In need of inspiration for a spring break? Look no further. Norfolk is the perfect place for you and your spouse to kick back and relax, while the kids stay entertained with minimal effort on your end.
Photo Credit: @jessicahubbardphotography, Instagram
Explore and Inspire
Virginia Zoo
Giraffes, red pandas and tigers oh my! Educate the whole family on animals from all over the world. Walk amongst Australian Wallabies and their joeys, spot Africa’s majestic rhinos, lions, and cheetahs, admire the new World of Reptiles exhibit and play with goats at the Zoo Farm. The Virginia Zoo is home to over 700 critters which gives something for everyone in the family to see!
Battleship Wisconsin and Nauticus
Spend the day exploring Nauticus, a maritime museum showcasing global trade and the world’s largest Navy. On the Nauticus Campus resides, the Battleship Wisconsin, one of the last and largest battleships built by the United States. Explore the decks and depths of the ship and don’t forget to take a family photo!
“As part of the museum experience, you can hop aboard the 888 foot long Battleship Wisconsin…one of the largest battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. Our kids LOVED exploring it!” – @funfitnessfam
Beach Day
Spend a day making sand castles, soaking up the sun and spotting dolphins in the distance. Enjoy local seafood while overlooking the Chesapeake Bay at the Ocean View Pier Restaurant. Don’t want to leave the beach? Pack a picnic with food from Taste, they have several locations throughout the city.
On the Water
Looking for a way to get out on the bay? Sunset cruises on the American Rover, themed dinner and lunch cruises on board a City Cruises by Hornblower vessel sailing lessons through Sail Nauticus, and kayaking are all great ways to experience the Chesapeake Bay. For the more educational cruises, check out the Norfolk Naval Base Cruises aboard Victory Rover where they showcase aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, guided missile cruisers and more!
Eat and Drink
With an abundance of different cuisine in Norfolk, it is easy to please everyone’s palates and our family-friendly breweries are eager to entertain you. Doumar’s is a great spot to show the kids the world’s first waffle cone machine and if you’re lucky they will be making fresh cones while you’re there! For an afternoon snack or treats to take home, head to Bonbonnier for old-fashioned homemade candies! Want more candies and sweets? Check out the sweetest of treats in Norfolk here.
Sports
Norfolk is home to the ECHL Norfolk Admirals and the MiLB Norfolk Tides, making a memorable evening no matter what time of year you visit. Foam fingers for the kids and local beer for the adults with buttered popcorn at the Scope Arena and baseball franks at Harbor Park will make these games the perfect family outing!
Hotels
We all love a family vacation, but sometimes we wish we could put the kiddos in another room and have some peace. Lucky for you, our hotels offer deals on connecting rooms, free breakfast and more. Check out the deals here.