Photo Historic Travels

Author: David Le Moal

Best Things to Do in Alexandria
I always wanted to see Alexandria and experience the beautiful historic old town. The hour-long glimpse of Alexandria I got several years before only served to whet my appetite for more. Finally, I got extra days off work, so I decided to explore more of what Travel & Leisure calls one of the best cities in the U.S. This blog post about Alexandria is the first of a four-part series of my recent trip exploring Northern Virginia (NOVA), followed by Leesburg/Waterford and Winchester and ending with Chantilly.

5–8 minutes
Exploring Historic Alexandria District

After arriving in downtown Alexandria, I first had lunch at Mia’s Italian Kitchen. The restaurant is located in the pedestrian friendly section of King Street. The restaurant is three stories tall, but I forgot to see the second and third floor. I had the Bucatini Cacio e Pepe, which was perhaps my favorite meal of the trip. There are plenty of other restaurants nearby is you want a different option.

Historic Alexandria is definitely a must-see destination. There is so much to do and see within downtown Alexandria, as well as admire the old buildings. Some roads were made out of cobblestone, which added to the ambience of Alexandria’s historic nature. There were also several small parks located on the waterfront conveniently located near downtown.

First the Architecture and History…

Ruins of Ice Well That Could Store Up To 62 Tons of Ice For Local Tavern

Now the Nature…

Museums of Alexandria

Historic Huntley was built in 1824 as a summer home of the original owner. Today the interior of the house is non furnished, and one side of the building has it so visitors can see the brickwork and roof of the house. Something unusual is that the outhouse and slave quarters were brick structures, as those structures were usually made out of wood.

The founding father Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee originally purchased the lot the Lee-Fendall House is located on, but his father-in-law Philip Fendell first lived in the house. Many members of the Lee family lived in the house throughout the years, but not Robert E. Lee. Later on, John L. Lewis, the president of the United Mine Workers Union lived here.

It is believed that the Carlyle House inspired both Mount Vernon and George Mason’s Gunston Hall. General Edward Braddock stayed here before the French and Indian War started and was a terrible house-guest. The front stone work is a replica of the original stone, while the other three sides have the original stone walls covered in stucco.

I recommend getting a guided tour of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum because I decided to do the self-guided tour and did not really find much interesting about it. The tours fill up fast so either arrive early or expect to kill time before the tour begins. On Saturdays during the summer the museum stays open till 7:00. As for the history of the building, the Apothecary opened in 1792 and stayed a family business until 1933.

Torpedo Factory Art Center

Located on the waterfront is the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Thirty different artists have their own gallery where they display their artwork. It is fun place go window shopping and sightseeing even if (like me) you’re not interested in contemporary art.

Located within the Art Center is the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. While there, I learned that Alexandria’s waterfront has been expanded over the years; in fact, the land the Torpedo Factory is own was not around in 1748. I also learned that several ships were found buried under Alexandria’s waterfront.

Conclusion

Overall, I highly recommend Alexandria as a day trip, or perhaps spend several days because I did not have time to visit The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, or even know about River Farm until my Historic Huntley tour guide mentioned it. If you are visiting Washington D.C, definitely schedule a day to visit Alexandria. Or, you could do what I did and make Alexandria a launching point to explore the NOVA area, such as Woodbridge.

Here are some helpful tips. Historic Huntley is only open on Saturdays with tours at 10:30 and 12:00 between April and October. Historic Huntley is not located within downtown Alexandria, instead being about a 20-minute drive away. The other three museums are located within historic Alexandria, and the Carlyle House and Apothecary Museums are two blocks down from the Torpedo Factory Art Center. The Lee-Fendall House is a 15-minute walk from the Art center, and it’s a pleasant walk through quaint neighborhoods.

Below is my companion YouTube video about Alexandria. If you enjoyed the video, please like and subscribe.

Restaurants in the Greater NOVA Area

For those wanting to travel through the Greater NOVA area, there are so many restaurants serving different all different kinds of cuisines. Listed below are the restaurants I went to on this trip in the order of closest to furthest from Alexandria.

El Pike Bolivian Restobar serves (as you can probably guess) Bolivian food. I had the Falso Conejo, which is a saucy steak dish. It was conveniently opened late because when I arrived at NOVA, many of the restaurants I wanted to go to were already about to close for the night. Located in Arlington.

