Portsmouth Visitor's Guide 2014 by VistaGraphics

PORTSMOUTH 2014

The Official© Portsmouth Visitor’s Guide www.visitportsva.com

Family Fun, History, Shopping, Dining and More

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We Always Knew We Were Good, Thanks Hampton Roads Magazine Readers for proving it. OF

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WELCOME

WELCOME from the Mayor

As Mayor of this historic port city in the heart of Hampton Roads, I extend a heartfelt welcome from the entire Portsmouth family. We are sincerely grateful that you chose Portsmouth to visit. We take pride in our historic, quaint and pedestrian-friendly city, and we encourage you to enjoy all of our offerings. Whether it’s a stroll to any of our museums, chef-owned restaurants, an outdoor concert at nTelos Pavilion, trendy shops and art galleries, or our collection of architecturally noteworthy homes, we promise that if you, “Give Us A Day…We’ll Give You a Vacation.” Enjoy your visit; however, if you feel that you just cannot leave us, we’re always looking for new family members, and our friendly neighborhoods and communities will welcome you and your family with open arms. Sincerely, Kenneth I. Wright, Mayor Published by: VistaGraphics Publisher: Randy Thompson Account Executive: Lori Conti Photography by: Jim Pile, Jeff Greenberg Lead Designer: Don Spencer

Copyright ©2014 - Olde Towne Business Association. All rights reserved. All photos and editorial are property of Olde Towne Business Association. Advertisements produced by Publisher are property of VistaGraphics. Inc. Any reproduction of materials without express written consent of above parties is strictly prohibited. Publisher does not purport to authenticate and is not responsible for claims made by advertisers found within this publication.

Portsmouth, Virginia... an Official Cost Guard City

contents 4 5 7 8

Family Fun A1 History 29 Outdoor Fun Arts & Entertainment 30

Coastal Virginia Attractions Calendar Of Events Shopping

31 32 34 35

Boating Dining Accommodations Olde Towne Map

Welcome from the Olde Towne Business Association

hat if I told you about a not-so-sleepy little seaport town that, in just one square mile, has: • Nearly 40 places to eat • 6 museums including the newly-renovated Children’s Museum of Virginia and The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame • An outdoor music venue that regularly features national recording artists • A world-class hotel and conference center with stunning waterfront views • Award-winning arts & antique galleries and shops • The largest collection of historic homes and buildings between Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Well, that’s just the Olde Towne section of our incredible City of Portsmouth, Virginia and we couldn’t be more proud or more pleased to welcome you here. Steeped in history yet bustling with fresh energy, Portsmouth is steering away from its reputation as a quiet seaport town and changing its course by becoming a modern classic. At the center of this reinvigoration is our Historic Olde Towne. Stroll Olde Towne’s streets and you’ll note that while the city still exudes old world charm, a new energy is invigorating the area, due to new stores, new restaurants and new entertainment venues popping up on every corner. Olde Towne Portsmouth is a foodie’s paradise with nearly 40 places to choose from in one square mile. Olde Towne’s restaurants offer something for every palate and every budget. You’ll find everything from fried green tomatoes to tapas to fish tacos and sushi, as well as some of the best Sunday brunches in the region. Treasure hunters can peruse global finds at our specialty shops and antique stores and music lovers can visit the nTelos Wireless Pavilion to catch national recording artists performing in our beautiful outdoor venue. Those acts aren’t the only activity here in Olde Towne, either.We feature a steady stream of exciting events–from First Weekend events each month to a Farmer’s Market, Arts and Antiques shows, and holiday-related events like our Annual Ghost Walk and Winter Wonderland. Portsmouth has managed to hold on to its 18th- and 19th-century history and charm for more than 250 years while encouraging an exciting, modern and unique mix of shops and restaurants as well as a calendar packed with events taking place every month for audiences of all types, tastes and budgets. We know once you discover Portsmouth for the first time, you’ll want to return time and time again. Sincerely, Tony Goodwin, President, Olde Towne Business Association Please Visit: www.oldetowneportsmouth.com www.visitportsva.com | 3

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family fun

Children’s MuseuM of Virginia Virginia’s Largest and Most Awesome Kids’ Kingdom! Fun and learning merge perfectly at the Children’s Museum of Virginia. Newly renovated and expanded in 2011, its 35,000 square feet of interactive exhibits makes it the largest museum in Virginia dedicated to kids and the adventure of learning. The museum was described by one visitor as “two floors of complete awesomeness!” In fact, we couldn’t describe it any better than our visitors… “Lots of fun! I could not have been more surprised or impressed. The Museum was clean, spacious, interesting and endlessly entertaining. My five-year-old son literally jumped for joy the whole way through. Some children’s museums seem to cater to the preschool set, but this one really had plenty for older children.” —Jake’s Mom,Williamsburg,VA

“We had the best day today! We covered every inch of the museum but still didn’t want to leave. My daughter wanted a promise that we could come back tomorrow!” —R.H., Norfolk,VA “Children’s Museum is fun! Tons of toys on display and areas for kids to play and pretend, such as a dentist office, bank, grocery store, fire engine, police, motorcycle and city bus. One of our favorites was the bubble room. It’s great fun for kids and their parents.” —M.J.T., Suffolk “Loved this place! So fun. My kiddos loved watching the movies in the planetarium.” —A.F., San Diego, CA “Love the trains! My son did not want to leave that room, he loved it so much!” —C.L., Hampton,VA “Great interactive museum.” It always holds my kids’ attention for a few fun-filled hours. Now with the Sports Hall of Fame & Museum across the street, downtown Portsmouth is becoming a “can’t miss”

when we visit. Walk down for a ferry ride across the river, and your day is complete. —A.I., New Mexico The Museum Shop is filled with unique educational toys, games, and books, as well as a large selection of Thomas and Friends trains and accessories. Open Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Holiday Mondays and on Mondays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Located at 221 High Street in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, across the street from the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum and just steps from restaurants and shops. Easy parking in the adjacent County Street Garage. Call 757-393-5258 or visit www.ChildrensMuseumVA.com for exhibits and special events.

Virginia sports hall of faMe & MuseuM Fun for the Entire Family

Opened in 2005, this state-of-the-art facility showcases Virginia’s sports legends and provides a hands-on, interactive sports experience that the whole family will enjoy. The Museum’s nine exhibit areas showcase 20 sports in 35,000 square feet of space. Test your baseball, football and soccer skills in the Chuck Boone Sports Complex. Take a spin in a computer racing simulator at the Paul Sawyer Auto Racing Exhibit and check out the NASCAR racing memorabilia. Work on your three-point-shot and crossover dribble in the Barry Parkhill Gymnasium. Visit the Redskins Skybox Experience to watch a multimedia presentation on the history of Virginia’s favorite team while surrounded by artifacts from the franchise’s storied past. Sit behind a microphone at the You Make The Call exhibit to feel what it’s like to add your voice to some of Virginia’s most exciting sports highlights. Visit the Bon Secours Training Room to discover what it

takes to be a highly conditioned athlete by focusing on exercise, nutrition and the science of sports medicine. Learn about golf greats in the Virginia Golf Exhibit by viewing video presentations, graphics, displays and rare artifacts. Celebrate your favorite Virginia college athletic program in the John McKenna Campus Champions exhibit area. Learn about the rich history of Virginia sports in the 125-seat Cox Digital Theater. Summer hours: Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fall, Winter & Spring hours: Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays after Labor Day until Memorial Day, and on select winter holidays. Located at 206 High Street in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, across the street from the Children’s Museum of Virginia and just steps from restaurants and shops. Easy parking in the Middle Street Parking Garage located behind the Museum. Call 757-393-8031 or visit www.vshfm.com

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HISTORY

LIGHTSHIP PORTSMOUTH RAILROAD MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA MUSEUM This newly-opened museum-on-the-tracks features a Like lighthouses and buoys, lightships were navigational aids that began service on America’s coasts in the early 1800s. The lights atop their masts were similar to those in lighthouses, but their portability made them more versatile in helping mariners avoid dangerous shoals or while entering harbors at night. Typically, the ship anchored at a strategic location at sea and remained there for months at a time. The Lightship Portsmouth was built in 1915 and served for 48 years off the coasts of Virginia, Delaware and Massachusetts. In 1964 it was retired to Portsmouth and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Now a museum, the ship’s quarters are fitted out realistically and filled with fascinating artifacts, uniforms, photos, models and more. Visitors go aboard to see how the men of the Lightship Service lived during their many months at sea. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day on Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the above times from Labor Day through November 30 and from March 1 through Memorial Day. Closed December 1 through February 27 except for advance reservations. In conjunction with First Weekend events in Olde Towne from March through October, the Museum is open free on the first Saturday. A variety of hands-on activities are available during First Weekends. Located at the intersection of London and Water Streets on the waterfront in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, and just steps from restaurants and shops. Call 757-393-8591 City of Portsmouth 7.5x4.75_half page 11/7/13 5:16 Page or visit www.PortsmouthNavalShipyardMuseum.com for exhibits andPM special events.1

lovingly restored five-car train that delights rail fans and casual visitors alike. It features a 1910-era Norfolk and Western steam locomotive, two walk-through gallery mail cars, a Wabash Railroad Company dining car, an antique Norfolk-Southern caboose, and a depot-style platform. Rare artifacts and photos bring the age of steam-powered railroading to life. Additional items in the collection include several work cars, a rare velocipede, a signal post, crossing gate, books and recordings. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 am. to 4:00 p.m. and by appointment for groups. Located at Crawford Parkway and Pavilion Drive near the nTelos Wireless Pavilion in downtown Portsmouth. Call 757-335-2284 or visit www.RailroadMuseumOf Virginia.com.

