The Most Flavorful Summer Camps in Virginia Beach

The Edge Christian Retreat Center

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"The Edge Christian Retreat and Conference Center was formerly known as Eastover, but is under new ownership. I was never there under the former ownership. I want to start out with the positives. The staff are really nice people. Everyone working there seemed very responsive, kind and eager to please. I will also add that although old, the place is very clean.The value for the cost was very good. I paid $125 for Friday to Sunday at the motel and used the adjacent meeting room for our event. 3 meals were included at the very close by dining hall space. The meals included a nice little salad bar, several drink choices, and generally two choices of meal. Veggie meals available if requested. Meals included sliced ham and mac n cheese, baked fish or fried chicken with mashed potatoes, and pasta with meat or without meat sauce. Each meal included bread and a dessert choice from cheesecake to brownies. Meals are served at a specified time so it is not in any way a restaurant. Also the included meals are optional depending on the arrangements you pay for.The location is very serene. It is out in the middle of nowhere, or at least it feels that way. It is a precarious drive at night or if unfamiliar with the road, which was me, but I came and left safely.I stayed at the motel. The room was simple and makes Motel 6 look well appointed. There was a double bed and a single in our room, a basic desk, and 2 small red shade lamps that gave off a sort of red light district vibe. Heat was great in the room, as I was there in January. Overhead light was good. Parking was right outside the door for easy unloading. The bathroom is tiny with toilet seats set facing the tub like someone who won a Darwin award installed them, but the owners plan to change this as funds allow. Some rooms have already been 'upgraded.' The hot water is quick and plentiful. Towels are thin and sparse, and there is no maid service or towel changes, although I'm sure if one asked they would accommodate. There is no TV and they are just getting internet at the place. We had spotty internet access but I use my data no problem.The meeting room had fabulous light, clean bathrooms, good heat, comfortable conference chairs and light tables for ease of set up and take down. There is a full kitchen with all the basics so you could cook your meals right there if you wanted.The roads are pretty much dirt and it can become muddy in inclement weather. There is a path to walk from the conference room to the dining hall, about a 3 minute walk. The dining hall shares a space on Sundays for a religious service, as this is a popular location for religious sponsored youth activities. I am not particularly Christian and I felt comfortable there. I think it is because the place was serene and everyone was nice. They did not try to push any religion on me, although there are plenty of little inspirational signs about hope, faith, grace and all that. Those are all good things to have in any case.I really look forward to returning for a retreat activity in the future. I think it could make a great wedding venue except for how isolated it is for guests to navigate."

WISC Preschool

★★★★☆ 4 (7)

"This place is fantastic! I can't really say much more then what everyone else has...but they have everything to stay fit all year around. They have multiple fields for soccer, base/soft ball, field hockey and even 3.5 miles of trails to walk or run. There is even in door soccer!!! There is an indoor pool, but I am not sure of its services / hours. A must if you live in the local area. Larges amount of parking."

Sail Nauticus

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Awesome experience sailing in the harbor. What a great way to experience the area and support a great organization.Have a friend who's a member/instructor and she took my family out on an tour/lesson of the area. My kids crewed the larger sailboat which was much bigger and more stable than the one's I had tried as a college student back in California.Beautiful location in marina and great charity organization to teach kids to sail targeting middle schoolers of which my kids happen to be."

Barrier Islands Center

★★★★★ 4.7 (7)

"What a well done museum in an unexpected place!! We were looking for a day trip from our home in Norfolk and saw this one on TripAdvisor. Since it is only about 20 miles from the bridge tunnel up the shore (one of my favorite places on earth!), we decided to check it out. SO glad we did! And since admission is free, it made the bridge tunnel toll worth it!When you walk in you are greeted by the most friendly docent who gives you a brief background of the museum and what it's about. She told us they have several films and asked if we wanted to watch any of them. We did - "Our Island Home" gives you a terrific view of what life on Hog Island was like before it was abandoned from people who were actually born there. After whatever movie(s) you want to watch, you are "free range" to explore the museum. It is SO well done. I could have roamed around for longer than the 2 hours we were there (but I'm a museum reader - I have to check out everything!). Definitely allow yourself a couple of hours to explore. The exhibits are fantastic and laid out well. All artifacts were donated or on loan from actual island families - they don't purchase their artifacts. I like that. Shows the love for the community that these people have. Definitely check out the attic! There are hands on things for the kids - it's hot up there in the summer though! I was fascinated by the twisted chimney (not going to tell you why it was built that way - you'll have to go find out for yourself!). This is a GREAT little stop if you are looking for something cool to do on your way up or down Rt. 13 on your way to your vacation or a great day trip from the VA Beach area. With all their many activities and programs, we will definitely be back!"

