The Tastiest Boating in Virginia Beach

Rudee Tours

★★★★☆ 4.3 (186)

"This was our second time on the Rudee Rocket and it was just as thrilling and fun the second time around! Perfect way to see dolphins, have the thrill of being on a giant jet ski so to speak and cool down on a hot day by being DRENCHED!! The crew was great and the dolphins did their thing!! This is a must if you're in VA Beach!! So much fun!! To add for anyone wondering-I am not a huge fan of boats or deep water or thrill rides. I was fine on this and felt safe and had a blast!!"

Dockside Seafood & Fishing Center

★★★★★ 4.5 (104) • $$

"Fishing trip was awesome. The crew was fantastic. Very personable, helpful, polite abs courteous. We were catching Fish as fast as we could drop our lines. Unfortunately the fish are still very small for this time of year. I definitely will take this fishing charter trip again. Ted"

Halls Creek Boat Ramp

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"We live less than 10 minutes from Bob's Fishing Hole in Chesapeake but chose to drive down here and do our bass fishing. The pleasure boaters at Bob's tend to make that location less than ideal (or pleasurable) for fishers due to their extreme need for speed whereas, here at Halls Creek, you don't see as many on the river so fishing is more peaceful and serene. The ramp is smooth and even (go to both and you'll see what I mean) and even though there is only one dock here at HC, it is significantly safer and sturdier than what you'll find at Bob's. Granted, Bob's is hindered by the city of Chesapeake zoning so that could have something to do with it. For the last 5 years or so we have done our fishing solely here at HC. Not only do I enjoy the fishing here, I also enjoy bird watching and nature viewing. Some days I don't even fish.All in all, it's worth the 40 minutes it takes us to get here to fish."

Lynnhaven Marine-Boatel

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (20)

"These folks are professional and work Hard to service your boat correctly for years of service. We are very satisfied with everything they have done for us over many-many years and multiple boats:)if you want your service done right the first time, this is where you bring it!"

Ed Allen's Boats & Baits

★★★☆☆ 3 (9)

"Very cool set up, easy going and very informative staff. The boats were nice and would definitely recommend going there."

Northwest River Park Campground

★★★★☆ 4 (35)

"May take a little time to get here, but such a beautiful sight! We decided to take our talents here for a walk and it was great. There are multiple areas for parking that I assume put you at different places on the trails. We parked right near the front/shop, grabbed a map, and hoped for the best! We were trying to get a few miles in but it was a bit confusing on where to actually start off at so we just took off walking. Beautiful views & great change of scenery. They have wildlife signs of different animals found in the area or an alike area which was a bit scary (haha), but it was fine. Love that they have maps available, trail signs, and trail marks. Also heard their kayaks are available for rent for only $10!"

Bennetts Creek Park

★★★★☆ 4.1 (22)

"Some good came from COVID because while the park was closed off to all humans, it was remodeled with a new playground. I have not checked the tennis court (because I'm too fat to play thanks to being quarantined and stuck in the house working & sleeping then repeat), but I hope that they fixed it up too. Bennett's Creek Park has their first event (after Covid) scheduled for next month (June 2021). Oh! There is a skate park in the back near the picnic tables. And if you walk further down along the path you'll find a fishing peer and a place to dock your boat. All that is needed is a walking trail through the woods."