THE RAILROAD MUSEUM and Experience OF VIRGINIA a PieceCome of Virginia History. 757-335-2284-Connie

Call for Operating Hours:

757-393-4093-Susan Ticket Prices Adults $5 | Kids $2

Buy a Commemorative Brick to remember someone special.

16 Crawford Circle Portsmouth, Virginia 23704 Next to Olde Towne Portsmouth and the Path of History.

More Sights. More Shopping. More Variety. Less time getting around. 3 Olde Towne: experience more than o 250 years of history 3 o A collection of exciting museums; Children’s Museum of Virginia 3 A delightful array of dining options o 3 An eclectic group of shops o 3 World-class, waterfront concert venue o 3 A variety of accommodations o 3 Golf Digest’s Best MUNY Signature Golf o Course in Virginia

For details and information call 800.767.8782 or visit us on the web at www.VisitPortsVa.com www.oldetowneportsmouth.com | 5

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history

Hill House MuseuM

Historic olde towne PortsmoutH

Rich in History and Charm

From its antique and specialty stores to its shadedrenched streets, Olde Towne Portsmouth is much more than one of the region’s most pleasant places to take a stroll. It’s a history lover’s dream come true. In a single square mile, the Olde Towne Historic District contains one of America’s largest collections of architecturally noteworthy 18th and 19th century homes and churches. Portsmouth was founded on this site in 1716 by Colonel William Crawford, a merchant and ship owner who named the new town after his home in England. Olde Towne’s early settlers established the maritime character that made Portsmouth’s history so important. As many as 50 of the first 74 lot owners were merchants and ship owners who traded by the sea, or they were craftsmen who built and rigged ships. A walk through Olde Towne today reveals homes built in varied architectural styles, including Federal, Greek Revival, Classical Renaissance, Gothic and Romanesque. While the homes are privately owned, Olde Towne is in fact a tourist attraction, renowned as the largest collection of historic homes between Alexandria, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Legend has it that Benedict Arnold was held captive in one of the Olde Towne homes. Another was used by Union Forces to issue travel passes to citizens during the Civil War, while yet another concealed medicine for

Confederate soldiers. Others homes were visited by four United State Presidents. You can explore this national treasure through the Path of History Walking Tour a self-guided tour that directs you to 45 homes, monuments and churches. The free tour brochure is available at the Portsmouth Visitor Information Center, located near the ferry landing and the Renaissance Hotel Portsmouth on the eastern edge of Olde Towne and at the City’s museums. Call 757-393-5111. Guided walking tours are provided by an historical interpreter portraying Portsmouth’s founder, Colonel William Crawford. Another tour that focuses on the Civil War era is led by an historical interpreter portraying Private James Cook.Tours leave from the lobby of the Renaissance Hotel Portsmouth, located at 425 Water Street on the eastern edge of Olde Towne. For information call 757-393-5111 or visit www.ColonelCrawford.com A horse-drawn carriage tour is available from Olde Towne Carriage Company in their newly restored surrey carriage. Call 757-393-0241 or visit www.PortsmouthHorseCarriage.com Top off your visit to Olde Towne by visiting the inviting antiques stores, specialty shops, art galleries, restaurants and pubs in the adjacent Historic Downtown District.

PortsmoutH nAvAl sHiPyArd museum Since the founding of the Gosport Shipyard in 1767, the history of the City of Portsmouth has been closely intertwined with the shipyard. Later renamed the Norfolk Navy Yard and finally the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, many historic ships have been built here. They include the CSS Virginia (ex-Merrimac) the first ironclad to engage in battle; the nation’s first battleship, the Texas; and the world’s first aircraft carrier, the Langley. During the Revolutionary War, the shipyard was described by the British as “the most considerable one in America.” The Museum tells the rich history of America’s oldest and largest naval shipyard through exhibits, hands-on programs and special events. It offers a unique, 250-year perspective on U.S. history, from Colonial times through the mid-twentieth century. You will find beautiful ship models, uniforms, military artifacts and exhibits interpreting 18th, 19th and 20th century life in Portsmouth. The Museum Shoppe offers unique gifts and collectibles. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays except for Monday holidays. In conjunction with First Weekend events in Olde Towne from March through October, admission is free on the first Saturday. A variety of hands-on activities are available during First Weekends. Located at the corner of High Street and Water Street on the waterfront in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, just steps from restaurants and shops. Call 757-393-8591 or visit www.PortsmouthNavalshipyardMuseum.com for exhibits and special events.

located in Historic olde towne, the Hill House (circa 1820) is a four story antebellum english basement home, originally constructed in the Federal style by captain John thompson. while the home’s architecture and furnishings have evolved through many generations of the Hill family, the internal integrity of the house still remains. it is evident from the home’s original furnishings that the Hill family members were avid collectors and lived graciously here over a period of 150 years. the house remains in its original condition with limited restoration through the years, with the exception of several additions connecting the original house with the once separate kitchen. A guided tour includes a walk through the home’s ornate gardens. Open on Wednesdays from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., group tours by appointment. Located at 221 North Street in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth. Call 757-393-0241 or visit Facebook at Hill House Museum, Portsmouth, VA.

Jewish MuseuM & Cultural Center This rare surviving example of Eastern European Jewish Orthodoxy is a cultural treasure. The Chevra T’helim congregation began building the Synagogue in 1918. Its Colonial-Revival style reflects an architectural gem of beautiful proportions. The Museum & Cultural Center records the Jewish life that its members brought from Eastern Europe in the early twentieth century. It houses artifacts and exhibits that reflect the history of the Hampton Roads Jewish community. On display is an eighteenth-century Torah Scroll that was rescued from the synagogue in Trebic, Czechoslovakia, which was destroyed during the Holocaust.The building is recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and designated an historic site by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Open Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment. Also available for event rentals. Located at 607 Effingham Street in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth and just steps from restaurants and shops. For information call 757-391-9266 or visit www.JewishMuseumPortsmouth.org.

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OUTDOOR FUN

BIDE-A-WEE GOLF COURSE With a storied past and a dramatic renovation that has golfers and the national press raving, Bide-A-Wee is undoubtedly one of the finest municipal golf courses in America. Opened in 1956, the course has hosted the World Senior Championships six times and the Virginia State Open four times. Champions here have included Tom Strange, Sam Snead, Max Faulkner, Kel Nagle and Julius Boros. With an $8 million renovation by Curtis Strange in 1999, Bide-A-Wee is a beautifully landscaped course with immaculate playing conditions, modern facilities and the signature narrow greens that made the original course so challenging. It has received a four-star rating from Golf Digest magazine. The course’s name came from builder Fred Findlay’s memories of his mother telling him to “bide-a-wee,” which to a Scot means “stay a little longer” or “linger a while.” Located at 1 Bide-A-Wee Drive off Greenwood Drive and Victory Boulevard in western Portsmouth. Call 757-393-8600 or visit www.bideaweegolf.com

PARADISE CREEK NATURE PARK

Paradise Creek Nature Park features 40 acres of restored forest and wetlands located on Paradise Creek, a finger of the Elizabeth River. Built by the non-profit Elizabeth River Project and managed by the City of Portsmouth, this new facility features 2.3 miles of walking trails, 11 acres of restored tidal wetlands and 29 acres of forest with native trees, shrubs and flowers. Located at 1141 Victory Boulevard. For information visit www.ParadiseCreekPark.org

HOFFLER CREEK WILDLIFE PRESERVE This 142-acre wildlife haven sits at the mouth of Hoffler Creek where it joins the historic James River. It preserves a parcel of wilderness in the Hoffler Creek Watershed for environmental education, research and recreation. Its vast wetlands, heavily wooded forest and unique saltwater lake provide a thriving habitat for countless species of plants and animals native to Southeastern Virginia. Visitors are welcome to enjoy its hiking and birding trails, kayak rentals, wildlife observation facilities and educational programs. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Located in the Churchland neighborhood of Portsmouth at 4510 Twin Pines Road. For information call 757-686-8684 or visit www.HofflerCreek.org.

POKEY SMOKEY II The Pokey Smokey II is a miniature reproduction of an authentic nineteenth-century coal-fired steam locomotive that has been delighting kids and adults for decades. Located in Portsmouth’s scenic City Park, a new gasoline-powered engine takes passenger on a three-quarter mile long ride and back to the railroad era. Each car holds 24 passengers and is wheelchair accessible. City Park is located at 140 City Park Avenue on the banks of the Elizabeth River. For operating dates and hours contact the Portsmouth Department of Parks & Recreation at 757-393-8481 or visit www.PortsmouthVA.gov/ParksAndRec.

COLORED COMMUNITY LIBRARY MUSEUM

This new museum is an important resource, artifact and memorial to African-Americans throughout the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.The library began serving black patrons in 1945 and ceased operations when the City’s main library was integrated in 1963. Over the years the library building fell into disrepair and in 2003 a restoration was begun by the African-American Historical Society of Portsmouth. The museum is home to important artifacts, photographs, oral histories and exhibits. Located at 906 Elm Avenue in Portsmouth. For information and hours of operation visit wwwBlackHistoryPortsmouth.org

FRESNEL LENS Before the invention of electricity, lighthouses used candles to produce their life-saving beacons. In order to make candlelight visible to faraway ships, French physicist Augustin Jean Fresnel invented this special lens that uses hundreds of prisms to bend and concentrate the light into a powerful beam. This Fresnel Lens is one of the world’s few that is displayed outside of a museum setting. It is the second largest lighthouse lens in the U.S. and one of the brightest, with 368 prisms of optical glass. It is ten feet tall, weighs 2,500 pounds and is valued at nearly $1 million. The lens began service in 1896 as part of the Hog Island Light off the Great Machipongo Inlet on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Located in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth on the seawall near the intersection of High Street and Water Street. Call 757-393-8591.

