 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Association for Research and Enlightenment - A.R.E.
Although closed for the winter
season, I toured the original building. The Hunt Room restaurant remains
open all year with a shorter week off season. The porches, pool, and
public rooms are as charming and well done or better than many historic
properties of this era. The rooms and suites feature fantastic views of
the ocean and surrounding area. Renovation, restoration and maintenance
is a constant activity particularly off season. The Cavalier Oceanfront is not
a historic property but the décor is quite pleasant and my ocean front
suite on the fifth floor could easily have accommodated my needs for a
long, long visit. The small refrigerator and
microwave appearing in all price ranges of hotels these days is my
favorite convenience feature. I
can bring or buy microwave popcorn,
espresso coffee, muffins and tote along my Mini Minit (see travel
products). If the room has a coffee maker I rip the bag of coffee
flavored sawdust and insert my own heavy duty mix or use the Mini Minit
to doctor up a cup or two. Last summer on a trip, I faced a week long
stay and constant long hard days of work. Thank goodness for the in room
refrigerator and microwave, I opted for (gasp!) an occasional microwave
frozen dinner and collapsed in bed. Neither Cavalier property is a
monolithic giant with their total of
rooms around 400. During my January stay, the first night, approximately
ten rooms were occupied. Naturally as in any off season travel that
means a cut back in staff and not all restaurants and bars are open.
Still, I found everyone easily available from desk clerk to bell person
and happy to be of assistance. The exercise room is very
impressive. So many are pathetic excuses with a few pieces of lame
equipment. The Cavalier’s was equal to the new park and rec facility I
belong to at home. Though not open, the outdoor pools for adults and
kiddies were easily accessible and one could probably race between the
beach and a pool without too much trouble. The Cavalier makes a big issue
of its private beach for personal safety and hotel services. Located at
the North end of the beach adjacent to residential properties, it is a
little quieter here, at the end of the boardwalk. Tennis courts, putting green,
volley ball, basket ball and shuffleboard are available on site. There
are many programs available for children that will keep the whole crew
happy. A good place for family reunions, weddings and meetings where
participants may want to bring their spouse and children.
The Cavalier on the hill is probably slightly quieter with its
brick and concrete construction. Some beautiful suite and room
renovations on upper floors were under way during my tour. All in all a pleasant stay.
The Virginia Marine Science Museum. 717 General Booth Boulevard So what to do on this sunny blustery day? My original objective had been to take a whale watch trip to see the humpback whales that migrate through the Chesapeake Bay during the winter months. The Virginia Marine Science Museum sponsors boat trips for this purpose. On a good day you can see several fairly close up - on a bad day none. Unfortunately the wind was quite brisk on my scheduled day and the captain decided it was too rough.
Depending on the season they also offer boat trips to watch Dolphins, Pontoon trips through the Owls Creek Salt Marsh and Ocean Collection trips. Onto Plan B which turned into an entire day at the Marine Science Museum and the adjacent Owls Creek Marsh Pavilion a few minutes walk away. One of the top ten marine science and aquarium facilities in the country, these two buildings can easily occupy a full day for individuals or families. Two days if you include a variety of seasonal water trips and guided nature walks. Both buildings have excellent video presentations in their auditoriums.
The Atlantic Ocean Pavilion houses a 300,000 gallon open-ocean aquarium recreating the Norfolk Canyon, a unique offshore Virginia feature. Also the 70,000 gallon sea turtle aquarium, Chesapeake Bay and smaller aquariums housing ocean dwellers native to the Virginia coast. The Owls Creek Marsh Pavilion tells the story of the Owls Creek Salt Marsh waterway along which the Marine Science Museum is located. It is the last undeveloped salt marsh in Virginia Beach with direct access to the open ocean. There is an outdoor aviary, river otter habitat, nature trails and boardwalks. The Marine Science Museum has an IMAX theater with several movie choices. I saw Cyberworld 3 D. Interesting but seemed long and artificial for my taste but I had to admire the computer animation skills that went into its creation. Perhaps I’ve become jaded but in the beginning when only one or two new IMAX films were released each year there seemed to have been a bit more quality and scientific information. The last few I’ve seen had too many scenery shots and gushy music. Volunteers (more than 900 putting in almost 50,000
hours annually) actively help guests operate and understand a variety of
exhibits including a virtual reality deep sea fishing adventure, the
craft of decoy carving from Charles Seidel and man stations adjacent to
various tanks and displays especially the touch and feel ones. How many
times have you pet a stingray? I learned so much and all was especially
interesting as this is my home state. The Marine Science Centers purpose is to detail ingenious species and their habitats in the surrounding geographical area. When I tour centers like this the more explanation I can get from staff or volunteers the more I get out of the entire process. A good idea is to call ahead and check their calendar and times for films or other presentations. Then plan your visit accordingly. I visited here a few years ago, hmmm perhaps more than five and they have expanded enormously. The big news just announced are plans for a $50 million dollar innovative addition focusing on marine animals and the museums extensive stranding (rescue) program. I was able to see the architects model and it is will be an impressive addition.
