16 Things To Do That Won't Take You Away From Norfolk

Norfolk is a dynamic and historic coastal city where the timeless energy of a major port meets a vibrant, modern cultural scene. Defined by its deep relationship with the water, it is home to the world's largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk, a constant reminder of the city's pivotal role in national defense and maritime history. This nautical spirit infuses the entire city, from the bustling Waterfront District to the scenic tours of the harbor's mighty warships.

Yet Norfolk's identity extends far beyond the waterfront. It is a city of distinct, walkable neighborhoods, each with its own character—from the quaint cobblestone streets and independent shops of Ghent to the lively arts and dining corridor of Granby Street. Culture thrives at venues like the Chrysler Museum of Art, with its world-class glass collection, and the Virginia Stage Company.

Here are some of the best things to do in Norfolk.

1. Norfolk Botanical Garden

The Norfolk Botanical Garden is a crown jewel of urban horticulture and a living monument to history, sprawling across 175 acres of meticulously curated landscapes. Founded in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the depths of the Great Depression, its very existence is a testament to resilience and vision. The garden's initial transformation from swampy woodland was an immense manual labor undertaking, executed by a force of over 200 African American women and 20 men who hand-cleared the land and dug the original canals, creating the serene waterways that remain a signature feature today.

This legacy is honored as a Virginia Historic Landmark. Visitors can traverse 12 miles of pathways winding through more than 60 distinct themed gardens, from the fragrant and expansive Bicentennial Rose Garden to the vibrant, nationally acclaimed Azalea Garden and the peaceful Japanese Garden. The experience is multisensory and immersive, offering exploration by foot, tram, or boat tour.

Beyond its beauty, the garden serves as a crucial urban wildlife sanctuary. It is a premier birding location and is famously home to a long-active Bald Eagle nest, the drama of which can be observed remotely via a popular live "Eagle Cam." Seasonal highlights include the enchanting Butterfly House, a walk-through habitat for native species.

2. Virginia Zoo

As one of the oldest zoological parks in the United States, having opened in 1900, the Virginia Zoo represents over a century of evolution in animal care, conservation, and public education. Situated on 53 acres within the historic Lafayette Park, this fully AZA-accredited facility is home to over 700 animals representing more than 150 species. The zoo's design encourages immersive journeys across continents, with major exhibits like the expansive "Africa - Okavango Delta," where guests encounter elephants, lions, and giraffes, and the "Asia - Tiger Trail."

Its mission extends far beyond display, embedding conservation into its core operations. The zoo participates in critical Species Survival Plans (SSPs), most notably for its African elephants, where its breeding program contributes vital genetics to the managed population. On-site, a state-of-the-art Animal Health Campus provides comprehensive veterinary care, including surgery and advanced diagnostics, ensuring the highest welfare standards without the stress of off-site transport.

Perhaps one of its most impactful, yet less visible, roles is played by its dedicated Wildlife Rescue Center. This separate facility rehabilitates hundreds of injured and orphaned native Virginia animals—from red-tailed hawks and barred owls to foxes and turtles—with the singular goal of releasing them back into their natural habitats.

3. Chrysler Museum of Art

The Chrysler Museum of Art stands as a cultural cornerstone of the region, offering free public access to a world-class collection that spans over 5,000 years of history. With a permanent collection of more than 30,000 objects, the museum is particularly renowned for its stunning glass collection, one of the most comprehensive in the world.

This specialty is anchored by the innovative Chrysler Museum Glass Studio, a state-of-the-art, 500-seat hot shop located just a block away, where daily demonstrations and classes make the art of glassblowing accessible and thrilling. Beyond glass, the museum's galleries present masterpieces from ancient sculpture to contemporary photography, including significant holdings of European and American painting, African art, and a superb collection of Art Nouveau posters.

The museum itself is housed in a stately building that has undergone significant architectural expansion, creating a luminous and welcoming environment for visitors. Importantly, its policy of free general admission removes financial barriers to experiencing high art, reflecting a deep commitment to community enrichment and education.

4. Nauticus

Nauticus is a unique maritime discovery center located on the downtown Norfolk waterfront, dedicated to exploring the power of the sea and the critical role of naval power. Its most iconic feature is the USS Wisconsin (BB-64), one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy, now permanently berthed alongside the museum and open for self-guided tours. Visitors can stand on the deck of this historic behemoth, peer into its massive 16-inch gun turrets, and explore parts of its interior, gaining a visceral understanding of naval history and engineering.

Inside the Nauticus building, interactive exhibits engage guests with the science and economics of the sea, from hurricane simulators and touch tanks with coastal creatures to displays on commercial port operations and marine conservation. The museum also houses the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, an official U.S.

