Suffolk, VA Outdoor Activities

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 picturesque waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean gently lap against the alabaster hull of the Sally T, beckoning passengers to cast a line to the abundant wildlife swimming under the water's surface. Aboard the vessel—a head boat with Coast Guard approval for ocean trips—experienced nautical leader Captain Pete grants aspiring fisherpeople a chance to land prize catches with charter trips that explore the natural beauty of the famed waterscapes. Under the captain's guidance, a friendly crew sniffs out areas teeming with susceptible targets and bestows fishing tips and gear to blossoming seafarers. Groups then practice the skills necessary to catch and clean aquatic fauna and pursue underwater booty such as croakers, flounder, and pictures of Scott Baio taped inside Davy Jones's locker.

At Bethel Battlefield, guests of all skill levels negotiate a range of exciting, obstacle-spattered fields. At the start of matches, players lead daring charges through dense vegetation on the woodsball course or overtake a wall on an urban field as they cover an opponent in a wild spray that forges an abstract modernist painting. For a quick adrenaline boost, strategically placed tubes line the grassy hyperball field, making ideal conditions for fast-paced warfare. A field-paint-only facility, Bethel's onsite pro shop stocks bags of paintballs and equipment from brands such as Tippmann, Bob Long, and Luxe. Committed to a safe experience, Bethel Battlefield starts new players off with a safety training and requires full-face goggles with ear protection to be worn at all times. In addition to general public play, the facility welcomes birthday parties, group outings, and other private events.