Wander Around Neon and Mermaids in This East Coast Waterfront City

Where the ocean meets the arts.

Some citizenry think about Norfolk and imagine the heavy naval base in the human race stationed here . Others think about mermaids . After all , you could really scavenge or happily bump intomermaid statueseverywhere you go in the city . The Virginia town , model on a bay surround by water , has a full range of maritime association . But you ’ll also determine a bustlingwaterfront , historic districts , a burgeon epicure scene , and a stimulating artistic production neighbourhood .

Throughout the city , theTide light runway systemconveniently connect business district restaurant , cafes , and hotels . Dine on crispy octopus and blackened alligator bites , sail sunset cruise , walk past street wall painting and historical mediaeval construction , see glowing atomic number 10 festivals , and find as many sea puppet as you may . Here ’s everything to explore around township for whatever float your actual , real - life history sauceboat .

See interactive exhibits

correctly on the harbor is an enormous complex calledNauticus , which contains a museum , sailing centre , sometime battlewagon , and science center . Within the complex , inflict Hampton Roads Naval Museum for interactive exhibits about Navy captive of war and their Morse Code translations . You could also search theBattleship Wisconsin , which was berth at Nauticus and was the last battlewagon built by the U.S. Navy .

Cruise on the water

You could ride out at Nauticus for their sailplaning center , though there are quite a few choice around the city for gravel out onto the moving ridge . Sail Elizabeth River withCity Cruisesto explore Norfolk by piddle , go withAmerican Roverfor sunset cruises , or tryVictory Rover Naval Base Cruisesfor a tell tour of the naval fleet along the seaport . This is as close as non - Navy personnel can get to the cosmos - class fleet .

If you want to be even cheeseparing to the water , rent a kayak atNorfolk Kayak Rentalsand boat paddle Lafayette River witheco toursavailable to search the river ’s ecosystem .

Eat crawfish beignets and curry lobster

Norfolk Seafood Cois the billet to go to sup on seafood , chow on crawfish French fritter with mustard aioli sauce , go brave with melanize gator pungency and spicy dip , or pretend you ’re in Paris with fry anuran ’ leg and syrup glaze . Head downtown to the Hilton forGrain , Norfolk ’s only rooftop beer garden , boasting a hundred beer on pat with waterfront views . Pair pale ale with Spinacia oleracea crabmeat and artichoke dip or loaded fries with beer cheese . Or walk over to the Ghent historic district forPress 626 Cafe & Wine Bar , proffer selections like bake goat cheese with roasted garlic and duck’s egg confit . Prefer upscale dining ? channelise to Glass Light Hotel forFrench - inspired New American dining , where you could dine on grand menu like crispy octopus with saffron or flounder and curry lobster .

Lastly , end the dark on gamy notes with dinner at either of two music - theme restaurants : brother Restaurant , founded by NBA referee Tony Brothers , andGershwin ’s , an upscale bistro serving American fare with pianoforte medicine . At Brothers , gorge on dishes like salmon slather in lemon - pepper butter or osso bucco with polenta cake . Finish with a curated wine list as you shake to live jazz , useable Tuesday , Wednesday , and Thursday nights . At Gershwin ’s , opt starters like mascarpone and grilled escargot , then proceed with brined fry chicken or Atlantic salmon , and terminate with retro cocktails like the Harvey Wallbanger ( made of vodka , Galliano , and OJ ) .

Explore murals in the NEON arts district

TheNew Energy Of Norfolk(NEON ) is the city ’s first official nontextual matter territorial dominion , providing a abode for artists and over ninety public nontextual matter . Gaze at colored wall painting depicting societal Justice Department and naval themes , and watch theinteractive wall painting mapfor a self - guide tour . Stop at breweries , pop - up marketer , and food trucks along the way of life to keep yourself fueled . Musicians , comedian , and other performer often book event here , so you never know what merriment the Nox might have . The organisation also hostsa festival in belated October , when the city is luminous with humming colors .

