Senior Trip Hot Spots: Virginia Beach

If your student travel group loves the ocean and outdoors then there is only one destination for your senior trip: Virginia Beach. There are actually three main beaches in Virginia Beach, VA: Resort, Sandbridge, and Chesapeake Bay. There's also an enormous amount of adventure awaiting you both on the coast and away from it. Here are the top 10 recreational attractions at Virginia Beach:

Adventure Park. Located and run by Virginia Aquarium, Adventure Park is an elaborate ropes course like no other. The park consists of 13 treetop aerial trails that accommodate the most modest climber or challenge the most advanced athlete. The trails include zip lining, rope ladders, narrow wooden bridges and plenty of safety precautions.

Kayak Nature Tours. Kayak tours are a unique way to experience the natural habitats of Virginia. They're also a great workout! Kayak Nature Tours offers everything from two-hour beginner's tours to ocean dolphin tours to all day tours to deserted beaches. (If you'd rather not kayak, check out the dolphins from a safe and secure boat on a Sea Adventures tour from the Virginia Aquarium.)

Cape Henry Lighthouse not only makes for a beautiful coastal view, it's also open to the public. Climb the lighthouse for an ideal vantage point of the coast from the top. The lighthouse is located at Fort Story military base.

Hang Gliding Tours. After experiencing the great outdoors up close and personal in a kayak tour, take your adventure to the next level with a hang gliding tour. No experience is needed for tandem tours at Eastern Shore Hang Gliding Center. You'll fly like a bird and see the landscape from a literal bird's eye view if you take advantage of this one of a kind adventure.

Beach Tours. Relaxing on the beach can be a fun diversion that will occupy some students for days. But you can also actively explore the beach. Try rollerblading on the boardwalk at Resort Beach. Or if you'd rather ride, take a horseback riding tour of the beach. Both are fun ways to discover the wonders of the ocean's coast.

Surfing. If you live in a landlocked city, students will love the opportunity to learn this coastal sport. Several companies offer private and group surf lessons. You can also check out opportunities to participate in other water sports such as paddle boarding and jet skiing. No matter what you choose, getting wet is a must at Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach Amusement Park. It will be easy for students to kill time while hanging out at this free entrance, carnival-like amusement park. Guests pay per ride so the fun is as inexpensive or endless as you choose!

First Landing State Park. Your student travel group could spend the whole day exploring the lagoons, marshes, cypress trees, and bays at this state park. The park has miles of trails for hiking and biking but can also be explored by kayak. Bring a picnic lunch to top off a fun and relaxing day at the park.

Ocean Breeze Water Park has enough water attractions to occupy a group of students all day. Whether you want to relax on a lazy river or test your courage in their daring water slides and chutes, you're bound to have a fun day when you spend it at the water park.

Motor World. Even if your group is looking for a little dry, inland fun, they'll find what they're looking for at Motor World. World class go kart tracks are the perfect diversion for students with a competitive spirit and a love for speed. They also offer paintball, mini golf, and thrill rides.

If you decide to take your senior trip to Virginia Beach, consider vacation rental homes as a lodging option. Some homes can sleep up to 30 students and are located right next to the shore.

It's obvious that not everyone will enjoy every activity on this list. But with so many different attractions available you can give your students options - let them choose whether they'd rather go kayaking with the dolphins or hang gliding over the sea. Maybe one group would prefer to shoot paint balls and go kart instead of swimming and sliding at Ocean Breeze Water Park. When you visit Virginia Beach, there's a way to make your school trip itinerary work for everyone.