Norfolk offers a variety of fun activities for couples.
If you want to visit a city that offers fun activities for a couple, Norfolk, Virginia is the place to go. The possibilities can easily fill a leisurely afternoon or a long weekend.
Norfolk is an historical harbor town located on the Elizabeth River and the Chesapeake Bay. It lies within seventeen miles of the Atlantic Ocean. The downtown area has been revitalized in the last ten years. It's clean. It's welcoming and it's vibrant.
A big part of the Norfolk experience is on the riverfront.
-Take a two or three-hour river cruise on a nineteenth century replica of a tall-sail schooner.
-Learn about the inner harbor on a paddleboat tour.
-Cruise down the river to the Norfolk Naval Base, the largest naval installation in the world. See the impressive U. S. Naval armada of aircraft carriers, submarines and guided missile cruisers.
-Ride the pedestrian ferry to Portsmouth, another historical harbor city directly across the river from Norfolk. Enjoy a walking tour of the old town. When you return to Norfolk, stop at the Waterside Festival Marketplace. Relax with a drink at an outside café while you watch the river traffic or the sun set over the water.
-End the day with dinner and dancing aboard a sleek entertainment ship.
There's still more to do on the waterfront.
-Visit Nauticus, the National Maritime Center. This unique, interactive museum explores the science and new technologies of the ocean world.
-The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is housed with Nauticus. Exhibits highlight the role of the Hampton Roads area in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and worldwide conflicts.
-Adjacent to Nauticus is the battleship Wisconsin. Take a forty-five minute audio tour of one of the largest battleships ever built by the U. S. Navy.
-The Tugboat Museum is a 1933 refurbished tugboat docked next to Nauticus. Visitors can get an inside look of one of the little workhorses of the shipping industry.
-Norfolk is a port city for several luxury cruise lines that go to the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda. If you can only get away for a weekend, check out a two-night cruise to nowhere. It's a great way to get the flavor of a cruise and find out just how much fun can be packed into forty-eight hours.
When it's time to leave the waterfront, get ready to explore Norfolk's four hundred year history.
-Tour Fort Norfolk. Authorized by President George Washington in 1794, it played a major role in the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Much of the structure is still intact. It's being used today by the Army Corps of Engineers.
-Explore St. Paul's Church, the oldest building in downtown Norfolk. A cannonball that penetrated the church structure during the 1776 British bombardment of the city is still there to see. Tombstones in the graveyard date back to 1673.
-Visit the MacArthur Memorial, the final resting place of General Douglas MacArthur and his wife. The museum pays tribute to MacArthur and the men and women who served in the military during the conflicts of the twentieth century.
If you enjoy period architecture and furniture, Norfolk has several historic house museums that are worth touring.
-The Hermitage Foundation Museum resides on a twelve-acre estate. The gardens and house have been restored to their former early 1900's grandeur. The home is a showcase for interior and exterior craftsmanship details.
-The Hunter House Victorian Museum features furnishings and accessories of the Victorian period.
-Many of the original furnishings are still intact at the Moses Myers House. The structure was built before 1797 by one of Norfolk's first Jewish residents. It is the only house in the U. S. that realistically depicts the lifestyle of Jewish immigrants around the time of the American Revolution.
-The newly renovated Willoughby-Baylor House/Norfolk History Museum interprets Norfolk's history from its founding to the present day.
Some couples enjoy searching for that perfect accessory or collectable.
-Walk around the eclectic Ghent district. Enjoy the architecture and ambiance. Browse the antique shops and search for an unexpected treasure.
-If you have something specific in mind, the MacArthur Center, is bound to have it. This downtown shopping mall boasts over one hundred and forty-five retail shops, two department stores and an eighteen-screen cinema.
Norfolk has options for couples that prefer nature and natural settings.
-Explore the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. You can walk the one hundred and fifty-five acres of park like gardens, ride a tram or travel on the canal by boat. Bring a camera to document the lovely flowers and to remember new landscaping ideas.
-If you enjoy animals, stop by the Norfolk Zoo. Laugh at the monkeys' antics. Feed the elephants. Feel like a kid again.
Still looking for more things to do?
-Visit the Chrysler Art Museum with more than 30,000 pieces of world-class art on display.
-Take a forty-five minute bus tour of the Norfolk Naval Base. Get a perspective on the military installation that's different from the harbor tour.
-If the two of you consider a fun time to be relaxing on a sunny beach with a good book, Norfolk's the place. The Ocean View area offers miles of public beaches along the Chesapeake Bay.
-After you have enjoyed the sights, treat yourselves to a good meal. Granby Street is the place to go. It's the heart of downtown Norfolk's restaurant row. Choose from a variety of cuisines and prices.
Couples looking for a variety of fun activities will find Norfolk has it all. The hardest thing about a visit may be deciding what to do first.
