Norfolk Navy Lodge info, base tours, plus what to see and do in the area

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Navy Lodge Norfolk information with rates, photos:  http://navyformoms.com/group/norfolksailorsfamilyfriends/forum/topi...

Navy Lodge Norfolk is close to Naval Station Norfolk's Gate 5, and offers amenities such as kitchenettes and free continental breakfast.  Your sailor needs to check you in.  That link has info about other nearby hotels, too.  

Official visitor tours of Naval Station Norfolk: This Naval Station Norfolk Visitor Information page has tour info, phone numbers and more links.  The tour is fascinating and free for active military!  "The 45-minute tour is conducted by Naval personnel. Visitors will have an opportunity to see aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, amphibious assault ships and one of the busiest airfields in the country.  The tour also features historic homes from the 1907 Jamestown Exposition.  The cost is $10 for adults and $5.00 for children 3-11 and senior citizens over the age of 60. CASH ONLY!  Active duty military free. Picture ID is required for all adults."  http://cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/ns_norfolk/about/i...

Hampton Roads Events Calendar:  http://hrscene.com

Hampton Roads Visitors Guide, events, news:  http://hamptonroads.com/visitors

Coastal Virginia Magazine has things to do, restaurants, "best of's," events, etc:  http://www.coastalvirginiamag.com

20 of Norfolk's top restaurants:  http://hrscene.com/your-guide-to-norfolk-restaurant-week/

[DebbieinCA]

This is great! Thank you so much!!!

I'll add to it when I get back from my first visit to the area at the end of the month. :)

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Here's a listing of restaurants in Portsmouth:  Portsmouth Dining 

From the ferry landing on High Street, you can walk to any restaurant on High St up to street address "800."

By the way, the ferry from Norfolk Waterside makes two stops:  one at the High Street dock, and the other at the Renaissance Hotel.  It's about a one minute ride between those two stops  :-)

The Portsmouth tourism link:  http://www.visitportsva.com  

My favorite restaurants there are Still, which has phenomenal tapas and a great wine list, and The Deck, which is in the marina just a few steps north of the Renaissance and has an incredible view of the Norfolk waterfront and skyline.  

 

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Available through MWR - The Cottages on the Coast at Oceana/Dam Creek.  Great beach!  https://www.facebook.com/notes/navy-ffr/discover-dam-necks-cottages...

[kathy]

Marcy - this is terrific!  Now that it has resurfaced once again - I hope folks will continue to add their comments.  I am seriously looking into the cottages. Thank you!

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Good article from the Washington Post about visiting Portsmouth!  It's so easy, you can drive from Norfolk or (more fun) take the quick paddlewheel ferry from Norfolk's Waterside (by Nauticus) across the Elizabeth River over to Olde Towne, only $1.50 each way!  

Article:  "Everything's shipshape in Portsmouth" Washington Post

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Nice article about visiting Norfolk from the NY Daily News on 5/5/2014:
""Looking for a great road-trip this spring? Perhaps a little farther south than the Washington Mall cherry-blossoms? Then beautiful Norfolk, Va., is the perfect locale to spend a few days, or better yet an entire week."
Link: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/road-trip-norfolk-va-article-...

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Some of the places to eat that I like when visiting - In Norfolk, Charlie's American Cafe is a classic hole in the wall for breakfast and lunch, Tom Hanks even ate there while they were filming "Captain Phillips."  Press 626 is a cool cafe and wine bar in an old house.  Fair Grounds for coffee, also in an old house.  Doumar's Drive In for a barbecue sandwich and a milkshake -  a landmark that's been there forever, and they come to the car with your tray!  :)  On the Portsmouth side, Still is amazing for tapas and cocktails, tucked away and down a few steps like a speakeasy :)

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Good tidbit from my friend Britt in our corpsman group - "I volunteer at the USO at Norfolk International Airport, we usually recommend service members to use James River Taxi. They usually give them the best rates and have base access."  