Fettoosh serves Moroccan Food. Moroccan food is similar to other Middle Eastern Cuisine, but there are some unique dishes like Chicken Tagine, which I ate. The parking lot is very small, so I parked at the grocery store across the street. Located in Arlington.

This is the Chantilly Location

Rice Culture serves taiyaki (fish shaped Japanese pancake with filling inside) as well as soft serve ice cream. I couldn’t decide between getting a taiyaki or a pandan flavored something so I combined the two–Pandan does not have much of a taste. There are two locations, the closest one to Alexandria is located in Vienna.

Hawk & Griffin serves traditional British Pub food and goes all out on the pub theming. I went there to have Sticky Toffee Pudding, which was so good I didn’t mind the fruit in the pudding. I was the only person there not watching the World Cup. Located in Vienna.

Marufuji Japanese Market has everything that one would need to make Japanese food. The place is definitely a must see even if you’re on vacation and really can’t buy much. I bought several ramens that I have never seen before. Located in Vienna.

Malaysian Kopitiam serves (once again) Malaysian food, which I would describe as being a mix between Chinese, Indian, and Thai cuisine. I had the Nyonya Chicken, which was like Sweet and Sour Chicken but spicier. Located in Centreville.

Swadi Pakistani Kitchen serves food from Pakistan, which is similar to Indian food but with beef dishes. I had the Nihari, which is a curry with slow-cooked beef. The person who took my order actually recognized me from the nearby Dunkin Donuts I went to that morning. Located in Sterling.

Roy Rogers restaurants are the local fast-food chain of the greater DC area. I had breakfast there, but they are known for their roast beef sandwiches and “fixin’s” bar. It was not an outstanding breakfast, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. Located all over NOVA.
July 19, 2026
York River State Park Review: Beautiful But Flawed
3–4 minutes

I first went to York River State Park in 2016, but I remembered little about it. I decided to go back to the Park this time because I overslept and missed an opportunity to travel further afield. So, what did I think of York River State Park with context now known? Keep reading to find out, and watch the accompanying YouTube video.
Fossil Beach: The Prettiest Section

Sign Talking About What You Can Find in Fossil Beach

Fossil Beach is the most beautiful and interesting section of the Park. The fossils themselves are not much, being small shells located in the sandy cliff; you would assume that these are shells that washed up on the beach without knowing the context. But I have always loved wild beaches for their quiet beauty and peaceful nature.

Other Scenic Places

Besides Fossil Beach, York River State Park has other beaches. These beaches (like Seining Beach) are much smaller, but they are still quite nice. York River State Park also contains a pond and marshlands.

Besides the aforementioned beaches, pond, and marsh, York River State Park also has some specific places that are worth noting. An elevated platform stands at the end of the Pamunkey trail, allowing park-goers to see views of the York River. The trails leading up to Fossil Beach and the marsh at Croaker Landing are also lovely.

Stairs Leading to the Observation Deck

Footbridge Leading to Fossil Beach

Stairs Leading to Croaker Landing

The Woods

Much of York River State Park is woodlands. I have become used to the woods of the Tidewater region of Virginia, which can be described as relatively flat with small hills and endless trees surrounding the trail. From this description, this does not make for interesting photographs. Still, I managed to take a few photos of the wooded areas.

My real complaint about York River State Park is how confusing the maps are and how few things are labeled. There are several historic house foundations listed on the map, but they were impossible to find. I foolishly tried to figure out where I was on the Backbone Trail using the branching bike trail, but those trails went all over the place. At some point on the Backbone Trail, there was fork in the road that was (maybe) not listed on the map; I took the right one in a field thinking it would lead me somewhere, but I ended up on private property.

Conclusion

Overall, I feel that York River State Park has a few nice places, but it’s mostly uninspiring woodlands; the Backbone Trail in particular is a long slog to get through. My assessment might be too harsh, but York River State Park is very similar to other parks in the Tidewater region of Virginia, particularly since many of those parks are free. Perhaps I would have appreciated the Park more if I lived in a different ecosystem. Still, there is much to recommend in York River State, and those looking for outdoor recreation can find plenty to do.

Below is my companion YouTube video about York River State Park, which has footage not found on the blog. I also have two videos from my old channel about two other State Parks in Virginia, Machicomoco State Park and High Bridge Trail State Park.