Be a part of a regional and dynamic, 21st Century Hampton Roads faith community and experience how much God loves you and wants to be a part of your life!

424 Washington Street (in Historic Olde Towne), Portsmouth, VA 23704 757.399.4967 | www.stjohnsportsmouth.org www.VisitorsGuideNetwork.com | 7

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center

nTelos Wireless Pavilion This 6,500-seat pavilion-style performance venue hosts the biggest names in entertainment, such as Janet Jackson, KISS, Phish, The Lumineers, James Brown, and the Allman Brothers. There are 3,500 covered seats and another 3,000 spaces on the raised lawn. The Pavilion is comparable in size and sound quality to Wolf Trap in Northern Virginia and Chastain Park in Atlanta. Its unique waterfront location provides the perfect scenic setting for an evening of unforgettable entertainment. For performance schedules and ticket information call 757-391-3260 or visit www.PavilionConcerts.com Located at 16 Crawford Circle adjacent to Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth

Housed in the historic 1846 Courthouse, the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center is devoted to offering quality educational, cultural and aesthetic experiences in the arts. Rotating visual art exhibits, lectures, classes and performances bring the work of renowned artists to Olde Towne Portsmouth. The adjacent Gallery Shop offers a variety of works produced by regional artists. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays except for Monday holidays. In conjunction with First Weekend events in Olde Towne from March through October, the Center is open on the first Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Free admission on the first Saturday. A variety of hands-on activities available during First Weekends. Located at 400 High Street in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth and just steps from restaurants and shops. For exhibit schedules and special events visit www.PortsmouthArtCenter.com or call 757-393-8543.

Commodore Theatre

The Commodore Theatre is a luxuriously restored 1945 Art Deco-style motion picture theatre that shows first run films on a huge 42 foot screen with state-of-the-art THX, Dolby Digital sound and digital projection system. Pick up the telephone at your table to order lunch or dinner, then sit back and enjoy the movie in your upholstered seat for an unforgettable experience. Named for the War of 1812 veteran Commodore James Barron, this historic theatre is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Open seven days a week for evening showings, with matinees on weekends and selected weekdays. Call 757-393-6962 or visit www.CommodoreTheatre.com for show information. Located at 421 High Street in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth.

Visual Arts Center / TCC at Olde Towne

The Visual Arts Center’s galleries feature six exhibitions annually by regional, national, and international artists, faculty and students. A complete spectrum of art media is represented in a wide variety of styles and approaches. This high-tech art school offers degree programs in Graphic Design and Studio Arts and is the only facility of its kind in Virginia. Galleries are free and open to the public. Open daily 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Located at 340 High Street in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, close to restaurants and shops. Call 757-822-1888 or visit www.tcc.edu/vac.

Portsmouth Community Concerts at Willett Hall

For over 75 years Portsmouth Community Concerts has brought nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and productions to Portsmouth.Willett Hall is a 2,000seat entertainment complex with outstanding acoustics. For concert schedule and information call 757-686-5447 or visit www.PortsmouthCommunityConcerts.com Willett Hall is located at 3701 Willett Drive.

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Sea Our History WELCOME TO COASTAL VIRGINIA

COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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Explore the Best Kept Secret in Virginia Beach at Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. Association for Research and Enlightenment

Coastal Virginia

ATTRACTIONS

Begin your journey to personal empowerment and healing at all levels - body, mind, spirit Bookstore & Gift Shop • Free Daily Lectures • Holistic Health Center & Spa Meditation Garden • Metaphysical Library • Stone Labyrinth Scan Conferences • Weekend Workshops • ESP Testing • Group Tours

215 67th St. and Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 757-428-3588 • EdgarCayce.org

10% OFF

your total purchase at the A.R.E. Bookstore Valid through 5/31/15

$10 OFF

1-hour massage at the Spa Valid through 5/31/15

Ask for your FREE BOOK at the Visitor Center desk!

he Coastal Virginia Tourism Alliance welcomes you to one of America’s most scenic and historic travel destinations. The Coastal Virginia region is comprised of the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Smithfield/Isle of Wight, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. All are accessible by major interstate highway systems, the Chesapeake Bay BridgeTunnel, and two major airports in Norfolk and Newport News both served by low fare airlines. Coastal Virginia makes a perfect vacation destination for those seeking clean beaches, outdoor recreation, fascinating history, fine arts culture, thrilling events and festivals, exciting theme parks, abundant shopping, world-class fishing and coastal cuisine. We offer an experience for every kind of traveler. Beach lovers revel on the Virginia Beach oceanfront. History buffs are inspired by the past in Williamsburg, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News and Smithfield/Isle of Wight. Chesapeake and Suffolk are both entry points to the vast nature of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Virginia’s Eastern Shore offers pristine coastal plains perfect for bird watching as well as NASA rocket launches. In addition, museums and the arts abound throughout the region and it is home to the world renowned Virginia Arts Festival. You’ll also have a chance to “salute” our military. We are the home to the world’s largest naval base!

COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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This just touches on what you can see and do in Coastal Virginia. We hope you get a chance to experience it all. We are glad you are here to “Sea Our History”! With its rich history as the birthplace of America and a strong nautical heritage, Coastal Virginia boasts an abundance of culturally diverse and nationally acclaimed museums and historical attractions. Within one hour’s drive is more history, excitement and family fun than can be found at any other destination. Add to this world-class shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation, and you will see why millions return each year.

Our area’s major attractions are presented on the pages that follow in alphabetical order.

ns o i t c a r Att ndex I AVIATION MUSEUM

Military Aviation Museum. . . . A4

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAUS

Hampton . . . . . . . . . . A10 & A11 Newport News . . . . . . . . . . . . A9 Norfolk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A13 Portsmouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7 Olde Towne Portsmouth. . . . . A6 Suffolk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A15 Virginia Beach . . . . . . . . . . . A16 Historic Yorktown . . . . . . . . . A17

LIVING/ZOO

EVENTS

Hooters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A20 Nawab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4

Festevents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Hampton Coliseum . . . . . . . A10

HARBOR TOURS

Schooner Alliance . . . . . . . . A15 Spirit of Norfolk. . . . . . . . . . . A12

HEALTH

Edgar Cayce’s Association for Research and Enlightenment A2

HISTORIC SITES

Jamestown/Yorktown. . . . . . . A2 Norfolk Southern Museum . A14

Virginia Living Museum . . . . . A9 Virginia Zoo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . A17

NAUTICAL

The Mariner’s Museum . . . . . A9 Nauticus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A14

RESTAURANTS SHOPPING

Coliseum Central . . . . . . . . . A10 Downtown Hampton . . . . . . A10 MacArthur Center . . . . . . . . . . A5 Peninsula Town Center . . . . A10

SPORTS MUSEUM

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame . A6

TRANSPORTATION

Virginia Department of Transportation A18 & A19

COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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EDGAR CAYCE’S A.R.E.

ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH & ENLIGHTENMENT

Preserving history, the Military Aviation Museum features a major collection of military aircraft from the middle of the last century. Open Daily 9am to 5pm.

ur global non-profit organization was founded eighty years ago to help people transform and improve their lives. Come explore the fascinating work of documented psychic Edgar Cayce, the “father of holistic medicine.” Free daily film, tour, and lecture on topics including dreams, intuition, holistic health, and more. Our campus includes a metaphysical Library, Bookstore & Gift Shop, meditation garden, stone labyrinth, and holistic Health Center & Spa. We also offer ESP testing, interactive, experiential Group Tours, and conferences with worldrenowned speakers. We’ve expanded into the new de Laski Family Foundation Education Center and plan to open the new Cayce/Miller Café, in June of 2014. Visit EdgarCayce.org.

THIS IS HAMPTON

1341 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23457 www.MilitaryAviationMuseum.org | (757) 721-PROP

Authentic Indian Fare With Unique Flair

nawabonline.com

ampton, the 400-year old city located in the heart of Coastal Virginia, is multi-faceted; rich in Civil War history, African American heritage, water recreation, and abundant shopping and dining opportunities. A visit to Hampton inspires travelers to return again and again, whether for leisure visits or for major industry conventions. The cultural landscape of North America’s oldest, continuous, English-speaking settlement is dotted with historic attractions that interpret Hampton’s role in pivotal American decisions and milestones. On November 1, 2011 President Obama named Fort Monroe a National Monument. Visitors are encouraged to explore the nation’s largest stone fort, cross the moat to explore within the walls, and climb Fort Monroe’s walls to enjoy the spectacular view of the harbor. At the Casemate Museum you can learn about Fort Monroe’s vital position at the entrance to the harbor and see the cell where Jefferson Davis was held at the conclusion of the Civil War. A tour aboard the Miss Hampton II reveals Fort Monroe’s companion fortification, Fort Wool, located across the channel at Hampton Roads’ entrance.