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

2015 Naval Station Norfolk tour schedule and address:  http://www.visitnorfolktoday.com/tour-norfolk-naval-base

Naval Station Norfolk in association with Tidewater Tours Inc. present the naval bus tour schedule:

JAN 1 - MAR 13
One tour daily, except Mondays, unless Holiday. Tour will depart at 1:30pm

MAR 14 - MAY 22
Four tours daily: Tours will depart at 11:00am; 12 noon; 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

MAY 23 - SEP 4
Four tours daily: Tours will depart at 11:00am; 12 noon; 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

SEP 5 - OCT 31
Four tours daily: Tours will depart at 11:00am; 12 noon; 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

NOV 1 - DEC 31
One tour daily, except Mondays, unless Holiday; Tour will depart at 1:30pm.

The 45-minute tour is conducted by Naval personnel. Visitors will have an opportunity to see aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, amphibious assault ships and one of the busiest airfields in the country. The tour also features historic homes from the 1907 Jamestown Exposition. The cost is $10 for adults and $5.00 for children 3-11 and senior citizens over the age of 60. A picture ID is required for all adults.

Bus tours depart from the Naval Tour and Information Center located at 9079 Hampton Blvd. Norfolk, Virginia 23505, next to gate 5.

Group tours (chartered buses) can be arranged in advance by calling Naval Tour and Information Center at [phone]. For general information (ticket information, tour times, bus schedule, etc.) call, [phone]. The Naval Tour and Information Center will be closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

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[Chipmunk]

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[Chipmunk]

Some of the things we have done on our three trips out to see our sailor -  Fall 2019, Fall 2021, July 2022

Colonial Williamsburg | The World's Largest Living History Museum

Our kids rode the shuttle to Virginia Theme Park & Water Park | Busch Gardens Williamsburg - They just went to the Theme Park; we have actually done this a couple of times. Active-duty military receive one free day admission per year & possibly a discount on parking. I think the 2nd time when my DIL was buying tickets online, she was also able to get discount tickets for the rest of us. - Be sure to double check. 

Fort Monroe - Fort Monroe National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) 

Fort Monroe Authority | Fort Monroe, VA  We visited the Casemate Museum - Casemate Museum | Fort Monroe and the beach - Do a Google search for Fort Monroe Beach to bring up a variety of sites & images. 

General Douglas MacArthur Memorial - MacArthur Memorial, VA - Official Website | Official Website - FYI, there are actually 2 different display areas. The one where his grave is located took us about 5 hours for my youngest son and I to go through completely and read everything. Unknown to us, on the same grounds, there is another display, that rotates information more frequently and was smaller, likely more child friendly. I think it was located in the same building as the bookstore. So, just ask the docents as they did not really offer this information to us. 

Also, they will stamp your parking from the garage across the street for a discount. We went on a Saturday and the mall that is located there next to the parking garage was not very busy. 

Downtown Norfolk - We were able to visit during July 4th and enjoyed the fireworks downtown. We parked in that same parking garage that we had on Saturday and walked. There are a lot of historical markers around the sidewalks and in the window fronts. - Homepage - VisitNorfolk  - there are lots of free things to do and others to pay for. I believe this was mentioned above but we walked by and saw the battleship outside. - Home - Nauticus & The Battleship Wisconsin      Art Museum -  The Chrysler Museum of Art | Free Art Museum & Glass Art Studio...

There is evidently and M.C. Escher exhibition that I did not realize when we were there, available until about the 28th of Aug 2022. 

Fort Norfolk (virginia.org)   

Dining - we tend to visit friends a lot, or eat at our sailors' apartment, so I can only recommend - Grace O'Malley's – Irish Pub & Restaurant (irishpubnorfolk.com) - My husband and I had a really nice meal and found a parking spot a couple of blocks over, after the parking meter times. We ate here and then walked down to the waterfront and enjoyed ourselves while our kids were at the water park.  Other restaurants of interest near by this one are - Norfolk, VA - Jack Brown's Beer and Burger Joint (jackbrownsjoint.com) and Menu (hknorfolk.com)   Again - do a Google search eating, lots of interesting looking places. 

The Glass Light Hotel and Gallery was enjoyable to walk by and see the large glass sculptures. Marriott Find & Reserve - Choose Dates, Rooms & Rates

Some of the things we have done with our sailor, as well as going to a movie, and also a water park, but I am not sure if it is Ocean Breeze or which one - there are several.