Sirens of the Sea Call Visitors to Norfolk

By Allison Joyce and Kimberly Koelsch

A mermaid’s beauty is said to directly reflect the many treasures and power of the sea. The beautifully adorned mermaids seen throughout Norfolk remind visitors and locals alike of Norfolk’s strong ties to the water. Miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline, busy harbor and ports, Naval Station Norfolk, and many waterfront festivals are just a few of the nautical inspirations mirrored in the mermaids of the city. It’s no wonder water is the source of Norfolk’s economy and unique culture given its location at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and along the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River.

To those traveling by land, Norfolk appears sophisticated and urban. When traveling by boat, however, an entirely different city emerges. Long miles of quiet shoreline and deep harbors make Norfolk a great place to stop and enjoy outdoor recreation and scenic landscapes. Situated at the center of a vast Intracoastal Waterway system that converges with the Chesapeake Bay and the Hampton Roads Harbor, Norfolk’s bridges, tunnels, ports, piers, and beaches are a natural haven for sea life.

Established as a booming seaport in the mid 1600s, Norfolk continues its seafaring legacy today. The Navy permanently docked in Norfolk nearly 200 years ago and its many bases, air stations, and support systems are still the backbone of the Norfolk community. This busy city continues to be a major transfer point for goods around the globe with Norfolk International Terminal.

Since the early 1970’s, Norfolk has invested millions of dollars in efforts to redevelop and revitalize its waterfront and historic downtown district. A city once known for its proximity to major theme parks and colonial attractions is also now regarded as a vibrant cultural center offering everything from fine arts to fine dining, lodging, shopping, and entertainment. This highly successful renovation has spread throughout the downtown area to realize a truly metropolitan city that is often compared to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. And like Baltimore, Norfolk’s connection with the water runs deep.

Locals and visitors journey to Norfolk because of its location on the Chesapeake Bay and the Elizabeth River. Beach activities, bay cruising, and fishing inspire them to return year after year. “One reason people like this area is because there are so many species of fish to target by boat and many excellent locations from the shoreline for those who don’t own a boat,” says Captain Joe Ferrara of Doghouse Charters. A lifelong fishing enthusiast, Captain Ferrara has sailed and fished the oceans of the world while serving in the U.S. Navy. Ferrara says Hampton Roads waters are the best for year-round fishing.

Manmade artificial reefs, a flat ocean floor and deep waters contribute to favorable fishing conditions in the area. “These waters are able to support huge aircraft carriers and cargo ships. Deep waters attract a great variety of fish,” Ferrara explains, “On top of that, we have a flat ocean floor with a continental shelf going out to the bay, which means there’s nothing to keep the fish in a particular place; therefore, there are many different areas to fish.”

Quick access to the three Bay tunnels (Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and Hampton Roads Tunnel) is essential to serious fishermen and Norfolk is just minutes away. The tunnels are known to be excellent fishing locations since they create an artificial reef environment for aquatic life. The catch is diverse and abundant in these areas and local boat captains routinely take customers here for some of Hampton Roads’ best fishing.

Ferrara’s other favorite fishing spots close to Norfolk are shipwrecks where fish congregate. “The wrecks are terrific places to fish. Some of them date back as far as World War I,” Ferrara says. “Norfolk Canyon,” “The Fingers,” “Hot Dog,” and “Cigars” are four of his favorite spots. The bay provides a large variety of catch, he explains, “We fish for striper, sea bass and tautog in the fall and winter. In the spring and summer, look for red drum, black drum, flounder, cobia, spade fish, and blue fish. Spadefish is the salt water version of the black and white angel fish on steroids…they can get to be the size of a dinner plate and are so much fun to fight on a light rod,” Ferrara enthuses.

“Boating and fishing doesn’t have to be expensive here, either,” Ferrara states. “Head boats (40 to 70-foot vessels) can be as little as $30 to $50 per person. A four-hour charter boat averages $400 with limited passengers,” he adds. For those with their own boats, more than two dozen marinas offer affordable rates, convenience and attractive amenities. Beaches, piers, and docks offer fishing and entertainment as well. Spend a day at Willoughby Beach fishing or sunbathing, then head over to Ocean View Fishing Pier to take in a concert, enjoy a festival or have dinner.

Bordering the Chesapeake Bay is the historic Ocean View waterfront area. For years, locals and tourists have traveled here to take advantage of its recreational beach and quick access to the Bay. After a major renovation, Ocean View has many new services to offer visitors and locals. East Beach is a new award-winning pedestrian community created by Andres Duany, a pioneer of the New Urbanist movement. With the appeal of a “coastal village”, East Beach has hidden gardens, shuttered porches, narrow alleys, mature shade trees and overhanging roofs. A pleasant walk through the area uncovers shopping, restaurants and three beach parks to explore (the Community Beach Park, Sarah Constance Beach Park, and Ocean View Beach Park). Each park has a different array of services such as lifeguards, showers, shelters, parking, and beach access.

