Virginia Beach Field Trips Guide

Field Trip Categories In And Around Virginia Beach

Zoos, Aquariums, And Wildlife

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center interprets the habitats where the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean meet. Its large aquariums feature sharks, rays, sea turtles and regional fishes, while marsh and river habitats connect marine life to the watersheds that feed the coast. The institution also runs boat trips when conditions and seasons allow, giving older students a chance to observe dolphins or other wildlife in the Atlantic rather than only through glass. Elementary students can compare marine adaptations; middle and high-school groups can investigate estuaries, water quality, fisheries and sea-level change. Families should allow enough time for both the indoor galleries and the outdoor nature trail areas. School groups should check which parts of the campus are open during ongoing renovations or phased projects, and should reserve boat programs separately rather than assuming they are included with general admission.
Street Address: 717 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Web Address: https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge protects barrier-island and wetland habitat just south of Virginia Beach's developed resort strip. Dunes, maritime forest, freshwater marshes and Back Bay support migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, turtles and other wildlife along the Atlantic Flyway. The refuge is especially valuable because students can see how quickly the coast changes from dense urban development to protected habitat. Upper-elementary through high-school groups can study migration, barrier-island dynamics, invasive species and how storms reshape shorelines. Families should bring binoculars, water and sun protection; wildlife viewing is seasonal and often distant. Some trails or beach areas can close for habitat protection, so current refuge conditions should be checked before departure. A strong field exercise asks students to identify evidence of wind, waves and human management in shaping dunes and marsh edges.
Street Address: 4005 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Web Address: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/back-bay

Gardens, Parks, And Outdoor Learning

First Landing State Park
First Landing State Park protects a rare stretch of maritime forest, dunes, wetlands and Chesapeake Bay shoreline where natural and colonial history overlap. The park's name refers to the 1607 landing of the English expedition that later established Jamestown, but its deeper history includes Indigenous peoples who had lived in and used the region long before that arrival. Trails pass bald cypress swamps, Spanish-moss-draped trees and sandy maritime forest, giving students a sharp contrast with Virginia Beach's developed oceanfront. Upper-elementary through high-school groups can study succession, salinity, coastal storms and early colonial geography. Families can choose short boardwalk routes or beach access. Teachers should frame 'first landing' as the first landing of that English expedition, not the first human presence. A good field exercise compares vegetation in wet swales with plants on higher sandy ground.
Street Address: 2500 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Web Address: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/first-landing

Museums, Tours, And Local Landmarks

Military Aviation Museum
Military Aviation Museum is exceptional because many aircraft in its collection are maintained in flying condition rather than displayed only as static artifacts. The rural Virginia Beach campus focuses on World War I and World War II aviation, with restored fighters, trainers and bombers from several countries, along with period-style hangars and an original German Luftwaffe hangar relocated to the site. Middle and high-school groups can compare construction methods, engines and tactical roles, while upper-elementary students can identify how open cockpits, fabric coverings and propellers changed over time. The museum's flying demonstrations and air shows make engineering especially tangible when scheduled. Families should check the calendar before visiting because seeing an aircraft operate changes the experience dramatically. A school assignment can compare two opposing nations' aircraft and ask how mission, resources and technology shaped each design.
Street Address: 1341 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457
Web Address: https://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/

Cape Henry Lighthouse
Cape Henry Lighthouse marks the southern entrance to Chesapeake Bay, where navigation history, military geography and early U.S. federal architecture meet. The original stone lighthouse was completed in 1792 and was one of the first major public works authorized by the new federal government under the Constitution. A taller cast-iron lighthouse was built nearby in 1881 and remains an active aid to navigation. Upper-elementary through high-school students can compare the two towers, study why the Chesapeake entrance was strategically important and discuss how lighthouse technology changed. The site sits inside Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, so current security procedures, identification requirements and access restrictions must be checked before a school visit. Climbing the historic tower involves stairs and may not suit every student. The view makes an excellent geography lesson in the relationship among ocean, bay, shipping lanes and coastal defense.
Street Address: 583 Atlantic Ave, Fort Story, VA 23459
Web Address: https://preservationvirginia.org/historic-sites/cape-henry-lighthouse/

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