Your Virginia Beach CME conference.

Virginia Beach after your study day

Study days finish at 2:00 PM Virginia Beach time. For an easy afternoon, choose one outing: a ride along the Boardwalk, a walk at Rudee Inlet, or a visit to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Leave time for getting between the Oceanfront and the Bay side, which are separate parts of the city.

Travel, accommodation and attraction admission are arranged separately. Your conference follows your specialty and interests on your own phone or laptop; the shore is simply the setting you choose for it.

Three beaches, three moods

Visit Virginia Beach describes 38 miles of coastline where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic, and groups the beaches into three: the Oceanfront, the Chesapeake Bay and Sandbridge. The Oceanfront is the lively one, anchored by the King Neptune statue at 31st Street and Atlantic Avenue. The Bay side, just around Cape Henry, is described as moving at a slightly slower pace. Sandbridge is a quiet beach community just south of the Oceanfront, surrounded by natural areas.

Pick one for the afternoon rather than trying all three. The city’s own tourism site also mentions Pungo, a rural area inland from Sandbridge with farms and open fields.

The Oceanfront: Boardwalk, inlet and galleries

The Boardwalk runs about three miles beside Oceanfront Beach, and the tourism board suggests bike rides along it, including early mornings for sunrise views. Rudee Inlet is the place for on-the-water adventure, including fishing, jet skiing and parasailing.

Atlantic Avenue mixes hotels, shops, restaurants and bars. For indoor time, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is listed for the Oceanfront, and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art is in the ViBe Creative District, which is known for street art and galleries, and the Artery District hosts pop-up markets. Check each place’s days and hours against your 2:00 PM finish.

First Landing State Park and Cape Henry

First Landing State Park covers about 2,888 acres with roughly 20 miles of trails across ten routes. The park includes swamps of bald cypress, lagoons and coastal forest, and about 1.5 miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline. There are no lifeguards on that beach, so swimming is at your own risk. Bikes are allowed only on the Cape Henry and Live Oak trails. The park lists tent sites, a group campground, cabins and yurts, and the tourism board mentions winter cabin stays there.

The Cape Henry Lighthouse and the First Landing Cross are in neighboring Fort Story, not in the park. The aquarium also runs dolphin-watching and whale-watching tours on the Bay side. Check current status for any tour, since seasons and conditions change.

Back Bay and Sandbridge

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge sits in the southeastern corner of the city. It was established in 1938 for migrating and wintering waterfowl, and more than 300 bird species have been recorded there. The Seaside, Dune, Raptor, Sunset Point and Kuralt trails were open for hiking when checked, and the refuge beach south of the Seaside Trail is open for hiking. The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

The East and West Dike Trails close each year from November 1 to March 31 to reduce disturbance to waterfowl, so check which trails are open for your dates. False Cape State Park is also named for the Sandbridge side. Sandbridge itself offers beach houses and vacation rentals.

Inland and rural options

If you want a day away from the sand, the tourism board points to the inland part of the city for shopping, entertainment and active recreation: the Town Center District, the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts and Mount Trashmore Park are among its listings.

In Pungo, Cullipher Farm offers pick-your-own produce, and the Virginia Military Aviation Museum is listed nearby. These are separate drives from the Oceanfront, so plan one at a time.

When to visit Virginia Beach

Visit Virginia Beach says May, early June and September are the sweet spot for mild temperatures and quieter beaches, while late May through early September is the busiest period. Spring brings blooming parks, kayaking, coastal bike trails and farmers markets, and fall brings crisp air, fewer crowds, local festivals and brewery visits. Summer is the season for surfing, paddleboarding and dolphin tours, with the Atlantic warm enough for swimming. Ocean temperatures are cooler in early spring and late fall. In winter, January and February offer chances to see migrating humpback whales. Use the local forecast when you plan outdoor time.

Getting to Virginia Beach and your study setting

Norfolk International Airport (ORF), at 2200 Norview Avenue in Norfolk, is the arrival point shown in this guide. Choose your accommodation and ground transport with both your study setting and your plans outside study hours in mind.

The map shows straight-line distances from Shift’s designated center. These are orientation distances, not driving distances or travel-time estimates. Check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area before booking.