Virginia Beach + Outer Banks

May 3, 2025

We'll begin our day with a 7:00am departure from Belleville making brief stops along the way in Napanee, Kingston, and Gananoque. Once we have picked up everyone in our group, we will begin our road trip to Virginia Beach and Outer Banks! There will be comfort stops along the way including the duty free and lunch on your own.

We will arrive at the Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Georgetown, DE around 6:00pm and dinner will be on your own this evening.

May 4, 2025

This morning breakfast is included at our hotel before we check out and continue making our way south. On our way to Virginia Beach, we will experience an engineering marvel; the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The bridge-tunnel is an iconic structure that connects Virginia's Eastern Shore with the mainland, spanning over 17.6 miles across the Chesapeake Bay. It's not just a means of transportation; it's an experience in itself, offering breathtaking views and a unique journey.

Once we arrive in Virginia Beach around 12:00pm, we will enjoy lunch on our own and some shopping at the Lynnhaven Mall. Along with plenty of dining options, this incredible shopping destination boasts over 120 premier stores, inviting outdoor plazas and unlimited entertainment.

Afterwards, we will join our group for a guided tour of Virginia Beach. The Virginia Beach step-on tour provides high-level information about the city, as well as its world-famous Oceanfront Resort. The tour will focus on the resort area, where we will learn about some of the major developments happening at the Oceanfront, see some of its historic sites, and drive through some beautiful neighborhoods.

Once our tour is over, we will make our way to the Virginia Beach Hyatt Place to check in and freshen up before dinner. Our hotel is located directly on the oceanfront of beautiful Virginia Beach. Here, you are steps from having your toes in the sand.

This evening, we will board our motorcoach and take a short drive to enjoy our included dinner at Captain George's Seafood Restaurant. They specialize in a wide variety of seafood dishes that are sure to satisfy any seafood lover's cravings. After our delicious meal, we will head back to our hotel for a relaxing evening.

May 5, 2025

After our included breakfast this morning, we will have some time on our own to explore the oceanfront, boardwalk, and enjoy the beach! Stretching over 3 miles along the Atlantic Ocean, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk is the heart and soul of this popular destination, drawing visitors with its unique mix of natural beauty and vibrant energy. It is lined with charming shops, restaurants, and attractions, the boardwalk serves as the perfect place to unwind and soak in the coastal ambiance.

After a slow morning, we will board our motorcoach and take a short drive to visit the Cape Henry Lighthouse. Once we arrive, a guide from Preservation Virginia will join us on our motorcoach and educate us about the lighthouse, its history, fun facts and more! We will then experience a self guided tour as we walk to the base of the lighthouse (there are about 40 steps to get to the base of the lighthouse; the lighthouse itself is about 200 spiral steps). If you would like to stay at the base, it is a great spot for pictures and they also have a gift shop that we can check out while we are visiting. Now that we've built up an appetite, we will enjoy an included lunch at Rockafellers Restaurant. In 1989, Rockafeller's opened its doors as a family owned and operated seafood restaurant in Virginia Beach, seeking to provide their guests with fresh food and renowned service.

Afterwards, we will head to the Virginia Aquarium to experience a dolphin watching cruise. This excursion offers an unforgettable journey in search of Virginia's most common and charismatic marine mammal; the bottlenose dolphin. While you're on the cruise you will also learn from their knowledgeable educators about the other Virginia coastal animals including majestic seabirds, curious sea turtles, and all of the unique fish species.

Once we are back on dry land, we will board our motorcoach and head back to our hotel to freshen up before dinner on our own.

The rest of the evening is yours to do whatever you would like.

May 6, 2025

We will enjoy our included breakfast this morning before we head to Norfolk for the day where we will experience their botanical gardens and a tram tour. The tram tour of the Norfolk Botanical Garden offers a great overview of the 175-acre property and its history, highlighting areas of seasonal interest and current exhibits. With over 60 gardens to explore, the tram tour is an excellent way to sample the property. We will also have free time after the tour to check out the gardens on our own. The garden dates back to 1938; today, the garden represents 155-acres of colorful landscapes, unusual flowers, mature forests and seasonal plantings. It also features one of the largest collections of azaleas, camellias, roses, and rhododendrons on the East Coast.

