These fresh-air to-dos will help you and yours stay active and beat the freeze in Coastal Virginia this year
By Eric J. Wallace
See Also: Go Wild at Winter Wildlife Festival in Virginia Beach.
When the weather turns chilly it’s comforting to cozy up indoors. But too much time at home can bring on a bout of cabin fever. From whale watching in the Chesapeake Bay to guided horseback tours on the Eastern Shore, these easy-access outdoor activities will help you and yours get out and about and stave off those winter blues.
NORFOLK
Visit Norfolk Botanical Garden
This botanical wonderland boasts an arboretum and 60 themed gardens on a sprawling 175-acre campus—the largest in the state of Virginia—and offers a surprising number of winter attractions. For starters, check out the designated winter garden filled with flowering cold weather plants. There’s also an award-winning conifer area and rhododendron grove. Explore miles of paved and gravel trails while catching views of surrounding Lake Whitehurst and more than 50 art installations including marble sculptures of famous artists, bronze animals and a pair of 20-foot shovels that intertwine like snakes. norfolkbotanicalgarden.org
Bike or Walk a Winter Pub Crawl
The past decade has transformed Norfolk into a hotbed for craft spirits. Breakout the bikes to connect downtown rooftop watering holes like Grain to taprooms in the Neon District and beyond, take the Elizabeth River Trail or string together Ghent-abutting breweries for a suds-fueled walkabout. For the latter, connect Rip Rap Brewing Co., Afterglow Brewing, Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Hank’s Filling Station and Elation Brewing for a 3.2-mile urban excursion.
VIRGINIA BEACH
Hike in False Cape State Park
Did you know Virginia Beach is home to one of the nation’s most beautiful and isolated coastal state parks? False Cape State Park sits just south of the cozy beachfront community of Sandbridge and is accessible only by kayak, hiking trail, or shuttle service through the 9,200-acre Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Closures in the latter from November to March deter most winter visitors. But if you’re willing to hike or fat-bike a mile or so of beach, you’ll get six miles of pristine shoreline and mature maritime live oak forests almost exclusively to yourself. dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/false-cape
Go Whale Watching on the Bay
Warmer waters in the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding Mid-Atlantic are winter stopping points for whales, harbor seals and other aquatic species on their way to southern feeding grounds—and many stick around for the season. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center offers a fleet of educational excursions on a 65-foot boat equipped with a climate-controlled cabin. Along the way you’ll spot marine birds and could catch glimpses of dolphins, humpback, fin and minke whales, and more. virginiaaquarium.com
NEWPORT NEWS
Take the Kids to a Carnival
For the third year in a row, Newport News Parks & Recreation is celebrating the cold weather in a fun and family-friendly fashion with an outdoor Winter Carnival at 401 Oriana Rd. on Feb. 4. from noon to 5 p.m. Kids and adults can try their Winter Olympics skills—or staying upright skills—on a 4,000+ square foot synthetic ice rink. The Winter Carnival will also have games, activities, food, tasty treats and more for fun-lovers of all ages. Parking and admission are free. nnparksandrec.org
WILLAMSBURG
Explore a Wintry Busch Gardens
The 422-acre, European-themed park switched to partial year-round operations in 2021 and has since become a perfect Friday through Sunday getaway for winter warm spells and even Mardi Gras celebrations. More than 25 rides are open—including flagship thrillers like Pantheon, Verbolten, Apollo’s Chariot, and the new indoor straddle coaster, DarKoaster. String together the park’s eight village areas for a thigh-warming 2.5-mile loop and don’t forget to pause on the bridge over Brewery Road Lake to look for wintering waterfowl. buschgardens.com
Tour York River State Park by Bike
Daytime winter highs bottom out around 48 degrees in most of the Coastal Virginia region. That’s the perfect temperature to bundle up and enjoy a bug-free pedal in 2,531-acre York River State Park. The park is famous for its pristine estuarine environment and boasts about 40 miles of hiking and biking trails that let visitors explore upland maritime forests, riparian thickets, marshy creeks, brackish inlets and more. dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/york-river
EASTERN SHORE
Book a Cabin in Kiptopeke State Park
This 525-acre gem awaits near the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore just five miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It opens onto the Bay and offers approximately 1.5 miles of isolated beaches and more than five miles of hiking and biking trails that let visitors immerse themselves in the park’s dunes, wetlands and maritime forests. Kiptopeke is also home to a handful of rustic but well-equipped cabins. Bring the family and spring for a six-room lodge, or book a bay-fronting yurt amid the pines. dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/kiptopeke
Take a Guided Horseback Ride
Explore the Shore’s beautiful backcountry maritime forests via horseback with riding professionals at Queen Hive Farm. The mom-and-pop operation doubles as a rescue and boarding facility, and is helmed by longtime peninsula resident, Jennifer Cording, an equine expert with 40 years of experience. Family-friendly rides last for about 40 minutes and include a 20-minute training session. Better still: The farm is located just 11 miles south of shops and eateries in Chincoteague. queenhivefarm.com
Cruise for Ponies in Chincoteague
Summer isn’t the only time visitors can get out on the water in this charming Eastern Shore town, and yes, there’s a good chance you’ll even catch a glimpse of their world-famous ponies. Daisy’s Island Cruises run year-round, and they offer excursions on both six-passenger boats and larger pontoon boats. Both options can be set up as private tours. Their most popular tour is the scenic wildlife tour, which lasts around two hours and offers guests high-probability viewing of not only Chincoteague ponies but bald eagles and other wildlife. You’ll also learn about Chincoteague and Assateague history. daiseysislandcruises.com
All photos courtesy of destinations, parks or organizations featured.
Eric J. Wallace
Eric J. Wallace is an award-winning lifestyle journalist based in Staunton who has contributed to WIRED, Outside, Reader’s Digest, Atlas Obscura, Best American Food Writing, All About Beer and more.
