Summer. Just the word evokes thoughts of sun tans, sun block, sun visors, and the SUN! Not to mention sand, surf, seagulls, sand-covered sandwiches on the beach, sugary sweets from Boardwalk vendors and… sunburn!  While we certainly encourage you to enjoy Virginia Beach’s Boardwalk in the summer, read below for some other things you can do during our town’s high season.

Summer is for putt-putt. Or, as some say, miniature golf. Virginia Beach has many miniature golf courses, several attached to a water park. Go get that hole in one!

Take in a minor league baseball game (or two or three). The Norfolk Tides, a Triple-A farm team for the Baltimore Orioles, play throughout the summer in nearby Norfolk at the beautiful Harbor Park ballfield. Extremely family friendly and entertaining for the wee ones. Bring your mitt for those foul balls!

Virginia Beach is home to the East Coast Surfing Championships. The contest usually takes place in late August. Even if you don’t surf you’ll enjoy the event because food and beverage vendors are aplenty. Bring your beach chair and towels and come early – crowds can be ginormous, so plan your arrival appropriately.

Don’t forget to take in the music and great vibes that come up on summer days and evenings at Neptune’s Park. Cover bands and other local groups play on the park’s stage during the summer months.

Go ahead, fish a little. Even if you’re a pure novice, just walking along the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier – which extends a long 1500 feet from the shore – and talking to the anglers there is a great way to spend some time. Fishing is a terrific way to do “something” while not doing much of anything but staring out to sea or at your line with family and friends.

Do you love dolphins? We imagine you do. Then you must take in a dolphin watch sunset cruise. Sunset Dolphin Watch offers late-afternoon/early-evening cruises in the Chesapeake Bay, allowing you the chance to catch sight of dolphins. The cruise also takes in the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, ships from the U.S. Navy and even Cape Henry. Cruises depart at 7 p.m. during the summer from Shore Drive’s Dockside Restaurant.

Just hanging out at the beach is everyone’s favorite thing to do during the summertime in Virginia Beach. Listening to the waves break on the shore, birds calling, children laughing, and of course, jets flying! When everyone’s lives get busy, it’s nice to take a break once in a while. That’s the point of vacation, after all!

Have you ever wanted to learn to surf? Then Virginia Beach is the place for you. No huge waves here; just gentle, smallish waves, perfect for learning how to ride a board.

Got teenagers? We feel for you, we really do. That’s why you might want to check out parasailing. Let your teen fly free of you (for a bit) and soar over the beach and Boardwalk. What’s more, parasailing can make a great family activity! You can share soaring tales for days.

Finally, don’t forget to check out Jamestown, just about an hour drive from Virginia Beach. The site of the first settlement of Europeans in the New World, the museum offers gallery exhibits, history of the settlement through film and outdoor re-creations of the ships that brought the first settlers. Check out the re-created colonial fort, a Powhatan village, and more!

So, bring yourself, your family, your bikini, and your rainbow umbrella and enjoy summertime in Virginia Beach!