# Visiting Virginia Beach–Norfolk with toddlers and little kids: the plan

> Stay in downtown Norfolk or at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The zoo and the Chrysler are about 15 minutes apart in Norfolk, and the aquarium is a short drive south of the Oceanfront hotels.

- Last checked: 2026-10-28
- One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/visiting/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/index.md
- City guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/guide/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/llms.txt

## Top 2 can’t-miss spots

- **Virginia Zoo** (Norfolk, 3500 Granby St.): Last paid entry 3pm. Cost: $17 kids, $20 adults. Site: https://virginiazoo.org/tickets/
- **Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center** (Virginia Beach, 717 General Booth Blvd.): Last general entry 3:30pm. Cost: $30 kids, $35 adults. Site: https://virginiaaquarium.com/admission-information

## If you have one day

1. **MORNING**: Virginia Zoo (Zoo Tales Thursdays at 11 · Norfolk, 3500 Granby St. · $17 kids, $20 adults). https://virginiazoo.org/tickets/
2. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
3. **AFTER NAP**: Chrysler Museum of Art (Free; closed Mondays · Norfolk, One Memorial Place · Free). https://chrysler.org/visit/

## If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

1. **MORNING**: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (Opens 9am; last general entry 3:30pm · Virginia Beach, 717 General Booth Blvd. · $30 kids, $35 adults). https://virginiaaquarium.com/admission-information
2. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
3. **AFTER NAP**: Children’s Museum of Virginia (Wed–Sun until 4pm · Olde Towne Portsmouth, 221 High Street). https://childrensmuseumvirginia.com/visit-us

## Where to stay

- **Downtown Norfolk** (norfolk): The Chrysler and the zoo are a short drive apart. Near Chrysler Museum of Art and Virginia Zoo.
- **Virginia Beach Oceanfront** (oceanfront): The aquarium sits just south of the Oceanfront hotels. Near Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.

## Easy restaurants near the big stops

- **Zinnia Café at the Chrysler** (Café, Norfolk): Lunch inside the museum. https://chrysler.org/visit/

## Rainy-day backup plan

- **Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center**: Mostly indoors.
- **Children’s Museum of Virginia**: Indoors.
- **Chrysler Museum of Art**: Indoors.

## Practical tips

- Parking: Aquarium parking is free from November 1 through March 31; the zoo and the Chrysler park free year-round.
- Tickets: The Children’s Museum of Virginia and the aquarium both want tickets bought online before you go.


## Happening this week

- **Trick or Treat Carnival at Slover** (Sat 11am–3pm) at Downtown Branch at Slover. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/#e-trick_or_treat_carnival_at_slover
- **Trick or Treat at Central Library (Chesapeake)** (Sat During library hours) at Central Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/#e-trick_or_treat_at_central_library_chesap
- **Halloweekends at the Children’s Museum of Virginia** (Sat 9am–4pm) at Children’s Museum of Virginia. Included with museum admission; buy tickets in advance. https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/#e-halloweekends_at_the_childrens_museum_of
- **Zoo Tales at the Virginia Zoo** (Thu 11–11:30am) at Virginia Zoo. Free with zoo admission (adults $20, kids 2–11 $17, under 2 free). https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/#e-zoo_tales_at_the_virginia_zoo
- **Trick or Treat the Library (Major Hillard)** (Sat During library hours) at Major Hillard Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/#e-trick_or_treat_the_library_major_hillard

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Virginia Beach–Norfolk: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Virginia Beach–Norfolk for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/christmas-lights/index.md)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Is Virginia Beach–Norfolk kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Virginia Beach–Norfolk guide lists 6 places we checked for little kids, plus 2 free places and 4 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 1 easy restaurant near the big stops and free storytimes at 3 library systems. This week’s list has 23 dated outings for ages 0–6. See [free things to do in Virginia Beach–Norfolk](https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/).

### Where should we stay?
Downtown Norfolk keeps the zoo and the Chrysler close; the Virginia Beach Oceanfront is closest to the aquarium.

### What if it rains?
Pick the aquarium, the Chrysler or the Children’s Museum of Virginia; all three are indoors.