Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Virginia Beach offers a range of free attractions, from museums and parks to cultural offerings. (Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: While sunbathing and surfing may top the list of things to do in Virginia Beach, there’s a lot more to the city than just sand and waves—and the best part is many of the offerings are absolutely free.

Our top picks:

• The circa 1895 de Witt Cottage is home to the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, which celebrates the art of decoy carving. The museum features a wide collection of wildfowl art, such as oil and watercolor paintings, and artifacts, like primitive tools that were used to make decoys.
• Be sure to enjoy some of the noteworthy attractions along the iconic Virginia Beach Boardwalk, including the King Neptune Statue, a 34-foot-tall bronze statue of the legendary figure, and Grommet Island Park, a 15,000-square-foot beachside park designed to be accessible for all children.
• Stroll along the Virginia Legends Walk at 13th Street Park to learn about some legendary Virginians who made noteworthy contributions to the country over the centuries. The self-guided tour spotlights such legends as Capt. John Smith, Booker T. Washington, and Edgar Allen Poe.

Want more ideas? We’ve rounded up 14 area activities that won’t cost a dime. 

A YouTube screenshot of “Irish Eyes” by Rose Betts. (Rose Betts/YouTube)

By Amie Knowles

At present, there’s a single song replaying over and over and over and over (did I mention and over?) in my head. It’s the “Emerald Crossing Theme Song” for this year’s Vacation Bible School program, in which I’m a volunteer at the church my family attends. This year’s theme? An Irish adventure through Psalms 23.

Y’all. We go all out every year, making it equal parts exhausting and fun. That means for a whole 5-day period, I’m fully immersed in whatever we’re doing. The outfits? They’re fitting. The songs? They’re jamming. The friendships? They’re forming. That also means that hyping myself up to do it well looks a little different each year, too—and that’s where “Irish Eyes” by Rose Betts comes into play.

That song’s got everything—a catchy melody, meaningful lyrics, and the ability to relieve my mind from the “lie-dee-die-dee-dee” of the VBS theme song for a solid two minutes and 16 seconds, while still keeping my mind on the Irish countryside. In the song, Betts sings about her features and how each physical attribute reminds different family members of a positive ancestral trait. 

Would you like to venture to Ireland without leaving the comfort of your screen? “Irish Eyes” is a great way to close yours and do just that.

Colton Knowles, 8, holds a collection box for the Children’s Hunger Fund. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

By Amie Knowles

This week, I’m surrounded by 100 kids for three hours every day. I’m not teaching summer school. I haven’t reprised my role as a camp counselor. Nope, I’m a Vacation Bible School crew leader—and with that comes the opportunity to help kids make a positive impact in the lives of others. This week, we’re encouraging the kiddos to raise money to help purchase food for hungry children. 

Each day, we hear stories about children going without—and it’s admittedly hard to fathom how different things are based on something as minute as a zip code. The kids are donating toward the Children’s Hunger Fund, where 96% of revenue goes directly toward getting food in the mouths of kids who need it most. The best part? Just $0.25 buys a meal.

It’s not all philanthropic, though—there’s a fun incentive the VBS’ers are striving toward. If they collectively give $500 by the end of the week, they’ll earn the opportunity to spray silly string on church staff members. My fingers are crossed because I’d love to see both things happen.

Of course, there are also plenty of local organizations that do great work feeding the hungry right here at home. Feeding Southwest Virginia, No Kid Hungry-Virginia, and local food pantries come quickly to mind, but there are excellent opportunities to support across Virginia. 

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