This park has no paved walkways, no picnic shelters or grills. It has a couple of benches, one…read moretable and the playground. The rest of the area is open space and wooded areas.

I recently stumbled upon this quaint little neighborhood park in the Larchmount neighborhood of…read moreNorfolk. I have now enjoyed lunch with the kids a few times now and have really fallen in love with it's beauty. The description has this as a Dog Park, but it is not. However, it is a dog friendly park if the pooch is on a leash. The park is located directly behind ODU's Foreman Field and among small 1950-1960's residential homes. The current space has been utilized for a recreation area for a number of years, but the park as it exist today with it's playground equipment is around 10 years old. The entire area is shady which is a parents dream. Parking is off street only. I consider the area to be completely safe. The grounds are enclosed with an attractive black aluminum fence. A short run to the back is a tall wooden privacy fence. There are two gates with both having child safety locks. Bottom line is this is a secure play are for small children with great visual lines of sight to watch the kids enjoying themselves. I found the park spotless and grassy portion well manicured on my times visiting. There is a single trash can which is maintained by the city of Norfolk. Let's talk equipment, because it's cool. The central playground is a pirate ship. The second one has a slide and curly pole. There are also two sets of swings and one is for a toddler. I would consider the top age range for the playground to be 10-12. The ground cover around the equipment is mulch. A huge shaded grassy area for recreation is to the back. I consider this one of the best things about the park. There are some limitations to the park that anyone visiting should be aware of. However, keep in perspective this is a small neighborhood park. Only a few benches and a few tables are available to families. There is enough room for a small shelter and grills, but they do not have them. Also absent is a restroom facility and water fountain. So don't forget to bring something for the little ones to keep hydrated. I usually would not give a park a four without upgraded items like shelter and restrooms. This property is in another class with it being a neighborhood park in my opinion. I am sure this property is such a treasure for the neighborhood. I just could not help but fall in love with Bluestone Park when I first laid eyes on it and I think you will agree.

A first for me, I didn't know this house existed. I found out about the holiday decor/open house…read morevia an IG story that VBhistory museums posted. Apparently they have been doing these holiday open houses for a couple years or so now. Admission is free but suggested donations range from $3-$5 (there's a sign outside the house and the info is on their website). The holiday open house showcased the house decorated with 18th century decor with flowers, cotton, fruit and oyster shells designed by the garden club. The original house structure contained one room on the first floor and a loft upstairs, but after ownership had transferred across three families -Whitehurst, Bratten and Buffington it has undergone expansions. The house has been occupied up until 1986 and is considered one of of the 50 historically significant structures in Virginia Beach. It was built soon after the first lighthouse was erected in Cape Henry. Daniel Whitehurst was a commissioner and allowed for the VB courthouse to be built near his home. During the holiday open house they had refreshments consisting of mints, various cookies and nuts, with the accompaniment of coffee and cider. The house boasts four fireplaces where on the left, Bob Clark was doing what he does well, playing sweet sounds from the dulcimer. For those not familiar with the dulcimer, it's essentially an open stringed portable piano. The sounds that originate from it are very clean, calming and relaxing. Upstairs are three rooms, one which holds an old singer and a quilt, another with historic maps of the area and the last room has a bed and a bassinet. In an attic? Or small partitioned area was a violinist gliding her bow in a frenzy of holiday cheer. It was neat to see the house, however the kitchen had been updated and renovated in a 1950s style, which truly lives up to a "house over time."

While walking on the West Neck Natural Creek Area with my dog. I thought I could check out the…read moreWhitehurst Buffington House within the area. It was a nice stroll through the trees on the horse trail. I imagined how it was like before cars when one would ride a horse carriage. This place takes me back in time. Unfortunately, they would not allow dogs and I wasn't surprised. I got a peek at the nice house.

A relaxing place to walk and enjoy nature. There is complimentary bugspray on the porch at the main…read morebuilding by the parking lot. The sights and sounds (and even smells) are some of the best Mother Nature has to offer. I love coming here to soak it all in and level up my mental health game. Breathtaking! Btw, there are portable restrooms near the parking lot.

I'm so happy to find this gem hidden in a community. The hours are currently limited with the…read moregate's closing at 4pm, but I don't know if the hours will change for Spring/Summer. From the notification it appears to have ticks and it was noted at a moderate level. While not a fan I would expect it in a natural environment and will wear tick protection next visit. No dogs allowed.