Navy museum that details the profound naval history of the region from the American Revolution through the Cold War, providing essential context for the active military presence visible in the harbor. By combining hands-on science, deep historical narrative, and the awe-inspiring physical presence of the Wisconsin, Nauticus offers a comprehensive and compelling portrait of how the sea has shaped, and continues to shape, the identity of Norfolk and the nation.

5. Hermitage Museum & Gardens

The Hermitage Museum & Gardens offers a distinct and intimate cultural experience, blending an exquisite historic art collection with 12 acres of serene, landscaped gardens along the Lafayette River. The core of the estate is the 1908 Arts and Crafts style home, originally built as a private residence for the Sloane family.

Unlike a traditional museum, the Hermitage showcases its collection—an impressive array of over 5,000 objects from ancient to modern times, including rare Asian ceramics, European tapestries, and a significant holding of American art—within the warm, domestic context of the historic house. This creates a uniquely personal atmosphere where art and historic interiors are in constant dialogue.

The surrounding gardens are an ever-evolving work of art themselves, featuring formal gardens, a contemporary glass "Greenhouse" studio, a mystical hardwood forest, and a scenic riverfront trail. The Hermitage is deeply committed to contemporary artistic practice, regularly commissioning site-specific installations and hosting artist residencies that engage with the landscape and architecture.

6. MacArthur Center

MacArthur Center is the premier regional shopping destination in downtown Norfolk, a multi-level, enclosed mall that serves as a major commercial and social hub. Anchored by national retailers like Nordstrom and Dillard's, the center houses over 120 stores and dining options, providing a comprehensive retail experience from high-end fashion to popular mainstream brands.

Its strategic downtown location, connected via skywalk to the adjacent parking garages and within walking distance of other attractions, makes it a convenient and weather-protected destination. Beyond shopping, MacArthur Center functions as a community gathering place, hosting events, seasonal festivities, and providing a common meeting point in the heart of the city.

While its core identity is that of a modern shopping mall, its presence is vital to the economic vitality and pedestrian activity of downtown Norfolk. It represents a significant investment in urban retail, drawing visitors from across the Hampton Roads region and contributing to the dense, walkable character of the city's core, where commerce, culture, and civic life intersect seamlessly under one roof.

7. MacArthur Memorial

The MacArthur Memorial is a solemn and educational museum complex dedicated to preserving and interpreting the life and legacy of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. Housed in the renovated 19th-century Norfolk courthouse—where MacArthur's parents were married—the memorial's core is the general's monumental tomb, set within a quiet rotunda. His body lies in state, surrounded by inscriptions from his historic career.

The surrounding galleries form a comprehensive museum, chronicling his entire life from his early days at West Point through his command in World War II and the Korean War to his role in the post-war reconstruction of Japan. The exhibits are rich with original artifacts, including his famous corncob pipe, "scrambled eggs" cap, extensive military decorations, personal correspondence, and historic photographs and film.

Operated in cooperation with the City of Norfolk and the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation, the memorial serves as both a scholarly archive and a place of reflection. It provides a nuanced, object-driven narrative of one of America's most complex military figures, inviting visitors to contemplate leadership, duty, and the profound consequences of war in the 20th century, all within the dignified setting of his final resting place.

8. Hampton Roads Naval Museum

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is an official museum of the United States Navy, dedicated to chronicling over 240 years of naval history in the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay, one of the most strategically significant bodies of water in North American military history.

Located inside Nauticus on the Norfolk waterfront, its exhibits meticulously trace the evolution of sea power from the arrival of the first English colonists in 1607 through the Great White Fleet, two World Wars, the Cold War, and into the modern era. The museum's narrative is deeply tied to the local landscape, explaining how the natural harbor of Hampton Roads shaped pivotal events like the Battle of the Ironclads (USS Monitor vs. CSS Virginia) and became the home of the world's largest naval base.

Its collection and displays are artifact-rich, featuring detailed ship models, historic weapons, uniforms, personal accounts, and interactive elements that connect visitors to the human experience of naval service. As a free-admission institution focused on education and scholarship, it serves as an essential contextual anchor for the entire maritime experience in Norfolk, providing the historical backbone that illuminates the reasons for the enduring and visible naval presence that defines the region today.

9. USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is an awe-inspiring icon of American industrial might and naval history, berthed permanently at Nauticus as a museum ship. As one of the four completed Iowa-class battleships, it represents the pinnacle of battleship design—fast, heavily armed, and extraordinarily durable.

Commissioned in 1944, its service spanned three major conflicts: World War II, the Korean War, and the Persian Gulf War, making it one of the last battleships to see active combat and fire its massive 16-inch guns in anger. Visitors can walk her 887-foot-long teak deck, peer into the cavernous barrels of her main battery (each shell weighed as much as a Volkswagen Beetle), and explore sections of her interior to appreciate the scale and complexity of life aboard a floating city of nearly 3,000 sailors.

