(Virginia Beach, Va., 2013) — The majestic ocean and the wilds of nature challenge even the bravest adventurer. For those who long to lace up their running shoes, paddle through the ocean's waves or sleep amongst wildlife under the stars, nature's gifts await you in Virginia Beach. Although Virginia Beach beckons to sunbathers and sandcastle-builders, the resort city is a wonderland for sports enthusiasts and those desiring more physical adventures. No matter where your outdoor interests lie, Virginia Beach provides that heart-thumping rush sports enthusiasts crave. Below is a listing the outdoor activities and outfitters offered in Virginia Beach. 

State Parks

• First Landing State Park, a 2,888-acre park that fronts the Chesapeake Bay, features 1.25 miles of beachfront and more than 19 miles of interpretive trails through protected salt marsh habitat, freshwater ponds, beach, dunes, forest, tidal marsh and cypress swamp. A registered Natural Landmark, First Landing is the most visited state park in Virginia andcontains one of the most endangered habitat types in the world, the maritime forest community.

• 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, Virginia's least visited 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. Together, the parks offer numerous hiking and biking trails. The extensive list of wildlife includes over 300 species of nesting and migratory songbirds, shorebirds and ducks (inclusive of a returning snow geese population of 10,000), otters, white-tailed deer, red fox, loggerhead turtles, American bald eagles, feral pigs, wild horses and a number of interesting reptiles. From April through October, visitors may travel into the heart of the parks on a tram and explore by foot from there.    

Dolphin and Whale-Watching

Each year, the Mid-Atlantic's largest population of bottlenose dolphins migrates off the Virginia Beach coast during the warmer months, while fin and humpback whales migrate past the coastline during the winter. Virginia Beach offers exciting dolphin and whale-watching cruises sponsored by the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Humpback whales can weigh up to 40 tons and range up to 52 feet long, while fin whales, the “greyhounds of the sea” are known as the second largest animal on the planet after the blue whale, ranging up to 85 feet long and weighing up to 70 tons.

Commonly observed whale behaviors include breaching, spyhopping, lobtailing and bubble netting. Several outfitters feature dolphin-watching kayaking trips through the ocean swells. Participants can observe dolphins as they feed, tail slap and jump among the waves.

Water Sports

Swimming, surfing, boogie-boarding, windsurfing, paddle boarding, jet-skiing, parasailing, kayaking, sailing and boating are all available in the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, as well as a variety of other waterways such as Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Lynnhaven River. Recreational equipment can be rented from various companies near the beaches while several outfitters offer surf camps for those wanting to learn to “hang 10” in a safe environment. For a different view of the water, try your skill at an ancient surfing technique known as stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP.

Fishing

Known as the “Striped Bass Capital of the World,” Virginia Beach and its neighboring waters are home to a multitude of freshwater, brackish and saltwater fishing opportunities. With the food-rich Chesapeake Bay adjoining the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach, a long list of fish including croaker, spot, flounder, striped bass, tautog, sea bass, trout, bluefish, skipjack, cobia, mahi-mahi, Spanish and king mackerel, puppy and red drum, yellowfin and bluefin tuna, white and blue marlin, amberjack and wahoo are abundant at various times of the year. Tow your boat and choose from several different ramp locations or opt for a full or half-day private charter. Or, cast a line from one of the four fishing piers. Each January, Virginia Beach holds the annual Waterman's Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shoot-out,which is now the largest rockfish tournament in the country.

Running

The resort city hosts numerous professional and amateur races, such as the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, which draws more than 20,000 athletes and features musical performances along every mile for both participants and spectators to enjoy. Virginia Beach also hosts the Shamrock Marathon Weekend, a qualifier for the Boston Marathon and multi-race event featuring the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, Anthem Half Marathon, Townebank 8K and Operation Smile Final Mile, as well as the Virginia is for Lovers 14K, Blue Moon Wicked 10K, Samuel Adams Surf 'n' Santa 10 Miler & 5K. Numerous other races dot the calendar including 5ks, 10ks, triathlons and mud runs.

Camping

• Virginia Beach is home to five campgrounds containing more than 1,800 campsites and nearly 70 rustic cabins, with amenities including restrooms/showers, guest laundry, bicycles, playgrounds, pools and boat ramps.
• First Landing State Park offers tent, RV and cabin camping accommodations. The park has campsites both with and without water and electrical hookups and come equipped with a picnic table and fire-grill. All tent and RV sites are located just steps from the Chesapeake Bay, offering campers close access to water.
• False Cape State Park features 12 primitive camping sites and an extensive environmental education program. There are no cabins, but camp sites are open year-round and are located in four main areas – Barbour Hill Bay, Barbour Hill Ocean, False Cape Landing Bay and False Cape Landing Ocean.
• Holiday Trav-L-Park, located just a few miles from the Virginia Beach oceanfront, offers campers 830 campsites for motorhomes, trailers and tents as well as 44 cabins dispersed throughout 100 wooded acres. The campground features four playgrounds, a miniature golf course, basketball and volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and other fun activities to keep campers entertained.  
• A few other campgrounds in Virginia Beach include: Virginia Beach KOA, North Landing Beach Campground and North Bay Shore Campground.

Birding

The Seashore-to-Cypress Loop is part of the Coastal Phase of the statewide Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, operated by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. This loop traverses Virginia Beach and extends into the neighboring city of Norfolk. It contains 12 viewing sites teeming with flocks of migrant shorebirds, songbirds and raptors, winter wetlands filled with waterfowl, whales swimming offshore and summer swarms of dolphins, butterflies and dragonflies. Popular stops include the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, First Landing State Park, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, False Cape State Park and the Virginia Aquarium.

Tennis

Close to 200 free public tennis courts dot the city, with most courts lighted. In particular, Owl Creek Municipal Tennis Center has tournament seating for 1,300 and offers lessons for both youth and adult players. Specialty programs include cardio tennis which delivers the ultimate full-body, calorie burning aerobic workout. The Virginia Beach Tennis & Country Club completed a multi-million dollar addition and expansion last summer making it the largest tennis facility in the Mid-Atlantic region. The architectural upgrades include a massive 94,000 square-foot building equipped with everything from a yoga and dance studio to private entrance locker facilities with massage rooms, as well as spectator seating. The 10 new U.S. Open DecoTurf indoor courts are located side-by-side with convenient entrances and feature flexible playing surfaces in blue and green court colors. Added to the 25 clay and 3 hard outdoor courts, the clubs boasts an impressive total of 38 tennis courts.

Virginia Beach Outfitters and Bike Rentals

• Back Bay Getaways – Offers kayak and mountain bike guided tours; rentals also are available. www.backbaygetaways.com
• Beach Eco Tours – Offers paddleboarding tours. www.beachecotours.com
• Cherie's Bike & Blade Rentals – Offers bike, tandems, family bikes, in-line skates, beach chairs and umbrellas at 13 locations along the boardwalk.   
• Chesapean Outdoors - Offers kayak, paddleboard and surf lessons and various kayaking tours. Rentals also are available.  www.chesapean.com
• Enticer Water Sports – Offers paddle boats, surf bikes, row boats, fishing boats and wave runner rentals.
• Surf & Adventure Co. – Offers kayak, paddleboard and surf lessons, various kayaking tours as well as surf camps and other group events. Rentals are also available.  www.surfandadventure.com
• Tula Adventure Sports – Offers paddleboarding, wakeboardking, kayaking, waterskiing, kitesurfing, boat charters and a children's camp. www.tulasports.com