Things to Do in Hopewell

The team running Happy Winds Kiteboarding & Water Sports knows board sports like Bo Jackson knows all other sports. Garnering experience in the competitive circuit of snowboarding and chasing the best winds around the globe to engage in the most extreme kiteboarding possible, the staffers have the need for adventure coursing through their veins. In between taming waves, they like to fill their time sharing their knowledge of kiteboarding and sailing with others through organized lessons and training sessions. Aside from lessons, they offer equipment for sale and rental, including everything from standup paddleboards and kayaks to aquacycles, wakeboards, chairs, umbrellas, and cabana sets.

Great White Water Sports creates a harmony with the gentle crash of waves, the powerful growls of jet skis, and the excited yelps of families as they launch a variety of jet-ski rentals right from the sands of Chesapeake Bay. Backed by favorable attention from USA Today, their lifeguard-trained team also saddles up jet skis. In waters warmer than the Atlantic and with smaller waves, they bring people right alongside the porpoises as they leap from the bay during slam-dunk contests. Their jet skis are not equipped with any speed-restriction devices, allowing guests to rev up their engines and feel the wind hit their faces as they send wake waves rolling shoreward.

The experienced guides at Ocean Eagle Kayak Adventures maintain a thorough knowledge of their local waters, allowing them to usher visitors through the Atlantic surf or secluded groves of shady water plants. On tours, they guide their participants to get up close with local wildlife and navigate alongside dolphin pods. On kayak fishing trips they help anglers ensnare a roster of seasonal fish. Groups paddle aboard sit-on-top ocean kayaks, and guides always prep them with ample paddling training and advice on how to recognize a fish's turn signal in heavy traffic. When not leading tours, staffers conduct fitness training atop the same kayaks, helping guests during interval training to build paddling power, sweep, and maneuvering skills.

All year long the crashing sounds of waves beckon VB Surf Sessions' staff to the water, where they teach students to paddle and shred across the ocean. The CPR-certified instructors maintain a 1:4 instructor to student ratio during their surf lessons, allowing them to steady the wobbly legs of pupils as they conquer Virginia Beach. For less intense excursions, groups dip their paddles into the wave-free waters of nearby inlets and human-sized fishbowls during stand up paddleboarding lessons and tours.

At Yorktown Stables, more than a dozen horses can often be found traipsing down trails that wind through acres of pastures and woods nestled alongside the Poquoson River. Helmed by seasoned equestrian Kristen Paster, the stables' staff teaches aspiring riders to bond with these same steeds during lessons in Western, English, and saddleseat riding. This healthy and diverse stable of horses accommodates riders of all levels, whether they’re children or adults, hobbyists or competitors, or humans or sentient saddles.

The U.S. Coast Guard–certified team of adventuresome boaters at Adventure Parasail send patrons soaring over glistening Virginia Beach waters. For more than 25 years, the safety-first, dependable crew has made it possible for aquatic types to tame the Atlantic with Yamaha WaveRunners and let guests fly up to 1,200 feet in the air with parasailing experiences. Keeping families outside and enjoying the region’s natural splendor, Adventure Parasail also rents out sport boats that measure 20 feet in length and hold up to six passengers, ideal for an outing of fishing, cruising, or picnicking on a wave. Additionally, when special occasions arise—such as a school of visiting whales to Chesapeake Bay—the boat captains quickly mobilize awe-inspiring excursions to take in views of the majestic animals known for their size, gentle manner, and vocal stylings that have inspired many major pop singers.