Virginia Pilot Association

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"A lot of folks have no idea what the Virginia Pilot Association is. Well that is unless you are familiar with Yelper Jim B. friend to many in the Hampton Roads area. Jim is a dispatcher that works out of the Shore Drive office. I may very well get some things wrong and if I do I suspect Jim will correct me and I will quickly edit. The opportunity to do a ride along on a Pilot Boat was beyond a thrill and I suspect a rare insight few would ever get.I have visited the Virginia Pilot Association twice, once with my daughter and another time with both children. The second time was the thrill of a lifetime to actually get out on a Virginia Pilot boat and connect with a 220,000 Break Bulk Cargo Ship. That is a cargo ship with containers, as opposed to liquid, coal, or grain.Our adventure started out with a message from Jim that it was a dead quiet night and a great opportunity to do a ride a long with a Pilot boat driver. Since we live minutes from the dock I got the kids over in time for a sunset cruise and was met by Jim dockside. We made it just in time before the boat departed with a driver and assistant to head out to the Chesapeake Bay.The boat was around 17 feet long and very roomy inside with a captains chair for the driver and three other captain seats in the middle. There were also two small window seats in the back. But that's not all, down in the hull was a place for the driver to sleep out on the water if necessary. We traveled at top speed of around 20 knots to a depth of around 60 feet on a smooth half foot chop, warm cloudy evening. As we approached our cargo ship to connect, we witnessed a nice view of Cape Henry on the Starboard side. Both light houses were spotted, but obviously the taller new Cape Henry Light House (Black & White) was more easily identifiable.My children...okay me too had a blast learning about the Pilot boat operators 30+ years experience on this water. Near misses with party boats that drove with no lights illuminated, boat operators that appeared impaired and dangerous to themselves and others on the bay. It seems like there has been no shortage of near misses over a lifetime on these waters. The Pilot boat operator can clearly see an obstacle on their GPS and they do what they can to avoid any type of collision. There is VB patrol on these waters, just the same as our road ways too. The office for the VB PD is around the corner from the Pilot Association at the Lynnhaven Boat Marina. After traveling 6-7 miles away from the Lesner Bridge we connected with our cargo ship by pulling up Port side. The assistant got out, tied us down and before my kids knew it they could see a young man with a Blue Oxford shirt wearing a neck tie exiting the ship and waving at them to their delight. A short trip down a ladder and in no time we had him on our boat ready to head back.We all had a really nice conversation with the Apprentic who is very close to be a full fledged Pilot Boat operator. So what was he doing on that cargo ship any way? Well the ship's Captain's check-in with dispatch prior to porting. These Captain's who are not as familiar with shallow waters where sand bars etc. may be present have the Pilot Boat drivers navigate for them. These are hard working young people who work shifts of 24 on for three days and on call as an apprentice. There are sleeping quarters and cars to check out for the drivers when they come back in. You may think that most of these drivers are former Navy, you would be wrong! Those that wish to train into these positions obviously undertake many hours of instruction and licenses to begin an apprenticeship in their specific state. Once you begin working in a specific state there is no transferring of credentials, you are in that state for life such as our driver for the night.The round trip took around 40 to 50 minutes and the sun had set at when approaching the dock. Jim was again there to greet us and graciously provide a short tour of the dispatch office. His position, similar to an Air Traffic Controller, except boats instead of planes is both cool, but stressful at times I'm sure. The main HQ for tracking maritime activity for our area is on Fort Story Base. Jim works a specific geography of the Chesapeake Bay and tracks location and status of boats. He is in constant communication with those at the FS office. He monitors all VA Pilot boats that are working too. Lots of cool monitors, that track the ships with GPS technology. Very important too is the equipment utilized to keep track of weather. If you ever want an accurate weather forecast it's Jim B. who may be the best to call.Let me finish up with this. A must for anyone, take the time to look at the 200+ photos Jim has posted the last several years on the Pilot Boat Association Yelp business page. His stunning pics bring life to what it is like to work feet from the water. Thank you for your years of service Jim and good luck in your future retirement endeavors."

Captain Hogg's Charters

★★★★★ 4.7 (14)

"We had a fantastic time. Captain Chandler Hogg got us to the fish quick. Then First Mate, Brett kept up with our bait and catches. We limited out in both Spade and Mackeral. We will definitely be back and would recommend to anyone looking to book.They even cleaned the fish. Great time and experience!!"

SailTime

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"Chartered a 3 hour sail. Good times. Great time with captain Jim. It was a 22 footer. My wife and I hadn't sailed in a long time and Jim was an excellent teacher really engaging. You can tell he likes teaching and has a knack for it--seem a line he could teach anything. The booking staff was awesome too. Kristen was accommodating, super nice and very responsive. All around great experience."

American Rover

★★★★★ 4.5 (54)

"We had an excellent experience on the Rover this past weekend! We attended the Moonlight Party Cruise -- for $15 each, we were able to climb on board and enjoy the beautiful full moon and scenic views as we sailed around the bay. They had a bar available that served decent wine, the staff was super friendly and attentive throughout, and they had a DJ on board to provide some upbeat party music. The entire experience was a ton a fun and I'd definitely repeat it in the future!"

Two Rivers Country Club At Governors Land

★★★★☆ 4.3 (14)

"Beautiful country club tucked away in a quiet part of Williamsburg. The country club is very nice and the food has always been exceptional each time I have gone. We have even ordered food for some of our holidays."