Restaurants

The closest major city to York River State Park is Williamsburg, which has many restaurants. Here are my recommendations from the Colonial Williamsburg post: in order from closest to furthest from the Park is Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que, Maria Bonita Cantina, Anna’s Brick Oven Pizza and Pasta, Honey Butter Kitchen, the restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg, and Bonanza Social Kitchen.
July 12, 2026
How to Maximize Visiting Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne
4–6 minutes

As a child I visited both Jamestown museums many times and thought I knew all there was to know. I went on this recent trip to the two Jamestowns in order to write a companion piece to my Colonial Williamsburg post. However, I ended up learning a lot of new things, so here are the recommendations on how to maximize visiting Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne. Keep reading to watch the companion YouTube video at the end.
Historic Jamestowne

Historic Jamestowne is located on the actual 1607 Jamestown Settlement. The original James Fort is gone now, but archaeologists are working hard to uncover what remains of the first permanent English settlement in the New World. As shown in the pictures, Jamestown Island is located in swampy wetlands; one can image the difficulty the settlers had in getting fresh water.

The Tercentennial Monument Celebrating Jamestown

Historic Jamestowne is actually administered by both the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia. The National Park Service represents the New Towne, with some ruins. Meanwhile, the Preservation Virginia side represents the Old Towne, with the Archaearium Archaeology Museum as well as Confederate Earthworks, alongside more ruins.

First New Towne…

An 18th Century Ruin, People Still Lived Here After the Abandonment of Jamestown

Now the Old Towne…

The 1907 Memorial Church Standing on Foundations of Original Church

Civil War Era Earthworks; Both Confederate and Union Forces Occupied Jamestown

The Archaeology Museum, Above the Foundations of the Statehouse

The Archaeology Museum displays artifacts found on Jamestown Island. Something unusual on display are the skeletons of two different settlers, so if that bothers you skip that section. Another interesting thing is there are cutouts so visitors can look down on the ruins of the old Statehouse.

Jamestown Settlement

Five minutes away from the original Jamestown is Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum. Jamestown Settlement recreates James Fort, a Native American village, and the ships that brought settlers to the New World.

Jamestown Settlement currently has an exhibit on Chinese Ming Porcelain in Early Jamestown. It was a little odd learning so much about Chinese culture at Jamestown as they went in great detail about what each decoration meant. Still, it was fascinating learning about how some settlers had access to finer goods while struggling in the wilds of early Virginia.

After leaving the visitor center, you first run into Paspahegh Town, a replica of a tribal village. While there I learned from an interpreter about the process of making canoes. Canoes were traditionally made by a complex process of burning a log and scrapping the embers with either stones or oyster shells. It usually takes about two to four weeks to build a canoe. All canoes made at Jamestown Settlement go on display and some actually get demonstrated on the water.

This Canoe Is About 90% Done

This Canoe Is on Display

Continuing on, you arrive at James Fort, which replicates the early Jamestown settlement. At every hour there is a matchlock musket demonstrations just outside the Fort. There were also interpreters demonstrating blacksmithing and bread-making. It was funny seeing several chickens running around; they really liked the crumbs from the bread oven demonstration.

Continuing on from James Fort is a pier with the replicas of the Susan Constant, Godspeed, & Discovery. The Susan Constant was off being restored while I was there, a small sloop took its place. It’s amazing to consider the 105 people crammed on three tiny ships alongside tons of cargo.

Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned was at the gift shop devoted entirely to bees and honey-related items. There I learned that honeybees are not native to North America. Honeybees were actually brought over to Jamestown in 1622 for their honey and wax. The honeybees sailed across the ocean during the winter of 1621 when bees go dormant.

YouTube Video About Jamestown

Here is the companion YouTube video about exploring Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne. If you enjoy the video, please like the video and subscribe to my YouTube Channel Photo Historic Travels.

What To Know Before Going

Historic Jamestowne: As a quirk of Historic Jamestowne being run by two organizations, there are two separate admission fees; prepare to pay $15 dollars twice to visit Jamestown Island. I recommend paying for both in order to maximize your visit.

Jamestown Settlement: The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation operates the Jamestown Settlement. You can buy a combo ticket to visit both Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

Restaurants Near Jamestown

There are several restaurants in the Williamsburg Crossing strip mall, about an eight-minute drive to Jamestown Settlement. I recommend eating at Chopsticks Pho Grill if you want to try good Vietnamese food.

The closest restaurant to the two Jamestowns is Dizzy Izzy’s by Foodatude. It serves alright food, but the place closes on Mondays and Tuesdays and only has outdoor seating. This restaurant might not be the most convenient places to eat.

