Francis Land House
Francis Land House is a attraction in Hilltop, Virginia Beach, best for colonial and plantation history, a free indoor stop, families.
Built around 1805 for Francis Land VI, a wealthy Princess Anne County landowner, this Georgian plantation home with Federal-style interiors is furnished to its 1805-1819 heyday and layers in the property's later chapters too, including its Prohibition and World War II-era history. Tours cover plantation life and the roles of the people who lived and worked there, both free and enslaved, alongside the architectural details of the house itself, and augmented-reality interactives help bring the rooms to life for visitors who want more than a period-furniture walkthrough. Admission is free, with reservations encouraged but not required. Open Thursday-Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 1-5pm; closed on city holidays.
- Free
- Family Friendly
Amenities
- Guided tours
- Augmented reality interactives
- Gift shop
- Period furnishings (1805-1819)
Know Before You Go
- Best for: colonial and plantation history, a free indoor stop, families
- Parking: On-site parking off Virginia Beach Boulevard.
- Accessibility: Historic c.1805 house museum; contact Virginia Beach History Museums at (757) 385-5100 for accessibility details.
- Dogs: not allowed
- Location: 3131 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23452, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-10.
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While You're in the Area
Aldo's Ristorante
Hilltop's white-tablecloth Italian standby since 1988 — seasonal pastas, an award-winning wine list, and indoor-outdoor dining at La Promenade.
- Date Night
- Outdoor Seating
Another Broken Egg Cafe
Hilltop breakfast-and-brunch cafe open daily 7am-2pm, with a pet-friendly patio and a full bar for spiked cold brews and mimosas.
- Dog Friendly
- Outdoor Seating
- Family Friendly
Cobalt Grille
Polished Hilltop grille with seared scallops, whole bronzino, a Monday-Saturday 3-6pm happy hour, and $15 burger Tuesdays.
- Happy Hour
- Date Night
Dave's BBQ
All-wood, no-shortcuts barbecue on Laskin Road — brisket, spare ribs, and smoked wings from a pitmaster who's lived here 40 years.
- Hidden Gem
Eurasia Cafe & Wine Bar
Hilltop wine bar and New American kitchen operating since 2007, built on fresh seafood, handmade pasta, and a sommelier-curated wine list.
- Date Night
Gaston's Italian Steakhouse
Hilltop Italian steakhouse at First Colonial Road pairing Wagyu Bolognese rigatoni with steakhouse surf-and-turf and veal chop.
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Upcoming Events Nearby
Virginia Beach Restaurant Week
January 15, 2027 – January 24, 2027 · annual
The Virginia Beach Restaurant Association's flagship dining event fills each January with prix-fixe menus at roughly five dozen restaurants citywide, from Laskin Road institutions to Oceanfront hotel dining rooms. The 2026 edition ran the theme 'Tastes & Traditions, A Culinary Celebration by Land and by Sea,' spotlighting Chesapeake staples like crab, oysters, ham, and peanuts alongside modern reinterpretations. A companion Dine & Stay program bundles discounted rates at more than a dozen partner hotels, making it as much a slow-season visitor draw as a locals' night out. The VBRA runs the event out of its Laskin Road office in Hilltop, the city's densest cluster of independent kitchens.
Neptune's Coastal Craft Beer Festival
August 15, 2026 · annual
The Neptune Festival's 11th annual beer afternoon takes over 31st Street Park with more than 60 beers from around 30 breweries, heavy on the coastal Virginia scene. Two bands play through the 3–8pm session and local food trucks handle the eating. It's a compact, single-day festival — an easy add-on to a mid-August beach day, a block off the boardwalk at Neptune's Park.
Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships
August 23, 2026 – August 30, 2026 · annual
The world's oldest continuously running surfing competition returns for its 64th year, turning the south end of the Oceanfront — from the 1st Street Jetty up to 10th Street — into a week-long surf carnival. More than 850 competitors surf pro and amateur divisions, including a WSL qualifying event, while the beach fills out with skate and BMX demos, live music, and tournament games. It's the anchor event of late summer at the beach and the best week of the year to watch serious surfing at the 1st Street break.