There’s something about this place – a sparkle, an indigenous vibe. It unearths itself each spring with every plump and juicy Pungo strawberry. It hides within the mystery of your dreams. It soars high above the clouds and plummets beneath the depths of the sea. It is the beach life. A life that beckons with great force, unfolding the thrill of discovery and the promise of unforgettable adventures along the way.
From textbooks to tanlines, year-round schooling in Virginia Beach is a way of life. With its mild year-round climate and location along the coast, students traveling to Virginia Beach can experience beach fun any season of the year. The city boasts nearly 12,000 hotel rooms that are student-friendly. Whether the focus is music, marine biology, history, arts or culture, there are a number of student itineraries to choose from that bring classroom learning to life. And it’s right here in Virginia Beach with the resort city’s newest travel program, “Live the Life Adventures.”
Geared toward group travelers, “Live the Life Adventures” features a series of experiential themed programs that uniquely showcase the people and places shaping Virginia Beach and its cuisine, outdoor activities, military, history and performing arts. “Live the Life Adventures” features the best of what makes this place unlike any other, and reveals it all through hands-on, interactive involvement. With itineraries leading the way through a range of interest-specific activities, each Adventure satisfies the curious and allows groups to be really involved – and rewarded.
Presented in six themes – Body/Mind/Spirit, Arts & Culture, Outdoor, Military, History and Culinary/Agriculture – these experiences focus on the everyday treasures Virginia Beach offers, from the beauty and intrigue of state parks and the succulent flavors of coastal cuisine to military aviation and the performing arts. From a behind-the-scenes look into the performing arts to an edible roots tour with a nature conservationist, the “Live the Life Adventures” itineraries lead the way through a range of interest-specific activities, opening the door to a world of adventure beyond your wildest imagination. Each experience ranges from a 30 minute to a 2 ½ hour tour and is designed for five to 100 participants.
Upon completion of each themed itinerary, participants receive an adventure badge commemorating their experience. Much more than a tour, this is an invitation to experience what makes life here so irresistible. The carefree, independent spirit that fuels life in Virginia Beach awaits discovery in every Live the Life Adventure.
Here’s a quick glimpse at some of the Adventures that are waiting for you on your next student tour:
Military Aviation Museum – Swingtime in the Skies Adventure
The past comes alive in Virginia Beach’s historic museums and attractions found throughout the city. Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of naval aviation at the Military Aviation Museum, boasting one of the largest collections of vintage military airplanes in the world. Swingtime in the Skies presents one of largest displays of WWII military aircraft in the world, as well as WWI and Korean War-era planes. Housed in a 1903 former life saving station, the Old Coast Guard Station offer insight and stories of the men who served in the US Lifesaving Service and US Coast Guard. During Surfman Chronicles, revel in the stories of shipwrecks and the tales of those who answered the call. Watch ships entering the port of Hampton Roads with the interactive tower camera, located at the museum.
Conservation Quest at The Virginia Aquarium
Featuring four habitats from around the world that existed in Virginia millions of years ago, the new $25 million Restless Planet at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center features 12,000 square feet of spectacular new habitats, exhibits and aquariums. Home to 6,000 new animals and 367 new species – including Komodo dragons, exotic cobras, hedgehogs, and so much more – Restless Planet more than doubles the Aquarium’s animal collection. Explore immersive live-animal exhibits and engage in 36 new hands-on activities designed to demonstrate the processes that shaped Virginia’s current landscape. A Malaysian Peat Swamp, a Coastal Sahara Desert, the Red Sea, and Indonesia’s Flores Island habitats recreate the look, feel and smell of Virginia’s tumultuous ecological history. Sign up for the Conservation Quest Adventure and you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look during feeding hour with the sea turtles and sharks, and eye-to-eye with six-foot Eagle Rays.
Eco Wildlife Safari – Students at Oceanfront
Virginia Beach boasts more than 18,000 acres of state parks and wildlife refuges and 121 navigable miles of waterways. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a 9,108-acre refuge made up of barrier islands, dunes, beach woodland, freshwater marshes, maritime forests, ponds and ocean beaches. Sharing a border is the 4,321-acre False Cape State Park, featuring six miles of unspoiled beaches in an ocean-to-freshwater bay habitat, as well as dunes, woodland, farm fields, salt marsh, maritime forest and wooded swamps. Groups can participate in specialized Adventures – Eco-Wildlife Safari, Beach Combing, Seasonal Harvest Tours – all of which can incorporate guided hikes and kayak tours, educational seminars and other learning activities.
Even if you have been to Virginia Beach before, these new themed experiences allow your group to experience Virginia Beach in new ways. Each experience has been designed to engage and immerse each visitor in a variety of new and different ways and you can select your adventure by theme and interest – tailoring the perfect adventure experience for your student group. Regardless of the time of year or size of the group, Virginia Beach has a full itinerary for any group adventure. Visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com/grouptour or www.LivetheLifeAdventures.com for more information.
