


Iceland Family Skating Center offers year-round ice skating fun in Virginia Beach, making it the perfect escape from summer heat or a cozy winter activity. With both open skate sessions and lessons available for all skill levels, families can enjoy quality time together whether they're first-timers clutching the wall or confident skaters gliding across the ice.
Weekday afternoons (3:00-5:00 PM) offer the best experience with smaller crowds and more ice space for practicing. Saturday mornings right at opening are also excellent for beginners. Avoid Friday and Saturday evenings when the rink is busiest with teens and birthday parties.
Admission is budget-friendly with skate rentals available on-site. The facility has a snack bar for hot chocolate and basic refreshments. Parking is free and plentiful in the shopping center lot.
As an indoor facility, Iceland is perfect year-round, but it's especially popular during summer months when families seek air-conditioned activities. Holiday-themed skate sessions typically run during Christmas and Halloween seasons with special music and decorations.
Head to Chick-fil-A or Panera Bread, both within a mile in the same shopping area, for quick kid-friendly meals before or after skating. For sit-down dining, Coastal Grill nearby offers a family-friendly menu with seafood and American favorites.
First Colonial High School features a public skate park that welcomes young riders on skateboards, scooters, and BMX bikes. With varied ramps and features designed for different skill levels, it's an affordable spot for kids to practice tricks, build confidence, and enjoy outdoor action sports in a safe environment.
The Virginia Aquarium's Marsh Pavilion offers an exciting hands-on marine adventure where kids can touch stingrays and horseshoe crabs, marvel at graceful sea turtles gliding overhead, and watch mesmerizing jellyfish displays. With daily animal encounters, feeding demonstrations, and knowledgeable educators stationed throughout, children get up-close experiences that spark curiosity about ocean life in ways books simply can't match.
The Military Aviation Museum houses one of the world's largest private collections of historic military aircraft, with many planes still in flying condition. Kids will be mesmerized by the massive warbirds spanning WWI through WWII, and on select days, they can actually watch these vintage aircraft take to the skies during thrilling flight demonstrations.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers families an incredible opportunity to explore over 9,000 acres of pristine coastal habitat along Virginia Beach's southern shoreline. Kids can spot dolphins, sea turtles, and hundreds of bird species while hiking easy trails through maritime forests, dunes, and freshwater marshes. The visitor center features interactive exhibits and touch tanks that bring local ecosystems to life for young naturalists.