Ghent is a melting pot of cool architecture, museums, schools, churches, unique shopping, music,…read moreupscale dinning, antique stores, sidewalk cafes, street performers and yes hippies. The main drags of the business district are Colley Ave, Colonial Ave and 21 St. The residential area is eclectic pre turn and turn of the century Queen Anne, Tudor and Colonial Revival. Development began in the 1890's. It's name Ghent hales from from a city in Belgium. Neighborhoods include Ghent, West Ghent, East Ghent, Ghent Square. It is a city within a city since its Norfolk. This is where the most wealthy Industrialist of the day resided. The Ghent Historic District is on the National Register of Historic places. The most historic buildings of Ghent on a little research that I did Warren (c. 1925), the Holland (1904), the Mowbray (c. 1914), Eastern Virginia Medical School, Sarah Leigh Hospital (1902), Fergus Reid residence (1892), the Frank S. Royster residence (c. 1900-02), the William H. White residence (c. 1892), the Richard B. Tunstall residence (c. 1892), the Robert M. and Robert W. Hughes residence (c. 1895-1900), and the William Tait residence (c. 1895). On several of my visits on foot I came across residents running, walking, maintaining their yard and even conversing with their neighbors. It seemed like on every block a resident had a renovation underway whether big, or small. I stopped and talked with at least three Ghent residents and found them all to be super friendly. Interestingly even though the homes are very old, most have only turned over two, to three times in ownership per a local. I spent a great deal of time taking pics for this review, I urge you to check them out. My recommendation is to experience Ghent on foot as I have done on almost a half dozen visits. If you have yet to explore this gorgeous and historic area there is no time like the present. Christmas decorations will soon be up and from what I am told it will be spectacular. I think you will agree that it's a treasured place for us all to enjoy no matter where you reside in Hampton Roads.

This is the nicest part of Norfolk. A city that's already on the ocean has a smaller island that is…read morequieter and more expensive (read, more cared for and historical architecture). It's a walking tour paradise.

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.

The Museum was closed when I was here but the park remains open until dusk, which gave me the…read moreopportunity to walk around. There are a number of monuments and memorials here and of course, you can walk over and watch the Great Bridge Bridge open and close if you're fortunate. One highlight is the obelisk commemorating the Battle of Great Bridge. It is a tribute to the Patriot soldiers who fought and died in one of Virginia's earliest Revolutionary War victories. It is a classic granite shaft, inscribed with tributes to the men who helped drive British forces from the colony on December 9, 1775. If you're able, tour the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Museum. Lots of history on the Colonial Era and the brief but decisive clash that marked a turning point: colonial forces routed British troops under Lord Dunmore, effectively ending royal control in Virginia and forcing the British to retreat to Norfolk. [Review 901 of 2025 - 1490 in Virginia - 24457 overall]

We love this park and it's nice and close to home. Sadly I haven't been into the museum yet. But…read morethe nature and the paths to walk are nice. In the front you will find a concrete path with information along the way. The path away from the water has been Newley done with concrete used to be gravel. It will lead you to a oversight and can take you along another path to walk down. The path near the water will take you all the way down to the high bridge. It's a very nice walk and sand at the end with water. Just don't forget some bug spray! And watch for snakes. Also in the front past the building you can find lots of picnic tables to have some hangout time or some lunch. It's in a perfect location lots of places to grab food near and drive to sit and eat.

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

How lovely that it is gone. I wanted to check it out to see was this yet another contribution of…read morethe ~daughters~ ie. losers of the confederacy. Glad to see that it is not here. 5 stars cuz who wants to see a monument for traitors who wanted slavery.

The pics say it all. Thanks to a peaceful protest by BLM, this is our monument now. They want…read morerespect, but this is the way they act. You want to impress a whole lot of people, go down there and clean it up! Don't make us use tax dollars to fix this.

