Norfolk, VA...suggestions?

greenpea

I just bought plane tickets today for a trip to visit family in DC and Norfolk VA. DC is easy...tons of photo ops, but the majority of my trip will be spent in and around Norfolk, VA. What do you photograph around there?

I'm really excited about this trip because I've never been to the East Coast (with the exception of Manhattan and Long Island), but for this trip advanced photo shoots will be limited, since I'm traveling with my wife and 2 daughters (3yrs & 4mo).

I might be able to get out in mornings by myself, but other than that a photo outing will be a family outting.

JESTER

There are thousands of things. Just let your mind run free. Lots of Navy and Military stuff. Busch Gardens is just up the road. And Virginia has loads of beautiful scenery to photograph. The Atlantic Ocean is only minutes away. So click to your hearts content. Just make sure you post so we can see them.

docwalker

I am a Virginia native and frequent visitor to the Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Yorktown/Newport News metroplex area.

How mobile will you be? There are a lot of opportunities in the area, but most you will have to drive to.

First and foremost, one thing I can tell you about is the food. You need to visit the Lynnehaven Fish House. http://www.lynnhavenfishhouse.net/ The She Crab Soup is heavenly.

Ok, I know you did not ask about food but you need to go there because just down the road is the Cape Henry Light House. http://lighthousegetaway.com/lights/cape_henry.html

Also in the area is the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. While cameras might be a problem inside, there are several walking trails in the woods between the buildings that border the Owl Creek Marsh area. There are birds galore there. http://www.vmsm.com/index.shtml

more about the Owl Creek Marsh here: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960110/01090091.htm

The area around the Nauticus is very interesting. The Battleship Wisconsin is docked there: http://www.thenmc.org/nauticus.html

More info on Norfolk Attractions can be found here: http://www.norfolkcvb.com/attractions.cfm

My favorite place to go is actually in Newport News. The Virginia Living Museum is absolutely wonderful. Take the time to go there and you will not regret it: http://www.thevlm.org/

The next best place to go and an area with excellent bird photo potential is the Newport News Park. It is right outside the gates of Ft Eustis. http://www.nnparks.com/parks_nn.php
The Lee Hall Resovoir is massive and has excellent potential for photos. If you go, locate Dam#1 Bridge. It is at the center of the park and it is where I plan to go the next time I am in the area.

The older daughter will probably love all of those attractions and you will have the opportunity to get some great photos.

Doc

wxwax

Great stuff, Doc. I never left the dock area, was there for work. The Wisconsin rocks.

greenpea

JESTER wrote:

There are thousands of things. Just let your mind run free. Lots of Navy and Military stuff. Busch Gardens is just up the road. And Virginia has loads of beautiful scenery to photograph. The Atlantic Ocean is only minutes away. So click to your hearts content. Just make sure you post so we can see them.

Thanks! The trip isn't til early March, but I'll be sure to post once I get back.

docwalker wrote:

How mobile will you be? There are a lot of opportunities in the area, but most you will have to drive to.

I will have a car, but I will also be doing all of my sightseeing/photographing with a 3 year old, and an infant. So I can drive to places, but I might be limited in how long or far I will get to walk.

...and thanks for all of the great suggestions doc! The difference between a good vacation and a boring one is often a local telling you what there is to see. And YES I am very much looking forward to the food too.

wxwax wrote:

Great stuff, Doc. I never left the dock area, was there for work. The Wisconsin rocks.

Now that's what I'm looking for, some great photographic inspiration! Great pics! Thanks!

docwalker

greenpea wrote:

how long or far I will get to walk.

I took that into consideration. All of these locations are pretty much park, get out, walk a few dozen to a few hundred yards. All are well worth it and there are plenty of things to keep a 3y/o entertained.

CavalierPhoto

Aquarium
I agree on the aquarium whole heartedly. Tons of stuff to hold the attention of the 3 yo in all of us. The otters are definite hams and they have some stingrays (de-barbed) in a touch tank.

