Fave Activities, Services & Eats
**Most spots listed below are local to the Sandbridge/Red Mill Area unless otherwise noted**
Activities
Andersons Garden & Entertainment Center:Activities for all ages including...
- Sage Kitchen:This secret little spot has everything you need in a super family friendly, deliciously epic dining experience! The kids can hang out in our own Hobbit hut, climb and swing on our mini-ropes course, play soccer pool and chill in our cute cabana. Let’s play! Choose from home-baked breads and homemade soups, omelets, sandwiches and salads, all made with the very best ingredients. It’s simple. Everything we serve is made from scratch and incorporates the freshest local ingredients, including herbs from our own greenhouse. Whether you’re a foodie or not, come to the Sage Kitchen restaurant hungry because you’ll want to try everything on our seasonal menu. Check out the Virginia Beach Menu here!
- Miss A's Adventure Golf: Join us as we break out the putters and open the greens of our new mini-golf course! We’re excited to offer more fun for the family at Anderson’s. Bring your family and friends for a swing around 18 holes of maximum fun and challenges. Cost is just $8 per player, per round.
- Broski's Arcade: The golden age of arcades may have been the early 1980s, but here at Anderson’s you’ll find everything from Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash to Donkey Kong and BurgerTime! Located next to our mini golf course, you and your children will have hours of endless fun playing air hockey, skee ball, and so much more. (Hint: There are also beverages for both adults and kiddos!) Come on in, we’re open and ready for you!
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Museum: Explore over 800,000 gallons at one of the best aquariums and animal habitats in the country. Experience our hands-on exhibits, nature path, and marshlands. **Please call ahead or double check website as some exhibits are currently closed**
The Adventure Park At Virginia Aquarium:The amazing aerial forest park features climbing and zip lining through majestic trees near the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s Marsh Pavilion. Take to the treetops on 15 trails that weave between tree platforms on the 6-acre site, offering adventures for ages 5 through adult.
Hunt Club Farm: A few miles beyond Virginia Beach’s resort area is another landscape the city is known for – farmland – and the family-owned and operated Hunt Club Farm is proud to be part of the area’s rich agricultural history. Hunt Club Farm is a 28-acre family-owned and operated farm that raises chickens, goats and other livestock, provides educational field trips and features agricultural-based entertainment by way of its petting farm, pony rides and seasonal farm festivals.
Motor World: Motor World features 11 Go-Kart tracks, 250 Karts with 16 different style Go-Karts. Be sure to check out our heart-pounding Skycoaster, Bumper Boats, Kiddie & Thrill Rides, and Shipwreck Golf.
Military Aviation Museum & Dinosaur Park: Before you arrive at The Military Aviation Museum when you first turn off Princess Anne Road, you'll find a super cool outdoor display of all kinds of giant Dino's! The exhibit is free and can all be viewed with a short walk in about 15-20 min, see more here. The Military Aviation Museum is home to one of the largest private collections of World War I and World War II era military aircraft in the world. Each of our planes has been beautifully restored to its prior military condition, using original parts whenever possible. Most of the planes are airworthy and flown at the museum during flight demonstrations and at air shows throughout the year. Some being the last flight-ready aircraft of their time, and all of them being one of a kind. The museum is open to all. General admission applies for the museum. Come out and see the heritage and machinery of World War I and World War II!
Aquaman Sportsfishing Charters:Captain Agner can show you how to spend time on the water catching more fish for far less money than other fishing charters. Ask for details about how a near shore trip can provide you the opportunity to catch flounder, striper, sharks, and other sport fish. We specialize in fishing trips for corporate team building events, bachelor parties, large family fishing trips and birthday parties. Call Captain Nolan To Book your charter at 757-200-0200.
Virginia Beach Oceanfront & Resort Area: The Virginia Beach Oceanfront is an amazing place where the Atlantic Ocean and the shores of Virginia Beach meet. The three mile resort area is where sand, surf, and sun collide for your vacationing pleasure. The larger-than-life King Neptune Sculpture, unique sites and yummy eats are some
Bergey's Breadbasket: The Bergey Family is honored to have welcomed visitors to our farm for more than 80 years. We want to continue that tradition, but we need your help to do so. When you visit the farm, we ask that you either make purchases in our store, or drop a contribution in one of our designated boxes, or both. Thank you for your partnership in sustaining this service to the community. Join us and explore our exciting corn maze with additional activities for the whole family. Be sure to check for closures due to weather!
