Things to do in Norfolk

Norfolk is a working naval port, not a beach town — that role belongs to Virginia Beach, 20 minutes down the road, so pair the two rather than treating them as separate day trips. 5 to 4 hours depending on traffic on I-95 and I-64, the same range as the trip to Virginia Beach.

The city's identity is its harbour: home to the largest naval base on the Chesapeake Bay, with working piers, cargo terminals and grey Navy hulls visible from downtown.

Give the waterfront and harbour area at least half a day to take in properly, more if you add a boat tour of the base; this is a city best understood from the water, not the sand.