by Taylor Beach

Created on: April 28, 2009   Last Updated: September 05, 2011

Norfolk, Virginia: one of the many parts of beautiful Hampton Roads. Norfolk is full of life and it is not lacking in the things to do department either. From history, to shopping, to fine dining, to family fun, Norfolk really is the package deal.

Throughout the city, there are very artsy sculptures that add to the atmosphere. Among those sculptures are multiple one of a kind mermaids that artists have designed and the city has placed them in various locations. They are beautiful to look at, and many of the local shops and businesses sell merchandise featuring the beautiful mermaids.

MacArthur Center, located in the heart of downtown Norfolk, is a luxurious mall filled with specialty stores, as well as affordable, more popular stores. It has many restaurants, and is a nice place to spend the day. Waterside is another mall-like establishment. Over the years, most of the stores have slowly been replaced by restaurants, but it is a nice place to go eat considering it is right on the water.  Waterside is also where the Spirit of Norfolk departs from. This is the city's yacht that is an amazing time, and I highly recommend the dinner cruise for a night of fun and dancing.  Tons of bars and nightclubs make Norfolk's nightlife ideal for many of the surrounding areas.

Changes is a spa that is out of this world. It is very attentive to your needs and provide services including hair, make-up, facials, massages, and a full service nail salon. Not your typical spa at all. Down the street is also Jake's Place, which broke off from Changes and is also full service; however, only for men.

Family fun is something Norfolk has really tried to perfect in the past twenty years. First off, Doumars, an old fashioned drive-in has been featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives two times! It is the home of the original ice cream cone machine and the staff never fails to make you smile. It is a great place to take the kids, and the food is unbelievably cheap.

The Norfolk Tides are a farm team for the Baltimore Orioles. There season runs April-September and tickets can be purchased for less than ten dollars. Since it is not the major leagues, it is much more family friendly with tons of activities and interactive games.

The Virginia Zoo has also gone through some pretty intense renovations. With new animals, the zoo is sure to be a delight for all ages. There is also Nauticus, a maritime museum with actual ship you can tour. Always changing exhibits, Nauticus is a museum unlike others, and there is something for everyone to learn.

With only a few of Norfolk's hot spots listed, hopefully Norfolk seems like the place to be. It is always growing and expanding, and people there are just so friendly!  Virginia is for lovers, and many of them live in Norfolk!

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