Surf & Adventure Co.: Surf & Adventure Co. is the culmination of decades of passion for the outdoors. We want our customers to enjoy Sandbridge as much as we do. Whether in surfing the waves of the Atlantic, paddling the quiet waters of Back Bay, or rambling through the trails of Virginia Beach, we strive to share positive outdoor experiences with our customer while raising the next generation of youth within our community.
Grommet Island Park: Located in the Virginia Beach Resort Area and is a great time for kids! JT`s Grommet Island Park for EveryBODY is an oceanfront destination, an accessible beach playground and park for disabled children and adults; and a place where everyone can have a great day at the beach. It features 15,000 sq feet of ramps and decking a shaded play area, bench seating and areas to picnic. Soft play sculptures, accessible play equipment and cushioned play surfaces provide recreational opportunities and special beach wheelchairs are available for those who want to cruise on the sand.
Little Island Park: Located in the Southern end of Sunny Sandbridge, Little Island Park is a great family destination. Here are just a few of the amenities: Four Picnic Shelters with Charcoal Grills Picnic Area with Charcoal Grills Lighted Tennis Courts Basketball Courts Volleyball Court and Beach Volleyball Playground Canoe/Kayak Launch Area on Back Bay Click here to view a slideshow of the fun things to do at Little Island Park: https://www.flickr.com//photos/vbpr/sets/72157624216017579/show/
Day Trips
Colonial Williamsburg:From hands-on activities to guided tours of original 18th-century buildings to our unmatched folk-art collection, there’s something for everyone at Colonial Williamsburg.
Nauticus & The Battleship Wisconsin (Norfolk): Nauticus is a maritime discovery center located along the waterfront, offering a unique form of experiential learning for all ages. Through interactive exhibits and STEM to STERN programming, Nauticus uses the museum, Battleship Wisconsin, sailing center, and Schooner Virginia to tell the story of the maritime environment, industry, and the military.
Norfolk Botanical Gardens & Splash Pad (Norfolk):So much beauty to see in one spot! A huge Rose Garden, Butterfly House, an amazing, partially shaded splash pad and several outdoor play areas for the kiddos, this is one of my families fave spots! A visit may not take a full day but you can count on at least 3-4 hours depending on how much touring you want to do.
Busch Gardens/Water Country USA (Williamsburg): Whether you’re a kid, teen or adult, fun is always in season. With thrilling coasters, family-friendly shows, world-class dining and unique seasonal offerings, there's something to do all year long at Busch Gardens. At Water Country USA get your pulse racing as you take on our mega-slide or kick up your feet and relax as you float along our lazy river. There's tons of fun for your little ones, too, with themed play areas, child-sized water slides and shallow pools.
Children`s Museum of Virginia (Portsmouth): Step into a world where bubbles grow bigger than you are, where the forces of energy electrify and spark the imagination, where you can be a farmer, a banker, a scientist, a stargazer. Come to where the big people think you're having an educational experience and you're just having a lot of fun! Give them the run of The City! We've made it kid size and theirs to explore from the bank to the market, from the fire engine to the pet area. Get the inside track on Trains. Little kids (and big ones, too) love trains, and oh, have we got a huge collection of trains! Clanging and puffing and zooming like you knew they could. Adhesion. Cohesion. And bursts of Laughter. It's the new Bubble Room. Make them. Pop them. Stand inside one! Once your child has experienced standing in a bubble, science will never be the same! Inspire tomorrow's Stars. Nothing quite amazes or inspires a child like that first trip to a planetarium. Take that trip with them at the Children's Museum.
Local Eats
The Baja: At the south end of Sandbridge, good food, good drinks, have a sunset dinner on the bay while listening to live music! Music Bingo, Karaoke, Margarita's and more with a gorgeous outdoor space for the kids to run around.
Margie & Rays Crab house: A locals tradition since 1964, fresh fish & seafood fare served daily (closed Monday's). Located right off Sandbridge Rd on your way to the beach!
The Lucky Oyster:Seafood Bar & Grill, the Mac & Cheese & Fried Oysters are some of my personal faves! See the Menuhere.
Sage Kitchen: (inside Andersons Garden Center): This secret little spot has everything you need in a super family friendly, deliciously epic dining experience! The kids can hang out in our own Hobbit hut, climb and swing on our mini-ropes course, play soccer pool and chill in our cute cabana. Let’s play! Choose from home-baked breads and homemade soups, omelets, sandwiches and salads, all made with the very best ingredients. It’s simple. Everything we serve is made from scratch and incorporates the freshest local ingredients, including herbs from our own greenhouse. Whether you’re a foodie or not, come to the Sage Kitchen restaurant hungry because you’ll want to try everything on our seasonal menu. See the menu here.