The ship is preserved in a "ready reserve" state from her 1991 Gulf War deployment, offering a unique time-capsule experience of late-Cold War naval technology. Serving as the centerpiece of the downtown waterfront, the Wisconsin is not a static relic but a powerful, tangible connection to the stories of service, strategy, and supreme engineering that secured American sea power during the 20th century's most defining moments.

10. Chrysler Museum Glass Studio

The Chrysler Museum Glass Studio is a dynamic, working hot glass studio and a premier center for glass art education and demonstration in the United States. While an integral part of the Chrysler Museum of Art (located just one block away), the Glass Studio operates as a vibrant, independent hub of creativity and live craftsmanship.

Housed in a striking, modern 500-seat facility, its core mission is to demystify and celebrate the art of glassblowing through free daily public demonstrations led by resident and visiting master artists. Visitors can witness the mesmerizing, collaborative process of transforming molten silica into exquisite sculpture and vessels mere feet away from the 2,100-degree furnace.

Beyond demonstrations, the studio hosts a rigorous schedule of hands-on classes for all skill levels, lectures, and special exhibitions of contemporary glass. It also supports artists through residency and fellowship programs. This direct access to the creative fire bridges the gap between the museum's renowned historical glass collection and the living, breathing art form as it exists today.

11. Virginia Stage Company

The Virginia Stage Company stands as the leading professional theatre company in Southeastern Virginia and the resident producer at the Wells Theatre in downtown Norfolk. Operating as a cornerstone of the region's performing arts scene since its founding in 1978, the company presents a diverse season of classic plays, contemporary dramas, and new works, reaching an audience of over 50,000 patrons annually.

The Wells Theatre itself is a historic gem, a meticulously restored 1913 Beaux-Arts style playhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places, whose opulent interior provides an atmospheric setting for live performance. Beyond its mainstage productions, the Virginia Stage Company is deeply committed to education and community engagement through extensive outreach programs, including student matinees, in-school workshops, and its "Project Playwright" initiative for developing new American plays.

As a professional Actors' Equity Association company, it employs local and national artists, contributing significantly to the cultural and economic vitality of the city. Attending a performance here offers more than just an evening of entertainment; it is an immersion into a tradition of professional storytelling that challenges perspectives, fosters community dialogue, and upholds the transformative power of live theatre in a historic and intimate setting.

12. Ocean View Beach Park

Ocean View Beach Park is a expansive public waterfront park and beachfront offering nearly seven miles of accessible shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay in the historic Ocean View neighborhood of Norfolk. This is the city's primary public beach, featuring a wide, sandy expanse suitable for swimming, sunbathing, fishing from the 300-foot N.P. Miller Fishing Pier, and enjoying panoramic views of maritime traffic.

The park is equipped with essential public amenities including restrooms, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and ample parking, making it a popular destination for families and community gatherings. Beyond its recreational function, the park hosts several major annual events that draw regional crowds, most notably the Ocean View Air Show, where military and civilian aircraft perform breathtaking maneuvers over the water.

The surrounding area is a distinctive coastal community with a storied past as a resort destination, now characterized by a mix of classic beach cottages and modern residences. Ocean View Beach Park provides a vital, no-cost public space for residents and visitors to connect with the natural beauty of the Bay, engage in outdoor activity, and experience the relaxed, quintessentially Virginian beach culture that defines this part of the city.

13. Town Point Park

Town Point Park is Norfolk's premier urban waterfront festival park and the central green for the city's downtown civic and cultural life. Strategically situated along the Elizabeth River, this 4.5-acre park offers stunning views of the harbor and serves as the region's primary outdoor venue for a bustling calendar of large-scale public events.

It is the iconic home of Norfolk's most famous festivals, including the Virginia Arts Festival, the Norfolk Jazz Festival, and Harborfest, one of the largest, free maritime festivals on the East Coast. On non-event days, the park functions as a serene and beautifully landscaped public space for walking, jogging along the waterfront promenade, and relaxing amid gardens and public art installations.

Its modern amenities include the permanent stage known as the "Neptune's Park" pavilion, concession areas, and it is seamlessly connected to the adjacent Waterside District and the Elizabeth River Trail. Town Point Park is not merely a park; it is the dynamic, flexible heart of Norfolk's civic identity—a place where the community gathers to celebrate, where the city showcases itself to visitors, and where daily life unfolds against the ever-present backdrop of the working river that built the city.

14. Norfolk Premium Outlets

Norfolk Premium Outlets is a major open-air shopping center located in the northern sector of the city, offering a concentrated destination for value-focused retail. The complex features over 85 designer and brand-name outlet stores, including significant anchors like Nike, Under Armour, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, and Coach, providing discounts on apparel, accessories, home goods, and footwear directly from manufacturers.