La Petite Academy on S. Independence Blvd

★★★★☆ 4.3 (7)

"My family and I love this place. We started coming in September of 2018. While we only attended for two months during this time, it was amazing. Ultimately we had to change due to cost constraints and what not but always said we would be back. We recently found the means to enroll my daughter again this February and I'm so glad we were able to do it! My daughter LOVES it and even loves playing "teacher" on the weekend where she pretends to be her teachers and we are her at "school". It warms are heart knowing that she actually sees her teachers as "teachers" and shes only 3 years old. My daughter is incredibly smart and picks up things the first time she is introduced. This is the main reason we wanted her back into La Petite and with their curriculum. Being an elementary school teacher, making sure shes engaged and challenged is important. Every single day, she has a new talent or something. She can count to 20, knows her shapes (hexagons and pentagons- like what, colors, and has a couple sight words). I could not ask for anything more. Bridgit, dawn, sharlette, Kaylah, Kayla and all wonderful women there treat and love my daughter like she was their own and I could not ask for more. I must so add, the first time we attended. My daughter had an unknown food allergy to a not so common food (sesame seeds). One of their healthy snacks is hummus (yum) but a main ingredient is tahini (ground sesame seed). They immediately called me and took the appropriate action. Seriously- they had my daughters like in their hands and they handled it appropriately. Although none of us knew about my daughters allergy, we were able to figure out what it was and now has the proper medical attention"

D-BAT Virginia Beach

★★★★★ 4.7 (12)

"This is a very nice indoor batting cage. It's one of the nicest indoor batting cages in the area that I've been to. However it is on the more pricey side. I prefer the outdoor batting cages over at Holland, but if you need an indoor facility, this one does the trick."

Gymstrada Gymnastic School

★★★★★ 4.5 (8)

"The instructors are great ! But they will harass you as a parent for not wearing mask even you have a health condition or simply drinking water. I was just out of hospital (not COVID related and tested negative) and I wanted my son to see me supporting him and it didn't stop 3 coaches to point in my face and mandate the mask. Sure, it's a private business and they can treat you however they want."

Simon Family JCC

★★★★☆ 4.2 (11)

"BEST gym. OK size weight room but it's never so full you can't work out. The pool is AMAZING- especially the outdoor pool which is totally worth it. not too deep but never packed. Yolanda will greet you and put a smile on your face. the bathrooms are clean, nice showers.GREAT gym and worth the money."

Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads

★★★★★ 5 (9)

"I love the services offered by the Armed Service YMCA.My family takes part in "Operation Little Learners" which is an interactive online educational program for parents and their little ones to enhance child development skills. Operation Little Learners (OLL) give parents the chance to be the primary educator. OLL provides fun and engaging activities and resources. Gives parents and children more ways to bond and spend time together. Arm service YMCA has many different programs, events, and resources for military families. Their website is easy to navigate and they always provide you friendly and helpful service.I recommend Arm Service YMCA programs."

iD Tech Camps

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"This was an amazing experience for our kid. We did two week long camps and William and Mary. Both were fantastic. The instructors and camp leads really engage with the campers."

The Goddard School of Chesapeake

★★★★☆ 4.2 (5)