The Bee & The Biscuit: **Call ahead for wait times and seating for large parties** A charming original c.1919 cottage restaurant in the main intersection of Pungo, Virginia Beach. Located in farm country, we serve quality fresh produce grown by local farmers. We serve a delicious variety of fresh made biscuits, benedicts, omelets, breakfast sweets, sandwiches, salads and seasonal specials. Breakfast and lunch are served all day. Enjoy our custom blended coffee or a creative latte with whipped cream on top. Add a yummy Bloody Mary or a Mimosa Flight to round out your weekend brunch. Our restaurant offers cozy fireside seating in the cool months, and a shady outdoor deck in the warmer months. The Bee & The Biscuit is not able to take reservations for breakfast or lunch. Our weekends are busy, but we have a lovely garden patio waiting area where we serve coffee, bloody marys and mimosas. We also have games to help pass the time while you wait. We recommend you join us during weekdays for uncrowded dining. See the menu here.
Boardwok Restaurant: The Boardwok Restaurant is a family-owned and operated business located in the Red Mill area of Southeastern Virginia Beach, VA. All of our dishes are made to order, using only the highest quality ingredients, fresh produce, and never food enhancers or MSG. We also provide a Gluten Free option for some of our dishes. Here at The Boardwok we understand our guests expect the best, and we are proud to give you ours. View the Menu here. A few of my personal faves; Chicken Salad Plate (the in house made vinaigrette is amazing!), Kev's Rice Noodles, Pepper jack Wontons and their in-house made Spring Rolls!
The Egg Bistro: We are an independently owned neighborhood bistro that provides fresh, innovative food in a hip, family environment. Everyone on our staff is wholeheartedly committed to providing the best food and service possible. Conveniently located in the Haygood & Strawbridge sections of Virginia Beach and in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake. We offer off site catering and have an expansive food and bar menu and craft beers on tap. View the (day) Menu here.
Whiskey Kitchen: At Whiskey Kitchen circa 2014, we let our passion for real food and exceptional service be our guide. We've partnered with outstanding local vendors, and hired a team of motivated employees who are all inspired to share our mission of bringing authentic, honest and regional cuisine to our community. We're wholeheartedly committed to every guest we meet, and we love what we do. Locally/Brewed/Grown/Owned. I am a HUGE fan of the Buffalo Cauliflower bites!
Only at Renee's: We serve A Taste of Pampanga, Philippines right here in the Red Mill Commons of Virginia Beach, Virginia. We serve authentic made to order Filipino cuisine…straight from our hearts.
Tida Thai: This restaurant is probably the best spot to get original Thai food and delicacies. We strive hard to ensure that we give value to our client’s money by serving them with fresh and delicious Thai food at a relatively affordable cost. Guests can conveniently enjoy popular Thai foods like Massaman Curry, Pad See Ew, Pad Krapow Moo Sab Kai Dow, Tom Yum Goong etc. View the Menu here.
Masala Bites: Locally sourced ingredients, spices are toasted and grounded in house to make our own unique blends. Ingredients are the star of our cuisine; we aim to please with our quality. Our seasoned teams of chefs are a passionate bunch who strives to represent and redefine India’s vast culinary repertoire. We are equally attentive while catering your needs from a cultural or local standpoint. Our menu represents various regions of India with northern India being the main focus. Our wine program is designed to be a crowd pleaser offering diverse choices to cater to your needs. In addition we also have a popular selection of beers from India and other places. Inviting atmosphere, ethnic yet refreshing modern décor, and comfortable setting, the restaurant is bound to please all. View the Menu here.
Flip Flops Grill & Chill: Flip Flops VB Grill is a place to enjoy fine coastal cuisine and top notch service in a laid back tropical atmosphere. Kris, Thurbon, a long time Virginia Beach resident has created a casual but refined social gathering spot for locals and tourists alike. Kris has crafted a menu that features an array of fresh local seafood, burgers, poultry and meat dishes many with a Caribbean twist that give this small but popular eatery a unique style of its own. View the Menu here.