For food or snacks, there is the usual cafeteria. I cannot speak from actual experience as the management during my visit was in for their last day and a new lessor was taking over. My first choice would be a picnic overlooking one of the many wild life habitat areas. A short distance further out General Booth Boulevard are shopping centers with major grocery stores with deli services that could easily provide a healthy satisfying lunch. The parking at both buildings seemed excellent although it was winter. Everything is totally accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. Even the boardwalk over the marshland and blacktop path between the buildings is accessible and without hills. When I broke my leg and spent time in a wheel chair it became quickly obvious that there are degrees of so called accessibility. Hence my reference to no hills. It was quite busy and I can imagine on weekends in season crawling with kids. If crowds don’t bring out your best behavior or being banged in the back of the legs by inconsiderate stroller pushers go during the week but don’t miss it. Spring for the combination tickets.
In
another life I did retail leasing so what started out to be a “turn
around” here in this modest strip shopping center provided a pleasant
surprise with lunch at this quite authentic English Tea Room. Totally
furnished with oak English antiques, lace curtains, and a few homey
decorating touches
it was a full house of mostly ladies for lunch. Located
here for 13 years, a large percentage of the crowd are regulars,
including many local business people, according to owner Kahla Ennis.
She plans the menus, develops the recipes and does the cooking and the
whole crew washes the dishes! The wait staff has authentic UK accents
but Ennis is originally from Iowa! Albeit a world traveler. The
simple but well done menu is what you could expect for lunch in a
tearoom anywhere in Britain and each day features a special plus
different soup. Chicken or tuna salad on croissant or plated with fruit
and nut bread, a Ploughman’s lunch of cheese, crusty bread and fresh
fruit and quiche. This was quiche like I’ve never had before,
quivering wonderful custard and cheese in the best homemade (honestly)
crust I’ve ever eaten. The plate was beautiful with nut bread and
fresh fruit. Kahla Ennis says it’s all in the baking time - that may
be why
my quiche resembles a tire patch or frisbee. Pastries
and desserts include German Apple Cake, Scones with jam & cream and
lemon tarts. Your tea pot comes with a little cozy to keep it warm.
Price ranges
$5.50-$6.25 for lunches and $2.25-$3.00 for pastries and
desserts.
Hungry yet? Non smoking, readily accessible, excellent parking but not appropriate for children.
Deli Plus
Great expresso at the Deli
plus in downtown Norfolk. Adel, the owner, uses a coffee “pod” that
is imported from Italy to fit his machine. This was one of my favorite
places of the trip. Granby Street is rapidly becoming a yuppified area.
The city fathers will roll over to hear me say I sort of liked the old
seedy downtown Norfolk when it had a number of fantastic and bizarre
shops. Some carried knockoff jewelry and other merchandise in the
manner of New York City street vendors. The Deli plus has
interesting decor that fits in with the ethnic heritage of its owner. I
loved the European/old fashioned feel as it reminded me of a deli I
frequented in the early 60’s. They do a large day take out business
for the surrounding office workers. Mediterranean nights are the first
and third Fridays of each month complete with belly dancers. A goodly
share of the food is prepared by Adel. I made him promise never to move
away!
The Happy Crab House 550
Laskin Road I
had dinner at the Happy Crab, on Laskin a few blocks from the beach,
early Saturday evening. Two
competent waitresses handled the light early crowd. Another lively group
held forth in the bar. My server said in the summer they have a staff of
25-30 to cover the dining rooms and decks surrounding the back of the
building and on the water. They feature a large all you can eat seafood
buffet with an extensive variety in addition to a regular menu of
entrees and sandwiches. I settled for the fried oyster sandwich and
fries at $6.95 and it was delicious. The buffet runs in the $25 pp
range. There was a free map available at the hotel that included a $5
coupon for the restaurant. The building is accessible with a ramp at the
main entry. In season there is free transportation from resort area to
restaurant.
|
Just try to see the tiny dots that are baby sea
horses in their special tanks and then the full grown ones. I seem to
recall as kids we sent for some sea horses to raise at home or perhaps
in a gold fish bowl. They may have showed up and were so small we
didn’t realize anything was there and threw them away. The giant sea
turtles never need to get out of the water and they didn’t look too
wrinkled! I frequently felt the fish, turtles, rays and others enjoyed
all the attention and were putting a show on for us or perhaps it was
the other way.