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Portsmouth, Virginia: Where Fun and Adventure Meet – The Best Places to Visit and Things to Do!

The Elizabeth River Ferry runs between Portsmouth and Norfolk in both of the directions all day long. Olde Towne is walkable and most of the historic sites sit right inside it out there too. Hoffler Creek and City Park will both of them need a car to get out to. The Children’s Museum and the Beazley Planetarium both work well enough when the rain comes. Umoja.

Are you planning a trip to Portsmouth, Virginia? This city carries history, culture and plenty to do at any age. From working the museums and historic sites to time outdoors and the food, Portsmouth covers a lot of ground.

If you follow history, the historic sites and museums in Portsmouth will hold you. Visit St. John’s Episcopal Church, one of the oldest churches in the country, or take a tour of the Naval Shipyard Museum and work the city’s maritime past, which runs deep. You can also work Olde Towne Portsmouth, a historic district full of preserved buildings and small shops.

Looking to be outside? Head to the Elizabeth River Trail for a walk or a ride along the water, or take a paddleboat tour of the harbour. And if you are travelling with children, check out the Children’s Museum of Virginia, where they can get their hands into the exhibits and work science, technology and the rest of it.

Key Takeaways

• Portsmouth, Virginia offers a mix of history, culture, and outdoor fun for visitors of all ages.
• Explore the city’s rich maritime history at the Naval Shipyard Museum and Olde Towne Portsmouth.
• Enjoy outdoor adventures like walking or biking along the Elizabeth River Trail, or take the kids to the Children’s Museum of Virginia for hands-on fun.

Historical Portsmouth

If you follow history, Portsmouth, Virginia is where to be. With a past that runs across centuries, there are more historical sites and landmarks here than you will get through. Here are some that put the years back on you.

Naval Shipyard Museum

If you follow naval history, do not miss the Naval Shipyard Museum. In the heart of Portsmouth’s historic district, the museum sits in the 1830s-era courtyard of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Here you can work exhibits on the shipyard’s part in American naval history, from the Civil War through to now. And do not miss the museum’s collection of ship models, which runs from ironclads to aircraft carriers.

Olde Towne Historic District

For Portsmouth’s colonial past, head to the Olde Towne Historic District. This neighbourhood, which dates back to the 18th century, runs well-preserved colonial and Federal architecture. Take a walk down High Street and work the homes and buildings along it, plenty of which are on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Hill House Museum

The other place to take for anybody who follows history is the Hill House Museum. This restored Victorian mansion was once the home of Mary Veale and the Colonials, a group of women who shaped Portsmouth’s history. Today the museum puts you inside the lives of those women, along with the wider history of Portsmouth and the region around it.

Portsmouth Colored Community Library

And do not miss the Portsmouth Colored Community Library. This small library was established in the early 20th century to serve the African American community in Portsmouth. It was set up against real obstacles and real discrimination, and it kept going and became a resource the community relied on. Today the library shows the history of segregation in America and what people built in spite of it.

So Portsmouth will hold anybody who follows history. Naval history, colonial architecture, or what marginalised communities came through, this city covers all three. So take a step back and work what it holds.

Culinary Adventures

If you follow food, Portsmouth runs a range of places that will feed you properly. Here are the strongest to take:

High Street Dining

Are you after a meal you will not get elsewhere? High Street is the answer. Here you will find restaurants running food that lands. From seafood to burgers, everybody is covered. And the street itself carries a mood you will want to stay in. So put your stretchy trousers on and eat properly.

The Commodore Theatre Restaurant

Looking for dinner and a show? The Commodore Theatre Restaurant is the answer. This historic theater has been turned into a restaurant that feeds you while a film runs. It is something you will not get elsewhere. And the food holds up, with a broad menu on offer. From burgers to seafood, everybody is covered.

Farmers Market Delights

If you follow fresh produce, you will take to the Farmers Market in Portsmouth. Here you will find vendors running everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to homemade jams and baked goods. It is where to stock up for the next meal. And the money goes straight back into local farmers and businesses. So grab a basket and get on with it.

Whatever you are after, Portsmouth runs it. Seafood or burgers, you will find something that fills you.

Outdoor Fun

When the sun is out and the weather holds, there is nothing better than being outdoors in Portsmouth. Here are the strongest places and things to do if you want to be outside.

Elizabeth River Boardwalk

Take a walk along the Elizabeth River Boardwalk with the water and the city skyline in front of you. You will find benches the whole way along to sit on, or you can keep going and work the shops and restaurants along the waterfront. And if you time it, you may see dolphins in the river.

Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve

For rougher ground outdoors, head over to Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve. This 142-acre preserve holds a range of wildlife, bald eagles, ospreys and river otters among them. Take a walk along one of the trails and let the quiet of the forest work on you. And bring your camera, because you never know what turns up.

City Park

If you want somewhere to eat outdoors, play sport or simply sit in the sun, City Park is the spot. This 50-acre park covers everybody, with tennis courts, a golf course, a skate park and a certified FootGolf course. There is also a fishing pier and a boat launch if you want to be on the water. And if you would rather do nothing, find a tree and sleep under it.

The Hill House Museum puts you straight inside the lives of the women who ran it. Mary Veale and the Colonials are the whole point of that house. The Colored Community Library shows what a community built under segregation itself. The shipyard museum runs the ship models from ironclads to aircraft carriers. And the public art sits on the street where anybody at all can see it.