Virginia Yacht Brokers

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"We recently purchased our second boat from Virginia Yacht Brokers and highly recommend Chuck, Kelsey and Parker Grice if you're looking for representation. Photographs on the internet are the first impression a client has of your boat and it's critically important to have them look just right. When we spotted the shot of our 53' Selene on www.yachtworld.com the lighting made the boat glisten and she looked in pristine condition. As we watched the video we felt as if we were walking aboard and could see the layout as if we were there. Most boat-buyers today travel to see a listing so the more that can be done to eliminate the guess work about the boats' features the more the boat is differentiated from competitors.Kelsey's has a real eye for color and esthetics and stages a boat to perfection. It's surprising how some brokers today still don't appreciate how important it is in attracting a buyer. Chuck is knowledgeable and understands how to get a deal to completion. We had worked with him before and he has real credibility with us. We just met their son Parker, who too is extremely helpful and will go above and beyond to be of assistance."

Nor'Banks Sailing & Watersports

★★★★★ 4.9 (90)

"Class act start to finish. We went in and rented a pontoon boat. Sales team was super friendly and super helpful. Got there at our assigned time and they had the boat pulled up and waiting. Got a 5-6 min brief and we were off. Boat was great, no issues. Cruised around inlet and had a blast. We came back and they meet you at buoys and bring you in. All around great people and great time. I think our guys name was Jeff. Sorry that might be right but he was awesome. Will definitely do it again when in town."

Mathews Yacht Club

★★★★☆ 3.7 (3)

"I became a member almost 2 years ago. In that time the club's management has used every excuse in the book Regarding their poor service and poor overpriced meals. I've been through three managers and they all last about six months. The clubs board is trying to run a dinner service without a trained chef. The cook that is there is doing his best however you can't expect a line cook to prepare $65 cocoa vin. For the money in Mathews and middlesex County there is much more better dinner options than Mathews Yacht Club. The table , white dog , and The pharmacy all are above and beyond MYC . If you want a club that has a great book night in a card night this is your place. This place needs professional management desperately."

Elizabeth River Park

★★★★☆ 3.6 (8)

"I found Elizabeth River Park during my run today. I was quite excited to find a nice little refuge in a quiet neighborhood in the Virginia Beach area. Parts of the trails are paved, but the real gems are the dirt areas where it's quiet and peaceful. I saw quite a bit of wildlife during my brief run through some of the trails. There are numbered sign posts throughout the trails that explain what you are seeing. I didn't stop to look at them as I was more focused on my run.There are a few lakes on the side of the river which are beautiful. You can access the river with your boat if you'd like. I didn't get to explore the whole park but I'd like to next time I'm nearby."

Norfolk Yacht & Country Club

★★★★☆ 4 (10)

"Well maintained private member club off of Hampton Blvd in Norfolk. Indoor and outdoor amenities include multiple pools, tennis courts, corn hole boards, workout facility, boating docks, adult beverage bar, counter service cafe with HDTV and seating, foosball table plus more. There's an entire building that's the perfect private event venue - weddings, reunions, galas and graduation parties.Crowds are common at the beginning of Summer and seasonal events, creating a domino effect on your overall experience - less available parking, less poolside space/seating, longer lines for bar and food service. The Niçoise salad I had yesterday was ok but nowhere near as good as the fresh ahi tuna steak in sesame glaze I had last August."

Bay Venture Boat Rentals

★★★★★ 5 (7)

"By far, Bay Venture exceeded our expectations! We rented from them on the 4th of July and I wasn't sure what to expect. I honestly thought the boats would be older and not as nice as they were. The boats are NEW and super CLEAN! Tons of storage and so much space to lounge. Apparently, they buy a new fleet each year so they are top of the line! I can't say enough about how nice the boats were! The staff is very helpful and walk you through all of the official stuff efficiently. They have rolling carts for you to load your stuff onto and a dumpster to dispose of trash. If you are thinking about renting a boat, look no further!!! Absolute professionals and the best experience I've ever had with a rental company!!"

Dismal Swamp Canal Trail

★★★★☆ 4.2 (36)

"Love love love. A bit of a drive from Pungo but worth it. This trail is so well maintained and well-marked with mileposts for each mile (in some cases .25 and .5 miles) that it's easy to set a goal or pace and stick to it. I could see this being a great place to prep for a race. It's been recently paved and is fresh and clean with no debris on the trail at all. Fresh pavement and no issues for the entire length of 8 miles down and back. About mid-way there is a rest area with an exceedingly clean and nice restroom, some picnic tables, and a boat pier/tie-off mooring area. There are three places to park and start on the trail. We started at the first and main one with the "Chessie" the black bear statue. Plenty of parking and another restroom area located here. Very happy to have done this trail - it's a hike from VAB - but so worth it! There is mostly shade on this trail but I would bring spf and bug spray anyway. It's a canal trail so there are bugs and there are areas with direct sun."

