Things To Do In Virginia Beach

Ocean Breeze Waterpark, which offers free parking, embraces the spirit of the sun-drenched Caribbean, inviting families to come and enjoy more than 30 rides, slides, and attractions. Food stands dish up shrimp po' boys, foot-long sub sandwiches, and ice cream, while complimentary sunscreen and a staff of vigilant lifeguards help ensure that families stay safe and comfortable throughout their visit. Rides and Attractions Sea Serpent Walk the Plank 350-foot slide that sends guests in tubes flying around high-banking curves and horizontal loops Thrilling, pitch-black body slide whose final 50-foot drop ends in a splash Vortex Runaway Bay Inner tubes swirl around a 30-foot-wide bowl before dropping into the pool below 1,000,000-gallon wave pool sends swells surging from the deep end toward the shore Adventure River Hook's Lagoon Each trip around this quarter-mile-long lazy river passes by waterfalls and hopelessly lost icebergs Multi-level play structure with plenty of opportunities for younger children to climb and clamber

A novice might not think it matters much where you perform yoga—aren't the poses the same regardless?—but Zen Hot Yoga's unique design proves otherwise. With a custom-designed, anti-bacterial, looping construction, its non-skid flooring allows for greater air circulation and wicks away moisture when the studio is at its hottest. These design advantages are in full force during the studio's hot and warm yoga classes, which the studio holds in a few different styles. Instructors introduce a series of still postures in the core-building hot yoga class, and they guide students through synchronized breath and movement in the cardio-focused hot vinyasa. Other classes add atmosphere by mixing in guided meditation, rock music, or the soft, warm light of a burning scarecrow. Zen Hot Yoga even helps customers practice their technique outside the classroom; it houses retail boutiques supplying yoga clothing, aromatherapy oils, and environmentally friendly yoga mats.

As they speed by, the drivers racing across American Indoor Karting's track resemble professional racecar drivers. The souped-up European go-karts allow speedsters as young as 8 to swerve through turns at nearly 1.5 lateral G's. The milieu is carefully cultivated to create the feeling of actual competitive auto racing. Helmets and safety briefing sessions are mandatory before racers take to the winding, professionally designed track. After each race, competitors scrutinize comprehensive race reports of their lap times and other statistics. Two breeds of go-kart reside on the premises and are maintained by a full-time mechanic. While younger kids drive less ferocious Junior Karts, adults qualify to operate Super Karts. The Super Kart is loaded up with a 9 hp Honda engine and travels 40 m.p.h. To race a Super Kart, drivers must prove they can handle the powerful hot rod by putting up a qualifying lap time and convincing the vehicle to eat a carrot directly from their hands.

The instructors at Studio Rio's Twisted Fitness approach their job with sensitivity and expertise that earned them 2010 and 2011 Best of Virginia Beach Reader's Choice awards. But the staff refuses to rest on its laurels, pushing themselves every day during sultry dance and cardio classes to help women of all abilities ramp up their sensuality while getting fit. The more than 35 weekly classes range from kickboxing to the signature pole dancing classes, held in an all-lady, judgment-free environment for participants with experience levels from beginning to advanced. The pole dancing sessions target specific body parts including the core and glutes and incorporate strength training, choreography, and challenging inverted poses made hyper-feminine with the inclusion of inverted knitting. The instructors reinforce that sexiness is both ageless and timeless—all classes are designed to help women of all ages over 18 to not only reshape their bodies, but boost confidence as well.

Certified by the Yoga Alliance, the instructors at Hot Yoga Studio lead daily detoxifying lessons in which they slide into peaceful poses on their studio’s bamboo floors. A wall-length window floods the studio with natural light and offers a glimpse of the world outside, and tall mirrors reflect the yogis as they lead their classes inside a heated environment. This steamy setting purges toxins from the body and allows practitioners to sink more deeply into each stretch. During the studio’s more intense classes, students cycle through up to 30 postures that release oxygenated blood to organs, which can lead to more efficient living. After class, full-service locker rooms await with showers, shampoo, and blow-dryers. The studio’s shelves are also stocked with towels, mats, organic mat cleaners, and artisanal soaps made with goat's milk and moisture from the clouds that the instructors levitate on.

"There is no room for ego" in the yoga classes at Studio Bamboo Institute of Yoga, according to its website. There's also no room for the stresses of daily life?they're crowded out by calming earth tones, high ceilings, and floors made from bamboo and river rocks. In this environment, students can easily locate some time for introspection through movement-based classes. In three practice rooms, instructors lead sessions that embrace the full spectrum of yoga styles, ranging from gentle and meditative to kinetic and physically demanding. They introduce new students to yoga's fundamental poses and breathing exercises while helping them develop a greater sense of self-awareness. Bamboo's flexible schedule of classes is tailored to the needs of everyone from expectant mothers to people living with mobility issues. Hot yoga sessions are also an option, thanks to a custom heat and vent system.