• Clay Oven Specialties • Full Bar • Banquet Room • Chicken, Lamb, Seafood & Vegetarian • Lunch (Buffet) & Dinner Daily •Extensive Wine Menu

NORFOLK 888 N. Military Hwy (757) 455-8080

VIRGINIA BEACH 756 First Colonial Rd. (757) 491-8600

NEWPORT NEWS 11712 Jefferson Ave. (757) 591-9200

WILLIAMSBURG 204 Monticello Ave. (757) 565-3200

A visit to Hampton University leaves one amazed at the institution’s timeless significance. You can explore the campus with the Smartphone tour available at visithampton.com, or stroll to each interpretive historic marker to learn about the campus’ remarkable past. Hampton University

COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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Visit one of America’s Most Historic Seaports

Shop

Dine

Experience

Scan here for more information

www.oldetowneportsmouth.com

Learn & Play

Memorable Exhibits. Interactive Fun. Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum 206 High Street, Portsmouth (757) 393-8031

www.vshfm.com | Twitter: @VSHFM | facebook.com/VSHFM Admission: $7 ages 3 and up | $6 military or seniors (65+)

Museum, founded in 1868, has a collection of more than 9,000 works of contemporary art and artifacts spanning African, African-American, Pan-American and Native-American cultures. The Hampton History Museum located in Downtown Hampton provides a glimpse the major moments in Hampton history that helped shape our great nation. From the Native American gallery depicting the lifestyle of the Virginia Indians living at Kecoughtan prior to the first settlers’ arrival, to the colonial and Antebellum galleries, you will witness life in Hampton during a simpler time. The life-like charred ruins reflecting the burning of Hampton in 1861 in the Civil War gallery illuminate the reconstruction of Hampton and how greatly the seafood industry impacted Hampton’s post-war economy. The founding of NACA, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, in 1917 in Hampton was the precursor of NASA and the founding site of the American space program, and a perfect segue to your next Hampton attraction! Your exploration of America past, present and future continues at the Virginia Air & Space Center and Riverside Digital 3D IMAX Theater. The result of Hampton’s nearly century-long relationship with NASA, there are more than 100 flight simulators and hands-on exhibits of air and space innovations. The Riverside 3D IMAX Theater presents digital feature films and documentaries on a five-story screen. Next door, the Hampton Carousel spins visitors on hand-carved horses and chariots built in 1920 by European artisans. The Miss Hampton II harbor tour boat and the Ocean Eagle fishing boat are located nearby along the Hampton waterfront. There are many historic churches in downtown Hampton and the surrounding communities. The parish of St. John’s Church, the oldest Anglican parish in North America, was founded in 1610. You can visit the church sanctuary and hear a recorded introduction. The fascinating cemetery is an amazing adventure in itself, with headstones spanning more than three centuries. The charming streets surrounding St. John’s are lined with small shops, restaurants, art galleries, and parks. The streets and downtown parks come alive with special events from April through October. Citywide events and concerts featuring internationally acclaimed artists draw crowds to Hampton Coliseum and to The American Theatre year-round. You are sure to adore the boutique and antique shopping in Downtown Hampton and Phoebus. The locally-owned dining establishments receive raves from Hampton residents. National favorites and still more restaurants unique to other parts of Virginia can be found at Peninsula Town Center in the Coliseum Central District. An array of more than 70 national and regionally-owned shops is presented at

COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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adult and $25 for youth. While you’re there pick up a Hampton Visitor Peninsula Town Center, and more than a dozen restaurants, like Bensi, Guide, complete with the Hampton Day Pass Value Card, good for Monsoon, Abuelos, and Bar Louie flavor your visit with pleasing variety special values and discounts. There’s no shortage of fun and adventure. while “dinner and a movie” has been redefined at Cinebistro to now After all, This is Hampton! For visitor information call 800-800-2202, include upscale dining, feature films, top shelf beverages, bowling, a game 757-727-1102 or come to VisitHampton.com room—all complemented by an adult-only policy after 6 pm. Theme restaurants like NASCAR Sports Grille, Luckie’s, and PBR add sizzle at the Power Plant of Hampton Roads, also within close JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, proximity of concert and meeting venues. Like it spicy? Then Chipotle, YORKTOWN VICTORY CENTER Kenji Fusion, Six Mellen Street, Mary Helen’s and Soya serve dishes LIVINg-HISTORY MuSEuMS CHRONICLE that are wake-up calls for your taste buds. A visit to Hampton is not NATION’S BEgINNINgS complete until you savor our decadent Chesapeake Bay seafood. After all, this is where the seafood canning process was perfected. Long known as hands-on history experience Crabtown, Hampton’s seafood has been caught, packaged and shipped awaits visitors at two throughout the world for generations. You can eat your fill at Marker 20, Williamsburg area museums Conch & Bucket, Surfrider, Harpoon Larry’s, Hampton Seafood Kitchen, that explore the nation’s beginnings. and Joe’s Crab Shack. At Jamestown Settlement, gallery The helpful travel counselors at the Hampton Visitor Center are exhibits chronicle 1600s Virginia in the eager to assist you in planning an excursion through the city. You’ll find context of its Powhatan Indian, English them at our main center located at 120 Old Hampton Lane, but they are and African cultures, complementing historical interpretation at outdoor also available to you at the Virginia Air & Space Center, in the Hampton re-creations of a Powhatan Indian village, the three ships that brought Maritime Center where Miss Hampton Harbor Tour tickets are available America’s first permanent English colonists in 1607, and colonial fort. The for purchase. We bet you’d like to sample a little of everything, so we’ve story of the American Revolution, from the beginnings of colonial unrest to made it easy for you to do it all. Purchase the Hampton Sea to Stars the formation of the new nation, unfolds at the Yorktown Victory Center Ticket at the Hampton Visitor Center and at the Virginia Air & Space through gallery exhibits and outdoor re-creations of a Continental Army Center. The Ticket offers admission to the Miss Hampton II, Riverside encampment and 1780s farm. The museums are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3D Digital IMAX Theater, Hampton Carousel, Hampton History daily except Christmas and New Year’s days. For more information call Portsmouth Museum Regional Insert_half 11/12/13 3:01 PM Page 1 Museum andChildrens the Virginia Air &- Space Center. Ticketspage are priced at $39 (888) 593-4682 or visit www.historyisfun.org.

AWholeWorld of Imagination Opens Before Their Eyes

221 High Street · 757-393-5258 ChildrensMuseumVa.com

childrensmuseumofvirginia

PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA · 800-767-8782 · www.VisitPortsVa.com COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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MILITARY AVIATION MUSEUM

ilitary Aviation Museum is home to one of the largest collections of historic military aircraft. These vintage WWI and WWII aircraft, such as our P-51 Mustang, de Havilland Mosquito, Curtiss P-40 and Spitfire, have been restored to their original flying condition. The aircraft are occasionally flown on local demonstration flights and at regional air shows. Visit us at 1341 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach or call (757) 721-7767. www.MilitaryAviationMuseum.org

NAUTICUS & THE BATTLESHIP WISCONSIN

his maritime-themed science museum, on the downtown Norfolk waterfront, offers a fun and exciting educational experience for visitors of all ages. In addition to its largest artifact—The Battleship Wisconsin—unique features of this 120,000-square-foot facility includes hands-on exhibits, touch tanks, 3D movies, national-caliber traveling exhibits and more. Plus, experience a self-guided deck tour of the battleship Wisconsin—one of the largest and last battleships built by the U.S. Navy—and see the wardroom, and officers’ quarters, berthing units, chapel and other areas. Guided tours of additional ship areas are available for an additional fee. While on site at Nauticus, be sure to check out the new hurricane simulator and “Science on a Sphere”—a dynamic six-foot globe that displays 3-D animated images of our oceans and atmosphere. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum, located on Nauticus’ second floor, examines more than two centuries of naval activity in and around the Hampton Roads harbor. Complementing the maritime experience is the Banana Pier Gift Shop, which features nautical gifts for all ages. 757-664-1000 or visit www.nauticus.org for hours and admission fees.

NEWPORT NEWS

Trail, rent a paddle boat or canoe and explore Lake Maury or bring a picnic to enjoy the outdoors. Opening May 2014, Savage Ancient Seas: Dinosaurs of the Deep features huge carnivorous marine reptiles that will thrill kids of all ages. For information on current and upcoming exhibitions, exciting events, educational programs and hours of operation, visit MarinersMuseum.org or call 800-581-7245. Connect to nature at the Virginia Living Museum! View endangered red wolves. Get up close to a loggerhead turtle. See fish with no eyes and frogs that change colors. Touch live spider crabs and fossilized dinosaur tracks. Living exhibits depict Virginia’s rich natural heritage from the mountains to the sea. Experience a steamy cypress swamp and cool mountain cove. Explore the depths of the Chesapeake Bay. Touch famous Bay creatures. Voyage across the galaxies in a planetarium theater. Outdoors, stroll the boardwalk to view animals in naturalized habitats. Explore an extensive collection of native plants and learn how to build, garden and live green. Children particularly enjoy the new Nature Playground. See Dinosaurs Live at the Virginia Living Museum May 24-Sept. 1. 757-595-1900. www.thevlm.org. Let the travel counselors at the Newport News Visitor Center help plan your stay. Ask them about our money-saving Combination Ticket! Call 888-493-7386, 757-886-7777, or visit www.newport-news.org for more information.

NEWPORT NEWS-WORTHY!

NORFOLK

here else in the world can you marvel at artifacts from a Civil War ironclad and go eye-to-eye with a bald eagle? In Newport News, of course! The Mariners’ Museum, America’s National Maritime Museum, has a collection of more than 35,000 artifacts including miniature ship models, maritime paintings, small craft from all around the world, carved figureheads, working steam engines and much more. The Museum features the USS Monitor Center, home to the Civil War ironclad’s iconic gun turret. Located in a 550-acre park, visitors can hike the 5-mile Noland

ith 144 miles of shoreline, there’s so much to do while visiting Norfolk, Virginia. Take a tour of the Elizabeth River harbor on a majestic tall ship, sip on some of the best wines around at Mermaid Winery, Virginia’s very first urban winery, try delicious beers at local breweries or watch world-renowned artists blow glass at the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio. Hungry? Norfolk has become well-known for its wide variety of cuisine and is home to more than 80 chef-owned restaurants in the

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COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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Take a voyage of discovery to

AMERICA’S NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM Keep Wonder Off the Endangered List

f the Home o nitor USS Moer Cent

omewhere past the red wolves, just beyond the bald eagles and beside the sea turtle, you will find it. The most wondrous and delicate discovery of all . . . in the eyes of those you came with.

