# Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve > Place to go for families in the Virginia Beach–Chesapeake–Norfolk area (VA / NC). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Tuesday–Sunday 10 am–4 pm; closed Monday - Where: Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, 4510 Twin Pines Rd, Portsmouth, VA 23703 - Ages: All ages - Price: Free and open to the public (kayak rentals extra, seasonal) - Schedule: Tuesday–Sunday 10 am–4 pm; closed Monday - Organizer: Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation - Official page: https://www.hofflercreek.org/ - Last checked: Sat, Oct 24 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 Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), 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/hoffler-creek-wildlife-preserve--listing-73f0c0cfb5b3567962c7478f ## About A free 142-acre preserve in Portsmouth, the last undeveloped land in the Hoffler Creek watershed. More than 3 miles of trails pass through four habitats: a riparian forest of pines and hardwoods, a meadow of native wildflowers and grasses, a non-tidal freshwater lake, and a tidal creek with a wide salt marsh. Decks overlook the lake, the creek and the marsh, and bird blinds are spread through the preserve, where more than 200 bird species have been recorded along with deer, foxes, turtles and small lizards. Kayak rentals and guided paddles run mid-April through October. To protect wildlife, fishing, running, biking, smoking and pets aren't allowed. ## Similar picks in Virginia Beach - [Autumn Hayride at York River State Park](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/autumn-hayride-at-york-river-state-park--listing-c7e023a7c62af633bac3a0d4) — Sat, Oct 24 (+1 more date) · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · York River State Park (Visitor Center), Williamsburg · All ages · With admission · checked Oct 24. Rangers at York River State Park take families on a hayride down the Backbone Trail and talk about why leaves change color, which Virginia animals hibernate and the many ways… - [Creek Cleanup at the Virginia Aquarium](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/creek-cleanup-at-the-virginia-aquarium--listing-9b9caf6f905d2d06ddaa7f8f) — Sat, Nov 14 · 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (North Building) · Free · checked Oct 24. A volunteer cleanup along the creek and marsh near the Virginia Aquarium, open to families and groups. Volunteers spend about two hours outside picking up litter before it… - [Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/great-dismal-swamp-national-wildlife-refuge--listing-8177a268d9baefd1881fca4e) — Trails open sunrise to sunset; Lake Drummond Wildlife Drive hours vary seasonally… · Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Suffolk · All ages · checked Oct 24. A large swamp refuge on the Suffolk/Chesapeake edge with more than 40 miles of trails and boardwalks for hiking and biking, a self-guided driving tour, two lakefront piers and a… - [Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/back-bay-national-wildlife-refuge--listing-8e4e832ac1456f774d1d2854) — Refuge open from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset; visitor center… · Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge · All ages · With admission · checked Oct 24. A barrier-island refuge at the south end of Sandbridge with seven trails and a beach. The Raptor Trail, the most popular, starts behind the visitor center and runs 0.4 miles one… - [Build A Bat at First Landing State Park](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/build-a-bat-at-first-landing-state-park--listing-82c7617ffd5358273038de51) — Sat, Oct 31 · 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM · First Landing State Park (Trail Center) · With admission · checked Oct 24. A Halloween-morning nature craft with the rangers at First Landing State Park's Trail Center. Children learn how bats help the ecosystem through pest control, pollination and… - [Halloween Night Hike at False Cape State Park](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/halloween-night-hike-at-false-cape-state-park--listing-9b187a7350c74354caef69a4) — Sat, Oct 31 · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · False Cape State Park (meet at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge parking lot) · From $10 · checked Oct 24. A ranger-led Halloween night hike that swaps neighborhood sidewalks for sandy trails. The group sets out after sunset from the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge parking lot and… ## More for families - [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)