Things to Do in Norfolk
One of the standout attractions in the city is the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, packed with a children's garden, lake boat rides, butterfly exhibit and of course, gorgeous flowers and trees. Go green at the Hermitage Museum and Garden, an early 20th century Arts and Crafts-style estate situated on the shore of the Lafayette River. Unleash your creative side at he Chrysler Museum of Art - the the late John Russell, an art critic for The New York Times, once noted, the Chrysler has objects "any museum in the world would kill for." It holds one of the largest collections of glass in the world, European paintings and sculptures from the masters, American paintings, a photography collection and much more.
Since Norfolk is famous for its naval base, visitors might want to check out the Naval Station Norfolk, the oldest port in the U.S. that offers guided tours. Another draw is the USS Wisconsin, one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. Explore its deck through a self-guided tour or take the Topside Tour for a guided, more insightful look at the majestic ship. To top the day off, Virginia Zoo has dozens of animals from around the world that kids know and love.