity to get on the water and view its marine mammals and seabirds. Whale-watching boat trips are available from December through mid-March and dolphin-watching boat trips run from late March through October.

  Additionally, guests are invited to enjoy the peaceful 1/3-mile Nature Trail connecting the Main Building to the newly renovated South Building. The trail contains an elevated tower and several decks that extend out over the water to enhance views of the marsh and osprey nesting platforms along Owl Creek. Portions of the boardwalk meander through a woodland habitat complete with pine, oak, and maple trees as well as a wide variety of native flowers. In addition to the many native woodland species, quiet visitors are bound to spot several land birds and marshland animals that frequent the shores of Owl Creek.

  Inside, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center offers an inspiring, educational, and entertaining experience all tied into one, featuring thousands of animals representing over 300 species. Guests are invited to enjoy interactive exhibits. For guests, schools, educators, and families the Aquarium offers an extensive array of educational programs onsite, virtually, and via outreach programs which include activities designed to foster conservation and an appreciation of local natural resources.

• Pleasure House Oyster

  Hop aboard an unforgettable oyster-farming boat tour with Pleasure House Oysters, and help harvest some legendary Lynnhaven oysters, known for their delectable size and saltiness.

  Oyster aficionados, curious travellers, foodies, and water lovers alike can hop aboard the Pleasure House Oyster farm boat tour to cruise the waters of the Lynnhaven River, learn about the legendary Lynnhaven Oyster and slurp up a few succulent bivalves. Groups of up to six people can bring their own bottle of wine and enjoy their choice of a two-hour “Tasting Tour” or a four-hour “Waterman Tour,” which provides a truly hands-on oyster-farming experience.

• Surfing

  Virginia Beach is the home of the esteemed East Coast Surfing Championships (ECSC), the longest continuously-running surf contest in the world, and produced a host of well-known wave riders. The best of the best compete at ECSC, including more than 200 of the world’s top professional male and female surfers, as well as an estimated 300 amateur surfers. In addition to the competition, visitors may enjoy food and drink concessions and live music on the beach.

  Whether you’re a surfing grommet or a seasoned wave-rider, the waters of Va Beach are prime for surfers of all experience levels. Whether you’re looking to get in the water or simply relax on the beach and take in the show, you’ll want to go where the locals go, to the jetties at 1st Street and Croatan Beach at the Oceanfront, Croatan Pendleton, and the Little Island Pier in Sandbridge. The swell changes depending on the season and weather and scoping out the ideal conditions in Virginia Beach has become an art form in its own right. As many of the resident wave-riders will tell you, riding the perfect wave in Virginia Beach comes at the cost of patience, tenacity and a little bit of luck. Enjoy more beginner-friendly waves during summer, when many local shops provide lessons to even the youngest of surfers to get up and going in the water. Come from autumn to spring and enjoy the show of surfers or catch a few more advanced waves for yourself.

• Get out on the waterways

  A virtually undiscovered ecological treasure, Virginia Beach is home to one of the last great salt marsh habitats on the East Coast. The miles of waterways take the form of rivers, bays, lakes, marsh areas and fingers of water that all flow into the Atlantic Ocean and ChesapeakeBayand there’s no better way to explore than by hopping on akayak or stand-up paddleboard and jumping in. Equipment can be rented from one of many recreational outfitters throughout the city so you can be out on the water in no time.

  The tapering waterway borderingFirst Landing State Park, known as The Narrows, is a firm favourite among locals. With its calm waters and low traffic filtering into the beautiful Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay, it’s perfect for kayakers of every skill level.

  These inland waterways are also incredible sports to take in a relaxing sunset. Local outfitters, Chesapean Outdoors offer sunset-guided tours for small groups, launching out of Linkhorn Bay andGoKayak!offers guided kayak nature and dolphin tours out ofRudee Inletand First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.

• Cape Henry Lighthouse

  There are two lighthouses located at Cape Henry within Fort Story military base near the northern end of Virginia Beach. While the original Cape Henry Lighthouse is the 4th oldest lighthouse in the country, it was the first lighthouse authorized by the U.S. government, dating from 1792. It was the first federal construction project authorised by President George Washington after the Revolutionary War, for an original contract amount of $15,200 (an additional $2,500 was required to finish the lighthouse). In 1881, a newer lighthouse was constructed 350 feet from the original.

  The original Cape Henry Lighthouse was acquired in 1930 by Preservation Virginia and a brick lining and an iron stairway were added to the interior in 1867. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark on January 29, 1964. In 2002 the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the lighthouse a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The original and newer lighthouses were each placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and 2002, respectively. The original lighthouse is open to the public and an unimpeded coastal view can be enjoyed from the 360-degree lantern room.

• Sustainable Restaurants and cafes

  Commune, a farm-to-table restaurant, is founded on the philosophy that the best-tasting food just also happens to be the freshest and healthiest food both for the diner and the environment. To that measure, the daily menu has been made to be flexible and based on what local producers can provide throughout the seasons. The bustling cafe in Virginia Beach’s Creative District serves local, seasonal and sustainable fare in an open setting with community-style seating.
  The Shack on 8^th is Virginia Beach’s first community-driven, all-outdoor restaurant, where sustainability and a Green Initiative are the foundation upon which the restaurant is built. Being one block from the beach makes this restaurant the perfect place to just get away. Enjoy family-friendly outdoor games and lose yourself in an island oasis.
  Fruitive believes in feeling good about what you eat – how it tastes, how it is made, and how it sustains the environment. Fruitive has created its own distinctive blends of superberry bowls, liquid meals and juices, as well as delicious wraps, salads, and soups. Fruitive strives to use only the freshest and highest quality natural ingredients that are free of any artificial flavourings, colours, or additives. Fruitive is the place to go for a quick snack or a satisfying meal. Fruitive’s philosophy is simple – to encourage and support healthy lifestyles while sustaining the world around us. Fruitive’s involvement in the community extends beyond our door at Hilltop North Shopping centre by sourcing as much local organic produce as possible, sponsoring local athletes and artists, and limiting waste by recycling and sending compostable material back to local farms to nourish future crops.

• Farms

  The rural neighbourhood of Pungo, just south of Sandbridge Beach, is home to 8,000 acres of farmland, including 16 ‘You-Pick’ farms. Depending on the season, you can pick your own bushel of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, kale, cabbage, or even your own bouquet of wildflowers! Stopping by Pungo’s roadside stands or exploring one of the area’s working farms makes for an adventurous family outing and is a great alternative to the beach.
  Coastal Cattle is a Hereford Farm in Virginia Beach, VA. The farm takes pride in its pasture-raised, grain-fed beef. The Vaughan Family has been farming and living on the same land since the early 1700s. Sustainable farming is not just a phase; it is a way of life passed down from generation to now the 8th generation. Named a Century Farm in Virginia, and now also a Bicentennial Farm and proud to still be actively farming.

• Tilth and Oak

  A new artisan market and refill store is rooted in sustainability and stocked with unique and functional treasures. Restock your pantry or bathroom, source garden and pet supplies and shop baby products in the Town Center store that also includes a refill bar for 50 different food, household and body products.

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