Red Head Bay Cafe: Though located in a rural part of town, this place is fast paced and bustling on the weekends. If you stumble upon Redhead Bay Café you can expect a warm welcome, large portions of food, and delicious craft cocktails. It's not unusual to catch Aristotle himself making the rounds to all the tables on any given day. The whole team at Redhead Bay Café takes a lot of pride in every part of the experience. Come be a part of the family!
Pungo Pizza & Ice Cream: My family and I have personally enjoyed the pizza and garlic knots for years, seriously the best garlic knots around!!
Simply Steamed: Seafood Steam Pots to cook at home. Seafood and Landlubbers menu items.
Outer Banks Boil Company: Dining out in Virginia Beach can be a daunting task. Leaving the beach early, hour long waits for tables, expensive drinks, and mediocre food are just the start! Let Outer Banks Boil Company solve your dining dilemma with our unique approach. Choose either our at-home catering or one of our pots to-go. Maximize your beach time and enjoy a meal and experience you won't soon forget!
Coffee Shops & Cafe's
The Baja Coffee Company: Sister to The Baja Sandbridge, located about 10 min outside of Sandbridge Beach, great wraps & sandwiches, and most importantly, coffee drinks (and some liquor & beer based fare, as well).
Astrea Coffee: Liberty, Justic & Coffee for All! Local shop in the heart of the Municipal District. Serving all of your favorite coffees, lattes, wraps, bakes goods, sandwiches & smoothies. The iced Hung Jury with Oat milk is my personal fave! See the menu here. *There is an adorable second floor access for reading a book or for kiddos to play and explore!*
Sawdust Road: Fresh. Seasonal. Local. Using only the freshest ingredients found right here in Pungo, Virginia (when available). Like the iconic Pungo village where we reside, this house is filled with heart, grit, and good old fashioned hard work. We are artists, craftsmen, wood workers, dreamers, do’ers. From oils to watercolor to pottery, we are a village of artists looking to share our passion and create a culture around community and good vibes. See the menu here.
Java Surf Cafe & Espresso Bar: Located near the Virginia Beach Resort Area off 19 st. - A fantastic breakfast & lunch spot serving rustic and super fresh eats and organic coffee based drinks!
Roast Riders Coffee & Tea (my personal fave!): In-house made, seasonal coffee syrups, enjoy the deliciousness in their spacious, eclectic indoor setting or the quiet outdoor patio area. *My fave concoction: iced half white chocolate/half Irish almond creme with cinnamon & oat milk*
Starbucks: Locations near Sandbridge are inside Harris Teeter in Sandbridge Commons Shopping Center, Target in Red Mill Walk Shopping Center, Solo location in Red Mill Commons next to 5 Guys and a Drive-Thru is available near the corner of Nimmo and General Booth in Hickman Place Shopping Center.
May's Parlor: Located near the Virginia Beach Resort area off 27th st. - May’s Parlor is a locally-owned, coastal-cottage bakery-cafe known for fresh pastries, exciting flavors, and classic, crave-worthy cafe fare. With a variety of pastries hot out of the oven each morning, and with an unforgettable selection of savory breakfast and lunch items, May’s Parlor has quickly become a must for Virginia Beach vacationers and a local staple within the oceanfront community.
Catering/Personal Chef Services
Chef In My Kitchen: Bringing Restaurant Quality Meals To Your Kitchen! My name is Mary Cook and I have been a chef in Hampton Roads for nearly 20 years. My grandmother was a chef and I found my passion pretty early in life. She has always been my inspiration and taught me that food can feed more than just the body. I grew up in a large Italian family where Food Is Life! Mary attended Johnson & Wales University and received her bachelor's degree in Food Service Management. She is an American Culinary Federation certified Chef De Cuisine with over 18 years of experience. She counts experiences like the Trellis in Williamsburg under the Death by Chocolate Chef Marcel Desauliners, Town Point Club in Norfolk, Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club in Virginia Beach and the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth among her many impressive work locations and joined the Culinary Institute of Virginia in 2013. Chef Cook has been an instructor at the Culinary Institute of Virginia for 6 years and became the Director of the Casual Gourmet program in 2018. She is a wife and mother to 5 young children and enjoys spending long summer days on the beach or camping with her family.
Tailored Chef, LLC: We bring tailored catering services to the Coastal Virginia area, with private and special events that will delight and inspire. Our focus is on quality and flavor. We don't serve anything to our clients that we wouldn't serve our own families. Period. We bring our expertise to your home or event, giving you the freedom to enjoy top-quality meals without making an effort. You will be a guest at your own event. Contact us to see what we have to offer.