From Wikitravel

Norfolk [1] is located in the metro area called Hampton Roads, in the state of Virginia. It is a port city with a large Navy and shipping presence. Neighboring cities are Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Portsmouth.

[edit] Understand

Norfolk has always been a Navy town. The world's largest naval base is located here. But it is also known as a major cultural center, with world-class museums, opera, symphony, ballet and a vibrant arts community. In the last ten years or so, downtown area has experienced a major resurgence, with gourmet restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Town Point Park is a waterfront park area right downtown that hosts several festivals and events throughout the year. A new cruise terminal was just built in 2007 making Norfolk one of the top cruise ports in the country. Granby Street is the main downtown thoroughfare, lined with restaurants and bars.

Ghent is a historic district adjacent to downtown. Filled with historic homes, tree-lined streets and beautiful old churches, it is a good mix of residential and business. Colley Avenue and 21st Street are the main shopping and dining areas, with dozens of locally-owned boutiques, shops, antique stores, restaurants and bars. The Naro theater on Colley Avenue is the region's sole movie theater with indie flicks.

Ocean View is Norfolk's beach community, and features relatively uncrowded beaches on the Chesapeake Bay. During the '50s and '60s, Ocean View was in its prime and was a major beach destination for families and sailors. During the following decades, the beach community fell into a bit of a slump, succumbing to crime. The last five years, the city has been turning things around and now Ocean View is on its way to becoming one of the region's most sought after neighborhoods.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• Norfolk International Airport (ORF), 2200 Norview Avenue one mile east of Interstate 64 Exit 279, Phone: 757-857-3351, Fax: 757-857-3265, [2]. Located in the city center.
• Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport(PHF), [3]. Another option which may save you money, is located approximately 20 minutes north of the city in Newport News, VA.

[edit] By car

Hampton Roads is only second in the state to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. such as Fairfax County and other outlying areas for horrendous traffic especially during the summer season when many tourists throughout the United States and Canada flock to the beaches of Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Be aware of the alternative of I-664/Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel instead of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, where back ups of more than 40-50 minutes usually occur, long before rush hour even begins.

Route 460 is an alternative to the heavily used I-64 route. 460 extends from Petersburg, VA (just south of Richmond, VA) to Chesapeake (a suburb city to the Hampton Roads area) and you can easily connect from 460 onto the major beltway at the I-664 and I-64 interchange.

Interstate 64 will bring you to Norfolk from points west.

[edit] By boat

Passenger ferry from Portsmouth.

There is also a boat taxi that will take you around the Norfolk and Portsmouth waterfronts. It is 7 dollars per person. Call 757-439-8294 and he will pick you up wherever you want!

[edit] Get around

The HRT or Hampton Roads Transit is one of the ways to get around, although the buses are usually not exactly on schedule.

The Hampton Roads Transit Trolley Tour is a good way to see the city and get your bearings. The NET electric buses cover the downtown and are free.

Norfolk is in the process of building a starter light-rail line extending from the Newtown area at the Norfolk/Virginia Beach border to Downtown Norfolk and Sentara Hospital by the Midtown Tunnel. The line is expected to be operational by 2010.

[edit][add listing] See

• Chrysler Museum of Art [4]
• Norfolk Botanical Garden [5]
• Naval Station Tour [6]- A 45-minute tour conducted by Naval personnel. See aircraft carriers and other huge ships.
• Nauticus - National Maritime Center
• Spirit of Norfolk cruise / tour
• Virginia Zoo [7]

[edit][add listing] Do

Take a cruise from Norfolk [8] to Bermuda or the Caribbean. Ships depart from the downtown waterfront. Go on a 2 hour cruise around the Norfolk Naval Base. A guide will give a little bit of area history and describe some of the ships as you cruise past.

[edit][add listing] Buy

There are several main shopping ares in Norfolk.

Downtown, the MacArthur Center is one of the best malls in the area and has a variety of great shops, like Pottery Barn, Coach, Williams & Sonoma, an Apple store, JCrew, EQ3, H&M, etc. The mall is anchored by Nordstrom and Dillard's. There are a few shops and art galleries on Granby Street, but not many. Also downtown is the D'Art Center, which features a large selection of local art. Waterside used to be a popular shopping area, but there are several empty spots now and retailers are suffering. There are a few kiosks, with everything from fake designer sunglasses to caricatures. There are a few other stores, including souvenir shops and a dollar store.

