Rebooting Raven

With Norfolk, Virginia becoming a cruising port means more people discovering the naval town.  There’s tons of great family friendly things to do and see throughout the city.  I moved to Norfolk a few years ago and love playing local tourist every once in a while.  For those of you looking for a more local feel to the town this list is for you!  

Looking for a bite to eat?  Possibly with great atmosphere and outdoor seating?  There is no shortage of options in Norfolk.  The Starving Artist Cafe, Hank’s Filling Station, Mack’s Barge, Doumar’s, The Fishin’ Pig, Pendulum Fine Meats, and No Frill Grill are a few of my family friendly favorites.  Looking for less kid friendly and more happy hour?  The Bird, Omar’s Carriage House, Craft on Colley, Union Taco, and Orapax Restaurant are gonna be more your speed.  Looking for some desserts afterward?  Norfolk has that covered as well.  Be sure to check out La Brioche for a French dessert, Lolly’s Creamery for a scoop (or two), or Elite Custom Cakes for a massive cupcake.

Need to stretch your legs after a great meal?  No problem.  Norfolk has several beautiful, treelined neighborhoods.  The gorgeous, historic homes are show stoppers.  You may even witness a photoshoot as you take in the sites.  Some great walking spaces to check out are Town Point Park along the water, the Freemason, Ghent, and Larchmont neighborhoods all connected via the Elizabeth River Trail.  My favorite place in all of Hampton Roads is The Hermitage Museum.  They’re open daily with a pretty active event and class schedule.  The house and grounds are really something to behold; costal gardens and walking paths with wildlife sights around every corner, it’s truly enchanting. 

Fortunate enough to be in town for a farmer’s market?  Very possible, thanks to how often they pop up in different places throughout the week.  Also, we have a 7 day a week indoor farmer’s market, Westside Produce and Provisions! 

Looking for something a little more adventurous?  How about kayaking off Colley Ave?  Norfolk Kayak is appropriately named since its the only show in town.  This is a small operation and I wouldn’t change anything about it.  You pay, they put you in the water, you play.  Take in the sights of Norfolk from the Lafayette River.  You’ll paddle past the Ryan Resilience Lab!  Which leads us to #6!

The Elizabeth River Project and Ryan Resilience Lab have done great work to restore the river and its tributaries.  You can learn more about climate adaptation ideas and the use of sustainable building materials at the Ryan Resilience Lab on Colley.  They offer guided tours of the building but also welcome visitors to walk the grounds along the river during the day.  https://elizabethriver.org/ryan-resilience-lab/

One of my favorite things about Norfolk is how many small businesses operate in the city.  If you’re looking for local shopping I highly recommend checking out the small shops along Granby Street and Colley Avenue, also Seldon Market is only a block away from the cruise terminal. 

Sports fan?  We got your thing too.  We have the Norfolk Tides baseball (feeder for the Orioles) at Harbor Park, the Admirals hockey at the Scope, as well as two major colleges with competitive sports programs: Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University.

Who doesn’t love a festival?  We apparently love them a lot.  When the weather is nice it’s not unusual to have more than one fun event going on in town, so there’s options.  To name a few: NATO Festival-April, Stockley Gardens Art Festival-May/October, Mermaid City Craft Beer & Wine Festival-April, Greekfest-May, Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival-May, Bayou Bon Vivant Cajun Fest-May, Harborfest-June, Juneteenth Festival-June, Norfolk Latino Festival-July, Waterfront Jazz Festival-August, CaribFest-September, Fall Town Point Virginia Wine Festival-October, Holiday Yule Log Bonfire and Holiday Marketplace-December.

If you’re looking to duck some rain, beat the summer heat, or just take a seat and rest your feet check out the NARO theatre on Colley Ave.  The building itself is a visual treat and has been a staple of the community since it’s opening in 1936.