What a time to take a daily walk in the Peninsula. It has been over a year since I've been here…read more Weeks ago, I decided to take a morning walk on a bright Saturday. Let's see how things turned out. I met up with a friend of mine where we started off at the entrance to the trail. We ran into traffic which was a steady amount that we've seen on a typical walk here. The weather was a bit hot so we lucked out by arriving in the morning. The tral itself was nice with no surprises on the way. I will say parts do need to be repaved. Constant foot traffic along with weather can do that to pavement. But overall, it was a really good walk which was needed for the both of us. As always, the trail did its job. I was sweaty, but it was needed to get my day going. I will be back once again. Till next time :)

Amazing trail! I had this place saved on this app & I've been wanting to walk here for a while. My…read morefamily & i decided to check it out, & we walked the whole thing. It took us 1 hour & 39 minutes, but it was worth it. It's near a police training center; i had to use the restroom & the staff were kind enough to let me in. They even gave me water for my long, hot walk.

A nice memorial paying tribute to WWI service members The…read moreVictory Arch in Newport News, Virginia, is a historic monument that pays tribute to the brave service members who fought in World War I and beyond. Built in 1919, the original wooden structure welcomed soldiers returning from war, offering a grand and heartfelt homecoming. In 1962, it was replaced with the current permanent stone arch to preserve its significance as a symbol of gratitude and remembrance for generations to come. It is not in the best area of town. Parking is available on the nearby lots or on the street. There are several plaques around the one-block site. The engraved inscriptions and plaques on the arch honor the sacrifices of military personnel.The arch stands prominently on 25th Street. It stands about 3 stories tall and has a clean, timeless design that seems to blend very well with its surroundings, creating a respectful and relaxing atmosphere. The site is located in the heart of downtown Newport News. The Victory Arch is surrounded by notable attractions. It's just a short walk from Victory Landing Park, where you can enjoy waterfront views and open spaces. Visiting the Victory Arch is not only a historical experience but also an opportunity to connect with the city's deep military heritage dating back to WWI.

I feel a little weird reviewing an arch... but nobody has yet, and well, this is a very beautiful…read moretribute to our American heroes that served in WWI. It was first erected in 1919 and then rebuilt in 1962. The eternity flame has been lit since the 70's, and according to their Wiki page there was actually some controversy surrounding it and a gas shortage at one point. Almost half a million Americans returned through the ports of the city, so what a wonderful way to honor their valor. It is definitely worth a visit to pay your respects, and the nearby park is a nice place to reflect on the undeniable fact that freedom isn't free.

Great museum. A lot has changed. Some additional history included now. You have to visit visitor…read morecenter to get entry into museum

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.

Great park and fishing pier at the base of the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge. Two sets of public…read morerestrooms a dog park fishing pier and boat launch. Also have a snack and bait shop. Really enjoy running and walking the bridge. Nice pedestrian walkway goes all the way across. Great views! Sunrise always nice from the top of the bridge. Worth noting the fishing pier is free no need for license

I found Elizabeth River Park during my run today. I was quite excited to find a nice little refuge…read morein a quiet neighborhood in the Virginia Beach area. Parts of the trails are paved, but the real gems are the dirt areas where it's quiet and peaceful. I saw quite a bit of wildlife during my brief run through some of the trails. There are numbered sign posts throughout the trails that explain what you are seeing. I didn't stop to look at them as I was more focused on my run. There are a few lakes on the side of the river which are beautiful. You can access the river with your boat if you'd like. I didn't get to explore the whole park but I'd like to next time I'm nearby.

We had a day to take friends with kids to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg VA. There was a lot of…read moreentertainment for the kids, and for adults, too. I remember a ride that most of us adults went on that felt like a whirlpool. Maybe it was that whitewater one. We did get very wet! But mostly we focussed on the kids. The kids loved the Big Bad Wolf, the Grover Alpine Express, and for the youngest, Oscars Whirly Worms! The Wolf was a 40mph roller coaster for those over 42-in tall, not, we thought, for little kids. It was a sort of werewolf story-line. Grover was a favorite for the littler kids over 38-in tall, with several drops that were dramatic enough for them. Parents rode-along. Oscars was just for the littlest who can walk. Parents rode-along on this one, too. Some spinning. Some rocking. That's the experience we were after. Nice!

Went on a hot day but they have huge fans around to help cool you off. Lots for the little ones to…read moredo. A little pricey to rent a scooter for mom for day but with season pass you get a discount which helped. It's a lot of walking but plenty of shade and shops to pop into for a break. Better than average amusement park food as well.