New Exhibition Opening May 2014

Protect What’s Precious

Start your adventure at www.MarinersMuseum.org 1-800-581-SAIL (7245) I64, Exit 258A, Newport News, VA

I-64 exit 258A • Newport News • 757-595-1900 • thevlm.org

Ships, History Great Outdoors AND

THE

Historic Homes

Over 30 Parks

Virginia Minutes to Williamsburg Short drive to Virginia Beach

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888.493.7386 newport-news.org

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ad dimensions

> 3.6 wide and 4.75

special instructions > ad based on actual measurement of printed ad from 2009

Looking forward to the next

400 years DOWNTOWN HA M P T O N

ThereAisgreat a great sense history here. Add our dynamic retail, place to of gather with friends, dining & waterfront andayou’ve visit attractions, goenvironment shopping, eat fine

meal or justwedrop anchor forHampton. a while. got the wonder call downtown

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the best shopping, Dining, LiVing & enteRtAinMent expeRience on the peninsuLA

Extravaganzas at the Coliseum Live Performances at The American Theatre Fine Art at The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center

Hampton Has it All! ov e r 7 0 s p e c i a lt y s t o r e s & r e s ta U r a N t s i - 6 4 a t m e r c U r y b lv d macy’s • jcpenney • cinébistro • target www.peninsulatowncenter.com

The American Theatre 125 E. Mellen Street Hampton, VA 23663 757-722-2787

1000 Coliseum Drive Hampton, VA 23666 757-838-4203

The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center 4205 Victoria Boulevard Hampton, VA 23669 757-727-1490

HamptonArts.net ★ HamptonColiseum.org

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Cannonball Trail. You can jam out to some of the nation’s best music at the NorVA, named “Venue that Rocks” the hardest by Rolling Stone magazine. There are antique shops, coffee houses & breweries galore in the hip, historic Ghent district just a few minutes from downtown. There is truly something for everyone here! For additional information, call 800-368-3097, or visit www.visitnorfolktoday.com.

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downtown area, many featuring Virginia wine and Virginia-grown produce and meat. Downtown isn’t the only place to find eclectic entrees. A host of restaurants dot the streets of Ghent, the historic Freemason district, Ocean View and other areas of the city. If history is your thing, sign up for a boat or land tour of the world’s largest Naval Base, stop by the MacArthur Memorial, or walk the

NORFOLK SOUTHERN

lothing, tools, locomotive and train parts, maps, and advertisements are among the more than 500 artifacts dating to the 1830s showcased in the Norfolk Southern Museum. Exhibits include a locomotive simulator; a 900-pound railroad coupler; photographs of workers past and present; and diagrams used to teach hand signals and lantern use to railroad trainees. The history of Norfolk Southern belongs not only to the company, but to the communities it serves and to generations of workers. Norfolk Southern’s history has shaped its path as one of the nation’s premier transportation companies, with 20,000 route miles in 22 states.

SPIRIT OF NORFOLK

CRUISING YEAR-ROUND FROM DOWNTOWN

et ready for the time of your life. Step aboard the Spirit of Norfolk and come alive for an afternoon or evening of allout fun. You’ll dine and dance to live DJ entertainment while being dazzled by skyline sights and a close-up look at the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet. Choose from funfilled lunches, dinners and midnight cruises. Details and tickets, www.spiritofnorfolk. com or (866) 211-3803. Advance reservations strongly recommended.

CITY OF PORTSMOUTH

Scan for More Information

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ne visit to Portsmouth and you’ll be hooked. Amble along our famous Seawall. Go antiquing. Take in some art. Stroll through three centuries of historic neighborhoods. Stand inside a giant soap bubble at the largest children’s museum in Virginia. And did we mention that Portsmouth is home to some of the most delightful restaurants in the region? Many of Portsmouth’s attractions are clustered within easy walking distance of each other, making it the perfect place to spend a day. And with its central location, it’s easy to get to – less than an

COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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Whether you are here for the day or an overnight stay, discover sensational shopping, rich history, year-round festivals, and dynamic dining with delicious coastal cuisine caught fresh from the Chesapeake Bay. With so much to see and do, the possibilities are endless. Plan your trip to Norfolk today. visitnorfolktoday.com | 1-800-368-3097

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N O T 0 0 , 58 0 ! T E N G KID MA What better way to spend time with the kids than on the Battleship Wisconsinâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. On the battleship, kids can explore newly opened interior areas, stand beneath towering guns, and discover what life was like living on board as a sailor!

A14

off Good for up to 4

admission with this ad. admissions. Not valid with any other offer. Exp. 4/30/15. RA

OLDE TOWNE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION PORTSMOUTH

The Battleship Wisconsin will BLOW YOU AWAY!

hour from Colonial Williamsburg and minutes from Virginia Beach. Attractions include: Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum of Virginia, Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, Lightship Portsmouth Museum, Bide-A-Wee golf course, Links at City Park, Pokey Smokey II, nTelos Wireless Pavilion (waterfront concert venue), and a collection of homes and buildings preserved for nearly three centuries. Featured events include: Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), Memorial Day Parade, Umoja Festival, Gosport Art Festival, Annual Cock Island Race, Coast Guard Celebration, Seawall Art Show, Seawall Music Festival, Museum Madness and Safe Trick-OrTreat, Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival. For more information call 1-800-PORTSVA or visit www.VisitPortsVa.com. For a comprehensive list of events and activities in Portsmouth visit www.PortsVaEvents.com.

20 Years on the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront nauticus.org | 1-800-664-1080

iscover the tree-lined streets of the Olde Towne Historic Residential and Business districts, which have the charm of being frozen in time. Founded in 1752, Colonel William Crawford planned a town for the ages with a main thoroughfare fit for a King and naming it High Street. The original plat of the town has distinct named squares which you can comfortably stroll finding history at every turn.

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Set Sail for a bygone era aboard

There are many things to see and do such as take in a show along the waterfront at Harbor Center Pavilion, find yourself visiting a renowned restaurant, touring one of our many first class museums, and shopping for that perfect gift in one of the galleries or gifts shops that make up this wonderful place to live, work, and play. Olde Towne’s rich history includes the largest collection of antique homes between Charleston, South Carolina and Alexandria, Virginia. As a celebrated military town, Olde Towne boasts both the oldest operating US Naval hospital and the first dry dock facilities at the Gosport Navy Yard, and holds the proud distinction of being an official US Coast Guard City. The Olde Towne Business Association along with the citizens that make up this historic seaport community welcome you and wish for you to return time and time again. Olde Towne has been preparing for your visit for over 260 years.

SCHOONER ALLIANCE & SERENITY

oin the Yorktown Schooners and step back into history as you sail the York River past the battlefield where our country won its independence. Lend a hand at setting sail, look for dolphins, or bring the kids to Captain Mayhem’s School of Piracy. They will join the pirate crew and help raise the sails, steer the schooner, tie a knot and fire the cannon. Both ships also available for private charters and special events. Sailing April to November. Advance reservations recommended. For schedule and tickets, visit www.sailyorktown.com. 888-316-6422

The Yorktown Schooners

& Pirate Adventure Cruises -

Bring the kids to Captain Mayhem's School of Piracy!

To purchase tickets, call 888.316.6422 or visit www.sailyorktown.com

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from Riverwalk Landing Morning Cruise: 11 a.m. Afternoon Cruise: 2 p.m. Adults $35, Kids $20 Sunset Cruises $35 per person No child discount

Sailing from Riverwalk Landing 11:30 a.m. Adults $35, Kids $20

SUFFOLK mall town charm and big city amenities converge in Suffolk, Virginia. Our historic downtown blends unique boutiques and shoppes with award-winning restaurants. Anchored by the Suffolk Visitor Center, Main Street is lined with historic homes and churches. Suffolk boasts year-round family friendly events. Discover the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge—112,000 acres of untouched wilderness. You’ll love our swamp safaris, canoe excursions, ghost walks and lantern tours. Kayak or fish in 8,000 acres of lakes and rivers. Golf one of our five championship golf courses. Take the plunge and skydive! Explore Riddick’s Folly House Museum where Union Army officers left behind penciled graffiti that is still legible today. Our 1885 passenger station is now Seaboard Station Railroad Museum. Visit the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, a professional performing arts theater. 866.SEE.SUFK. Suffolk-Fun.com.

Daily 2-hr. Cruises -

Legends of Main Street: A Suffolk Ghost Walk. Come for the adventure. Stay for the hospitality.

Suffolk V

Suffolk-Fun.com 866-733-7835

Job No: Title: Agency: Contact:

SUFT13 6931 Expect the Unexpected Ethicom Linda Andrus 757-626-3867 x301

Good times await. Whether you’re creeping through the historic Cedar Hill Cemetery on a guided lantern tour, birdwatching in the Great Dismal Swamp, or joining in on many of our annual festivals, there’s much to do in Suffolk. Get the good times rolling with a click of your smart phone or a visit to Suffolk-Fun.com. Then expect the unexpected with Suffolk’s legendary Southern hospitality.

COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS Pub:

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Visitors Regional Guide 2014 Vista Graphics Target: General Tourism Contact: Lori Conti 12/19/13 1:07 PM 757-422-8979

VIRGINIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

LIVE THE LIFE IN VIRGINIA BEACH

ome spend your vacation in Virginia Beach, where you can “Live the Beach Life” all year. Enjoy summer’s lazy days lounging on soft beaches, strolling the famous boardwalk, kayaking with dolphins or riding the waves. Spring and fall bring sumptuous, fresh coastal cuisine along with exciting oceanfront festivals and a variety of opportunities for discovering our treasured state parks and wildlife refuge. Year-round, explore the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center or indulge at Town Center, Virginia Beach’s new downtown area, filled with shopping, luxurious dining, and exciting nightlife. For more information, visit www.visitvirginiabeach.com or call 1-800-VA-BEACH.

