Norfolk Family Getaway

Enjoy a fun-filled 3 day adventure in Norfolk!

Day 1

Start your exploration of the city at VisitNorfolk located at 232 East Main Street in downtown Norfolk. Pick up free brochures, maps, calendars, a visitor guide and more! Walk around the block and stop in the state-of-the-art Slover Library where you’ll find an entire floor dedicated to children filled with books, a Playscape for the very young and, for the progressively older, a KidZone and pre-teen area.

Walk across the street and check out the MacArthur Center Mall’s food court for a lunch. Afterwards hop on Virginia’s first light rail system, The Tide, to see some sites by train, or ride to Harbor Park to catch a baseball game. For dinner, head to No Frill Grill in historic Ghent and for dessert, walk to Skinny Dip for frozen yogurt or Strawberry Fields for gelato.

Day 2

Grab breakfast downtown at d’Egg, a New York-style diner, and then head to the Virginia Zoo! Home to hundreds of animals, beautiful exhibits, a restaurant and a miniature narrated train kids can ride, this adventure is one the entire family will love! There’s also a petting area called the Zoo Farm, a butterfly garden and plenty of photo ops!

Enjoy lunch and ice cream cone at Doumar’s  home to the world’s very first waffle cone! In fact, they still make cones on the original four iron waffle machine; something the kids will love to watch. Doumar’s menu offers North Carolina-style BBQ, burgers, hot dogs and more; all at extremely affordable prices. Looking for an after lunch activity? Stop by The Mermaid Factory  (also located in Ghent) where you can create, paint and embellish your very own mini mermaid statue, or and purchase mermaid memorabilia such as ornaments, jewelry, and much more!

By now you’ve probably worked up an appetite for dinner. Stop by Cogan’s for a pizza dinner the whole family will love. Truly an original and unlike anywhere you’ve been before – Cogan’s logo is “Eat at Cogan’s for Spaceman Strength and Endurance.”  The interior shelves and walls of this neighborhood hot-spot are decorated with everything from lava lamps to vintage toys & posters. During the holidays, a huge lighted Christmas tree hangs upside down from the ceiling next to enormous antique theatre chandeliers. Cogan’s serves original, hand-tossed pizzas and cold beer for the adults and has recently been voted best pizza in Hampton Roads. Outdoor seating available year round.

Day 3

Start your day off with a hearty breakfast from Handsome Biscuit. The menu screams southern! If fried chicken and pickles or loaded hash tots sound good, you won't want to miss this gem. 

Next head to the FREE Chrysler Museum of Art, a Norfolk institution that houses thousands of years of incredible art! Walk across the street to the Chrysler Glass Studio at noon for a free glass blowing demonstration, or sign up for a class with the family! For lunch, grab a bite in the NEON (New Energy of Norfolk) Art District or book a lunch cruise aboard the Spirit of Norfolk. A buffet-style lunch is served aboard the Spirit and the kids will love seeing sail boats, tug boats and naval ships pass by. Let’s not forget the DJ and dance floor!

After the cruise ends, stop by Nauticus, Norfolk’s science maritime museum, where you can participate in demonstrations, activities, exhibits, workshops and more.  Explore the enormous Battleship Wisconsin, located next door to Nauticus, or the Hampton Roads Naval Museum.

For dinner hop in the car and head to the Ocean View beaches and fishing pier! Overlooking the scenic Chesapeake Bay, the Ocean View Fishing Pier offers complete facilities and equipment for everyone who lives - and loves - to fish. Located on site are a bait house and restrooms. The Bay is home to a whole host of saltwater fish including trout, flounder, cobia, croaker, red drum and striper. So catch some fish with the family and then dine at the restaurant on the top deck!

This getaway was submitted by VisitNorfolk.