A Tale of Two Cities
3 Days/ 2 Nights
These are not the cities that Dickens wrote about, but they are New in the right place and the right time. Where else can you explore a battleship, drive race car, pet a shark, tour the galaxy and take a walk back in time? Come to Virginia and see for yourself two historic seaport cities divided only by the Elizabeth River, but joined together by their rich cultural history in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia!
Day One
Lunch
Savor lunch on the Elizabeth River at the Waterside Festival Marketplace with Portsmouth as your back drop. Enjoy the view of the maritime traffic while dining in one of the local restaurants.P.M. Set sail aboard the elegant American Rover cruise ship. Enjoy the spacious top decks or relax below in the climate controlled cocktail lounge.
P.M. Upon your return from an afternoon on the calming seas, stroll through Town Point Park passing the Armed Forces Memorial where, cast in bronze are excerpts from 20 letters written home by US service members who lost their lives in war. The letters are scattered across a portion of Town Point Park as if blown there by wind.
Dinner
Dine in one of the many restaurants along Granby Street. Known to locals as restaurant row, you will definitely find something here to satisfy.
Day Two
A.M. Head over to Naval Station Norfolk and tour the world’s largest naval installation. A knowledgeable, active duty Navy guide will board your motorcoach at the Tour Office and provide a narrated tour of the Base.
A.M. Stroll through 5,000 years of art history at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Featuring the museum’s world-renowned Tiffany-glass collection, Art Nouveau furniture, works of art from African, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian, Islamic and Asian cultures, and an extensive European and American collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts.
A.M. Board the paddlewheel ferry from Downtown Norfolk. A quick 10 minute ride brings you right to the streets of Olde Towne Portsmouth
Lunch
Enjoy lunch at a river side café in Portsmouth with a view of the Downtown Norfolk skyline and perhaps a luxury cruise ship preparing to disembark to an unknown tropical paradise.P.M. The adventure begins at the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame as you play your way into sports history. 35,000 sq ft of sports fun featuring hands on exhibits in base ball, football, soccer & basketball. If your sport is racing then jump in an auto racing simulator and take a spin on a race track.
P.M. Imagine, wonder and explore at the Children’s Museum of Virginia. See the Lancaster Antique Train and Toy Collection which includes four running trains, numerous engines and cars that will amaze adults as well as children. Get whisk off to another galaxy in the Planetarium with out the hassles of a hyper speed spaceship.
P.M. Take a walk through history as you explore Olde Towne. In a single square mile you will see one of the largest collections of antique homes south of Alexandria, VA. During your tour more than 300 years of American history will be unveiled and you will see many homes where influential leaders shaped the course of future events.
Dinner
As the day draws to a close relax and enjoy a quiet dinner in one of the many trendy restaurants found scattered throughout Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth.P.M. As you ride the ferry back to Norfolk relax on the decks as the setting sun warms your face.
Day 3
A.M. Spend the morning at Nauticus, a fun and exciting interactive science and technology center, exploring the power of the sea. Discover the Hampton Roads Naval Museum where you will be introduced to over 200 years of naval activity in Hampton Roads.
Walk the teak decks of Battleship Wisconsin, one of the last and largest battleships built by the US Navy. Stand beneath her 16-inch guns and feel the excitement of being aboard a historic warship.