If you have more time, Jamestown is close to Williamsburg with many different food options. In order from closest to Jamestown Settlement to Furthest is Honey Butter’s Kitchen, the restaurants at Merchant’s Square in Colonial Williamsburg, Bonanza Social Kitchen, Anna’s Brick Oven Pizza-Pasta, Maria Bonita Cantina, and Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que.
July 5, 2026
Beautiful Byrd Theatre in Carytown Richmond
Following my visiting The Commodore Theatre, I wanted to go watch a movie at another historic movie theater. Few theaters in Virginia could match the Byrd Theatre in terms of grandeur-a real movie palace. I ended up going twice within the span of several weeks to watch two different movies. The Byrd Theatre is situated in Carytown, a vibrant shopping district in Richmond, and this blog post illustrates why Carytown and The Byrd Theatre are must see destinations. Keep reading to learn of my restaurant and shopping recommendations.

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Carytown

The Byrd Theatre is located in Carytown, a dining and shopping district in Richmond Virginia. Carytown gave hipsterish vibes, as the parking garage behind the Theatre was covered in Street Art. I highly recommend walking down Cary Street to see a colorful, trendy area of Richmond.

Cary Street Park and Shop Center

One particularly notable thing to see in Carytown is the Cary Street Park and Shop Center (AKA Cary Court), an Art Deco shopping center. Cary Court is one of the oldest shopping centers in America, built in 1938, as proven by the image above. Definitely a unique place to go window shopping.

The Byrd Theatre

The Byrd Theatre imposes over the rest of Carytown through its size (it’s the largest building on Cary Street) but also through its magnificence. This opulence continues inside with its luxurious interiors, transporting one to a different era of 1928, when the Theatre first opened. Unquestionably a unique movie watching experience.

First the Lobby…

Now the Auditorium…

Before every movie, a Wurlitzer organ rises to the stage and plays a medley of 1920s tunes; it’s incredible how one man could play such a giant instrument. The Wurlitzer fit perfectly with the first film I watched (Metropolis) but it was a little jarring to go from 1920s tunes to a late 1990s anime (Perfect Blue). Still, the organist gives each film watching experience a unique touch and added to the historic ambience of the Byrd Theatre.

As for my opinion of the two films, Metropolis was not as good as I remembered it (I first saw it around 15 years ago), but I still thought it was entertaining. I thought Perfect Blue was entertaining, good story but I didn’t really care for the ending. Overall, I enjoyed my two times at The Byrd Theatre and highly recommend going here to catch a film.

More Information About The Byrd Theatre

The Byrd Theatre is a repertory theater that plays a variety of different movies. Besides silent films and anime, the Byrd Theatre also plays more commercial fare such as popular action flicks and children’s animated movies; they even have sensory friendly screenings. They also have several film festivals; Perfect Blue was shown as part of the Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair festival. More information about The Byrd Theatre here.

As for parking, there is a small parking garage right behind the Theatre and maybe another one elsewhere. Otherwise, you will have to deal with street parking, and from what I remember from the second trip, curb parking can fill up pretty fast.

Restaurants in Carytown

There are many restaurants in Carytown, serving all manner of different cuisines. I went to the following two places because (among other reasons) they were close to The Byrd Theatre.

Carytown Indian Cuisine: On the first trip, my Dad and I went to this restaurant, where I tried Kali Mirch. The restaurant is literally right across the street from The Byrd Theatre. It serves very good Indian food.

Nomu Ramen: On the second trip, I went to this restaurant, where I tried curry ramen. It didn’t occur to me that eating at a Japanese restaurant would fit with watching a Japanese film until I was driving home. It’s across the street from The Byrd Theatre and less than 200 feet away.

For the Love of Chocolate: Located within the Cary Court Shopping Center is this candy store, which sells a variety of chocolate products. I highly recommend stopping; I would have bought so much but it was a hot day and I still had a movie to go watch.
June 29, 2026
Best Places to Discover Southwest Virginia: Unique Things To Do
7–10 minutes

I have lived in Virginia for most of my life, and yet Southwest Virginia had always remained a mystery to me. I had never even heard about Breaks Interstate Park or the Great Channels of Virginia until my adulthood. For someone living in Coastal Virginia, Southwest Virginia (or SWVA) is around a six-hour drive, and for certain destinations even longer. Finally, I received time off from work so I took the opportunity to finally explore what Southwest Virginia had to offer. Keep reading to watch my companion YouTube video.
Abingdon

The Barter Theatre

I chose Abingdon as my headquarters for this Southwest Virginia trip because it is consistently ranked as the prettiest small town in SWVA. While I would personally rank Damascus (discussed below) as more beautiful overall, Abingdon is still a very charming small town with many historic buildings.

