Charming and historic Portsmouth, located in the middle of Hampton Roads, is across the Elizabeth River from downtown Norfolk, a five-minute ride by ferry, an hour’s drive from Williamsburg, and only 20 minutes from Virginia Beach. As a tributary to the Chesapeake Bay, Portsmouth has one of the oldest working harbors in the country.
A few of the many comfortable inns and hotels are the Patriot Inn Bed & Breakfast, the historic Glencoe Inn, EconoLodge Waterside, Holiday Inn, Days Inn Portsmouth, Comfort Inn Old Towne, Hawthorn at the Governor Dinwiddie, and the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel Waterside & Conference Center. Harbor Tower Apartments offers extended accommodations.
Excellent dining options, especially along the waterfront, include the Bier Garden, Roger Brown’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, Cheshire Grill, Fusion 440, Foggy Point Bar & Grill, Gazebo Sicilian Restaurant, Café Europa, Amory's Wharf, Clayton's Restaurant, and the Lobscouser Restaurant.
Many of historic Olde Towne’s popular attractions are within walking distance of each other and feature quaint shops, gourmet dining, a scenic waterfront, and many historic homes (a free self-guided Walking Tour brochure is helpful). Other local attractions the whole family will enjoy include the Naval Shipyard Museum, the Children’s Museum of Virginia and Planetarium, the Carrie B paddle wheel riverboat harbor tours, the Lightship Museum, Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, and Old Towne Trolley Tours. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
Festivals and events that draw big crowds are the Winter Wonderland: the Coleman Collection, Colonial Craftsman’s Faire at Endview Plantation, Portsmouth Seawall Festival, Independence Day Fireworks, Olde Towne Scottish Walk, Cock Island Race, Eastern Amateur Golf Tournament, Umoja Festival, and the Portsmouth Seafood Outing. In February there’s also the Parade Honoring the Buffalo Soldiers and the Black Cowboy.
Portsmouth offers excellent shopping for the discerning collector or souvenir hunter with shops such as Way Back Yonder Antiques, Ma Maison, Skipjack Nautical Wares, Lana’s Whim, Alden Antiques & Interiors and Anderson-Wright Rooms & Garden.
Written by: Natasha Lawrence
Portsmouth Jobs 