Its layout, designed as a village of interconnected storefronts, facilitates a full-day shopping experience with a variety of dining options available on-site to refuel between purchases. While distinctly suburban in its design and location, the center serves as a critical retail draw for the entire Hampton Roads region, attracting visitors seeking specific brands at reduced prices in a single, convenient location.

It represents a specific segment of the area's commercial landscape, catering to bargain hunters and those planning dedicated shopping trips, and operates as a self-contained retail ecosystem separate from the urban shopping experience of downtown Norfolk's MacArthur Center. The outlet's presence underscores the region's diverse commercial offerings and fulfills a demand for accessible, off-price shopping within the metropolitan area.

15. Selden Market

Selden Market is a curated, innovative retail incubator and food hall located in the heart of downtown Norfolk's historic district, representing a modern model for supporting small business and entrepreneurship. Housed in a beautifully revitalized early-20th-century building, the market provides a low-barrier, flexible platform for local artisans, crafters, chefs, and boutique retailers to launch and grow their concepts.

Visitors will find a dynamic, rotating collection of vendors offering everything from handcrafted jewelry and custom art to specialty coffee, gourmet doughnuts, and international street food. Unlike a traditional mall, Selden Market is designed to be fluid and community-focused, with a central gathering space that hosts events, pop-ups, and live music.

It functions as both a destination for discovering unique, locally made goods and a vital catalyst for downtown's creative economy. By offering short-term leases and shared operational resources, it lowers the traditional risks of opening a brick-and-mortar store. The market's success lies in its ability to constantly evolve, ensuring a fresh experience with each visit while embedding itself as a grassroots hub of creativity and commerce in the urban core.

16. Naro Expanded Cinema

The Naro Expanded Cinema is a cherished, independently owned and operated movie theater that has served as a cultural landmark in the Ghent neighborhood since 1977. More than just a cinema, the Naro is a community institution dedicated to the art of film, specializing in curated programming of independent, foreign, documentary, and classic revival films not typically shown in mainstream multiplexes.

Housed in a historic 1936 Art Deco building, its two screens offer an intimate, retro movie-going experience, complete with a traditional marquee and a distinctive, eclectic interior. The theater is renowned for its highly popular weekend midnight screenings of cult classics like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which have become enduring local traditions. Owned and operated by film enthusiasts, the Naro fosters a deeply engaged audience through special film series, director talks, and community events.

It represents a defiantly analog, thoughtful alternative in the age of digital streaming and corporate cinemas, prioritizing cinematic curation and the shared social experience of watching films in a dedicated space. For locals and visitors alike, a trip to the Naro is an act of cultural participation, supporting a business that values film as an art form and a communal conversation.

Conclusion

Norfolk offers a spectacular array of activities and attractions that cater to a variety of interests and tastes. This vibrant city is a perfect blend of natural beauty, historical landmarks, and recreational opportunities.

History buffs will find plenty to admire in Norfolk. The city is home to several significant landmarks, including the Battleship Wisconsin and the Chrysler Museum of Art. These sites not only offer a glimpse into Norfolk's rich past but also provide unique experiences that are both educational and engaging.

In conclusion, this city promises a memorable and diverse experience. Embrace the opportunity to explore and enjoy all that Norfolk has to offer, and you will undoubtedly discover why it is such a cherished destination.

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FAQ

1. What is Norfolk, VA known for?

Norfolk is known for its significant naval base, the largest in the world, and its rich maritime history. The city features the USS Wisconsin battleship, the Nauticus maritime museum, and a vibrant waterfront. It's also renowned for its arts scene, including the Chrysler Museum of Art and the Virginia Opera.

2. What are the best routes to explore Norfolk, VA?

The best routes to explore Norfolk include Interstate 64, which connects the city to Virginia Beach and Richmond. Route 13 offers a scenic drive over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. For a picturesque journey, take the Colonial Parkway, which links Norfolk to historic sites in Williamsburg and Jamestown.

3. What is the weather like in Norfolk, VA throughout the year?

Norfolk experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures often reach the 80s and 90s, perfect for beach visits. Winters are mild, typically in the 40s and 50s. Spring and fall offer pleasant temperatures and colorful foliage, ideal for outdoor activities.

4. How would you describe Norfolk, VA's culture and history?

Norfolk boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage, deeply tied to its naval and maritime significance. The city features historic neighborhoods, colonial-era buildings, and a thriving arts scene with theaters, museums, and music venues. Annual events like the Harborfest celebrate its nautical roots and community spirit.

5. What are the best places to eat in Norfolk, VA?

Norfolk offers a diverse dining scene. For seafood, visit Freemason Abbey or Saltine. Handsome Biscuit serves delicious Southern comfort food. For fine dining, try Todd Jurich's Bistro. The vibrant NEON District offers eclectic options like Commune for farm-to-table meals and The Grilled Cheese Bistro for creative comfort food.