This Was Right Next To My Hotel

On our first night there, my Dad and I ate at The Tavern, located in the oldest building in Abingdon. I recommend dining at the restaurant for its atmosphere. We ate outside because the forecast said rain for most of my trip, but I would have been equally happy eating in one of the many historic rooms.

The History Of The Building

A little bit outside the city is the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace, which serves as a welcome center and sells handiwork by local artisans. There were also exhibits about local history but some of them were covered-up by items for sale. The place is worth a quick stop to check everything out, about 15 minutes at most unless you intend on buying something.

The Channels Natural Area Preserve

On Monday I went to The Channels Natural Area Preserve and Breaks Interstate Park (discussed below). These two places were the highlight of my trip. It seems so strange that these two places are not frequently advertised in the best of Virginia.

First, information about The Channels, also known as the Great Channels of Virginia: there are only 10 parking spots and they fill up pretty quickly so arrive early. We arrived at around 7:30 on a Monday to find an already half full parking lot. Although the climb only takes about three hours round-trip, be prepared for an seemingly endless amount of uphill climbing. The first three images provide important information about hiking the Channels, and more practical information can be found here.

This Is Where The Trail Begins

The Name Of The Trail And Important Information

Turn Left On This Fork On The Trail, The Right Leads To Private Property

I couldn’t find any information about how The Channels were formed, either on site or on the internet. Still, definitely a unique experience exploring the unique rock formations. Below show what you can expect to see hiking the Brumley Mountain Trail and the otherworldly beauty of The Channels.

Breaks Interstate Park

Afterwards, we drove through winding mountain roads to get to Breaks Interstate Park, a massive park that borders Virginia and Kentucky. There was much to do in the park (including a water park), but the highlight is definitely the canyons.

The Breaks is frequently referred to as “the Grand Canyon of the South” and it’s easy to see why with views like this. The Breaks is the largest canyon east of the Mississippi River. Once again, it’s so strange that this natural wonder remains under the radar.

Sign That Explains The Meaning Of The Name

While the park is massive, you can drive through much of it. Most of the scenic spots have short trails, if any, and it’s convenient to park your car up to any place you wish to stop. Do keep in mind that the Tower Overlook and the Tower Tunnel Overlook are two different places.

Cleveland Town Park

Between The Channels and The Breaks, there is a small town called Cleveland, which has a small community park. But this park is unique because it has a suspension bridge over a river. I highly recommend stopping here to take in views of the river.

Bristol

On Tuesday, we went to Bristol Virginia/Tennessee. Bristol is the largest city in the far west of SWVA. The border between Virginia and Tennessee sits right in the middle of Bristol’s main thoroughfare, State Street. One could easily have dinner in one state and catch a show in the other state.

The Virginia Side Of The Street

The Tennessee Side Of The Street

Bristol prides itself on being the birthplace of country music. On the Virginia side of the city is the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. This museum documents the historic 1927 Bristol sessions, as well as country music’s Appalachian background. Overall, an fascinating look on a topic that I am not necessarily interested in.

Chilhowie Bluegrass JAM-Boree

Parking Was Chaotic, We Parked Next To A Ditch Across The Street

To continue with the Country Music theme, we went to Chilhowie to see the Bluegrass JAM-Boree. The JAM-Boree happens every Tuesday starting at 6:30, located at the Chilhowie Lions Club. I only recommend going if you are fond of Bluegrass or Mountain Music, if not you could probably skip it. However it was intriguing seeing a world different from my own, and I was mesmerized watching the people doing buck dancing.

Big Stone Gap

On Wednesday, we went to Big Stone Gap to see the Southwest Virginia Museum Historic State Park. The town of Big Stone Gap is small but completely surrounded by the mountains giving it grand views. There’s also a river that runs through the town adding to its loveliness.

The Museum itself is actually run by the Virginia State Parks systems, making it the smallest state park in Virginia. The Museum itself is organized a bit awkwardly, with the first floor dedicated to the town’s mining boom years, the second floor dedicated to the mansion’s former owners, and the third floor dedicated to the lives of the early settlers. Still, it’s an interesting overview of the regional history.

