Trip to Virginia Beach, Va

I like to stay at the Breakers Resort. Its Oceanfront. They have regular rooms. They also have suites - a living room with hideaway wall bed, tv, sofa, little kitchenette, big bathroom, 2 queen/double beds.
http://www.breakersresort.com/index.html

Its at 16th street. They have a small outdoor pool. There is a Subway Restaurant across the street. A little carnival in the parking lot. A carnival across the street. Several good restaurants. The pier where you can fish ($4 a person to go on the pier) is right there.

There is a $5 public parking lot right next door if you stay somewhere else.

If you're into history, be sure to visit the Adam Thoroughgood House. It's one of the oldest brick homes in America. Also, the Old Coast Guard Station tells about old shipwrecks along the Virginia coast. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center has all sorts of displays in addition to activities for both older and younger children. As far as the beach goes, there are boats to rent, cruises to take, jet ski rentals, etc. If I were taking young children to the beach, I'd go to Chic's Beach. It's on the bay, and the water is much more calm, although a little drive from the main "strip." For fun, if you've had enough of the beach, go to Ocean Breeze Waterpark.

The VB oceanfront is great in the evening since they have different entertainers at various locations each night (all free). During the day I prefer Sandbridge Beach, less crowded. The VA Aquarium is a little pricey but really cool. One of our favorite places to go is in Norfolk, a short drive (20 min) from VB, the Norfolk Botanical Gardens (right next to the airport). They have really cool exhibits (currently a mazes one that the older kids would like), a butterfly house, kids gardens with water fountains to run thru (so fun for kids), it's really beautiful & a great place for a picnic. The VB libraries often have free events for kids too. We enjoy picking blueberries & blackberries (make yummy smoothies). First State Landing Park has several free activities for families too. Hope you have a great time whatever you do ; )

Go ahead, disagree with me and be mad and call me a snob but I wouldn't recommend going to VA Beach at all. There are other beaches that are nicer like Ocean City MD or Rehoboth that are geared more towards families. I've been to VA Beach 3 times now and only stayed a day each time. This last time I decided it was our last time(Monday). VA Beach has a boardwalk but it's not like OC or Rehoboth where it is lined with shops and restaurants and counter service food places. In VA Beach those places are lining the main street which means you will constantly be having to walk across major roads and they are all spread out whereas the other 2 beaches I mentioned everything is in a straight line safely away from roads. VA Beach boardwalk is lined with hotels. In Ocean City they also have a tram that can pick you up if you're tired of walking the 30 some blocks of boardwalk. In OC, every few blocks along the beach there are wooden play structures like an airplane, pirate ship, and a monster trucks. OC also has characters out at different times like Dora, Elmo, Mickey Mouse, SpongeBob, never saw that VA Beach. Too me, OC and Rehoboth are more family oriented. Also, the people look trashy or shady. Sorry but they do, not making that into a white or black thing, just an observation I made. The caliber of the guests seems to us to be more of the sort where you have to watch your back constantly. Dont' get me wrong OC and Rehoboth have their crime too. Yes something you need to be aware of everywhere but I didn't feel very safe. VA Beach seems more for the partying teenagers or adults. This last time we went, we decided it would be our last but we were in Williamsburg and wanted to watch fireworks on the beach(it stormed so we left). Just my opinion. We'll never go there again.

I'm not sure about fishing, but I'm sure you could rent a boat and go out on the sound. All the hotels seem the same to me (and I swear I've stayed at them all at some point. You HAVE to eat at Watermans (or is it Harrisons?) down at the bottom of the strip. It's the last restaurant before you go over the bridge. There's tons of touristy fun kid stuff, like putt-putt and haunted houses. If you have to drive to get to the beach, park in the paid parking by 17th street; it's easier than parking on the street and struggling with kids in traffic. Have fun!

ETA.. you're from Richmond and you haven't been to VA beach!?

ETA AGAIN: What Megan said, about that hotel, that's right by the parking I mentioned, that would work out nicely for you... Also, the Turtle Cay is a more pricey, private hotel with it's own pool ;)

Where ever you stay, be careful of the balconies.
We just had a toddler accidentally fall through a railing and fall 5 stories to her death in Va Beach a week or so ago.