Afterwards, we will have lunch on our own in downtown Norfolk. Explore the center of the region's arts, dining, entertainment and financial scenes. This dynamic area blends historic charm with modern attractions, offering a rich experience for all visitors. After our meal, we will meet up with our group and make our way to Doumar's for an ice cream cone demonstration! You'll love their handmade waffle cones, rolled right in front of your eyes on the original four iron waffle machine, built in 1905.

After our sweet fix, we will board our coach and drive to visit the MacArthur Memorial. The Memorial is the final resting place of General Douglas MacArthur and his wife. You'll find their tomb on the first floor of the memorial building and on the second floor, you will find a museum dedicated to General Douglas McArthur's military career. It is also home to wonderful exhibits showcasing his military victories, his controversies, as well as many of his service medals and personal effects.

Before we relax at our hotel for the evening, we will be stopping for our included dinner at Bravo Cucina. Bravo has grown as a beloved Italian restaurant brand with multiple locations across the United States. They offer a diverse menu featuring a fresh take on classic Italian food using the freshest ingredients.

After our delicious meal, we will drive to our oceanfront hotel where we will spend the rest of the evening relaxing.

May 7, 2025

After enjoying your included breakfast this morning, we will check out of our hotel and head to our next adventure!

Our first stop in the Outer Banks is a must see store that is home to locally crafted art, home décor, and more; Absolutely Outer Banks. Their selection of local art pushes the boundaries of creativity and features art created by items collected along the local beaches; such as hand crafted shell art and sea glass jewelry. Lunch will be on your own today.

Later this afternoon, we will check into the Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/ Kitty Hawk; our oceanfront home for the next 2 nights. After settling in, we will get ready and head out for our included dinner at the Sugar Creek Seafood Restaurant. This restaurant has been family owned since 1989; the owners, Ervin and Teresa work hard to ensure that customers enjoy the view, service and most of all the food. The view is one of the best in the Outer Banks surrounded by water and wildlife.

Once our delicious meal is over, we will board our motorcoach and make our way back to our hotel for the rest of the evening.

May 8, 2025

This morning, we will have our included breakfast at the hotel.

Afterwards, we will board our coach and head to a very special place; the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. Our tour will begin at 10:00am as we are taken on a guided tour in our coach along the beach in search of the wild horses. This protected area of untouched natural beauty allows the opportunity to see incredible, unique wildlife and make lifelong memories. Established in 1984, the park preserves and protects the fragile ecosystem of the barrier island. The famous Corolla wild horses were originally brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 1500's and 1600's before being lost or released into the wild. Spotting one of these wild beauties is an exciting activity for every traveler, so be sure to bring your cameras to capture the memory!

We will then visit the village of Duck where we will have some free time and lunch on our own. The town of Duck, North Carolina, is a thriving coastal community with clean waters, beaches, maritime forests, wetlands, and dunescapes. Nestled at the northernmost tip of the Outer Banks in North Carolina, Duck welcomes visitors with the perfect blend of tranquility and charm.

Next up on our tour is the village of Corolla. We will visit the Currituck Maritime Museum and the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is a magnificent free educational center in Corolla, NC. The center is over 5,000 square feet and features many different exhibits ranging from historical artifacts to an 8,000-gallon aquarium. You'll learn all about the ecosystem of the Outer Banks and its rich history of wildlife and outdoor sports.

Late afternoon, we will board our motorcoach and head back to our hotel for a little rest before our included dinner.

We will enjoy our delicious meal tonight at Basnight's Lone Cedar Café in Nags Head; a family owned and operated restaurant. At Lone Cedar Café, they specialize in fresh and local Outer Banks seafood. If you're craving the freshest fish, clams, crab, shrimp and oysters from local North Carolina waters, you'll find them at the Lone Cedar Café. Come enjoy delicious food, gorgeous sunsets, panoramic water views, and warm Southern hospitality.

Afterwards, we will head back to our hotel for the rest of the evening.

May 9, 2025

After we enjoy our last included breakfast in North Carolina we will begin our journey north.

There will be comfort stops along the way including lunch on our own before we check into our hotel for the evening. Dinner will be on your own.

May 10, 2025

We will have an included breakfast at our hotel this morning. After we check out, we will board our motorcoach and head home.

There will be comfort stops along the way including lunch on your own and the duty free.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner