norfolk, va
Spring break this year couldn’t come soon enough. Never have I been more excited to slam my work computer shut and unplug for an entire week, which I promptly did at 3:00 on the dot last Friday. Since traveling by plane is still iffy, my boyfriend Blayre and I decided to pick a place within driving distance of Philly that we both had never been before. We wanted to get out of the city for a few days, and our criteria were as follows:
1. Warm
2. Relaxing
3. Near water
After perusing GoogleMaps for a few days, we decided on Norfolk, Virginia (pretty randomly, I might add) and it was one of the best trips I’ve been on.
As mentioned, I crave being near water, and though I love Philly with all of my heart, the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers simply don’t cut it. Blayre found this charming little airbnb on the bay in Hampton, VA, and I was sold on the first picture. We showed up to a tiny house that the host had converted from an old shed that wasn’t being used. It had all the amenities: comfiest bed in the world, mini kitchen where we cooked breakfast every morning, living room with Netflix, and a huge deck with an outdoor couch, table, and chairs. It sat on the bay with a dock just perfect for dangling your feet in the water, which we fully took advantage of every day.
I could ramble on about this quiet oasis forever, so... I won’t. Here are the other things we did, places we explored, and restaurants where we ate, both in Hampton and Norfolk.
Restaurants:
Bull Island Brewing Company: On the water in Hampton. Yummy apps and local beers! We sat at a covered outdoor table during a rainstorm and it was the most cleansing (pun intended) feeling.
Grain: Rooftop bar and restaurant in downtown Norfolk. We stuffed our faces on a creudité board, pickle fries, black bean burgers, and sour beers.
The Green Onion: Cute outdoor dining in the historic Ghent part of Norfolk. Sipped on French 75’s and Blayre ordered an amazing looking crab dip. I munched on fried artichoke bites that I am determined to recreate at home.
Town Center Cold Pressed Coffee: We went here every. single. day. The Earl Grey cold brew with pistachio milk was to die for. We took home a bag of their coffee and have been pretending we’re still in VA every morning while drinking it!
Places:
Chrysler Museum of Art: Totally free and amazing. We loved their Modern Art, Spanish Exhibition, African Art, and much more.
Norfolk Botanical Garden: The perfect place to mosey around on a warm, sunny day! We found a swing and chilled by a meandering stream, surrounded by beautiful flowers. $14 for adults.
Neon District: The Neon District is a strip of downtown Norfolk with multiple murals and street art. Very cool to check out and perfect for a photo op!
Other Activities:
Lime: We rented Lime scooters and zoomed around downtown Norfolk. Such a fun way to get around.
Beaches: We checked out Ocean View Beach, which had free parking and was not busy at all! A great place to hang out, read, or play. We also drove to the Virginia Beach boardwalk, which has tons of restaurants, shops, and other activities.
Japanese Pagoda & Garden: Right downtown. A small garden with a restaurant in the pagoda. Such a calm place to sit, relax, or read.
Ghent Shopping: Ghent is the historic district in Norfolk. We wandered down the streets and stopped in multiple local shops. A perfect way to spend a few hours outside.
What I loved most about this trip was that we didn’t have much planned, so we were free to take on each day as we wished. Everyone we met was kind and outgoing and the general vibe was so chill. The perfectly warm weather and blue skies only added to our love of the area. Will definitely be back!