A must read: The…read moreHampton Roads area is rich with battleground history (Civil War), and I try to learn as much as possible. Dr. Stewart and I did the Battle of Great Bridge museum tour this weekend and learned some interesting facts. One surprising fact was that enslaved people dug the dismal swamp out by hand. An awkward moment was when our docent (a white woman) expressed how she would "not even walk the dismal swamp today and how she can not imagine putting her hands in it to dig." Yes, that's what she said as she led a tour of all black patrons through this museum. There was a lot to learn about the history of the Great Bridge and how it came about. The information given will have you yearning for more. I actually came home and looked up more historical facts about this battleground, and I must say I had no clue how involved enslaved people were in the making of the Great Bridge!

Four stars for history where the British lost. Yay! This marker denotes a battle that occurred here…read morewhere the "Revolutionaries" won. There are markers on the north and south side of the bridge, but nowhere to really stop and read them. I left my car in the drug store parking lot to read the following: In this vicinity, in 1775, was the southern end of a causeway, with bridges, by which the swamp and stream were crossed. Here William Woodford's Virginia riflemen defended the passage. When Lord Dunmore's British regulars attempted to cross the swamp, on December 9, 1775, they were cut to pieces by the fire of the riflemen. This defeat forced Dunmore to evacuate Norfolk.

Ghent Business District has that vibe that supports local artists, small business owners and…read moreperforming artists. You can essentially walk around on a nice day and get what you need all while seeing what else you want to do on your next visit. Host to an array of different food genres, laundromats, ice cream parlors and a nostalgic movie theater, There's an elementary school nearby and some historic homes that some may think are overpriced but Ghent comes with history. Some businesses have small parking lots and street parking can be dynamic but if you have to walk a little bit you're bound to discover something like the Town Center Cold Pressed Roastery or Fruitive where you can get wholesome and nutritious drinks and eats that are Earth friendly. Check out some of the lists created by other Yelpers for recommendations on things to do and places to dine when in Ghent Business District. Not too far from Old Dominion University, this area has a hybrid of patrons ranging from the kiddies enjoying gelato from Strawberry Fields or the Boomers visiting the local bike shop.

**Okay, Ghent. You've been waiting long enough. I've used you over and over, but still no review. I…read moreapologize. It's not you, it's me. I hope this long overdue review will somehow make you forgive me.** I adore Ghent. Is there anyone out there who doesn't? Ghent Business District (GBD) reminds me of the Old Port in Portland, Maine. They don't look anything alike, but it's the wonderful feeling when I walk through the streets. There are certain cities lucky enough to have areas that allow people to walk around shop-to-shop; feel safe with their families; and have the opportunity to try almost every type of cuisine imagined. GBD is one of those places. I work very close to GBD, and because of that, I have been able to enjoy everything that Ghent has to offer. I'm lucky that I don't have to worry about parking, as that can be an issue here. Most places have a small parking lot or are close to a shopping center, but street parking is usually an option. Here is a short list of my favorites in GBD: * Fair Grounds (http://www.yelp.com/biz/fair-grounds-norfolk-2) My favorite coffee shop with an eclectic, cozy atmoshphere * Strawberry Fields (http://www.yelp.com/biz/strawberry-fields-norfolk) You can't miss out on homemade gelato! * Mr Shawarma (http://www.yelp.com/biz/mr-shawarma-norfolk) Amazing shawarma and falafel! You'll thank me later. * Azar's Natural Foods Market & Café (http://www.yelp.com/biz/azars-natural-foods-market-and-cafe-virginia-beach-2) I've only been there for their baklava, but it's delicious! They also sell raw, local honey in glass jars. * The Ten Top (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-ten-top-norfolk) Their potato salad is to die for. * Kappo Nara Ramen (http://www.yelp.com/biz/kappo-nara-ramen-norfolk-2) Delicious! Make sure you bring your appetite. There ya go! That will get you started. As I visit "new" places, I will add them to this list. As you can see, I didn't add any shops--I'm not a shopper. I'm all about the food! However, there are lots of great shops in Ghent. If you're from out of town, and maybe getting ready to visit Hampton Roads, I strongly suggest you put Ghent on your list. I have only just begun with my very short list, and I am always looking for adventures in GBD. Park your car, walk around, and take in the fantastic community that is Ghent.

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