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hether it is with a large school group or a family visit, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is home to many memorable exhibits and full of interactive fun. A basketball court, sports complex, racing simulators and a radio announcing booth await you! The Museum also hosts many special events, birthday parties, galas and weddings. For more information, visit the Museum’s website at www. vshfm.com or follow them on Facebook or Twitter (@VSHFM).

THE VIRGINIA ZOO

ourney to mysterious places inhabited by exotic animals from around the world–without leaving Hampton Roads! Just board the Norfolk Southern Express train at The Virginia Zoo for an expedition to Asia Trail of the Tiger or Africa’s Okavango Delta! Discover lions, bears, elephants, gibbons, giraffes, colorful birds and more! Watch the red panda climb through the trees just above your head. Go nose-to-nose with a prairie dog in an underground viewing bubble. Enjoy a stroll among our themed gardens and beautiful landscaping. The Virginia Zoo provides education and entertainment for people of all ages, and the Zoo is home to more than 400 animals on 53 beautifully landscaped acres. Our enriched exhibits encourage the

COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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animals’ natural behavior, and provide information about their habitats, what they eat and their worldwide conservation status. Visiting the Virginia Zoo is a fantastic thing to do with family and friends, and it’s a terrific value! Admission is $11 for adults, $9 for children (ages 2-11) and $10 for seniors (62+). Children under two get in FREE! The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except major winter holidays. For more information, visit www.virginiazoo.org.

HISTORIC YORKTOWN

ravel back in time, then savor the present at this yearround destination for history, shopping, outdoor recreation, fine dining and special events. Relive the pivotal battle of the Revolutionary War. Visit historic homes, museums, and battlefields by foot or enjoy a guided Segway tour through town. Set sail on Yorktown’s schooners Alliance and Serenity. Shop in specialty stores, enjoy a wine tasting, play on the riverfront, and dine in one-of-a-kind restaurants. Come for a day, a weekend or longer. 757-890-3300 or www.visityorktown.org.

Journey into a mysterious place inhabited by zebras, African elephants, giraffes, orangutans, otters and much more!

virginiazoo.org • 757-441-2374 COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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Williamsburg

WE KEEP

Poquoson

Fisherma

NEWPORT NEWS

HAMPTON

64 564

664 6 64

NORFOLK

PORTSMOUTH SUFFOLK

264 26 64

VIRGIN BEACH

264 13

CHESAPEAKE

Hampton Roads Roadway Improvements DOWNTOWN TUNNEL WEST (Through May 2014) DOWNTOWN TUNNEL EAST (From June 2014 to July 2015) GILMERTON BRIDGE (Through August 2014) I-64 HIGH RISE BRIDGE (Westbound Lanes: Begins Spring 2014) I-264 CONCRETE REPLACEMENT PROJECT (Completion August 2014) I-264 SHOULDER LANE PROJECT (Completion September 2014) I-264 CONCRETE PROJECT (Eastbound Lanes: Completion July 2015) I-64 & I-264 PAVEMENT PROJECTS (Completion November 2015) Mitzi C. Transportation Planner

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Mock Horn Island Ship Shoal Island Myrtle Island

VIRGINIA MOVING Smith Island

Fishermans Island

INTERSTATE IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR TRAVEL Hampton Roads is a popular travel destination due to its vast sandy beaches, rich history, heritage and waterfront locales. In keeping with the population growth and tourism, the Virginia Department of Transportation has outlined projects that will enhance the region’s transportation system to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.

Minimize Your Travel Time VIRGINIA BEACH

• USE THE MAP as a guide for road construction projects on main highways and water crossings • Go online to www.511va.com to check traffic conditions and plan your route to reduce delay • CHECK the digital message signs for information about incidents and congestion to make alternate route decisions • USE THE TOOLS to navigate through the region www.511va.com FOR TRAFFIC STATUS DOWNLOAD THE 511 APP

SAFETY TIPS FOR THE DRIVER • Stay Alert and Minimize Distractions • Keep Your Headlights On

DIAL 511 TO CHECK TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

• Pay Attention to the Road Ahead • Merge into the Proper Lane • Avoid Tailgating

TUNE TO 1680 AM FOR TRAFFIC UPDATES SCAN THE QR CODE TO GET THE 511 APP

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• Obey the Posted Speed Limit • Utilize the Digital Message Signs • Follow Instructions from Flaggers • Change Lanes Safely • Expect the Unexpected

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n Fu

COMES IN WAVES!

City sizzle, small town smiles and sandy beaches. Great history and the great outdoors. In Coastal Virginia, the fun comes in waves. One region, ten destinations, unlimited experiences.

Keep up with

Coastal Virginia

and all of its unique charm, customs and ways of living.

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

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COASTAL VIRGINIA ATTRACTIONS

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2014 Major Annual Festivals & Events Portsmouth loves to throw a party! Below is just a sampling of the dozens of festivals and events for 2014. For comprehensive information about these and other events, please visit www.PortsVaEvents.com

April 4-6

First Weekend in Olde Towne Art, history and culture come alive in Olde Towne. On Friday, enjoy a free concert featuring jazz, blues or rock-n-roll in the Courtyard of the Portsmouth Art & Culture Museum from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A “Books By The Inch” sale at the Portsmouth Public Library happens from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday visit the popular Farmer’s Market at the intersection of High Street & Court Street from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the Antiques to Flea Market at the Middle Street Parking Garage from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Free admission and hands-on fun for kids at the Portsmouth Art & Culture Museum, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, and Lightship Portsmouth Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Sunday enjoy Olde Towne Portsmouth’s eclectic dining, art, antiques and specialty shops. www.PortsmouthPartnership.com

April 16-19

May 10 & 11

44th Annual Gosport Arts Festival This major Hampton Roads event features 150 juried artists and artisans displaying two- and three-dimensional works. Held on the High Street corridor in Historic Olde Towne, the event includes art demonstrations, live music, food vendors, a children’s area and a silent auction. www.GosportArtsFestival.com

May 23-25

24th Annual Umoja Festival Umoja means unity, and this three-day festival presents the rich heritage of African culture and the manner in which it weaves into our national tapestry. Visitors are introduced to the continent through art, music, entertainment, demonstrations and food. At the nTelos Wireless Pavilion and Festival Park. www.UmojaFestPortsmouth.com or 757-488-6908

May 24

62nd Annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament Each year the basketball world focuses on Portsmouth as 64 of the nation’s best college seniors participate in a four-day, twelve-game tournament. Scouts from every National Basketball Association team are on-site to evaluate their talent. www.PortsmouthInvitationalTournament.com

34th Annual Elizabeth River Run Join the Tidewater Striders Club and the Portsmouth Museums Foundation for a 10K race, a one-mile race and a Fun Run on a course that traverses Historic Olde Towne and the Elizabeth River waterfront. Enjoy post-race festivities at nTelos Wireless Pavilion at Harbor Center. For information visit www.err.TidewaterStriders.com

April 25 & 26

May 26

43rd Annual Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Weekend Celebrate achievements in Virginia athletics and meet the Class of 2014 inductees. A weekend full of events include a Celebrity Golf Tournament, reception, Celebrity Sports Auction, autograph session and induction banquet. For schedule and ticket information visit www.vshfm.com, facebook.com/HSHFM, or call 757-393-8031.

May 2-4

First Weekend in Olde Towne

(See April 4-6)

May 3 & 4

Atlantic Coast Kite Festival This two-day event is hosted in Virginia Beach on Saturday and at Portsmouth City Park on Sunday, May 4. Bring kites and join us for a day of high-flying activities. Co-sponsored by the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center and Beach Events. 757-393-8543, www.PortsmouthArtCenter.com.

May 10

Steeple-to-Steeple Tour This annual tour takes visitors into seven of Portsmouth’s most interesting and beautiful churches and the historic Chevra T’helim synagogue. See stunning stained glass art from Louis Comfort Tiffany, murals, statuary, stenciled glass and a Holocaust Torah. Led by costumed interpreters, the tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. Lunch is included. www.SteepleToSteeple.com, 747-393-0973.

130th Annual Memorial Day Parade The Memorial Day Parade salutes the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and celebrates Portsmouth’s proud military heritage. A Portsmouth tradition since 1884. 757-393-8481.

June 6 & 7

Seawall Music Festival This is Portsmouth’s summer celebration of music along the seawall with free family fun. Daily musical performances by local and regional bands, children’s activities and the East Coast’s largest pyrotechnical show. A complete list of musical acts, times and activities can be found at www.PortsVaEvents.com or by calling 757-393-8481.

June 6-8

at the Children’s Museum of Virginia, Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, and Lightship Portsmouth Museum. 757-393-5258, www.PortsVaEvents.com.

6:00 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Virginia, Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, and Lightship Portsmouth Museum. 757-393-5258, www.PortsVaEvents.com.

July 4-6

October 25

First Weekend in Olde Towne (See April 4-6)

July 5

Patriots Day Enjoy historic demonstrations, music, crafts, games, military drills, food and fun at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum. 757-393-8591, www.PortsmouthNavalShipYardMuseum.com

August 1-3

First Weekend in Olde Towne (See April 4-6)

August 23 & 24

44th Annual Seawall Art Show This juried fine arts and fine crafts show on Portsmouth’s waterfront in Historic Olde Towne features the works of nearly 100 talented artists working in oil painting, woodcarving, hand woven clothing, art glass, fine jewelry, potter and more. Includes a student art show, food and entertainment. www.SeawallArtShow.com.