Bike the waterfront

To take in as many waterfront views as possible , biking is the way to go . Pedal along the 10.5 mileElizabeth River trail , which has wifi hotspots , bicycle repair stations , and drop dead through the beautiful Freemason andGhenthistoric territorial dominion .

Along the way you ’ll also passFort Norfolk , whichwas authorise by George Washington in 1794 and played a role in the civil war . you could hear about it on tours , where you could search the keep , guardhouse , and embankment .

Walk through history and past a peaceful pagoda

If you ’d rather walk and see some history at the same meter , determine out theCannonball Trailthat weave through business district and along the Elizabeth River , explore 400 years into the city ’s past times . To get there , take the Tide light track to York Street Station and walk a scant length to Botetourt Street in thehistoric Freemason territory , Norfolk ’s oldest standing neighborhood on the National Register for Historic Places . There you’re able to marvel at the territorial dominion ’s three centuries of historic computer architecture in styles wander from Colonial to Italianate .

Along the lead , you could tour the Old Second Presbyterian Church ( done in Romanesque Revival style ) that was win over to the long - standingFreemason Abbey Restaurant . Also train out theHunter House Victorian Museum , build in mediaeval elan in 1894 with turrets and a gargoyle .

Along the agency , you ’ll also pass thePagoda & Oriental Garden , also known as Marine Observation Tower . It was gifted to the City of Norfolk by the Taiwanese Government honoring swap ties with Virginia . The pagoda is surrounded by Kwansan cherry trees , benches , rock puddle , and koi in a 75,000 gallon pond . A red mermaid sculpture welcomes visitor to this acid distance .

VisitNorfolk

Last on the Cannonball Trail are downtown Granby and Main Streets , full of hotels , restaurants , and theater in beautiful building . You might spyGranby Theater , built in 1916 and still in operation today , and the Royster Building , a grand tour - of - the - century structure .

Shop local businesses at Selden Arcade

Selden Arcade host an indoor market place full of local businesses and pop - ups in an erstwhile , renovated landmark . The marketplace features Norfolk line likeSugar & Grace , a non - toxic wax light and plant store with DIY candle - making orS’mores Amore , where you could get delicacy like blondies and ( obviously ) s’mores . Restaurants include theGranby Waffle Shopfor scented and savory creations;The Stockpot Norfolkfor quinoa stadium , Huevos Rancheros , Turkish breakfast , and peach sandos ; andHilton Norfolkfor the upscale restaurantsSaltine , serve shellfish and cocktail , andVaria , an Italian wine bar .

Explore Norfolk’s incredible glass arts scene

To go on a crystalized duty tour , start at the Glass Light Hotel & Gallery and its Perry Glass Studio , which includes highlight likeDualby Lucy Lyon , Thinkerby Martin Janecky , andSalacious Torrid Teaserby Stephen Powell .

Next , head up to theChrysler Museum of Art Glass Galleriesfor the history of glass in ancient cultures to modern drinking glass fashioning . There you ’ll learn thatTiffanyis not just a luxury jeweller , but a glass couturier , who made some of the finest varnished methamphetamine hydrochloride from Tiffany Studios in NYC between the 1870s and 1933 .

Lastly , walk a few steps toPerry Glass Studiofor glass - blowing by master creators . take in shards heated in kiln at temperature hotter than lava and opus burn down and shaped into ornaments .

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Stay in a glass-themed hotel

Opt for a glamourous stay atGlass Light Hotel & Galleryin downtown Norfolk . The hotel sits in a historical building , but the inner sparkles like a baseball field . Two - story of the property host the Perry Glass Studio , where you may tour a mesmerizing collection of sixty - five tinkling slice from famous sculptors , include Dale Chihuly .

You ’ll also find glass pieces hang on wall from the lobby to room and displayed on tables . Keep an middle out for the spectacular jumbo bunny rabbit rabbit pieces , Pops and Bunny , representing the owners , Mr. and Mrs. Perry , and sculpted by Dutch artist Peter Bremers .