Summer is here and so is travel season! Whether you have a big trip planned or some weekend getaways, summer travel is always something I look forward to. As fun as it is to explore new places, I also think it’s fun to be a “local tourist” and explore new places in your immediate area! If you listened to one of my recent podcast episodes, I shared three things I’ve learned since moving to Virginia, one of which is how important it is to explore your local area to help a new place feel more like home! For today’s post, I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite spots that we’ve visited over the last year. I hope you enjoy!
Suffolk
Cafe Davina
If you know me or have been following the blog for a while, then you know how much I appreciate a good cup of coffee and love discovering new local shops wherever I go! It’s only fitting that Cafe Davina is the first thing on my list! This cafe is located inside of The Pinner House Bed & Breakfast in downtown Suffolk. The entire space is inspired by a French bistro and the atmosphere is spot on! You can pop in for a coffee to go or sit down for brunch. They have a whole menu filled with different crepes, toasts, and specialty lattes!
Decoy’s Seafood
Decoy’s is a seafood restaurant tucked away in northern Suffolk on the Nansemond River. The hushpuppies, crab dip, and crab cakes are to die for! Now that it’s getting warmer, you can sit out on the patio and admire the boats docked near the restaurant. This is a great option for a summer date night and the perfect place to bring guests!
Crust & Cork
Another favorite place to bring guests is Crust & Cork located in the Hilton Garden Inn on Main Street. This is a pizza and wine bar featuring specialty pies, appetizers, desserts, and a separate bar menu! I definitely recommend the garlic cheese bites, rosemary focaccia, Cacio e Pepe, and the Quattro Formaggi pie! As New Jersey natives we are very particular about our pizza! We have been to Crust & Cork numerous times and have ordered takeout on occasion. We can confidently say that this is some of the best pizza we have found in Virginia to date!
Suffolk Farmer’s Market
If you’re free on a Saturday morning, head back down Main Street to the Suffolk Visitor’s Center where you can catch the farmer’s market! There are so many vendors selling fresh produce and bread, homemade soaps, and more! We have only made it to the farmer’s market once so far, but I am excited for more opportunities to visit this summer!
Taste of Suffolk
Always be on the lookout for local festivals! This fall, we visited the Taste of Suffolk food festival downtown! All of the streets were closed off so you could visit stands from all of the local restaurants! There were also craft vendors there where you could purchase handmade jewelry, art, and more. It was so fun to walk around and build our list of new restaurants to try. I believe this is something that returns every year so we will be sure to visit again!
Chesapeake
Gather Cafe
Another city, another coffee shop! Gather Cafe is located in Chesapeake right near our church. It is one of my favorite spots to stop for coffee or breakfast after Sunday services! They always have fun seasonal drinks and plenty of seating. This would be a great place to meet up with friends or do a little bit of work.
Norfolk
Harbourfest
Harbourfest happens in Norfolk during the first weekend in June. We just visited our second one this past Saturday! The festival begins on Friday, but the star of the show is the Saturday night fireworks! Grab some ice cream, and walk around to see different boats from all over the country! In the park, you’ll find endless food vendors and live music. It’s a great family-friendly environment and a great kickoff to the summer season!
Botanical Gardens
The Norfolk Botanical Garden is a must-see! This is one of those places where you never feel that you have seen it all no matter how many times you have visited! We went for the first time this spring and it was so much fun! It was so much bigger than I anticipated but I would definitely go back! Each time you go, different plants and flowers will be in bloom so there is so much to see. Definitely bring your walking shoes!
LUCE
If you’re in town for dinner, definitely head to Granby Street! There are so many great restaurants in this area of Norfolk and we have been given a plethora of recommendations to try! One restaurant in particular is an Italian spot called LUCE. We ate here for my husband’s birthday in December and we both loved it! They have something for everyone on the menu and it was hard to narrow down our choices! The interior is very intimate so I would advise making a reservation, especially on a weekend or during busier times of the year.
Norfolk Tides
If you visit during the spring and summer, definitely be sure to catch a Norfolk Tides game! The tides are a minor league team associated with the Orioles. The tickets are pretty inexpensive and we had a great time last summer! We actually just ordered tickets for another game at the end of the month and we can’t wait to go back!
Virginia Beach
The final stop on our tour is Virginia Beach! There is so much to explore here and I feel that we haven’t even scratched the surface! Here are some things we’ve done thus far:
First Landing State Park
First Landing State Park is the perfect spot for a Saturday morning hike! There are various different trails to choose from at many different lengths. Each one has different sites to see, but the most popular one is the 6-mile Cape Henry Trail. We walked part of this during our visit but I would definitely go back and start here! You can see many different areas of the city from this trail. It is so fun to see groups of people hiking, walking dogs, riding bikes, etc!
Yorkie’s VB
After your morning hike at First Landing, stop by Yorkie’s for lunch! Yorkie’s is an upscale deli serving breakfast and gourmet sandwiches. I am personally a fan of the Utah sandwich with a side of their famous tater tots! This is not the best picture, but believe me when I say it is arguably one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. This is another one of our favorite places to bring guests for a quick bite to eat!
Cape Henry Lighthouse
If you have some time, drive out to the Cape Henry Lighthouse! You can take a tour of the grounds and learn about the history of one of our country’s oldest lighthouses, then climb to the top for incredible views of the Chesapeake Bay! We visited Cape Henry last spring before I moved in, and it was such a fun afternoon!
Town Center & Oceanfront
Another great place to bring guests is Virginia Beach Town Center! This is the main hub of the city where you can do some shopping at stores like Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Blue Mercury, Anthropologie, Madewell, and more! They also have some restaurants scattered throughout. Once you are done shopping, head up to the oceanfront to see the beach! On one of my first visits to the area after my husband moved into our apartment, we took a walk on the beach and stopped at Waterman’s Surfside Grille for a casual dinner. They have great seafood options as well as burgers and sandwiches. They also have a really fun selection of specialty cocktails!
Thank you so much for reading! This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I can’t wait to revisit this post in the future and add even more fun things to see and do around Hampton Roads. If you have been to the area or are a local yourself and have any recommendations, please let me know! We are always on the lookout for new things to do 🙂
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