"Where do I begin? I suppose somewhere in the beginning, middle, and end; it's all the same. The Goddard School is GREAT! Teachers - BOOM - AWESOME!Oh yeah, some stuff I really liked.My wife and I decided to place our daughter in Goddard. Why? Because we're smart [I think so]. There are many things to share about Goddard. The education was/is great, but there were little extra things that brought my wife and I mental comfort.Leaving your kid(s) with other people....at a place, can be weird. Not at Goddard. No odd smells, sticky surfaces, odd interactions with staff; education, order, structure, and fun was in the air. There's nothing but positives, but a few items of personal interest pop out in my mind.Communication. We were always consulted in advance of our child's progress through written documentation and daily reports via the Tadpoles App. I didn't really know the power of the application, but it was comforting and very informative. As parents, of course, we all wonder what happens to our kid(s) when they're not in our presence - normal. What the Tadpoles App did, was to allow parents to check the status of drop-off/pick-up times, daily activities, see pics, see videos, get notes from teachers, reminders, and much more. The impressive thing, the teachers were fantastic at keeping [us] parents informed using technology - EVERY DAY. Keep in mind, the use of this application wasn't the only thing Goddard did extremely well at.At The Goddard School, there is obviously a focus on learning, but the school as a whole has a very wide range of activities throughout the year. YOU will see and be IMPRESSED!Teachers and parents [us] were in constant communication no matter the circumstance. If my child did well or needed more improvement at home in an area of weakness, I was happy to employ and reinforce practices that helped the teachers during their day with our child. Likewise, I appreciated the attention that was given to our child. I have not a word of negativity to speak; I couldn't imagine it.Side-note. After spending half my life in the military, I've learned a few things about:- attention to detail- communication- cleanliness- training & education- safety- teamwork- security- good times! [Classified]......shall I go on?Save yourself the dilemma and worry, Goddard has these components and more. If you're about making good choices, just bless your child with the gift of Goddard. You will not be sorry. You Will Be Happy!~ Andrejs M."

Jamestown 4-H Educational Center

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"My daughter attended a 3 night/3.5 days aquatics sleep away camp there and absolutely loved it! It was her first camp of the sort. This was focused on water sports, so she spent a lot of time on the James River stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming (in the pool). They even did archery, campfires, sang songs, learned to make bracelets, play games and much more! My daughter even loved the food. It was great that they even allowed her to bring green juices + probiotics (that needed refrigeration), so she could consume daily! This is part of her daily healthy regimen and I am so glad they were thoughtful enough to allow this. She came home with a lot of stories + journal entries! I was excited to read and listen to all of the camp experiences! Of course she's already excited for the opportunity to attend next year!"

Pink Pearl Gymnastics and Fitness

★★★★★ 4.8 (13)

"Amazing gym! This is the place to really learn gymnastic basics. My 9 year old has been to gyms in many locations due to us being a military family. I can say this is the first gym that has truly taught her a lot. They work on conditioning and strength a lot. They teach the children discipline. The children have fun, but they also learn. The owners really care about the children. I am so glad we found this gem!!!"

Pungo Board House

★★★★★ 5 (19)

"This is a super cute locals spot!In a small, charming home, located right in between Sawdust Road and The Bee and the Biscuit, you can have a coffee or brunch and saunter over to shop. I like the vibe inside and we were immediately greeted by a guy on the front porch cleaning up a board. They sell several used boards of all kinds and have a back room with tons of sizes and options. They also have surf gear, sandals, skateboards, stickers, local homemade SPF, board wax, some jewelry, you name it. They give beginner surf lessons and also have classes."

WRV Surf Camp

★★★★★ 4.9 (7)

"My 6 year old absolutely loves this camp!! The instructors are absolutely amazing! It's safe, fun, and the team works hard on ensuring covid safe distancing. We have already returned 3xs and have signed up for more! The camp starts out with beach practice time. Then the instructors will team up with 1 or 2 kids depending on their comfort level or the kids capability/ comfortable level in the water to practice surfing. It's an amazing camp and I highly recommend it!"

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

★★★★☆ 4.1 (230)

"This location of the NC Aquarium offers a wonderful opportunity to see and learn about the aquatic ecosystem of the Outer Banks. Exhibits include alligators; snakes; sea turtles; all types of fish, including sharks; and crustaceans, and much more. Staff and volunteers provide scheduled educational sessions as well as answering any and all questions you have. We especially appreciated the sea turtle rehabilitation area. The corresponding exhibit is a great learning opportunity for kids of all ages."

Triple R Ranch

★★★★☆ 4.2 (11)

"Excellent place for youngsters to learn about the great outdoors! Nature comes alive and they will find themselves enjoying a whole new world of wildlife, horses, interactions with others, etc. It is an all around wonderful experience! Our four young granddaughters attended the horse-riding lessons last summer and loved every moment of it. This year two of them are participating in the sleepover camping experience and are there this week. We can't wait to hear about all of the fun activities. The staff and counselors are amazingly kind and genuinely care about each of the campers. A very special place indeed! Highly recommend Triple R Ranch!"

