The Portsmouth center point is approximately the area of Children’s Museum of Virginia and the area of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum.
The best time to visit Portsmouth is in summer, when you can enjoy hiking, bird watching, golfing, kayaking, and lots of fun annual events. Summer is also the hardest time to get a good deal on a hotel room, so you should make your reservations as soon as possible to get the best price.
The Gosport Arts Festival in early May features 80 juried artists, art demonstrations, live music, food, a children's area, and a silent auction. You can also see the Seawall Art Show near the end of August. It's a juried arts and fine crafts show with 80 to 90 artists, oil paintings, wood carving, art glass, fine jewelry, and pottery. There's also a student art show and entertainment.
The Umoja Festival in late May celebrates African culture. Umoja means unity, and visitors can enjoy traditional art, live music, entertainment, and food. Just a few days later, there's a Memorial Day Parade with floats, marching bands, and more. The Seawall Music Festival in June offers free waterfront concerts, family festivities, and fireworks.
The BioBlitz is also in June. You can join area scientists to identify and count all the wildlife in Paradise Creek Nature Park, including birds, trees, wildflowers, insects, and fish. Kids are welcome at this free event. The weather is still nice in Portsmouth in spring and fall, and if you're not planning on going to a summer event, you can find a better deal on a hotel room then.
If you pick the right place to stay, you can save money by taking advantage of the discounts available. Comfort Inn Olde Town is just a few minutes from the Commodore Theatre and the Children's Museum of Virginia. AAA members, seniors 60 and over, and AARP members can save up to 10 percent. Military veterans, active members of the military, government employees, and their families can also get a special discount, along with many business travelers. Children 18 and younger can share a room with their parents or grandparents free.
The rooms in Comfort Inn Olde Town feature refrigerators, microwaves, Tempur-Pedic beds, sofa beds, complimentary wired and wireless internet access, flat-screen cable TVs, safes, and desks. There's also an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a complimentary breakfast buffet, free newspapers and coffee in the lobby, a 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities.
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Norfolk Airport is about 5 miles from the middle of Portsmouth, close to the Norfolk Botanical Garden and the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. AAA members get 5 percent off and AARP members can save up to 5 percent as well. Seniors 65 and over also save at least 5 percent, and groups that use 10 rooms or more can save up to 25 percent.
The rooms offer large flat-screen cable TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, desks, pillowtop beds comes with down comforters, game consoles, designer toiletries, and hair dryers. Other features include an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, landscaped gardens, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff, a hair salon, dry cleaning and laundry service, a restaurant, a bar, a gift shop, a complimentary area shuttle that operates within 3 miles, 10000 square feet of conference space with 11 meeting rooms, and wedding services. You even get a free chocolate chip cookie when you check in.
Portsmouth has several mid-range hotels where you can get a great value for your money and enjoy lots of amenities. Residence Inn Norfolk Downtown is about 5 miles away from the middle of Portsmouth, a few minutes from the Hunter House Victorian Museum and the Chrysler Museum of Art. The rooms have separate sitting areas and full-sized kitchens with refrigerators, freezers, and stove tops.
You can also enjoy complimentary wireless internet access, cable TVs, free newspapers in the lobby, free breakfasts, free grocery deliveries, an indoor pool, a fitness center, a snack bar and deli, a business center, a 24-hour front desk, dry cleaning and laundry services. Pets are welcome for an extra fee, and free socials for guests with food and drinks are held every evening.
Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown is only about a mile from the center of Portsmouth, close to the Harrison Opera House and the Moses Myers House. The rooms feature Select Comfort beds, complimentary wireless internet access, cable TVs, free toiletries, and hair dryers. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour front desk, dry cleaning and laundry services, a gift shop, a picnic area, a restaurant, a bar, and 15,000 square feet of conference space and meeting rooms. Pets are allowed and full breakfasts are available for extra fees. Up to two kids, 17 and younger can stay with their parents free.
Wherever you decide to stay in Portsmouth, you'll be near many of the city's top attractions. Visit Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, Virginia's only urban wildlife preserve, for bird watching, canoeing, kayaking, and more. The Children's Museum of Virginia has a variety of interactive, educational exhibits. There's also a gift shop, and it's a great place for birthday parties. At the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, you can drive a NASCAR simulator, practice pitching, or see what it's like to be a sports broadcaster.
Portsmouth has great food, fun entertainment, and beautiful scenery. Whether you're looking for a relaxing luxury resort, an inexpensive place to stay, or a great deal on a mid-range room, you can find a hotel that meets your needs and your budget in Portsmouth.
Below are reviews of the city of Portsmouth, VA from an actual visitor's perspective.
The city was great, lots to do!
Quiet
The riverfront and watching all the boats on the water.
Nice place to visit!
The casino!
Good area and water rides!
Really quaint town, lots to see since it is a seaport area. Very peaceful.
The city is great!
I love the nice people I came in contact with. It is very Multi cultural and diverse. It has a welcoming atmosphere. It seems to have opportunities for all people. It seems to be a very exciting place to live. It a very historical town. The weather is pleasant.
The views of the water were beautiful.