Global Search

Set Current Location

Select a Category

All

Accomodations

Restaurants & Cafes

Attractions

Nightlife

Shopping

Tours

Join
Sign Out
user image
My Profile
Sign Out

Best Hidden Gems in Norfolk

, 9 Options Found

This historic home was built in 1854 for James Hunter, his wife Lizzie, and their three children. All of the children remained unmarried, and the youngest, Eloise, converted the house to the museum as part of her Hunter Foundation. The museum opened in 1988 and gives visitors a glimpse into lives of a wealthy family at the end of the 19th Century. Friendly docents conduct tours every half hour, explaining the history of the house as well as the lives of the Hunter family.

This restored historic house was once home to Norfolk entrepreneur Moses Myers. One of the first brick houses built here after the Revolutionary War, the Moses Myers House today contains a nice collection of original furnishings, family portraits and other works by Thomas Sully. An ongoing restoration of this house continues by the Garden Club of Virginia.

Stemming from a streetcar station dating back to the 1880's, the Ocean View Station Museum houses exhibits on the history of Ocean View. Get a chance to browse through photographs, memorabilia, and stories showcasing the history of the city, its various neighborhoods and its past culture. In addition to the fascinating historical exhibits, the Ocean View Station Museum also plays hosts to special events, such as movie showings and book signings.

In 1999, the year after Norfolk adopted the mermaid as their city logo, a city-wide art project was developed to bring this symbol to life throughout the city. Local artisans created the mermaid statues scattered throughout the city, interpreting the mermaid mythology and life in Norfolk. Dozens of mermaid statues adorn the city's streets and buildings. See how many you can find! One of them is installed at the famous Nauticus.

Fort Norfolk is the last of the George Washington authorized harbor-front ports. Set on four acres next to the Elizabeth River, the fort had a significant role in the War of 1812. Sites to be seen include the dungeon, ramparts and barracks, most of which date back to 1810. Located in the historic Ghent area, Fort Norfolk is an interesting and educational outing.

Hop aboard a luxury yacht of the Navy's Atlantic Fleet and get ready to cruise down the scenic Elizabeth River. While you enjoy the scenic views, dig into some haute cuisine. Lunch cruises, dinner cruises and brunch cruises are quite popular with both locals and tourists. Besides these option, the company also organizes moonlight cruises that are quite popular with couples. Holiday cruises are also organized including special excursions on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, July 4th Fireworks as well as a special Halloween Cruise for kids. If you want to explore the sights and the sounds of the city in an unusual manner, Spirit of Norfolk Cruises can organize a tour for you. One of the best attractions of the city, a cruise down Elizabeth River is a great idea even if you are in Norfolk for a brief duration.

This beautiful planetarium at the Norfolk State University is available for civic groups and educational organizations to enjoy the stars, free-of-charge. The planetarium also holds many public lectures and workshops and there is the possibility that participants might learn more about the state-of-the-art Rapid Response Robotic Telescope. E-mail for more details.

Cannonball Trail is an extremely popular tourist walk that takes visitors through some of Norfolk's most significant heritage sites. Visitors can experience over 400 years worth of history in this walk. Tours are usually self-guided and participants get to learn a lot about the history and culture of the city while seeing most of its major attractions. Sights include the 1673 Half Moone Fort and the stately St Paul's Church. It's a leisurely, fascinating way to see the best of Norfolk's rich history. Call for more details.

This fascinating trail is built on an old railroad right-of-way and it passes through an interesting part of modern Norfolk and some of its heritage sites. Walkers can visit the Norfolk Fort, where several early 19th-century buildings still survive, including a dungeon. The trail winds by the waters of Hampton Roads, giving walkers a chance to see ships and tankers, not to mention various birds and other indigenous wildlife. It's a great walk to do at any time of year and is completely free.

9 0 5,10,6 best-hidden-gems_TA13-OA9-MG18 1
best