By Mary Gallagher
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend another all too short two days in Virginia’s Hampton Roads area. This compact portion of Southern Virginia’s shore has always featured an overwhelming option of activities, attractions, beaches, historical sites and more to keep you and those of any age in your group coming back time and time again and it can’t stop growing! Those of us within an easy driving distance can especially enjoy short or long visits while being entertained no matter what the weather.
The Virginia Air & Space Center is always hosting a number of activities each month, and while at the center, don’t forget to strap on a pair of skates and enjoy Downtown Hampton on Ice, the Virginia Air & Space Center’s seasonal outdoor ice skating rink, or check out a movie at the Riverside 3-D IMAX® Theater. The American Theatre, Hampton’s thriving performing arts center located in Phoebus, plays host to incredible performances all year round.
We had a perfect evening for our narrated and very informative Miss Hampton river cruise leaving the pier adjacent to the stunning Virginia Air & Space Center with their IMAX Theater. The afternoon at the Jamestown Settlement was steamy hot but their huge air conditioned exhibition building can keep you be busy for a very long cool down.
All in all with this trip and several in the past I’ve seen the mind boggling Mariners Museum, Chrysler Museum of Art, Cousteau Society, Nauticus, the National Maritime Center, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, Norfolk Botanical Garden, walked some of the 29 miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches, Colonial Williamsburg. Virginia Living Museum plus a few I’ve temporarily forgotten and three times this many I haven’t been to yet.
Seasonally there are whale watching trips (also I’ve missed), various naval shipyard tours and the list goes on and on. Then one needs to take short naps and consume enormous amounts of delicious food!
There is a large selection of hotels and condo rentals available throughout the area at every price level. Be sure to make advance reservatiions during high season.
Check the Hampton Roads website and you’ll see why it’s easy to just keep going back again and again all year round.