Waller Mill Park

★★★★☆ 3.8 (31)

"I LOVED Waller Mill! Came by last week for my first visit with a new friend and thought it was absolutely beautiful! Plenty of parking - $2 to park - and they had tons of kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats for rent. We went with a paddle boat and went out on the water - the people up front were friendly enough and helped us quickly (there was no one else around as it was a Thursday afternoon around 6pm) and we spent a pleasant two hours rowing around on the beautiful water. Apparently the water here is where the city gets their drinking water so you aren't allowed to swim in it though you can boat in there and I saw some folks fishing. There are trails and other cool things to do I hope to see when the weather is a bit cooler. I will most def. be back!"

JEB Little Creek Cove Marina

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"This is a great little marina if you are eligible to use DoD MWR facilities. Newly remodeled with concrete floating piers. Sheltered location, with good security (on a Naval Base). Decently outfitted ship's store with all the essentials and ordering/quick turnaround for non stocked items. Fuel, gas and diesel on site. Walk to on base gym, convenience store, barber shop, and food outlets. Walk a little farther..but still walkable, to full service grocery, marine supply, and multiple food/retail outlets and bus stops just outside the gate. Nate Harris, the manager, and his crew take care of business, get to know you, and are always willing to help. You can't go wrong if you are eligible to use this facility."

York River Yacht Haven

★★★★☆ 3.9 (19)

"Busy and well managed Marina. Lots of great benefits to staying here from the nice piers to the bath facilities, pool, ship store and restaurant. Will definitely come again!"

Lynnhaven Boat Ramp And Beach Facility

★★★★☆ 4.1 (7)

"This review is for the "Beach Facility" portion of this spot. If you have a boat, I'm sure this is a great place to launch your boat, but IF you have young kids and you want a hassle free beach experience, come to this spot! These are top 5 reasons why I love coming here:1. Parking It only costs $3 for the whole day (until midnight, I believe). No need to keep plugging the meter. There's a parking machine located right by the entrance of the walkway to the beach. Can't remember if you need to place it on the dash, but why not? Just in case...2. Public washrooms and showersThere are washrooms with changing rooms, showers underneath the roof (on the other side of the washrooms) outside, equipped with the short shower heads to rinse your feet. ESSENTIAL with young kids.3. Public beach access with tide poolThe beach is the end of Chick's beach, right under Lesner Bridge. The bridge itself provides great shade on a portion of the beach, although a lot of people like to fish there too, so we usually end up moving a little further down. Also, depending on the time of day you go, there is a tidepool and the water is not as rough so it's relatively safe for the kiddos. Of course, still watch your kids. 4. TrafficMeaning, it's not crowded there at all! Only a handful of people the last couple of times we've been there.5. American BrewThe best part is coffee and bites is right next door! It's a short walk from the parking lot, but if you forget to pack a lunch, American Brew is located right at the corner of the street (you'll most likely see it before you turn in to the parking lot). They have great coffees, bowls and other bites.Summer is here so enjoy the sunshine and soak up every bit of that Vitamin Sea! Stay safe, Friends!"

Port Messick Marina

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"What a find! It's not just a boat launch, it's a great park! From what I've found online the Messick Point Landing was updated and improved around 2005. There's a couple of launches available and 4 piers. Enough parking for a fleet both in the well lighted parking lot and pier side. The entire place is also handicapped accessible. The facility is also open 24 hours and there are no fees. In addition the spacious property houses the Poquoson Yacht Club, a private boating club that anyone can join, and a restaurant called Bull Island BBQ that I'll be checking out in the future. This is a great place to spend the afternoon with your family, friends or even your dog. Check it out."

Safe Harbor Stingray Point

★★★★☆ 3.7 (3)

"We just moved our boat to Stingray Point marina and we could not be happier. A lovely setting where the Rappahannock River meets the Chesapeake Bay, it has all the amenities I want at a marina, such as a Captains Lounge, pool house/social room, nice pool, bright clean bathhouse. There is also free shore power, Wi-Fi, laundry and ice for slipholders! So no nickel and dime-ing for additional items. The on-site staff is top notch. Also, there are several boatyards minutes from my slip where I can either have someone work on my boat or I can DIY if I prefer. Fellow slip holders are very friendly and have already made DH and me feel very welcome without being intrusive."

