Norfolk, VA

Answer 1

Beautifully located where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, Norfolk is the heart of Virginia's art and entertainment district. Norfolk is perfect for boating, families, and romantic vacations on the coast. With so many things to do you are sure to love your Norfolk vacation.

Love to golf? Try going eighteen holes at Norfolk's beautiful Ocean View Golf Course or Lake Wright Golf Course. Wherever you choose to play a round, Virginia's wonderful weather will make you want to go for another eighteen holes.

If you are ready to take a dip in the Chesapeake Bay, then head over to Ocean View Beach Park. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day, so it's not only a beautiful place to go swimming it is also a safe beach destination.

To watch a Broadway show off Broadway, try Broadway at Chrysler Hall. This wonderful museum hosts traveling Broadway shows year after year. The museum also hosts many traveling exhibits throughout the year.

The Virginia Ballet Company Theatre is the premier ballet company in the state. The Virginia Symphony is also located in Norfolk. The symphony hosts more than 140 performances each year.

Take the time to walk the Cannonball Trail. You will be able to discover over four hundred years of Virginia's history along this winding, self-guided walking tour. Also remember to explore the Civil War Trails. This is another self guided tour of historic Civil War sites that you will remember long after your vacation is over.

While you are out and about stop by Norfolk's Botanical Gardens. The gardens can be explored by foot, boat, or tram and are open year round. If you are lucky, you will be able to view the gardens at the height of butterfly season.

For the kid in all of us, there is the Virginia Zoo. The zoo is full of wonderful things for the whole family to enjoy. The Virginia Zoo is over 100 years old and has a collection of 350 animals on 53 acres.

Sailing on a elegant three-masted schooner will be the height of any Norfolk vacation for children. Sailing out of downtown's waterside, the schooner hosts private and public sailings on a regular basis.

No matter when you decide to visit, spending your time in Norfolk will be a memory you will not soon forget. The ocean breeze and the southern hospitality make for a great combination in the ocean side city.

Answer 2

Norfolk is Virginia’s second largest city, and it’s one of the biggest and busiest ports in North America. Norfolk has miles and miles of waterfront property along the shores Chesapeake Bay and the other bodies of water that make up the Hampton Roads, a large natural harbor formed by several river mouths as they empty into coastal waters. The Roads are also known as the Tidewater, and the existence of such a convenient and safe harbor made Norfolk a crucial settlements from the very beginning of America’s colonial era. Today the city contains the headquarters of shipping giants such as Maersk Line, Ltd. as well as the world’s largest naval base, and it serves as the primary industrial and business district for the entire Hampton Roads metroplex.

Within the city limits of Norfolk itself, much of the waterfront is given over to ship building and repair, research, transport of goods and other industrial applications. The concentration of government contractors, military brass and defense R&D specialists found in Norfolk is one of the highest in the U.S., because Norfolk is and always has been a Navy town. This is commemorated at Nauticus, a modern maritime museum where the U.S.S. Wisconsin is open for public viewing. The Iowa-class battleship, one of the last to be built, had a long career that began in WWII and ended shortly after Desert Storm.

Arts and Entertainment

The Atlantic coast of the U.S. may not draw as much international attention of the Caribbean or the Med, but the beaches of the Tidewater have provided aquatic activities for as long as people have lived here. In downtown Norfolk you’ll find the Waterside festival marketplace, but the majority of the area’s beaches are found in the surrounding towns. Newport News and Virginia Beach are the most popular destinations for beach-goers, but a quieter atmosphere can be found in the areas of Ocean View and Willoughby Spit.

Artistic interests can also be indulged in Norfolk: the Virginia Stage Company performs year-round at Wells Theatre, and Chrysler Hall often hosts concerts by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The Ghent neighborhood is home to the Virginia Opera and the Chrysler Museum of Art, and history buffs won’t want to miss St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. It’s the only colonial-era building that survived the fires and artillery shells heaped upon Norfolk by the British Navy.

Food and Drink

In Ghent, head to locally owned and operated Doumar’s, a vintage ice cream parlor said to be the birthplace of the ice cream cone. Or visit the boot for Italian-inspired food accompanied by local art and music. Many places specialize in locally-sourced classic Virginia fare, and don’t forget the fresh Chesapeake seafood. Tidewater cooks can work wonders with the humble crab.

This is Virginia, so sweet tea is a universal choice to accompany your seafood dinner. As far as nightlife is concerned, Norfolk offers numerous options. Ghent is the best place to seek out a laid-back spot with a quieter local crowd; head downtown to Granby Street or Waterside for the louder, trendier hotspots.

Answer 3

Home to the largest naval base in the world, Norfolk is a vibrant, booming city. As the second largest city in the state, Norfolk presents a wide variety of things to see and do. With the city bordered by the Chesapeake Bay to the north and the Elizabeth River to the west, Norfolk is firmly rooted in the maritime industry.

The downtown waterfront area along the banks of the Elizabeth River offers visitors a chance to take short cruises around the harbor and view the naval ships currently in port. In addition, visitors can explore the National Maritime Center and tour the historic Battleship Wisconsin which is docked alongside the center.

The proximity of the Chesapeake Bay means that there are miles and miles of beaches to enjoy, as well as an abundant supply of fresh seafood including the famous Chesapeake Bay blue crabs.