Family Excursions

Looking for something in Portsmouth that works with the family? These will cover everybody you brought with you.

Children’s Museum of Virginia

If you want somewhere the children can get their hands into, the Children’s Museum of Virginia earns the stop. With exhibits running from a real fire truck to a kid-sized grocery store, they will work the place properly and learn something doing it. And do not miss the train exhibit, which lands at any age.

Elizabeth River Ferry Ride

Take a break from walking and get on the Elizabeth River Ferry for a ride along the water. With stops at both Portsmouth and Norfolk, you take the city in from somewhere you would not otherwise stand. And if you time it, you may spot a dolphin or two.

Beazley Planetarium

Looking to work the sky? Head to the Beazley Planetarium at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. With shows running from the stars themselves to the history of space flight, everybody is covered. And if you time it, you may catch a shooting star.

So pack the family up and head to Portsmouth for the day. With this much on, the trip will stay with you.

Festivals and Events

Looking for a strong few days in Portsmouth? The city’s festivals and events are the answer. From the Umoja Festival to live music at the Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion, there is always something on in this community.

Umoja Festival

The Umoja Festival is one of the annual events Portsmouth is known by. Marking unity and community, this festival pulls people from every walk of life together for a day of food and company. With live music, food that holds up, and plenty on for children and adults both, the Umoja Festival earns the trip for anybody in the area.

Live Music at Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion

Looking for live music? The Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion is the answer. This outdoor venue runs some of the biggest names in music, from classic rock to country to hip-hop. Grab a drink, sit down, and take the show under the sky.

Art in the Portsmouth Cultural Arts District

If you follow art, do not miss the Portsmouth Cultural Arts District. This neighbourhood holds galleries, studios and performance spaces, running the work of local artists and performers. From painting and sculpture to dance and theater, there is always something new coming through the Portsmouth Cultural Arts District.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and take the festivals and events Portsmouth runs.

Unique Finds

Portsmouth, Virginia is full of things you will not find elsewhere. From antique shopping to public art, this city covers a lot of ground. Here are the strongest places to find them in Portsmouth.

Antique Shopping in Olde Towne

If you follow vintage and antiques, Olde Towne Portsmouth is where to be. With over 30 antique shops, something in there will catch you. From pottery to furniture, it runs the range. Take a walking tour of Olde Towne Portsmouth and work all the shops and what they hold.

Art Galleries and Museums

Portsmouth holds several art galleries and museums running the city’s history and culture. The Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center runs rotating exhibits of contemporary art, while the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum runs artifacts from the city’s seaport past. The Skipjack Marine Gallery earns the stop for anybody who follows the sea.

Public Art Pieces

Portsmouth is full of public art that puts character into the city. From the “Hunger Games” mural on High Street to the “Sailor’s Return” statue at the waterfront, there is plenty to find. Take a walk through the city and work all the public art Portsmouth runs.

In Portsmouth there is more to find than you will get through. Antique shopping, art galleries or public art, this city covers all three. So get out there and work what Olde Towne Portsmouth holds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to spend a day in Portsmouth, VA?

That depends what you follow. If you follow history, you cannot miss the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. If you follow food, head to the Olde Towne area and eat properly. And if you want to be outside, take the Elizabeth River Trail for a walk or a ride.

Where can I find the most delicious food in Portsmouth?

That is a hard one, because there are plenty of strong restaurants in Portsmouth. For seafood done properly, check out Stove, the Codex, or Still. And if you want something smarter, head to the Bier Garden or the Baron’s Pub.

What are some fun activities for families in Portsmouth?

If you are travelling with children, Portsmouth runs plenty. Check out the Children’s Museum of Virginia for hands-on learning, or head to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame for the sporting side. And if they follow animals, do not miss the Virginia Zoo.

What are some hidden gems in downtown Portsmouth?

There is so much in downtown Portsmouth that nobody sends you to, it is hard to know where to start. Check out the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center for the exhibits, or head to the Naval Shipyard Museum for the city’s naval past. And if you want live music, do not miss the Portsmouth Pavilion.

Is Portsmouth, VA worth visiting or should I just stay home?

Of course Portsmouth is worth the trip. With the history it carries, the waterfront and the food scene, this city covers most of what you might want. And the people here will talk to you.

What makes Portsmouth, VA stand out from other cities in the area?

What makes Portsmouth stand out? The history it carries and its naval heritage, for a start. But beyond that, it is the way the old and the new sit together here. From the Olde Towne area to the modern Portsmouth Pavilion, this city covers both.

Frequently asked questions about Portsmouth, Virginia

What exactly is inside the Naval Shipyard museum over at Portsmouth, then, really now, in the end?

Exhibits on the shipyard’s own part in the American naval history, running from the Civil War on. The collection of the ship models runs from the ironclads right through to aircraft carriers. The museum sits inside the 1830s-era courtyard of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard out there. Planetarium.

How big exactly is the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve park near Portsmouth, then, really now, these days?

A 142-acre preserve out there, and it holds the bald eagles, ospreys and the river otters. You can walk one of the trails right the way through it and get all the quiet. City Park is the other one of them, at 50 acres with a golf course on it. Camera.

What exactly runs at the Umoja festival over in Portsmouth, then, really now, in the end?

It marks the unity and the community and it pulls people in from everywhere around. There is the live music, plenty of food, and the activities for children and adults. It is one of the annual events that Portsmouth is the best known for out there. Annual.

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