Fort Monroe is small, but packs in a lot. From a museum (Casemate), a beach club, public beach…read moreaccess, beautiful properties and stunning landmarks. Make sure to manage your speed and park in designated areas. The beaches never seem to be super crowded. They are generally clean as well. I have noticed boats anchor aching. Not sure how I feel about that, safety wise. There is one area that has lifeguards. The casemate museum is really great. It offers a lot of good education for the area. I highly recommend stopping and spending time inside.

This place did not disappoint. OMG I learned so much, first it was so clean and beauty well kept…read moreplace. Not crowded the videos and speaking set up for the walking tour done by 1619 project was everything. I was in awe. The first place for enslaved people straight from Africa, the house where Abraham Lincoln plan the fight at Norfolk. Just looking at the buildings that are 200 years old built by our ancestors and they are still holding up! Place was just amazing! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because the place where the first Africa's landed from Angola was blocked by construction and those little moat entrances that I had to drive my car through

My, times have changed. And they have changed for the better. Here's this marker that reminds us of…read morewhere we used to be: "The first documented Africans in Virginia arrived in 1619 when a Dutch warship landed here at Point Comfort. The "twenty and odd" Africans, captured from the Spanish, were traded to the Virginia colonists in exchange for foodstuffs. Early Africans who lived here included Antony and Isabell, and their son William, likely the first black child in present-day Hampton. They served Point Comfort Commander William Tucker, but whether the early Africans were treated as indentured servants or slaves is uncertain. The institution of slavery evolved during the 17th century as the term of service for Africans was extended for life. The U.S. abolished slavery in 1863."

Hampton Carousel is hands down the best carousel experience I have ever had, and that goes the same…read morefor my parents who were with me. The gentlemen running it were incredibly nice and gave us an unforgettable tour of this classic piece of Americana. My parents and I had planned to make the Hampton Carousel a focal point of our recent visit to the area since my mother is a member of the National Carousel Association, and we were so glad we did. This was a gorgeous Sunday and despite that the area was relatively empty. We had very few other folks come by the carousel while we were there and so the two gentlemen running it gave us the grand tour, including of the central support pillar, the electronics adapted to assist the century-old organ, and the other historical artifacts lining the walls. They did so out of the kindness of their hearts and a genuine affection for the carousel and its history, which you just don't see in terms of commitment at most venues anymore. The price for all of this? $1 a ride. What a deal! The carousel ride itself was enjoyable, and it's very cool that they have so many tracks of the hit songs from each year the carousel has been open. You never know what you'll hear next! The pavilion containing the carousel is beautiful and sturdy, which is particularly important when it comes to protecting the carousel for the next century or so. This was a fun experience, and you can't beat the $1 ride price. Genuinely great fun for everyone, make sure you stop by if you're in the area! Overall: 5.0 stars ----- Pros: - Amazing staff who go out of their way to make your experience a special one. - $1 carousel rides? The price is right! - Beautiful pavilion in great shape. - Fun decor with a ton of history behind it. Cons: - None, even their hours are great. Make sure you stop by!

Love this. My sister came from Florida to go here. The family had a great time and that day we…read morewent it was free.

Now well used by fishermen seeking their catches from the sea, this wharf used to be part of an…read moreimportant military installation. The marker reads: "Built by the Corp of Engineers about 1818, this was for many years a very important wharf. Jefferson Davis was landed here as a prisoner on May 22, 1865." Great view of the harbor!

For peace of mind...take a stroll along this legacy marker…read more I actually found out about this landmark while using my time wisely in waiting for my babe's spa appointment to finish up at a venue nearby (walking distance). I walked along E. Mellen Street and as I continued to stroll...I found this area of the Historic Hampton area super peaceful. While there is a bridge nearby the traffic is minimal. There are several businesses around here, mostly mom and pop shops. This is also near a neighborhood. Eateries, novelty shops, lodge (a wedding took place while I was walking), churches and there's a neighborhood here too. The landmark features some facts for you to read and it's great for taking pictures or even sitting down and enjoying the view or a nice picnic. Not much to see here, but if you're in the area stop to enjoy the view and learn a little. File under "sight-seeing" Have fun and enjoy life!

This marker is along the way to the town of Phoebus and is right next to the narrower bridge to…read moreFort Monroe. It reads: "After damaging British coastal attacks during the War of 1812, Pres. James Madison recognized the need to improve the nation's coastal defense and naval power. In 1816, Congress created the Board of Engineers for Fortifications and in 1818, former Napoleon aide Gen. Simon Bernard became its chief. Bernard planned a series of masonry fortifications, later known as the Third System, to defend every major U.S. harbor. Fort Monroe was the first of these forts to be constructed, beginning in 1819. Named for Pres. James Monroe, it protected the entrance to Hampton Roads and the forerunner of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the Gosport Navy Yard."

Hiding in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant, this sad little marker denotes the history of…read morethis small town. The marker reads: "Settled as Mill Creek and Strawberry Banks by English Colonists, the Town of Phoebus was "Roseland Farm" until 1871 when it was divided into lots and became known as Chesapeake City. When the town was incorporated in 1900, it was named Phoebus in honor of its leading citizen, Harrison Phoebus."

Pay your respect to the sailors of the USS Cole who did not get to make it home…read more It is a nice view located in norfolk. For those living, visiting, or stationed in norfolk this is a site you just got to visit once.

I have a love/hate relationship with the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. Two lanes can cause severe…read morebackups. Heading in this time was a cinch, but going westbound this morning was a headache. Traffic barely moved, but I am amazed by how this was built. It certainly is a landmark. It does look like there is some new construction going on, so hope more lanes are being added. This does bring you into Virginia Beach. That alone for nostalgia reasons is cool. There is enough room for the lanes. Kudos to VDOT for lots of signs, that remind motorists not to switch lanes. Does it happen sometimes? Yes and be prepared for it. I definitely think architecture wise, it is a modern marvel of construction. Illumination and visibility in the tunnel is great.

Wow! Memories of my former daily commute from Oceanfront in Va Beach to the Naval Air Station in…read moreNorfolk are intensely anxiety-provoking. For those like me with both anxiety AND claustrophobia you can only imagine how this 3.5 strip of hell on earth [well under water actually, for the majority of the miles] was. I just can't have faith that the engineers who created this death chamber could actually keep it waterproof. Without fail, there seemed to be an accident, nearly every trip - usually one way, fortunately not both ways. And, with a limited line-of-sight, you would never know what the heck was actually going on to cause everyone to come to a complete halt. I do hope the HRBT Expansion Project alleviates some of the ridiculous congestion of this structure and improves traffic for the area! I wanted to give this bridge/tunnel 1 star, but generously added a second because there is thankfully no toll. I'm really grateful this bridge/tunnel is no longer a part of my work life, and life in general!