Ghent is a popular shopping area for locally-owned boutiques and antique stores. 21st Street and Colley Avenue are the main thoroughfares, but there are plenty of unique stores on the surrounding streets. The Palace Shoppes on 21st Street and Palace Station on Debree have some great little stores, including an adorable pet boutique call Wet Noses and a chic women's clothing store, NYFO. Commonwealth on 21st Street is a popular urban-style store, and has been featured in national magazines. There are also quite a few antique stores around Ghent and throughout Norfolk.

The signature symbol of Norfolk is the mermaid, and there are several stores that sell unique mermaid sculptures, pins, jewelry and more.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• 'Doumar's in Ghent on Monticello Avenue is known as the birthplace of the ice cream cone. The vintage drive-thru still remains, as well as Al Doumar himself who checks up on the restaurant even at his old age. Try an ice cream cone or banana shake.
• Todd Jurich's Bistro is a good restaurant, has enough appetizers so you can avoid a big entree. The wine list is good, but expensive. It is a 2 block walk from the Marriott Harborside Hotel. It is known as one of the best in the area, although the waiters can be a bit pompous.
• Cracker's Little Bar Bistro, 821 W 21 St (Ghent Area), +1 757 640-0200, [9]. Daily 5PM-2AM. This tiny joint serves amazing tapas (appetizer-sized plates) and a wide variety of fun martinis. There's only about 7 tables in the entire place, plus bar seating. If you go, I suggest going right at 5pm, else you can't be sure you'll be seated right away. Two people can try a bunch of different tapas (try the filet with mashed potatoes), have a few martinis, leave a great tip, and spend less than $50. $4-$9 per plate.
• O'Sulivan's Warf is the best place to get the local flavor. It's self-dubbed as "A locals locale..." It's down near Old Dominion University area off Colley Ave.
• Vintage Kitchen located at the bottom of the Dominion Tower has been voted one of the best restaurants in the entire region. The chef-owned eatery specializes in using ingredients local to VIrginia, such as Smithfield ham, peanuts, strawberries, cheeses and vegetables from local farmers.
• The Boot in Ghent is another venue that specializes in local ingredients, but with an Italian twist. It is owned by two young entrepreneurs who previously ran a popular record store downtown. The restaurant doubles as a popular nightspot with live bands during the weekend and some weekdays. They also feature local art on the restaurant's walls.
• A.W. Shucks is tucked behind a mini-mall Ghent, but it is a popular restaurant and watering hole with great burgers, seafood and beer selection.
• Machismo's is a small burrito restaurant in the Freemason area of Norfolk, adjacent to downtown. Fresh ingredients are loaded into a monster burrito. It can get pretty crowded for lunch.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Three sections of Norfolk have concentrations of bars and nightclubs: Ghent, Granby Street, and the Waterside Festival Marketplace. Ghent is the most laid-back, Granby Street is a trendy place for dates, and the Waterside is the wild place for the kids. Just follow the noise.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Norfolk's good hotels are clustered downtown and near the airport.

• Sheraton Norfolk Waterside, 777 Waterside Drive, [10], downtown. The only downtown hotel on the waterfront. Connected to the Waterside Festival Marketplace. Moderate walk to the cruise terminal. Request a water view.
• Norfolk Airport Hilton, 1500 N Military Highway, [11]. Located just two miles from Norfolk International Airport in the Lake Wright Executive Park; 1 mile to Virginia Wesleyan College. 248 deluxe guest rooms. 15 meeting rooms. 3 restaurants.
• Norfolk/Portsmouth Virginia Hawthorn Hotel Suites, 506 Dinwiddie St, [12]. 12 miles from Norfolk Airport.

[edit] Contact

• Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau

[edit] Stay safe

Crime isn't as much of a problem as it was in the wild old days. The city's slums are obvious and should be avoided at night. Still, there have been incidents downtown and everyone should use caution at night, especially if alone.

[edit] Cope

If you can't cope with the city, go to Virginia Beach.