Shopping
Virginia Beach Has All the Right Stuff
For a Great Shopping Adventure
Seasoned shoppers agree—few places can compare to Virginia Beach and the fantastic variety of unique merchandise available. From malls to boutiques, art galleries to gift stores, you are bound to find much more than you can carry home in a single shopping bag.
In the Oceanfront resort area there are dozens of souvenir shops with everything you'll need for the sun, surf and sand as well as a great variety of souvenirs to take home for your loved ones. A few blocks up from the beach, you'll find a number of quality surf shops, offering surf boards and boogie boards, bathing suits and board shorts, surf-style clothing, sandals, jewelry, wetsuits and all the great surf brands, including Reef, Hurley and O'Neill.
Several art galleries also dot the Oceanfront and surrounding areas, and showcase the works of local and national artists, including glassworks, crafts, paintings, ceramics and jewelry. Discover the newly widened and landscaped Birdneck Rd. that connects Laskin Rd. and General Booth Blvd., where you'll find electric shopping, international dining and more. For upscale merchandise, check out the gift shops and clothing boutiques at 31 Ocean near the new Oceanfront Hilton, or venture up to La Promenade or Hilltop, voted a "Best of the Beach" winner 14 years in a row, both only a five-minute drive from the beach. There you will find more than 120 stores and restaurants all within a few blocks of each other, featuring high-end clothing, jewelry and home accessories.
Just a few more miles away from the beach is Lynnhaven Mall, one of the largest malls on the East Coast and a not-to-be-missed shopping destination. Nearly 1.4 million square feet of shopping galore awaits you, with more than 180 great stores, including Macy's, H&M, Banana Republic, Brookstone, Old Navy and more. The shopping center also includes a complete food court, a one-of-a-kind double-decker carousel, a children's play area, a movie theater and free parking.
Near Sandbridge Beach, the retail area of Red Mill continues to grow into a major shopping district. Major big box stores mingle with smaller boutiques, restaurants, ice cream shops and more, all with the atmosphere of an outdoor mall.
And still, there is more shopping to be done in Virginia Beach! The Town Center of Virginia Beach and surrounding Pembroke area features a diverse array of shopping opportunities covering 17 city blocks, including national chains and several locally-owned boutiques with designer clothes and accessories. You'll also find many popular places to stop for lunch or dinner.
For truly one-of-a-kind gift items, check out the gift stores at some of Hampton Roads' finest museums—the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia museum shop has everything from ceramics and collectibles to art books and tote bags. Also, admission to the museum shop is always free.
The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center has two stores with unique marine-themed merchandise. Find jewelry, toys, IMAX DVDs, souvenirs, clothing and much more. And the best part—the proceeds from gift sales support the aquarium and its efforts to conserve and educate the public about marine life.
For an even greater shopping adventure, explore other parts of Hampton Roads, like downtown Norfolk's MacArthur Center Mall and Olde Towne Portsmouth's quaint antique shops and galleries. You surely won't want to leave empty-handed. But there are enough shops, galleries and boutiques here in Virginia Beach to keep you more than satisfied. So get out your walking shoes and credit card and make a day (or two) out of it!