And nearby is the Rudee Inlet marina plenty of boats and definitely good eats with Rudee's and Rockafellers right there. Another good restaurant, if you can make it out to Pungo, is Blue Pete's which is definitely worth it.

Otherwise the pier on the ocean front at 15th street makes for some good pics especially around sunrise. And the boardwalk has sculptures all the way from Rudee Inlet up to about 31st street.

Enjoy it! I lived in that area, on and off for about 2 yrs. Weather might be a little cool but should be comfortable.

Chris V.

greenpea

My wife who has been to Norfolk before, assured me that the aquarium is a must see ("They have a shark tank," she says).
:fish
However many of the other suggested sites are new to her, and she's equally excited to check them out.

bsvirginian

Hello and welcome to "tidewater" virginia. All of the previous suggestions are good ones. I have a couple more to add.:ivar
From my trip yesterday


Its called the Virginia Beach airport and is located just south of Pungo about another 3 miles. Free and open to the public. I imagine that there are about 2 dozen WWII era warplanes and other stuff there.

And there is also the Norfolk Zoo.
Nauticus was mentioned and it and the USS Wisconsin are side by side.



Of Course our oceanfront in Virginia Beach is guarded by King Neptune



And on the north end (Ft. Story) are a couple of lighthouses

:ivar There is plenty to do and it's usually very inexpensive. BS

greenpea wrote:

My wife who has been to Nor
folk before, assured me that the aquarium is a must see ("They have a shark tank," she says).
:fish
However many of the other suggested sites are new to her, and she's equally excited to check them out.

greenpea

Thanks for the additional suggestions bsvirginian. The more info I get the more I'm really looking forward to this trip!

Now...the evening rush hour drive from Baltimore (where we fly into) to Norfolk...that I am NOT looking forward to.

docwalker

Balto to Norfolk? Have fun.

I am now back in the mood to tackle the Tidewater area. I need to talk the wife into going to see her grandparents.

tturchin

The Norfolk Botanical Gardens is awesome and right next to the airport, so it's convenient if you are looking for things to do to kill time on the day you fly out. We used to live in Hampton, and went to the Botanical Gardens a ton. Have fun!

greenpea

back from Norfolk trip
I just got back from my trip to Norfolk, and I wanted to thank everyone for the good advice on photo ops. I took hundreds of pics on the trip, but ultimately it turns out that bringing 2 small children doesn't make for a good photo vacation

I'll definately have to go back to that part of the world without the kids.

Anyway, here are the pictures that I've posted so far if anyone is interested (a lot are pictures of my daughter and neice together). If I get ambitious maybe I'll post something to the Journey's forum.

bsvirginian

You got to visit the "Wissy" on a good day. I saw your daughters pic on the beach on a cold day. I recognized the fishing pier and you visited Ft. Story, about 4 miles from my house. And of course Williamsburg and DC. Was that the "Childrens Museum" in Portsmouth? Anyway it appears that you had a good time. BS

greenpea

bsvirginian wrote:

You got to visit the "Wissy" on a good day. I saw your daughters pic on the beach on a cold day. I recognized the fishing pier and you visited Ft. Story, about 4 miles from my house. And of course Williamsburg and DC. Was that the "Childrens Museum" in Portsmouth? Anyway it appears that you had a good time. BS

You are correct on everything! And the weather was good for the entire trip (alghough a little cold at first). It was a lot of fun, and I will definately return. But when I come back, I'll know what to photograph, and when to photograph it, and how to get there.

Phyxius

greenpea wrote:

Now...the evening rush hour drive from Baltimore (where we fly into) to Norfolk...that I am NOT looking forward to.

Do not take 95 if you want to avoid traffic! You can go directly from the airport (BWI, right?) to 97 S, then 3 South which turns into 301 south. You can take that to Richmond and then catch 64 E, or you could even take "backroads" before you get to Richmond for shorter drive, but they won't be as fast as 64. But 301 will keep you away from 95 and lets you cruise.



Edit...just realize that trip already happened. Oops. That is totally outdated, huh.