Travelers who plan a getaway to Virginia Beach in October will find that certain vacation-related elements have fallen sharply compared to summer, namely the temperature, the lodging rates, and the crowds. The humidity will have made a hasty retreat, and the mercury rises only to the comfortable mid-70s in early October and to the high-60s later in the month, a nice range for touring around the area and walking the coastline.

The summer tourists are long gone, and that makes getting a table at one of Virginia Beach's top restaurants much easier. They'll be no summer traffic snarls, and visitors can choose the best spot on the beach to enjoy the quiet and solitude.

Accommodation prices are low compared to the high tourist season, falling by up to 80 percent in autumn. It means a wider choice of available rooms and per-night prices of less than $100 at certain hotel brands. Minimum-night requirements that are prevalent in the summer no longer apply at most hotels and inns, making a one- or two-night getaway simple to book, even at short notice.

And yet, with all of these changes, there are still plenty of fun things to do in Virginia Beach when October rolls around.

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Fall Festivals, Fishing Trips Attract Virginia Beach Visitors

Several festivals and events happen in October in Virginia Beach. The sprawling Boardwalk Art Show is a big draw, with artists from across the country showing their fine art creations along the iconic Virginia Beach Boardwalk.

Attending the Harvest Festival at the Hunt Club is a great way to celebrate the fall season in Virginia Beach. There are farm tours, pony rides, hayrides, carnival rides, and live music. Visitors can choose their own pumpkins and gourds from the club's pumpkin patch. The Hunt Club also offers a Halloween Festival in late October.

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Anglers in the family will be happy to know that the fall months are ideal for offshore and inshore fishing trips, to the open Atlantic Ocean or to the Chesapeake Bay. On the ocean, fishermen land white marlin, swordfish, and tuna, while the inlets of the bay are great for catching flounder, striped bass, and trout.

And speaking of fish, October visitors to Virginia Beach can dine on locally caught oysters. Oysters are best eaten in months that have an “R” in them, making October a perfect opportunity. The delectable bivalves from across the region are found on the menus of many Virginia Beach eateries.

In fact, oyster harvesting goes back hundreds of years in Virginia, which has eight distinct oyster-growing regions. Each region brings its own flavor to the shellfish. For instance, oysters from the Upper Bay Western Shore area are known to have a sweet flavor with a light cream taste, while those from the Upper Bay Eastern Shore are salty and sweet and are said to have a savory finish.

Find Solitude, Fresh Sea Air At A Wide Range Of Beaches

With ocean temperatures averaging 68 degrees in October, Virginia Beach is a top spot for fall surfers, but for those who would rather stay onshore and walk along the coast or plop down in a beach chair and take in the salty air, the area offers multiple choices.

Croatan Beach is a quiet stretch of the Atlantic coast, while the Chesapeake Bay provides miles of beachfront, from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Lynnhaven Inlet. Calm waters are perfect for paddle boarding and swimming, and there are restaurants and bars nearby.

Chic's Beach, on the bay, offers nice views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and in First Landing State Park, visitors can stroll along 1.5 miles of sandy beach. The park is a registered national landmark and also offers 20-plus miles of interpretive trails for hiking and biking.

Resort Beach, located on the three-mile-long Virginia Beach Boardwalk, is perfect for sunbathing or just relaxing, while restaurants, shops, and other boardwalk attractions are just steps away.

Visitors looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination in Virginia Beach can visit the 9,000-acre Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, comprised of barrier islands, dunes, marshes, and ponds, along with ocean beaches. It is known for being an ideal kayaking location, and the refuge has a kayak launch site near the visitor center. Visitors can see a wide range of wildlife, including sea turtles, piping plovers, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons, and hike or bike along seven miles of trails.

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Other activities at the refuge include beachcombing and birding, and a guided tram tour from the refuge takes tourists into adjacent False Cape State Park, where 15 miles of trails allow walkers or bicyclists to see dunes, oak and pine forests, wooded swamps, and marshes. The state park in October offers an After Dark tram tour, including a one-mile guided hike, and in late October, it presents the night-time Haunted Hike, where a guide will reveal spooky tales about the park, and visitors can hike to the park's eerie cemetery site.