November 28 to December 31

(See April 4-6)

December 13

First Weekend in Olde Towne (See April 4-6) First Weekend in Olde Towne

Coast Guard City Celebration In December 2010, the City of Portsmouth was designated a Coast Guard City. The Coast Guard selected Portsmouth due to the City’s nearly 200 years of support of the Coast Guard community. The City of Portsmouth celebrates this grand distinction each year with a community celebration. www.PortsVaEvents.com

17th Annual Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival Launched in 1998, this festival has become Portsmouth’s signature Holiday Season event. It’s a musical tribute to the spirit of the Holiday Season, enlivening the first seven blocks of High Street in Historic Olde Towne with performances, children’s activities, re-enactors in period attire, and strolling characters. Performances from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. www.PortsVaEvents.com.

October 24

December 31

October 4

June 21

October 25

Celebrate Kids Spend meaningful time with the children in your life while they enjoy pirates, face painting, magic, balloons, crafts, games, and so much more! 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Olde Towne Arts & Antiques Open House This kickoff to the winter holiday season features art, music and entertainment in the shops, galleries and restaurants of the Historic High Street Shopping District in Olde Towne. 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 757-405-3500 or www.OldeTownePortsmouth.com.

October 3-5

September 5-7

27th Annual Cock Island Race Several classes of sailboats race up and down the Elizabeth River, but the race is not just for the professionals. Casual boaters hit the water, too. The race kicks off with concerts and food on Friday night and ends Saturday with an awards ceremony and more live music. 757-393-8481, www.PortsVaEvents.com

June 13 & 14

November 22

Winter Wonderland at Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center Enjoy holiday displays from the popular Coleman Nursery Collection that have become a tradition for families from across the region. From Victorian scenes of animated skaters and carolers to the enchanted forest of bears, deer and Santa’s workshop, the displays delight visitors of all ages. 757-393-5258, www.PortsmouthArtCenter.com.

33rd Annual Olde Towne Ghost Walk Based upon the popular Jack-The-Ripper walks in London, guides take visitors on a walk past the haunted houses and mansions of Olde Towne. Costumed actors tell the legends of ghostly visitation and things that go bump in the night. The 45-minute tours depart the Trinity Church graveyard at 7:00, 8:00 & 9:00 p.m. and end at Middle Street Park with cider and entertainment. www.PortsmouthGhostWalk.com or 757-525-0318.

First Weekend in Olde Towne (See April 4-6)

Safe Trick-or-Treat For children up to age 12, Halloween trick-ortreaters visit the merchants of Olde Towne collecting candy. Located along the historic High Street corridor between Effingham Street and Water Street. 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 757-405-3500 or www.OldeTownePortsmouth.com.

Museum Madness Enjoy a haunting day of Halloween fun at all four Portsmouth museums. Frightfully fun arts & crafts, face painting, wizardry, pumpkin decorating, and a haunted ship! 12:00 p.m. to

Noon Year’s Eve Bash: Countdown to Noon There is no better place for families to ring in the New Year than the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center. Countdown to noon with a glittery ball drop, children’s activities, crafts, music, and a toast to the New Year. Festivities from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 757-393-8543, www.PortsmouthArtCenter.com.

December 31

16th Annual Olde Towne Scottish Walk Modeled after Scotland’s Hogmanay Festival, a procession of local residents and visitors is led by bagpipe and drum music to High Street Landing for a flag raising ceremony that honors George Washington’s raising of the first flag, the Grand Union. Call 757-650-3052 or visit www.PortsVaEvents.com. www.visitportsva.com | 29

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SHOPPING

Olde Towne

Shopping From the “Original Towne Center” to Midtown and beyond, the city has a fabulous selection of independently owned shops, boutiques and national retailers to meet your every shopping desire.

Portsmouth’s High Street corridor and its side streets is the original town center shopping district. Today, this area is populated with small independently owned shops and boutiques. Often, visitors to this area express amazement at the variety and quality of goods offered. Olde Towne shoppers will be personally greeted by the owners and will delight in the personal service they receive. In the Olde Towne district there are several antiques stores laden with treasures from the past. Two large regional antiques stores call Olde Towne home and offer some of the region’s best English and American antiques and appropriately, nautical antiques. Another shop specializes in “repurposed” antiques and the other offers a full selection of glassware, pottery and art. So if you searching for a special treasure, Olde Towne is the place to start. A monthly antiques to flea market offers more opportunities to discover antique treasures. Several art galleries dot Olde Towne and showcase the works of local and national artists, including art pottery, hand-made glass creations, fine crafts, jewelry, paintings and more. Additionally, shoppers will find a variety of museum gift shops, also offering original art, sports related items, and children’s games, toys and educational items. Plan on attending one of two major art shows held annually in a beautiful historic setting. Olde Towne offers several traditional furniture stores, complemented by garden shops, fabric stores, decorative accessories, flower shops, and even a chef-owned kitchen store. Several clothing stores have opened in recent years and shoppers will find Italian leather shoes, unique clothing and accessories. And since we are a waterfront community, you will find several marine supply stores offering boating needs, sundries, and more. Services abound and when you are exhausted from a day of shopping stop in one of many salons and treat yourself to a manicure, massage, tanning or fresh hairstyle. While visiting, please schedule time to visit the Olde Towne shopping district. You will find tree-lined streets, renovated historic buildings, and friendly shop keepers offering the finest shopping experience.

Midtown

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Located in the Oldest Building on High Street 300 High Street • 757-391-9191 • www.oldetownecoffee.com

GOURMET KITCHENWARE AND SPECIALTIES

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• Cooking Classes Monthly • O utdoor Cooking Classes Available • W ine Tasting

(call for schedule) Find us on Facebook

638 High Street • Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA 23704 • (757) 399-4475

The Midtown shopping district offers a variety of national retailers alongside small independent retailers. Enjoying a renaissance in the past few years, this area has seen national retailers return and major plans are underway for additional shopping centers and major investments by nationals. This area is unique as you can still find stores offering farm supplies, flowers, seasonal needs, paints, hardware and more. Several antique stores have opened in recent years and one may find used books, major thrift stores, and consignment shops.

Victory Crossing

Located conveniently, just off Interstate 264 at Victory Boulevard, Victory Crossing is a new shopping area which offers a full variety of merchandise from national retailers. Offerings include men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, electronics, hardware, garden items, dollar stores, and supermarkets. While visiting Victory Crossing you will find ample parking, well-lighted parking areas, and beautiful landscaping.

Churchland

Multiple shopping centers are located in the Churchland area in Western Portsmouth. Here you will find unique local merchants offering a multitude of goods which includes traditional jewelry stores, antiques stores, consignments shops and just about anything you could imagine. Florist, card shops, gift shops, fine foods, lighting, and more add to the offerings. Several large retailers are located here, including department stores, major pharmacies and full-service grocery stores.

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PORTSMOUTH BOATING

Cruise into Portsmouth at Mile Marker Zero on the Intracoastal Waterway and discover the perfect getaway. Home of the deepest natural harbor, Portsmouth gives boaters and their vessels easy access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. This maritime community caters to thousands of boaters annually. Why has Portsmouth become a favorite port-of-call for boaters? Chesapeake Bay Magazine calls the city “a richly historic community whose notably eclectic attributes include great architecture, a cozy sense of scale, and a desire to give visiting boaters both hospitality and a bang for the buck.” Portsmouth’s nautical credentials are impressive. It’s the site of the nation’s oldest shipyard and birthplace of the C.S.S. Virginia, which made history in the Civil War Battle of the Ironclads. With 85 miles of navigable channels and a deep, and inviting harbor, our quaint, historic seaport has plenty of modern facilities and slips to accommodate boats of all shapes and sizes. The city provides docking on the Portsmouth waterfront at High Street Landing and North Landing. Just ashore you’ll find an abundance of restaurants, shops, and family attractions. The Olde Towne Historic District is home to one of America’s most historic neighborhoods – with museums, antique stores, specialty shops, and much more, all within easy walking distance of your slip or a short boat ride away. Portsmouth also plays host to renowned boating events and festivals, like the famous Cock Island Race for sailing enthusiasts and Rendezvous Mile Marker Zero for power boat and yacht owners. You’re sure to enjoy Portsmouth’s charm and hospitality, the result of a unique blend of Northern and Southern influences. After all – we’ve had three centuries of practice catering to boating enthusiasts and water lovers. Portsmouth Offers: • Mooring is permitted at the North Harbor Inlet or at the High Street Inlet for up to 3 days in any 30 day period. No vessel may be docked more than 36 hours. • Reasonable and affordable marina rates with on-site services for boaters. • Deep-water slips for boats from 20 to 100 feet. • A location in the heart of all waterfront festivals. • Walking or biking to many area attractions. • Dining at numerous Olde Towne restaurants within walking distance of the waterfront. • Daily ferry service to Downtown Norfolk via a 5-minute ride aboard the Elizabeth River Ferry.

BOATING

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PORTSMOUTH MARINAS NAUTICAL BOATS AND MARINA

757-483-6148 • 3825 Adams St. 200 slips, wide piers, boat yard.

OCEAN MARINE YACHT CENTER

757-399-2920, 757-321-7432 (marina), or 800-292-9858 1 Crawford Ct. www.oceanmarinellc.com info@oceanmarinellc.com Dry storage, 80-ton Travelift, 1,250-ton Synchrolift, rail transfer system, mega yacht service building. Slip sizes range from 35 feet to 65 feet. One thousand feet of linear dockage accommodates yachts up to 400+ feet in length.

