Gentle Rain

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center offers visitors not only a chance to get familiar with some of the ocean's most amazing creatures, but to also get closer to them. In addition to offering various seasonal whale and dolphin watching tours, the facility also provides something even more unique. When the aquarium's researchers bring back the assorted haul of various fish and invertebrates from their latest deep sea collection trips, you can be there to see what unusual creatures they have brought back for further study. There is also an opportunity to take a pontoon trip around the Owls Creek Salt Marsh. Let your imagination be stirred by not only the many creatures and exhibits at the aquarium, but also by the science and oceanic-themed features that are available here. Not only will you gain a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the many forms of underwater life that you will experience here, you will also be impressed with the theater's cutting edge presentation and sound.

There's nothing ordinary about spending a day outdoors at the park when your destination is Virginia Beach's Great Neck Park. While planning a relaxing picnic lunch on a big blanket is a great idea, there is so much more here to experience. You can enjoy such activities as enjoying a game on one of the many ball fields, shoot hoops on one of the basketball courts, enjoy fun at the horseshoe pits, or enjoy a friendly game of volleyball. The kids will love the large playground areas, and there are sheltered pavilions and restrooms conveniently located throughout the park.

There are predictable dinner theaters and then there's the out-of-bounds entertainment that you and your family will experience when you are in the audience for Angelo's Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. With a 13-year backlog of memorable performances, this team of actors, directors and crew have been proud to continue the tradition of being Virginia Beach's original comedy/murder mystery company. Audiences love it for many reasons. Not only do you get a chance to see the work of some of the finest actors in the area, you will also become a part of the production as the performance becomes interactive. The characters variously include audience members to help solve the mystery, often leading to amusing results. The performances are all family friendly, so make it an evening out for the whole clan.

The two of you will enjoy escaping the present and journeying to Virginia Beach's dramatic past when you plan a romantic date at the Francis Land House Historic Site. This is a 200-year-old plantation home that has been restored down to the last detail and is open for guided tours and special events. Each room in the house is decorated to reflect the furniture and other items of the period, complete with stunning antiques and reproductions that offer visitors a rare opportunity to peer into how the gentry class of the area used to live.