After 400 Years, Norfolk's Seaport is Still The Historic City's Number One Attraction
Rich with History, Norfolk’s Seaport is A Premier Maritime Center
NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk’s historic Waterfront - teeming with military vessels, pleasure crafts, ferries, tugs, yachts and sailboats - is the city’s most popular attraction, with more than one million visitors each year.
The Norfolk Waterfront is a community dedicated to supporting the maritime endeavors of its seaport city. From naval bases to massive battleships to simply relishing the breathtaking view of the Intercoastal Waterway, Norfolk’s Waterfront is an integral part of American history as well as a source of pride and enjoyment for the people of Norfolk and the millions of people who visit this waterfront city.
Norfolk is home to the world’s largest naval station, which ports more than 100 ships of the Atlantic fleet. Naval Station Norfolk offers 45-minute tours of this awe-inspiring naval station. Navy personnel narrate the tours, which include a rare glance at the Atlantic Fleet training centers, breathtaking aircraft carriers, formidable cruisers and destroyers, versatile amphibious assault vessels and sleek submarines. A section of the base includes a strip of preserved historic homes from the 1907 Jamestown Exposition.
For a journey to the bottom of the ocean, Nauticus is a 120,000 square foot, multi-level maritime showcase with more than 150 nautical exhibits. Visitors can prepare to do battle in a simulated interactive naval destroyer or explore life in the deep blue sea with interesting saltwater aquariums. For the adventurous at heart, a touch tank will let you feel a real shark. The center is also home to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, which covers more than two centuries of naval activity in and around the great Norfolk Harbor. An impressive collection of antique ship models and retrieved underwater artifacts make the museum a very popular part of Nauticus.
USS Wisconsin, officially launched in 1943 and America’s largest battleship, is berthed adjacent to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. In honor of its 57th anniversary, the 887-foot ship, which was involved in World War II, the Korean War and the Gulf War, was tugged down the Elizabeth River to its new port at Nauticus on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 2000.
Ocean View Beach: a spectacular seven-mile stretch of glittering sandy beaches. The bay’s calm surface and gentle surf make it ideal for sunbathers, swimmers and families with children. The beach also offers a six-acre waterfront park and a roster of summer entertainment, from pig roasts, parties and big band concerts that take place in the park’s bandbox, gazebo and promenade areas.
The Waterside, overlooking the Elizabeth River, is Norfolk’s waterfront festival marketplace with dozens of exciting shops, restaurants and entertainment.
Town Point Park: a seven-acre waterfront park offers more than 65 major outdoor concerts, award-winning festivals and special events annually. Home to the Armed Forces Memorial, which commemorates soldiers lost at war, Town Point Park is a waterside favorite for picnics, parties and people watching.
Harbor Cruises: Norfolk offers several seasonal harbor cruises from April through October to explore the city by water. American Rover is Virginia’s only three-masted topsail passenger schooner, which sets sail with 2-hour afternoon tours and evening sunset cruises. Docked beside Nauticus, Victory Rover provides a narrated tour of Naval Station Norfolk where passengers will see aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and guided missile cruisers. The Carrie B offers fun and fact-filled tours of the historic Norfolk Harbor while cruising on a replica 19th century Mississippi River paddle wheeler. Spirit of Norfolk hosts year-round lunch and dinner cruises complete with entertainment and dancing.
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