Hotel at a Glance: Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown

Amid theaters and museums dedicated to everything from the fine arts to space exploration lies Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown, whose 204 recently renovated rooms offer a luxurious respite between cultural excursions. Plush white comforters adorn the beds in guest rooms, which also feature flat-screen TVs and complimentary WiFi. Before heading out for the day, you can stop in the fitness center.

• Feast your eyes on the ornate woodwork decorating the bar at the onsite Black Tuna Bar & Grill.
• Take in a concert at the nearby NorVa theater, a 10-minute walk away, which hosts performers in every music genre from country to rap.
• Take a stroll along the city’s riverfront walkways and scenic harbors.
• Fragile masterpieces: Visit the Chrysler Museum of Art (half a mile from the hotel) to view one of the largest collections of glass objects in the world.

Norfolk, Virginia: The US Navy’s Walkable Waterfront City

Virginia’s second-largest city lies in the southeastern corner of the state, right where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Elizabeth River. Norfolk’s coastline has always played an important role in the life of the city—it’s home to the largest naval base in the world, and cruises often dock here, unloading streams of visitors into downtown shops, restaurants, and galleries. To see Norfolk properly, take a walk along the riverfront and board a harbor cruise, nodding along the way to the USS Wisconsin, one of the largest battleships ever built by the US Navy.

Norfolk’s cultural offerings include the Virginia Opera, a glass-fronted theater that hosts top-notch musical productions, as well as the MacArthur Memorial, which commemorates the life of famed general Douglas MacArthur. The city is also home to the Norfolk Botanical Garden, where gardens teem with life throughout all four seasons. If a day on the sand sounds more your speed, the family-friendly resort city of Virginia Beach is a short drive away.