Rudee Inlet Jet Ski Rentals

★★★★☆ 4.4 (48)

"Neither of my kids had ever gone jet skiing before today and now they are hooked! The staff members were very friendly and conscientious about safety. They made sure that everyone was comfortable before setting specific guidelines for where the group could go. Whenever any patron fell off, the staff quickly came over to make sure all was well. There were many staff members riding with the group to make sure everyone was having a safe and fun time. I highly recommend this location for a fun and safe adventure! Since I was not out on the water, I was thrilled that the staff took pictures of all patrons to remember their fun time."

Phillips Family Diving and Hull Services

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Baily is not only a hero as a Chesapeake fire fighter but a life saver at the marina too!I am a regular client for hull cleaning but yesterday, a certain knuckle head dropped his phone out of his hoodie. Me, I am that knuckle head. I went to Verizon and they told me I could still get money for a trade in if I could get it. I called Baily and even though his lovely wife was sick he told me he'd get it in the morning. Well he did. And that sucker was still working. Thank you Phillips family for what you do!"

Virginia Beach Watersports

★★★★★ 5 (6)

"John was the best! We wanted a boat excursion and it was everything we expected and more. We cruised around the bay for a little while, tried to wakeboard (with John's guidance and he was super patient since it was the first time for a few of us), saw some dolphins, and ended up tubing as we headed back. It was a quick 3 hour adventure and would highly recommend for any family."

Signature Canvasmakers

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"Charlene and Chandler ARE Signature Canvasmakers. Today was my first experience using their services. We stopped in Hampton on a delivery from Annapolis to St. Thomas to wait for a cold front to pass. On short notice, Chandler showed up and quickly sorted some canvas issues that will make life under the dodger much more pleasant as we headed offshore. Good service, good prices, good people.Although this is my first experience with Signature Canvasmakers as a customer I have known Char and Chandler for some years. They are passionate about giving back to the community of Hampton and the community of cruisers. Char founded the Hampton Snowbird Rendezvous that takes place every year in the Fall. For one of the best cruisers gatherings with great local support it is not to be missed. I'll recommend Signature Canvasmakers to my customers and save up my own canvas work for my visits to Hampton."

Atlantic Yacht Basin

★★★★☆ 3.7 (3)

"Top notch place for repairs and haul out.. many factory certified mechanics. Also great place to winter your boat."

VB Boat Rentals

★★★★★ 4.5 (15)

"Awesome time! Susan was amazing she was very helpful and made not only getting information before hand but while we where going to rent the boat and then she gave us a lot of good information on what we could do and how we could do it. My wife and I wanted to do the dinner rental and it worked out perfect. We meet with Susan and her helper Kody down at there slip. After a few safety issues we went over we found that they had put out a blanket for us and had all kinds of stuff you could use for our trip. We ended up ridding up the river to the Porch on long creek and pulled up right to the dock and got our food then rode up and down the bay for the next 2 hours. We loved it and this company!"

Great Bridge Lock Park

★★★★☆ 4.1 (18)

"A hidden park for the Chesapeake residents. It's Not your typical city park but a cool - relax - sit at the bay - type of spot. There's a bike or hike trail on premises but since I don't do bugs I didn't check it out. I just saw owners walking their dogs back in the woods.Anywhooo it's cool spot .."

Princess Anne Wildlife Management Area

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"Good boat ramp with access to Back Bay. Fished from the bank, caught a couple small fish. Nice day to be outside....Now I need a boat."

Oyster Cove Boatworks and Yacht Brokerage

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (3)

"I did a repower to my 1988 Mako in 2018, service was on point, communication was consistent and they did an A+ job all the way around, even took care of a few proactive items that I wouldn't have noticed. Years later, I had an exhaust corrosion issue and they went to bat for me to get Yamaha warranty to take care of the problem. I'm glad I am working with a family business, they treated me like I was part of theirs."

Havoc Charters

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"5 of us (including my 8 year old son) went on a full day trip with this crew. Very friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and fun as hell. The lines were baited, and repaired instantly by the crew. This boat let us do all the fishing even if it meant we missed a couple big ones due to our errors. I don't want to go on a boat that does the fishing for you. If I am looking for a specific fish without catching it I will go to the store and buy it. That is not to say they didn't step in and guide when we ask for help. By the time we got back to dock all the fish were cleaned, and bagged for us. I highly highly recommend this charter, and plan on using them every summer when we visit VB. My son can't wait to do it again next year, and actually ask to go again the next day. Great work captain/ crew and thank you for a very memorable day.. We will see you next year for sure."