Tidewater Arboretum is a low-key garden and tree collection at Virginia Tech's Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. It is not a manicured resort garden, and that is useful to know before you go. The point is plants that actually live well in the humid, salty, storm-prone conditions of coastal Virginia: shade trees, ornamentals, demonstration plantings, and practical horticultural experiments.
It is best for gardeners, tree people, and travellers who like seeing how a region grows rather than only how it entertains. The arboretum is away from the Oceanfront and the big beach sights, so combine it with other inland stops if you are driving around Virginia Beach. Expect an educational landscape, not a full-service attraction.