AREA ATTRACTIONS

Chesapeake is minutes away from outstanding professional theater, opera, dance troupes, symphony and museums.

Virginia Symphony
Serves the community of Hampton Roads and is one of the nation’s leading regional symphony orchestras. (757) 892-6366. www.virginiasymphony.com.

Virginia Opera
"One of the nation's very best regional companies" according to NBC Nightly News. Five productions are staged annually during the opera season. Harrison Opera House in Norfolk. (757) 627-9545. www.vaopera.com.

Norfolk

Chrysler Museum
Visitors can enjoy the museum’s world-renowned Tiffany-glass collection, Art Nouveau furniture, works of art from African, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian, Islamic and Asian cultures, and an extensive European and American collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. (757) 664-6200. 245 West Olney Road.

D’Art Center
A working art studio where artists create, display, and sell their work. (757) 625-4211. 125 College Place.

Douglas MacArthur Memorial
The MacArthur Memorial's extensive collection of military and personal artifacts allows visitors to discover the compelling story of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and the millions of American men and women who served our nation through five wars. (757) 441-2965. Bank Street and City Hall Avenue.

Virginia Stage Company
Southeastern Virginia's premier professional theater company. Performances are presented May through September. Well's Theatre in Norfolk. (757) 627-1234. www.vastage.com.

Nauticus, The National Maritime Center
A fun and exciting interactive science and technology center exploring the power of the sea. It features more than 150 exhibits including computer and video interactives, films on a giant screen, exotic aquarium, touch pools, shark petting, national-caliber traveling exhibits, and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. Battleship USS Wisconsin is berthed next door. (757) 664-1001. 1 Waterside Drive.

Battleship Wisconsin
Located next to Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, the USS Wisconsin is the largest and last battleship ever built by the U.S. Navy. Explore this majestic ship through a self-guided or audiotape tour. (757) 664-1001. 1 Waterside Drive.

Norfolk Botanical Gardens
155 beautiful acres intertwined by bridges, coastal waterways, and 12 miles of pedestrian trails. With one of the largest collections of roses, azaleas, camellias and hollies on the East Coast, Garden guests are surrounded with year-round beauty. (757) 441-5830. Azalea Garden Road between Norview Avenue and Little Creek Road.

Virginia Zoological Park
With over 350 animals including the new 10-acre Okavango African Habitat, Reptile and Nocturnal Gallery, Barnyard and Botanical Gardens, a day of discovery awaits guests when they come to the Virginia Zoo. (757) 441-2706. 3500 Granby Street.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Marine Science Museum
Numerous aquariums and over 60 hands-on exhibits detailing Virginia’s marine environment. (757) 425-3474. 717 General Booth Boulevard.

Virginia Beach Center for the Arts
Changing exhibits feature 20th century American art. Theatre, dance, and musical concerts are also offered. (757) 425-0000. 2200 Parks Avenue.

Ocean Breeze Festival Park
Family fun and adventure, wildwater and speed slides, autorides, and miniature golf. (757) 422-4444. 849 General Booth Boulevard.

Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
State-of-the-art outdoor concert facility hosts more than 35 events April through October. (757) 368-3000. 3550 Cellar Door Way.

Portsmouth

Olde Towne Historic District
Showcases the largest concentration of antique houses between Alexandria, VA and Charleston, SC. (757) 393-5111.

Children’s Museum of Virginia
The state’s largest children’s museum, offering more than 80 hands-on exhibits, temporary rotating exhibits, a 64-seat planetarium and an antique toy and model train collection. (757) 393-8393. 221 High Street.

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame honors Virginia sports heroes from golfer Sam Snead to tennis star Arthur Ashe. (757) 393-8031. 420 High Street.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
Pays tribute to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Memorabilia includes uniforms, cannon balls, models of ships and a piece of the CSS Virginia (the Merrimac). (757) 393-8591. 2 High Street.

Ntelos Pavillion at Harbor Center
This pavilion-style performance venue accommodates 6,500. Comparable in size and quality to Wolf Trap in Northern Virginia and Chastain Park in Atlanta. 901 Crawford St. (on the waterfront, south of City Hall). For ticket information: (757) 391-3260.

Suffolk

Riddick’s Folly
This twenty-room Greek Revival house briefly served as Union Headquarters during the Civil War and is now a museum and cultural center. (757) 934-1390. 510 North Main Street.

Suffolk Museum
An educational facility that provides workshops, classes, cultural events and volunteer opportunities. (757) 925-0448. 118 Bosley Avenue.

Hampton/Newport News

Virginia Air & Space Center
Features more than 100 hands-on exhibits that tell the story of air and space exploration plus a five-story high IMAX Theater. Call for hours of operation. Open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. (757) 727-0900. 600 Settler Landing Road, Hampton.

Casemate Museum/Fort Monroe
Exhibits chronicle the history of Fort Monroe and the U.S. Army’s presence in Hampton Roads. (757) 788-3391. Casemate 20, Bernard Road, Hampton.

The Hampton Carousel
One of only 170 antique carousels in existence in the U.S., this waterfront merry-go-round beckons families to take a whirl. (757) 727-0900. 602 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton.

Air Power Park
Learn about Hampton’s space and aviation history at this outdoor display of aircraft. (757) 727-1163. 413 W. Mercury Blvd., Hampton.

Mariner’s Museum
World-renowned marine museum. Has 15 galleries with figureheads, ship models, small crafts, paintings, scrimshaw, decorative arts, and more. (757) 596-2222. 100 Museum Drive, Newport News.

Virginia Living Museum
Beautiful nature museum. Live native animals in natural settings, gardens, aquariums, planetarium, observatory, and nature classes. (757) 595-1900. 524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Newport News.

Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area
Over 500 buildings, house museums, restored homes, exhibits, and shops populated by artisans using tools and techniques from colonial times recreate life in the 18th century. Located off I-64 midway between Norfolk and Richmond. 800-HISTORY.

Busch Gardens
360-acre family fun park featuring nine different authentically detailed 17th century European hamlets. Over 40 rides, live shows, European shops with demonstrations. (800) 343-7946.

Water Country USA
40-acre family water park with rides, slides, pools, and shows. (800) 343-7946.

Yorktown Battlefield/Colonial National Historical Park
American independence was won here in 1781. Visitor center, museum, battlefield, auto tour. (757) 898-3400. Old Route 238 and Colonial Parkway.

Jamestown
Site of America’s first permanent English settlement. (757) 229-1733.