Things To Do in Norfolk

It's been more than 25 years since American Rover raised its majestic red sails and floated out on its first narrated tour. From April to October of each year, the 135-foot schooner still journeys across the smooth waters of Hampton Roads Harbor and the Elizabeth River. As its flags ripple in the wind, the three-masted sailboat explores sights such as Old Fort Norfolk and the battleship Wisconsin. Its captain narrates each of these excursions and invites guests to take turns at the helm and man the sails.

At night, American Rover transforms into a floating party. Twinkling harbor lights, live musicians, and a fully stocked bar set the mood for birthday celebrations or everyday outings. Meanwhile, climate-controlled lounges hide passengers who have an awkward history with the man in the moon.

At Tidewater Hit & Pitch, a team of professional baseball and softball coaches pass their wisdom onto future generations of pitchers and fielders in one-on-one coaching sessions and group camps. The staff, which includes former New York Mets pitcher Alay Soler, breaks down the sport into three digestible parts—pitching, hitting, and fielding—which helps players hone discipline with drills while imparting universal skills such as balance, body control, and how to dispose of chewing gum besides swallowing it.

Performers feed off the energy of their audience, and when there is no audience, there is no energy. To stop this problem before it starts, venues turn to FillASeat, a business that supplies its members with tickets to events with a number of open seats left. Members enjoy a year of entry to popular shows, sporting events, comedy shows, and concerts, bulking up the audience more suitably than a litter of chihuahuas dressed in tuxedoes. Upon joining FillASeat, members receive access to a list of upcoming events, which range from large-scale productions to events at local restaurants, golf courses, and coffee houses.

Apart from the number of respective members and guests, the benefits of the Otter and Crab memberships are exactly the same. Both grant you a year of unlimited admission—including express entry through the mythical members' entrance—and, if you travel in an especially large school, both grant up to four additional guests half-off entry when accompanied by a cardholding member (per day). Although prices vary, today's deal offers you a year's access to the aquarium at a cost comparable to a single day's admission for the same number of people.

Deemed "among the top museums in the country" by a Washington Post critic, the Chrysler collection features more than 30,000 masterpieces from around the world, encompassing thousands of years of painting, decorative art, photography, and sculpture. The household membership entitles two adults and their children or grandchildren under 18 to a cornucopia of benefits, including free admission (and visitors' guest passes) to the museum's special exhibitions, invitations to members-only events, and discounts at The Museum Shop and Chrysler Café. Current exhibitions include Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H. A. Rey which tells the story of the mischievous monkey’s creators’ narrow escape from Nazi troops during World War II. Members can wind down with free admission to the museum's weekly seasonal Warm It! and Cool It! series of after-work concerts and discussions, geared toward young professionals and well-behaved dancing bears.

The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in Portsmouth showcases 20 varieties of sport in a kid-friendly interactive environment. Spar with offspring in imbibing information about national pastimes such as basketball, baseball, football, soccer, auto racing, and auto racing-soccer. The exhibits focus on game-changing people, moments, and events in collegiate athletics, Olympic contenders, infamous moments, medicine and health, and the media. Admission for children aged 2 and younger is free.

A licensed team of male and female massage therapists soothes achy musculatures using a variety of massage techniques. The one-hour therapeutic massage uses long, Swedish-style strokes and circular motions to hoist bodies onto a cloud of relaxation, relieving soreness caused by failed attempts to lick one's own back. The gentle kneading session further unwinds tense bodies by incorporating massage lotions or oils. Meyer Fitness' treatment rooms are tucked away in the back of the personal training studio, away from the rustle and bustle of clanking barbells and endlessly gossiping treadmills.