Fun things to do in Virginia Beach

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A short drive into Norfolk took us to Nauticus, a sea science center and a naval museum. It was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. It's right on the bay and the retired battle ship Wisconsin sits right next to it. (Word of warning: Stay away from the pagoda if you are hungry. It had a limited lunch menu and offered only one Chinese dish of mediocre orange chicken.)

I think we walked by it two or three times before we realized it was the white, clapboard house with the sun porch. Inside it was bustling. There is a main dining room and a secondary off the back of the first. We sat in the kitchen area where the counter and grill were kitty-corner to the really cool, old fashion bar. Off to the front was the patio sitting area.

I had the Catfish Po Boy with apple tartar sauce. Not enough stars to indicate how good it was. Onion rings were crispy but standard. The Kee Lime pie with fresh whip cream was incredible.

Bonus: $1.99 Bloody Mary.

Wanna B's Karaoke Club

This is such a great place with great service! They do have a food menu, but I didn't get anything to eat this time. I went on a Tuesday and they were giving out $$$$. It wasn't for a contest, it was just for the people that were singing, I guess like a door prize. I liked that it was inviting there, I felt comfortable and everyone was into the entertainment. I will go back again.

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When I planned the trip, I noted on the map that the Life Saving Museum at the Old Coast Guard Station (formerly the Life-Saving Museum) was in Virginia Beach right on Atlantic Ave. We got there about 9:15, but it was not open until 10, so I took some pictures and then we went on.

I thought it was sad that it was completely overshadowed (literally) by the tall hotels on either side.

This is the only existing station in Virginia with exhibits on shipwrecks and rescues. The role of the Coast Guard from the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II to the present day is chronicled

* Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM
* Sunday 12 Noon - 5 PM
Closed on Mondays
Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day,
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Admission:
Adults: $2.50
Military and Senior Citizen (60+): $2.00
Young people (6 - 18): $1.00
Under 6: Free

The New York Times described the Chrysler's permanent collection as "one any museum in the world would kill for." Comprising over 30,000 objects the collection spans over 5000 years of world history.

There are American and European paintings and sculpture from the Middle Ages to the present day. I enjoyed the impressionist gallery, as it?s my favorite style. There are works by Monet, Degas, Renoir, Gauguin, Rodin and C?zanne. The Museum?s glass collection is one of the world?s greatest collections. The types and style of glass is endless in every color of the rainbow plus. They also have collections of decorative arts and photography. Each year the Chrysler presents an average of 15 special exhibitions of outstanding artworks from around the world.

The museum is located on a beautiful waterfront sight facing the Hague inlet of Norfolk's historic Elizabeth River, the Museum building houses 60 galleries, an auditorium, gift shop, restaurant, and the Jean Outland Chrysler Library. The Museum was opened in 1989, and in 1997 the Museum completed a new education wing including spaces for hands-on art classes and new galleries for its celebrated collection of American neo-classical sculpture. The Museum's historic Willoughby-Baylor, and Moses Myers houses are located nearby.

Open Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m. (the website says admission by voluntary contribution, however I remember paying a $4 entrance fee)

We rented a bike for two hours and let me tell you..I never laughed so hard in many years. We had a blast. Although bikes aren't made for short people..it was still worth it. Would definately recommend this.

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Closest to the west is Norfolk 22 114 5 We lived here from 1960 to 1964, and we've been through here six times by boat.

The 1st number is the tips on my page, the 2nd number is the photographs, and the 3rd is the travelogues.

But in addition to Norfolk (in alphabetical order)

Chesapeake 1 4 0 is a very large area south of Norfolk with relatively few people.

Colonial National Historical Park 2 4 0 (Jamestown and Yorktown)

Colonial National Historical Parkway 5 14 0 which connects Jamestown and Yorktown

Deep Creek 2 29 3 is at the head of the Dismal Swamp Canal

Gloucester 5 7 0 This is just a restaurant tip for a place our friends took us to eat.

Gloucester Point 4 6 0 This is mostly about the York River Yacht Haven on Sarah Creek off the York River which was our 3rd stop on our trip south in the fall of 2001opposite Yorktown

Great Bridge 10 33 2 Visited three times on our way north via the Virginia Cut and once by car.

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge 3 10 0 which we cross through every time we go down the Dismal Swamp Canal.

Hampton 23 80 5 This was the 4th stop on our trip south in the fall of 2000 and is mostly about Fort Monroe

Newport News 9 61 5 (Mariner's Museum)

Portsmouth 23 90 5 Hospital Point is Mile Zero of the ICW.

Smithfield 20 35 1

and of course Williamsburg where I have no page yet.

If you have young children this is a fun place. The park has a kids castle playground, skate park, a pond for you to feed the ducks, and last time we were there they had an amusement park ( My kids didn't even ask to go they were happy at the playground). When my husband and I were dating at the top of the hill they had a huge flag flying I hated to see that was gone.