I came here after going to a sports card show in Norfolk. It wasn't a planned visit but I was just…read morelooking for something interesting to look at since I had a lot of free time and the weather was nice on Saturday. I thought it would be a lot larger but the spot is quite small but it is very nice to walk around. There are also lots of nice areas adjacent to the garden and terrace as well. I parked in front of the garden went around it and then found the USS Wisconsin and the Naval museum just past the garden. I went around and finished checking out the other side of the garden after. The parking was free for 2 hrs in front of the garden and it seemed like parking in general was plentiful and open this weekend. It looked like college dormitories around the garden and some other residential areas around the middle of downtown Norfolk. There were many nice plants in the garden, the terrace was nice but not open as far as I could tell, and the koi pond was nice if someone would clean out the pond scum from the fish pond. There were small bridges over the water and multiple water fountains in the koi pond. There were a few benches to sit on if you wanted to just relax or meditate in the garden. Overall, it was a nice garden but it is not something to go downtown to see, but it is a nice additional thing to see if you are going to the USS Wisconsin and the Naval museum or if you staying in downtown area. Lots of people were exercising (walking and jogging) so it is a nice scene to pass by if you are doing that.

Great spot to walk around. There's ice cream inside too! Very yummy. Beautiful day to explore.read more

We stumbled upon this landmark as we were making our way around the Nauticus/USS Wisconsin by the…read morewater to go to the Pagoda & Foundation Park. This is located in Wisconsin Square near the Harbour Place Condos. Fun fact: according to the Downtown Norfolk website, this bell is one of the last remaining pieces of the "Norfolk" destroyer. Some parts of the ships is in a high school in Florida and the rest of the ship was scrapped in 1974. I always appreciate a piece of history being documented and shared with the public for all to enjoy. Stay safe, Friends!

Love passing this little backyard I have I live down the street and get to enjoy walking downtown…read moreand seeing the Wisconsin when families in town we do the winner fest on the Wisconsin. I've done yoga on there. I've had a party for girls on the run for a half marathon.

I've toured many battleships and this one was a bit too much a a free for all for me. What I mean…read moreis that there is typically a path to follow when touring the inside of a ship. In this ship you could go any which way you liked and it was easy to get lost and not know which way to go. What we did see was super cool and it was so crazy thinking about everything this ship has been through. The staff members were super nice and willing to answer questions. They were really knowledgeable. Parts of the ship were closed off from the public for various reasons such as air quality concerns. The ship was blanketed in Christmas lights and will be featured on the great Christmas Light Fight TV show next week. We are looking forward to seeing that as we only saw the ship in the daytime.

Located in front of a rather run down shopping plaza not far from where I-64 and I-264 and I-664…read moreconverge, this marker remembers the birthplace of an important Naval leader from the American Revolutionary War. The marker on the side of the road reads: Just north is the birthplace of Commodore Richard Dale (6 Nov 1756 - 26 Feb 1826). He served on the United States brigantine Lexington. The British captured and wounded him several times during the Revolutionary War. Captain John Paul Jones chose him to be first lieutenant on the Bon Homme Richard. On 19 September 1779, the Bon Homme Richard defeated the British Ship Serapis due largely to Dale's actions. He served as superintendent of the Norfolk Naval Yard in 1794. In 1801 he commanded a fleet of five vessels against the Barbary pirates. He later retired to Philadelphia.

I visited on a beautiful cloudless day and left grateful and teary eyed…read more The park has letters written by sailors who never made it home. If you read any of them, many are absolutely gut wrenching. The curved sheet metals are supposed to depict the letters billowed by the wind. It was a great reminder to relish the freedom I enjoy without second thoughts. I hugged my veteran husband tight and we left walking hand in hand. I love visiting Norfolk for this very reason -- I always feel thankful for our veterans' sacrifices and the freedom I enjoy.

This place pulls at the heart strings hard! I didn't think it would hit me like it did until I…read morenoticed the pieces of metal that were laying around with war stories on them. My father was in the Vietnam War and never told me stores of it because he can't handle reliving those nightmares to this day. The pages on the ground are letters from our warriors that more than likely never had the chance to make it back home to their families and loved ones. Walking up on the site you may not notice this at first glance. From the muddy boots that sacrificed everything, these stories brought a tear to my eye and put me in stitches. I can't imagine what it would be like to live through that war or experience it in general. Writings of blood shed and lost friends riddle the ground on this monument and deserve your eyes but beware that it'll pierce you straight to your heart like a flaming sword. So if you have some time in your day to stop and pay your respects, please do. Read some stories and reflect on the freedom most take for granted these days. And please pray that we never go to war in that fashion ever again. RIP war heroes

One of the most historic sights in Norfolk. Find the…read morecannonball fired by Lord Dunmore and see the graves of some of the founders of Norfolk.

