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Norfolk
Take in a Friday concert on the harbor, check out the naval yards and hit the public beaches in Norfolk
Tuesday, Mar 20, 2007 - 02:30 PM Updated: 04:18 PM
Poised at the mouth of the Elizabeth River on Norfolk's downtown waterfront, The Waterside offers major restaurants, specialty retail shops, an international food court, and exciting nightlife with music, dancing, and live entertainment.
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Save This PageNorfolk has bragging rights to one of the finest harbors in the world. But Norfolk is not exactly the most scenic beach town on the map. Featuring mostly naval yards and harbors, you’ll want to head here if you’re interested in maritime and naval heritage…or if you want to hop on a cruise to the Caribbean from the new Half Moon Terminal.
Public Beaches:
Community Beach: Lifeguards provided from Memorial Day through Labor Day. 600 E. Ocean View. Ocean View Avenue and Chesapeake Boulevard intersection
Ocean View Beach: Located 15 miles to the west of Virginia Beach, Ocean View Beach stretches along 8 miles of the Chesapeake Bay. Features a gazebo, picnic tables, a bathhouse and parking. 100 W. Ocean View Ave.
Sarah Constant Beach: Lifeguards provided from Memorial Day through Labor Day. 300 W. Ocean View Avenue. At the intersection of Tidewater Drive and 4th View.
Attractions:
Half Moone Terminal: Virginia Beach isn’t the only destination vacation on the beach. Norfolk’s new $36 million Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center opens this spring. That means vacation-goers can set sail for the Caribbean with stops in Bermuda and the Bahamas on two cruise lines: Royal Caribbean and Carnival.
New moon for Norfolk cruises
Norfolk cruise schedule
New moon for Norfolk cruises
Norfolk cruise schedule
Town Point Park: Seven-acre city park overlooks the harbor and gathering site for many summer events. You’ll want to head to Town Point Park for jazz festivals, Cajun boogaloos, the after-work-concert series every Friday during the summer and June’s Harborfest featuring three days of live music, artists and the popular parade of sail. One Waterside Drive.
Waterside Festival Marketplace: Located on Norfolk's downtown waterfront, The Waterside is a collection of 120 shops, nightclubs and restaurants. Day and evening cruises and ferries depart from The Waterside Marina. Nauticus and Norfolk Tides Harbor Park are within walking distance from the Waterside Marketplace. 333 Waterside Drive, www.watersidemarketplace.com
Nauticus: The National Maritime Center: A maritime-themed science center featuring hands-on exhibits, interactive theaters, aquaria and high-def films. Located on the downtown waterfront and housed in a replicated battleship. One Waterside Drive, (757) 664-1000, www.nauticus.org
MacArthur Center: The area's premier new shopping mall features one-million-square feet of shopping space populated with trendy stores like H&M, J.Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, as well as anchor stores Dillard’s and Nordstrom. There’s also a Regal Cinema megaplex, a food court and restaurants. Located in Norfolk’s historic downtown. 300 Monticello Ave., (757) 627-6000, www.shopmacarthur.com.
Chrysler Museum: Housing the collection of car magnate Walter Chrysler Jr., the Chrysler features a little bit of everything, from Tiffany and Lalique glassware to paintings by European masters Henri Matisse and Georges Braque. 245 West Olney Road, (757) 664-6200. www.chrysler.org
Sources: Richmond Times-Dispatch and http://www.norfolkcvb.com/