Stretching almost 1700 feet into the Chesapeake Bay, the Ocean View Pier is the center of this newly revitalized neighborhood. Formerly Harrison’s Pier, many local anglers sharpened their skills here over the years. In 2003, Hurricane Isabel carried the entire structure out to sea. Rebuilt and renamed, the Ocean View Pier has been updated with numerous new amenities. Gorgeous palm trees line the entrance and the new pier provides locals and visitors a place to fish or enjoy the Chesapeake Bay waterfront. A restaurant, game room, outdoor tables, bait house, head boats, and restrooms are all available. Guests without fishing supplies can even rent rods and reels for a nominal fee.

Brian Baker of Little Creek Marina explains, “Since the pier renovation, our business is exploding…we are excited about the resurgence seen in Ocean View.” Located adjacent to East Beach and the pier, Little Creek Marina provides wet slips, dry storage, a marina store, and a fueling station to make boating effortless for customers. Providing these services to pleasure boaters, charter boaters and even sail boaters is the main focus of the marina. Little Creek Marina is also a certified state citation and IGFA weigh station for Virginia’s 2007 Salt Water Fishing Tournament. Any trophy fish caught can be weighed and/or recorded here for citations and for consideration in the state-wide tournament. “We have over 100 citations come through the marina each year,” Baker says. “One fisherman had four tuna ranging in size from 84 to 110 pounds.” Baker is not surprised at the size of this trophy catch - the Marina is a short boat ride from great fishing spots near the tunnels and wrecks. Annually, Little Creek Marina also sponsors its own Fishing Tournament. This year, the 11th Annual Little Creek Offshore Tournament takes place August 17th-18th and is one of the longest running tournaments in the area. Both visitors and locals are invited to attend and compete.

If a more inland fishing location is desired, Norfolk also maintains three reservoirs within its city limits. Lake Whitehurst, Lake Wright and Lake Taylor are available to the angler who is interested in more isolated locations. Boating, fishing,
and kayaking are permitted
throughout the year.

Boat ramps are also provided by Norfolk to encourage outdoor recreation and provide access to Norfolk’s waterways. Willoughby Boat Ramp, Haven Creek Boat Ramp, 45th Street Boat Ramp, Harbor Park Boat Ramp, and Lafayette City Park Boat Ramp are all open to the public. Restrooms and parking are available at each of these sites.

When visitors are ready for a change of pace, Norfolk provides an ample variety of local attractions for the thousands of guests and locals it hosts each year. Norfolk is home to the world’s largest naval base. Bus tours sponsored by Naval Station Norfolk allow visitors to experience giant aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, frigates, and amphibious assault ships. Military and history buffs will delight in this exceptional chance to see fine examples of naval vessels.

Bordering the Elizabeth River is Waterside Drive, where some of Norfolk’s most popular destinations can be found. There, the Waterside Festival Marketplace houses an exciting variety of restaurants and retail shops. Other downtown attractions include walking trails, Nauticus - a state of the art science museum, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, the USS Wisconsin and a new $36 million Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center.

A few blocks away, MacArthur Center draws shoppers from all over Southeast Virginia with its upscale shopping and dining. Other popular sites in Norfolk include the Chrysler Museum of Art, Harrison Opera House, historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Hermitage Foundation Museum, and the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial.

If you want to explore Norfolk from the water and let someone else man the controls, many options exist on the downtown waterfront. The American Rover and Victory Rover are tall ships with daily cruises from April to October. The popular Spirit of Norfolk cruises the harbor for lunch and dinner excursions while guests eat, dance, and enjoy the view. For a ferry ride to Portsmouth, the Elizabeth Harbor Ferry awaits, while the Carrie B is a paddle wheeler that tours the Norfolk Harbor each day. For a more personal tour, over 100 charter captains in the region are ready to explore Norfolk and its surroundings. With or without your own vessel, exploring Norfolk by boat is an entertaining adventure.

At Town Point Park, a seven-acre park adjacent to the Elizabeth River and Waterside Festival Marketplace, Norfolk hosts many festivals and events during the year. These events attract thousands of tourists and locals annually. A few of the most popular events include:

• Spring Town Point Park Wine Festival
• Virginia Beer Festival
• Harborfest
• Bayoo Boogaloo Cajun Festival
• Norfolk Jazz Festival
• Virginia In-Water Boat Show
• Spring Town Point Park Wine Festival (Oct)

From docks and deep water fishing to its sophisticated urban attractions, entertainment and vibrant night life, Norfolk is one of the East Coast’s most captivating destinations.