Free playgrounds, the Level Green sprayground, library storytimes and StoryWalks, indoor pools and the Aquarium: things to do with kids in Virginia Beach.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Sources: Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation, the Virginia Beach Public Library, the Virginia Aquarium and the Military Aviation Museum. Prices and hours are the venues’ own; check before you go.
Virginia Beach has more for children than the beach: big free playgrounds, a summer sprayground, a library system that runs storytimes from six months old, seven indoor pools and an aquarium. Here are the best-known options, grouped by what you need that day.
Who to call
- Parks and Recreation: 757-385-1100
- Virginia Beach Public Library: 757-385-0150
- Virginia Aquarium guest services: 757-385-3474
Playgrounds (free)
- Kids Cove, Mount Trashmore Park, 310 Edwin Drive. Nearly 26,000 square feet on a rubber surface in three areas: a giant play structure with slides, walkways and climbers; swings for all ages, including a wheelchair swing; and a climbing area. The park also has a skate park, two lakes and paths, per Parks and Recreation.
- Grommet Island Park, Boardwalk and 2nd Street. A 15,000-square-foot, fully accessible beach playground with raised sand tables, a sensory board, a sway boat and a wheelchair-operated sand scoop. Beach wheelchairs are free; attendants are on call 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., May through October.
- Red Wing Park, 1398 General Booth Blvd. Two playground areas, cradle swings, open fields and the Japanese garden.
- Level Green Park, 1520 Level Green Blvd. A playground next to the sprayground.
- Little Island Park, 3820 Sandpiper Road, Sandbridge. A playground by the beach; the park office lends balls, frisbees and volleyball and badminton sets free with a photo ID.
The free VB ParkFinder app lists every city park with a playground.
Water play
- Level Green Park sprayground: free, 9 a.m. to sunset, Memorial Day to Labor Day, plus May and September weekends, when the air is at least 75 degrees. Children 8 and under need an adult; swim diapers for children who are not toilet trained.
- Indoor pools at all seven recreation centers, year-round, with a membership or day pass. Bow Creek, 3427 Club House Road, has a sprayground, slide and diving board; Williams Farm, 5252 Learning Circle, has a slide. Children 8 and under must be in the water with someone 16 or older. See the pool calendars.
- The beach: lifeguards staff the Oceanfront, Croatan, Sandbridge and Little Island Park in season; see our summer camps and pools page.
Storytimes and StoryWalks (free)
Virginia Beach Public Library storytimes run by age:
| Storytime | Ages |
|---|---|
| Baby Rhyme Time | 3 to 12 months, with caregiver |
| Onesies Rhyme Time | 12 to 24 months, with caregiver |
| Combined Rhyme Time | 6 to 24 months, with caregiver |
| Just 2s | Age 2, with caregiver |
| 3s Please | Age 3, with caregiver |
| Combined Preschool | 3 to 5, with caregiver |
| On My Own | 4 to 5, without a caregiver in the room |
Most storytimes need online registration, which opens exactly two weeks before each class; “Drop-in” classes do not. The library also runs StoryWalks, picture-book pages posted along a path, at Williams Farm Park and several branches, plus kid coding classes and the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge, and it lends nature kits and state park backpacks through its Library of Things.
Rainy-day picks
- Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, 717 General Booth Blvd. Adults $35, ages 5 to 17 $30, seniors 70 and older $30, 4 and under free; members free. Online reservations are strongly recommended. Toddler Tuesday, an alphabet-and-animals program, runs every Tuesday at 9:15 and 10:15 a.m., included with admission, per the Aquarium.
- Military Aviation Museum, 1341 Princess Anne Road. World War I and World War II aircraft, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; youth 5 to 13 $10, adults $17.
- Recreation center pools (above) and the library’s indoor programs.
- Town Center of Virginia Beach businesses run family painting days at Muse Paintbar and classes at Macaron Tart and the LEGO store; check Town Center’s monthly event guide.
Seasonal
- Fall: Halloween events and fall festivals and pumpkin patches.
- Winter: holiday lights and Christmas events.
- Spring and summer: spring break, Easter egg hunts and summer camps.
What this means for you
- For toddlers, register for storytimes two weeks out.
- On a hot day, Level Green’s sprayground is free but needs 75 degrees to run.
- On a rainy day, reserve Aquarium tickets online before you drive.
Related: free things to do in Virginia Beach and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free things to do with kids in Virginia Beach?
The city’s playgrounds are free, including Kids Cove at Mount Trashmore and the fully accessible Grommet Island Park at the Oceanfront. Library storytimes, StoryWalks and the Level Green Park sprayground in summer are free too.
Is there a splash pad in Virginia Beach?
Yes. Level Green Park, 1520 Level Green Blvd., has the city’s first public sprayground, open 9 a.m. to sunset from Memorial Day to Labor Day (weekends in May and September) when it is at least 75 degrees. Bow Creek Recreation Center also has an indoor sprayground in its pool.
What ages are library storytimes in Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach Public Library runs storytimes for children 6 months to 5 years, from Baby Rhyme Time to On My Own for 4- and 5-year-olds. Most need online registration, which opens two weeks before each class.
How much is the Virginia Aquarium for kids?
$30 for ages 5 to 17 and free for children 4 and under; adults are $35. Members get in and park free, and active military and veterans get $2 off adult and youth tickets.
What can kids do on a rainy day in Virginia Beach?
The Virginia Aquarium, the indoor pools at the seven city recreation centers, library programs and the Military Aviation Museum are all indoors.
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