This is a review for the historical building and cemetery; not the services offered…read more St Paul's was built in 1739 and we always enjoy stopping here for a glimpse back in time. Walking around the peaceful grounds, you forget you are in downtown Norfolk with a mall next door. The centuries-old headstones, the English cannonball embedded in the brick wall of the church from the Revolutionary War and the architecture all add to the charm.

Perhaps inspired by the Zero Mile Stone in Washington, DC, this one here in Norfolk Virginia reads:…read more "Point of measurement for distances from Norfolk on highways of the United States. Erected by The Boy Scouts of Norfolk, February 8, 1929." It is located in downtown Norfolk in front of the building that used to be City Hall and is now the MacArthur Memorial.

An interesting and historic venue, but one with a serious safety issue. Do not under any…read morecircumstances sit in the balcony. The seats there are cramped and uncomfortable with no leg room. Evacuating the balcony in a timely manner in the event of an emergency would likely be difficult at best.

Amazing display of Black History and the accomplishments made by African Americans. It highlights…read morethe impact on the state, national and the world. The curator was knowledgeable, resourceful, and enthusiastic.

Another sunny day in Portsmouth, Virginia, and the park was full of people with beautiful smiles…read moreand laughter. The temperature is great for children playing and adults relaxing. We had a great time. The seating around the play area is comfortable, and you can easily move to a new bench as the children move from set to set. There is a covered seating area if the children need a break from the sun or rain, Smiles! The restrooms are well maintained and stocked with what you need. The parking lot is spacious, and lots of spaces are covered by shadows from the trees, so your car stays cool. There were several employees walking around just to check on visitors. It made me feel safer because I knew the attendants were there. The waterfront area is beautiful. I am going to come back with the hubby for a romantic walk before dinner.

The climbing structures are amazing! My child loves the rope bridge. So many fun things at this…read moreplayground.

The Midtown Tunnel is an extremely convenient way to get to get to the Monitor Merrimac Bridge…read moreTunnel should there be a backup or accident at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. Because of major construction at the HRBT, there may congestion & lane movement confusion for years. It also leads to a route to Portsmouth, Western Branch and the northern areas of Suffolk. One enters the tunnel from Brambleton Avenue, just beyond the Sentara Norfolk General campus. Exiting the tunnel one can choose access to the Western Freeway (SR-164) to reach the western side of the Metro. I call SR-164 the "secret road" since I've never encountered traffic congestion. The Midtown Tunnel does have a toll. A previous Commonwealth administration subcontracted the addition of another tube, allowing 2 lanes of traffic in each direction. The Elizabeth River Tunnel Commission completed the project in 2016 and is reimbursed by being allowed to collect the tolls. The contract allows the tolls to be raised each year. This has created a financial hardship for residents of Portsmouth who have to navigate through either the Midtown or Downtown Tunnels to work. There is no toll plaza. The congestion at this busy crossing would be prohibitive had a Toll Plaza been constructed. If one doesn't have an EZ-Pass transponder, the owner of the vehicle is mailed a bill with a surcharge. The tunnel itself is bright, clean & well lit. One feels quite safe driving the speed limit on the wide lanes of the tunnel. Hurricane Isabel flooded the Midtown Tunnel with 44 million gallons of water in 2003. The floodgates were overwhelmed by the surge. The tunnel was closed for a month for draining & repairs. Elizabeth River Crossing made a number of changes & improvements to hopefully prevent that disaster from ever occurring again. The Midtown Tunnel offers a huge benefit by providing one an alternative route over the waters of Hampton Roads to the Peninsula and beyond.

This was an interesting tunnel to go through. The way it descends and ascends makes you really feel…read morelike you are truly in a tunnel. The one thing that sets it apart from other tunnels I have been through is that people actually maintain the speed limit through the tunnel. Or at least for me when I went through it they did. No slowing down because someone cannot understand the concept of driving. I don't remember much else for this tunnel, just that I was kind of forced to go through it when utilizing the GPS. Did it really save me time going through it, no. Maybe a minute at most.