Norfolk: Discover Art, Gardens and Waterfront Trails

Norfolk combines culture, history and landscape in an unusual way. Between the historic waterfront, museums, gardens and the Elizabeth River, there are various options for planning your trip. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Norfolk, you can first decide whether you would like to focus on art and maritime history, walks, or garden and nature experiences.

Waterfront Trails for Active Days

The Elizabeth River Trail follows a 10.5-mile route of the National Recreation Trail along Norfolk's historic waterfront. The trail is designed for walking, running and cycling, and connects Norfolk's working waterfront with appealing stretches past historic sights and parks. This gives you a clear choice for planning your day between active exploration and a more leisurely visit to individual cultural attractions.

Art, History and Maritime Impressions

The Chrysler Museum of Art opened in 1933 as the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences. Today, it houses almost 35,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of history. The museum is therefore suitable as a dedicated cultural focus if you would like to explore art and historical periods in greater depth.

The interactive exhibition Norfolk in Time at Nauticus offers a different perspective. It covers history, culture, science, technology and industry in Norfolk. In the same building, the Nautical Neighborhood aquarium explores aquatic life from the Elizabeth River and Chesapeake Bay. The Battleship Wisconsin is also moored at Nauticus. The ship is one of the largest and last battleships built by the US Navy. These different topics allow you to combine cultural and maritime interests during your trip.

One specific programme option is the Perry Glass Studio: from Tuesday to Sunday, it offers a free glassblowing demonstration at 12 noon. If you would like to plan around this appointment, it should determine the rhythm of your day.

Gardens and Waterfront Estates

The Hermitage Museum & Gardens is a 12-acre waterfront estate on the Lafayette River in Norfolk. Its art collection spans more than 5,000 years. Admission is free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday. This makes it possible to combine the visit with an interest in culture or a desire for a landscape-focused stay.

The Norfolk Botanical Garden expands this selection with a 175-acre sanctuary featuring more than 60 themed gardens. Anyone who would like to discover different garden spaces between museum visits will find an independent focus on nature and landscapes here.

Choosing the Right Base

Before searching for accommodation, organise your preferred experiences: the Elizabeth River Trail represents activity, while the Chrysler Museum of Art, Nauticus and Hermitage Museum & Gardens offer different ways to experience art, history and waterscapes. The botanical garden adds another focus on gardens and nature. A holiday rental or holiday home in Norfolk should therefore above all suit your preferred travel pace and the themes you would like to explore in greater depth during your stay. The overview also includes North Camellia Acres.

To the higher-level travel overview: Norfolk.