PORTSMOUTH BOATING CENTER

757-397-2092 • 1244 Bay St. www.portsmouthboating.com ports.boat@verizon.net Dry storage, service, brokerage, slips, travel lift, and fuel.

SCOTTS CREEK MARINA

757-399-2628 • 6 Harper Ave. www.ScottsCreekMarina@.com 135 deep slips, swimming pool, full service, fuel and ships store.

TIDEWATER YACHT MARINA

757-393-2525, 1-888-390-0080 10 Crawford Pkwy. www.tyamarina.com marina@tyamarina.com 300 deep-water slips, 100 slips available for transients, 6 Mega Yacht Slips, full-service ship’s store, multiple fueling locations, floating swimming pool (one of only 4 on the East Coast), laundry room, full-service boatyard, two pump-out locations, conference room with kitchen, 60-ton travel lift, and on-site restaurant.

VIRGINIA BOAT AND YACHT

757-673-7167 • 3515 Shipwright St. Complete travel lift service, monthly slip rentals, engine and fiberglass repairs, brokerage, fuel and towing.

PUBLIC BOAT RAMP PORTSMOUTH CITY PARK

757-465-2937 • Clp. J.L. Williams Ave. On the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River, offering two ramps, three piers, restrooms, vending machines, pay phones, free paved parking lot for 80 boat trailers. Open sunrise to sunset.

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www.VisitorsGuideNetwork.com | 31

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DINING

CENTURIES-OLD AND NEW CENTURY CUISINE Delicious dishes, heartfelt hospitality welcome diners in Portsmouth | By Patrick Evans-Hylton

Since its founding in 1752 to the turn of this century, Portsmouth has welcomed visitors with open arms and delicious dishes. Virginia, as a whole, has had a love affair with food and wine for some 400 years; the early colonists were in fact English-speaking America’s first foodies. Journals from Capt. John Smith and others wax poetic about the abundant fish and oysters. Folks used muscadine and scuppernong grapes to ferment into wine. Corn and other grains were distilled into spirits, ales and beer. One of the Old Dominion’s most famous natives, Thomas Jefferson, was a true culinary cheerleader. His food-fixation was great, and contagious. The cuisine scene in Portsmouth showcases many of these time-honored traditions, while making a few new traditions of its own. The area of Portsmouth was settled in 1620, and founded as a town by Col. William Crawford in 1752. Crawford laid the town out, and the original plans emphasized the importance of fresh food with a market established at the corner of High and Court streets. Although traditional restaurants were not part of the American experience in the 18th and early-to-mid 19th centuries, there were taverns and other eating houses that served locals and visitors alike. Many of those items would be recognized today: cooks would have wandered down to the market and bought fresh produce from farms out in the nearby county. They would also select from an abundance of seafood just harvested from the Elizabeth River and other area waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. And although much of the food would have been prepared honest and straightforward, there would have been some with hints of spices and herbs from the many ships that made port here and in Norfolk just across the river, fresh from exotic ports o’call in the Caribbean. Fast-forward some 260 years, and Portsmouth has expanded from its original boundaries, today known as Olde Towne, westward out into what was countryside. The number of places to dine has expanded greatly, too, and offers folks a wide range of options, from down home to upscale. One of the cities of Coastal Virginia, Portsmouth restaurants pull from the region’s bounty. Remember that market that Col. Crawford established in 1752?

cancunfiestarestaurant.com Serving Lunch & Dinner Inside Historic Governor Dinwiddie Hotel Old Towne

757-392-3465 • 506 DINWIDDIE ST. PORTSMOUTH, VA 23704 Make Every Meal A Mexican Fiesta!

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DINING Well, right near the site today the Olde Towne Portsmouth Farmer’s Market meets regularly, and it’s not an uncommon site to see chefs in their white jacket and houndstooth pants going from vendor to vendor to buy fresh and buy local. Some of the culinary calling cards they are looking for include: - Fresh vegetables; an abundant variety can be found, from asparagus to zucchini. Especially grown well here are corn and tomatoes, as well as sweet potatoes. Sometimes in market are Hayman sweet potatoes, a unique white sweet potato grown in the area. - Fresh fruit; like vegetables, there are many fruits to be found. Especially grown well here are strawberries and watermelon. - Fresh catch; many fish come from the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and it’s tributaries. Always a local favorite is rockfish, also known as striped bass. - Blue crab, found in dishes from Crab Norfolk to crabcakes, and fried whole as soft shells when the crabs shed their shells in spring and summer. - Oysters; you’ll see oysters from area rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, as well as from the ocean. River and bay oysters aren’t quite as salty since the water is brackish, while seaside oysters, harvested from the Atlantic, have a great salty flavor. - Pulled pork barbecue, especially served with a thin, piquant vinegar-based sauce. - Virginia-style country ham, sliced wafer-thin and full of flavor from curing and aging. - Virginia peanuts; these are a large, gourmet peanut differing in size and quality from typical peanuts which are often thrown in snack mixes or made into peanut butter. So, just what is the cuisine scene of Portsmouth? It’s a quaint diner in business for generations with naugahyde booths and a long counter and stools giving folks a show as the short-order cook prepares a classic Southern breakfast of eggs-over-easy, country ham, tender biscuits, and creamy grits swimming in butter. It’s a tiny jewel-like eatery with a chef, who has garnered national accolades, that so embraces the farm-to-fork that he has an oversized vegetable garden, a smokehouse for ham, and bees for honey, right across the street. These ingredients, and others from area farmers and watermen, are crafted into memorable meals that combine the classic with the contemporary. It’s an Old World-style outdoor patio covered in a vine-laced trellis where diners can enjoy a seemingly endless supply of fine beers and authentic German food to match. It’s a sports bar owned by a former NFL great, serving up great food and great times. It’s a restaurant located in the basement of a historic structure that embraces its speakeasy feel with an unbelievable assortment of cocktails and an unbelievably creative menu of small plates to pair. In a word, the Portsmouth dining scene is remarkable. Soul food. Haute cuisine. Places to grab tapas. Places to grab a three-course meal. Restaurants offering gorgeous waterfront dining, and restaurants that offer gorgeous dining rooms. The only thing missing is you. And your tastebuds.

Casual atmosphere with entertainment Wednesday-Sunday, nightly specials. Portsmouth’s answer to “Cheers”.

Comfortable, friendly and inviting. elebrating 25 years

500 High Street in Olde Towne

757.399.4840

barons_pub@yahoo.com Visit our other location: Olde Towne Suffolk 185 North Main Street Suffolk, VA 23434

757.934.3100

Baron’s Pub & re staurant

HOME OF THE FAMOUS BARON BURGER

Patrick Evans-Hylton is a Johnson & Wales-trained chef, award-winning food journalist, food educator and food historian. He is food editor of Coastal Virginia Magazine, executive editor of Virginia Wine Lover magazine and author of the cookbook, Dishing Up Virginia. He blogs at www.PatrickEvansHylton.com.

(Hibachi Grill & Sushi)

(lunch) (dinner)

All You C CAn EAt BuffEt

Dine-in only. Includes Sushi and Hibachi Grill. To-go available—separate rates apply. Take out menu available.

Located inside of London Plaza, 1106 London Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 757-398-8800 • Party Room Available www.VisitorsGuideNetwork.com | 33

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ACCOMMODATIONS

ACCOMMODATIONS HARBOR TOWER

Furnished & Unfurnished Awesome Waterfront Views!

Blocks from Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Coast Guard Headquarters,Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Fine Dining and Entertainment

With choices ranging from hotels, bed and breakfast inns, motels, and a highrise apartment building that offers extended stays, visitors to Portsmouth can rest assured there’s a room perfectly suited for their needs.

STANDAR D& SHORT-TE RM RENTALS

Reserved Garage Parking • Controlled Access Building • Concierge Staff and Valet 24-Hour Fitness Center • Barbecue & Picnic Area • Locker Rooms & Saunas Billiards room • Business Center • Pet Friendly

Leasing: (757) 393-0804 • Concierge: (757) 393-1600 • Toll Free (800) 897-1601 HarborTowerApartments.com • One Harbor Court • Portsmouth, VA 23704

ACCOMMODATIONS America’s Inn & Suites 333 Effingham Street (757) 295-0151 Fax: (757) 393-3683 bestvalueinn.com

Super 8 Motel 925 London Boulevard (757) 398-0612 Fax: (757) 398-0612 the.super8.com/portsmouth03799

Comfort Inn Olde Towne

EXTENDED STAY LODGING

Economy Lodge 1015 Broad Street (757) 399-6341

One Harbor Court (757) 393-1600 (800) 897-1601 Fax: (757) 399-0669 E-mail: contact@harbortowerapartments.com harbortowerapartments.com

347 Effingham Street (757) 397-7788 Fax: (757) 397-7873 choicehotels.com

EconoLodge 1031 London Boulevard (757) 399-4414 Fax: (757) 399-7066 econolodge.com

The Governor Dinwiddie Hotel & Suites 506 Dinwiddie Street (at High Street) (757) 392-1330 governordinwiddiehotel.com

Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel and Waterfront Conference Center 425 Water Street (757) 673-3000 (888) 839-1775 Fax: (757) 673-3030 renaissanceportsmouth.com

Harbor Tower

APARTMENTS

The Mytles 303 Effingham Street (757) 397-0071 Fax: (757) 397-2000 heights@grubb-ellis.com The Myrtles at Olde Towne 850 Crawford Pkwy. (757) 397-2000 Fax: (757) 397-2034 heights@grubb-ellis.com

BED & BREAKFAST

Glencoe Inn Bed & Breakfast 222 North Street (757) 397-8128 E-mail: reservations@glencoeinn.com glencoeinn.com

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Crawford Bay

OLDE TOWNE HISTORIC DISTRIC

www.visitportsva.com | 35

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