# Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Winter Migratory Waterfowl & Tundra Swan Watching > Place to go for families in the Virginia Beach–Chesapeake–Norfolk area (VA / NC). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Open on its own schedule - Where: Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 4005 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 - Ages: All ages (prime winter birdwatching, boardwalk overlooks, and wildlife education) - Price: $5 per vehicle entrance fee (waived with America the Beautiful passes or Federal Duck Stamp) - Organizer: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Official page: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/back-bay - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/back-bay-national-wildlife-refuge-winter-migratory-waterfowl-and-tundr--listing-f35f952dd1a382d3afd5684a ## About Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in southern Virginia Beach encompasses more than 9,000 acres of coastal barrier island habitats, freshwater impoundments, and brackish marshes along the Atlantic Flyway. The winter months represent the absolute peak wildlife spectacle at Back Bay, as tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl—including snow geese, tundra swans, pintails, canvasbacks, and mallards—arrive to spend the season in the refuge's sheltered waters. Families can explore the scenic Boardwalk Trail and Seaside Trail directly from the visitor center, leading out to scenic wildlife observation platforms equipped with free viewing scopes. The modern Visitor Contact Station provides junior ranger booklets, interactive wetland touch tables, and loaner binoculars for young birders. Watching hundreds of majestic white tundra swans take flight across the marsh against a clear blue winter sky is an unforgettable coastal Virginia nature experience. Family Experience & Accessibility: • Stroller Accessibility: Elevated wooden boardwalks and packed gravel impoundment dikes are wide and easily navigable for heavy-duty and standard strollers. • Nursing & Rest Spots: Climate-controlled visitor center with comfortable indoor seating, water refill stations, and clean accessible family restrooms with baby changing counters. • Age Suitability: Welcomes nature lovers of all ages; kids ages 4 to 12 particularly enjoy the free Junior Wildlife Ranger discovery activities and bird checklists. • Sensory Tips: Winter winds off the ocean can be brisk; dress warmly with windbreakers, hoods, and gloves; the auditory landscape of calling swans and geese is majestic yet peaceful. ## Similar picks in Virginia Beach - [Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Autumn Dunes & Marsh Family Stroll](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/back-bay-national-wildlife-refuge-autumn-dunes-and-marsh-family-stroll--listing-6cd8b6c52e9006d9c29e216c) — Sat, Nov 28 · 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center · All ages · From $5 · checked Nov 5. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge provides a spectacular coastal sanctuary at the southeastern tip of Virginia Beach, protecting more than 9,000 acres of barrier island beach… - [Blue Goose Wildlife & History Tram Tour at False Cape State Park](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/blue-goose-wildlife-and-history-tram-tour-at-false-cape-state-park--listing-3066ef52394bcef0681756fa) — Sun, Nov 15 (+2 more dates) · 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM · False Cape State Park (meet at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge parking lot) · From $8 · checked Oct 30. A 4-hour guided tram tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park to spot fall wildlife and hear the area's history, with a 1-mile round-trip hike to… - [Winter Lantern Festival at Jamestown Settlement](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/winter-lantern-festival-at-jamestown-settlement--listing-63fdb852fe90a8fcd6e9ae71) — Nov 6 – Jan 3 · 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg · From $18.99 · checked Oct 27. Hundreds of artisan-crafted silk lanterns, six to 30 feet high, light the outdoor areas of Jamestown Settlement after dark in three themes: Christmas cheer, Jamestown Settlement… - [Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Winter Boardwalk Nature Walk](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/great-dismal-swamp-national-wildlife-refuge-winter-boardwalk-nature-wa--listing-35a2f9de650cd4df9f38bbb4) — Open on its own schedule · Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - Underground Railroad Pavilion & Boardwalk, Chesapeake · All ages · Free · checked Nov 5. Spanning the border between Chesapeake and Suffolk, the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge preserves over 112,000 acres of one of the most ecologically significant… - [The Virginia Zoo Winter Wildlife Safari & Indoor Animal Pavilions](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/the-virginia-zoo-winter-wildlife-safari-and-indoor-animal-pavilions--listing-6600d6ce19c2e212c90de127) — Open on its own schedule · The Virginia Zoo, Norfolk · All ages · From $18 · checked Nov 5. The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk spans 53 beautifully landscaped acres along the Lafayette River, housing more than 700 fascinating animals representing diverse global habitats… - [False Cape State Park Winter Coastal Hikes & Oceanfront Dunes](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/false-cape-state-park-winter-coastal-hikes-and-oceanfront-dunes--listing-6fd3f54d3be6c4bea02e8b3a) — Open on its own schedule · False Cape State Park (North Entrance Contact Station) · Ages 4–99 · Free · checked Nov 5. False Cape State Park is one of the last remaining undeveloped coastal wilderness preserves on the Atlantic Coast, nestled between Back Bay and the open ocean just south of… ## More for families - [Things to do with kids in Virginia Beach, VA](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/counties/virginia-beach-city-va) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/counties/virginia-beach-city-va.md) - [Things to do with kids in Virginia Beach — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/events/2026-11.md) - [This weekend in Virginia Beach](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in Virginia Beach](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach.md)