Elite Cheer & Tumble

★★★☆☆ 3 (2)

"We have been at Elite for over 6 seasons now and both of my daughters love it. The coaches and owner are like family and will do anything to see the kids win!! We are a small family gym and you can feel that the minute you walk in the door!! Come check us out!!"

Tom & Ann Hunnicutt Family YMCA

★★★★☆ 3.8 (5)

"I love this YMCA location! All of the staff make us feel like we're family and truly care about our well being. I always choose this location out of all of the YMCA's in the area"

Talbot Park Baptist Preschool and Daycare

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"I so love this preschool. All the teachers and assistants are very friendly and helpful. This is my child's second year and I plan on reenrolling her for a third year. The program is very affordable, the staff will work with you for your child's needs, and while nothing is perfect, I have had an overall excellent experience thus far. My child comes home with amazing, thought out crafts and work and I feel fortunate to have found this gem of a school."

Jumpmasters Trampoline Park

★★★★☆ 3.8 (14)

"This place is awesome!! It's very clean, and the staff are always friendly. It's great for kids of all ages, and adults too. I always enjoy bringing my family to this place."

Nature's Path Academy

★★★★☆ 4 (4)

"My son (4 y/o) has been attending (half-days, M-F) for the past few months, and I am very impressed with the program. Every day my son comes home and tells me how much he enjoyed his day and played with friends. The school communicates clearly and often about how he is doing in school, the school's schedule, and photos of all of the fun they have every day. More personally, the school is amazingly flexible in working with my (VERY energetic) child to make sure that he is adequately stimulated. I can tell how much they love on him - he's always so excited to go back to "his school."To respond to another review, no, the school does not provide snacks or lunch, however, that in my experience that is not unusual - many programs (both church-based and not) do not provide food and ask that you send food that either 1) doesn't need to be warmed up or 2) in a thermos that will stay warm. The school's cost is very reasonable, especially for the love, care, and attention that is lavished on the children. If you want a preschool that supports your children, loves on them, and encourages them to grow into their best self, then NPA is a great place for them to be."

Childtime on Tiffany Lane

★★★☆☆ 3 (6)

"We love our school. My daughter is in the infants and childtime has been amazing for a first time mom transitioning to daycare. I love getting photos and updates all throughout the day. My daughter loves getting to eat school breakfast, lunch, and snacks, and it's so nice not to worry about packing food or diapers/wipes. My daughter will actively leap out of my arms into her teachers arms and start waving goodbye to me. I love being able to see what she's doing throughout the day by using the cameras, and love some of the things I see, such as my daughter getting extra hugs after her nap or getting special book time from her teachers."

VR64 Arcade

★★★★★ 4.9 (9)

"Great small business with a great owner. Provided my 9 year old with the "best" experience yet. He lo"

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3)

"Fantastic organization developing leadership skills for girls, building courage, confidence and character!"

Outer Banks Family YMCA

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (27)

"Recent change in Director has increased my opinion greatly. The new director (I think his name is Todd) is very hands on. I see him often in all areas doing many different jobs. Any safety concern is immediately addressed. Supplies especially for water sports have increased. Lifeguard coverage has improved, and they keep careful watch on kids, even those whose parents have their eyes glued to a phone instead of their own kids. During a recent thunder storm they had everyone exit the water, and two parents actually argued with the lifeguards. Really parents? It's no fun to do CPR on a kid.If I had one wish, I wish the outdoor pool could stay open in September as it's really warm in OBX then. So thankful for this great, fun , safe place to work out."

Ocean Tumblers

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (11)

"Super on the fence with this school. The instructors are more interested in socializing and staring off into space than teaching the kids anything. My daughter has a fun time when she's there, but doesn't learn anything week to week. She is often passed over when instructors are walking by and checking how students are doing, and she is very new to this, so she needs a little extra help from time to time. This is not happening. At this point, it is a safety issue more than anything else, as if she does a move incorrectly, she could hurt herself. I would like to see more engagement from the teachers, and less socializing and screwing around. We have had only a month of lessons so far. I will update if anything changes. As for now, I'm ready to pull her from this "school.""