Chesapeake Sports & Outdoor Recreation

An amazing destination for all kinds of activities from kayaking to golf, Chesapeake is perfect for those in search of birds to watch, treks to hike, or courses to conquer--both indoors and out. 

Hike, Bike, Skate or Stroll

With dozens of outdoor areas ripe for a walk, climb, or paddle, Chesapeake has plenty of parks that will satisfy all your alfresco adventures. Those in search of wildlife can find flora and fauna at the Dismal Swamp Canal or find fine feathered friends along the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. For a more manicured natural experience, swing by the Chesapeake Arboretum to wander through Camellia Cove. 

If you’re hoping for more physical outdoor fun, grab your helmet and go for a bike ride on the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail or play a game of tennis at Greenbrier Sports Park. And, for younger visitors, there are several terrific playgrounds, including the three-acre Fun Forest at Chesapeake City Park. 

Of course, many travelers who are spending their time in the Chesapeake region are there to explore the waterways, and who can blame them? With miles of canals, lakes, and rivers, canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards are terrific ways to get to know the area. Rent a kayak or board from Adventure Kayak & SUP Tours, see the sights with Kayak Nature Tours LTD, or simply grab a map and find your way past shorelines, under bridges, and even through some of the incredible bald cypress trees. 

Courses to Run, Play, and Golf

For those looking to hit the links, both the Battlefield Golf Club and the Chesapeake Golf Club have 18-hole courses with plenty of challenges for newbies and more experienced players. And, for those in search of another kind of golf, you’ll find both disc and mini-golf courses right in town. 

The region is also home to a paintball course. Boasting a fully stocked pro-shop, two official-size turf fields, and over 40 acres of woods to play in, you are sure to experience the true meaning of paintball at Chesapeake Paintball. 

Or, if you’re in search of the paintball experience without the paint, why not try airsoft? The Ballahack Airsoft location in Chesapeake, VA just happens to be the largest airsoft facility on the East Coast and offers players fast-paced action unlike anywhere else. With miles of trails, woods, swamps, and clearings centered around their facility, the field provides varied terrain for multiple engagement types.

The Great Indoors

If you’re hoping to break a sweat, win a game, or just have fun, but prefer a roof over your head, there are still tons of first-class options to be found in and around Chesapeake. 

Trade-in your shoes for ice skates and make your way onto the rink at the Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex. Or, trade them in for roller skates and groove to the music at Greenbrier Family Skating Center. 

Prefer straight lines to circles? Grab a pair of bowling shoes and spend your time aiming for strikes at one of AMF Bowling Centers’ two locations. And, for those of you who’d rather just play in your socks, check out Defy Chesapeake, the region’s premier trampoline park, perfect for dodgeball games, ninja obstacle courses, and hours of bouncing, flipping, and flying fun. 

No matter what brings you into town, Chesapeake’s outdoor scene is nature’s playground, while its indoor options are sure to keep everyone in your travel party entertained. Be ready to hike, kayak, skate, or bowl!