Damascus

After lunch, we drove to Damascus, which ended up being my favorite of the small towns. While Abingdon’s buildings were nicer, charming Damascus won out with its rivers and nature. Damascus is actually an important stop on the Virginia Creeper Trail, but unfortunately the trestle was closed while we were there.

Views From The Damascus Old Mill Inn

Wytheville

On our final day, we went to Wytheville to see the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum. The town is a typical nice small town, with many nice historic buildings. The most notable thing about Wytheville is the giant pencil suspended from a building.

The Museum itself shows an entertaining look at Edith Bolling Wilson’s girlhood in Wytheville and her time as First Lady of the United States. The upstairs was undergoing renovations when were there, but they provide a video explaining the history behind each room. Renovations should be complete in late 2026.

Conclusion on Southwest Virginia Vacation

I accomplished a decade long (if not longer) dream of exploring Southwest Virginia. Although I did so much, there are still places I didn’t get to visit (like The Devil’s Bathtub and the Natural Bridge State Park), making SWVA a perfect vacation opportunity. I feel SWVA has much to offer for travelers wishing to discover an little known Virginia with unique landscapes and a different history.

Below is the companion YouTube Video for this blog. My video has much more footage of each destination. If you like what you see, please consider subscribing to my channel.

Restaurants In Southwest Virginia

Listed below are the restaurants I ate at on the trip that I recommend. I will go in Alphabetical Order.

Damascus Old Mill Inn: This hotel has a restaurant on the first floor. I recommend eating here for the views of the river and little waterfall. Located in Damascus.

GoodTimes Coal Fired Pizza & Pub: If you’re wondering about coal fired pizza, they use anthracite coal (different from the coal used for powering trains) found only in Pennsylvania, which emits high heat and low emissions as noted by our waitress. All this leads to a great pizza. Located in Big Stone Gap.

Jack’s 128 Pecan: This place must have been a former house, because they were many rooms all decorated differently. They had the best food of all the semi-fancy restaurants we ate on our trip.

Pal’s Sudden Service: For those looking for local color, Pal’s is the local fast-food chain of choice. With its gaudy buildings and commanding pylon signs (the message the day we went said “Respect Is Earned”), Pal’s is definitely an experience. Keep in mind it’s drive-thru only. Located all over SWVA.

Skeeter’s World Famous Hotdogs: Only two doors down from the Edith Bolling Wilson Museum is Skeeter’s, which has been open since 1925. Definitely come here if you love hot dogs, because there was only one non-hot dog thing on the menu; I had the BBQ sandwich. Located in Wytheville.

The Tavern: I’ve already talked about The Tavern above, but here’s some more about the restaurant. It serves a mix of New American and German food. I recommend eating here to absorb the historical ambiance. Located in Abingdon.
June 21, 2026
EPCOT Through an Artistic Lens: A Different Perspective
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Here is my follow up to the blog post about my trip to Downtown Orlando. My Dad and I chose EPCOT because my Dad wanted to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. EPCOT is my favorite Disney Park because it played a huge role in my interest in geography and travel. Keep reading to learn about my ranking of the World Showcase Pavilions.
Table of contents
Future World

Obviously, when you first arrive at EPCOT, you enter through Future World (now known as World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature). From my last trip to Disney World, I came to the conclusion that most of the rides in this section of the park are pretty boring. Still, I rode on Test Track, watched a couple of animated shorts at the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, and tried some sodas from around the world at Club Cool. My father and sister enjoyed Cosmic Rewind, but told me to give a warning about long lines.

World Showcase

But let’s turn now to the true focus of this blog post-the World Showcase. I recommend exploring the World Showcase when EPCOT opens to beat the afternoon crowds.

Morocco Pavilion

Morocco turned out to be my favorite pavilion with its impressive detail and lots of twists and turns that I enjoyed exploring. It made me seriously consider putting Morocco on my bucket list.

If you want to cool off in the middle of a hot Florida afternoon, I recommend Spice Road Table, as the covered patio is freezing and has hurricane force winds constantly blowing. I tried the Chicken Bastilla, a bizarre dish which is essentially a savory baklava (including an omelet that’s not mentioned) that is covered in powdered sugar.

China Pavilion

China came in as my second favorite pavilion. Although the 360-degree movie showed its age, I loved seeing the amount of detail in the Temple of Heaven replica.

Canada Pavilion

Canada comes in 3rd place; I really enjoyed exploring the manufactured nature. There was much of the pavilion that I had no memory of seeing before, so it was fun discovering new things.

For dinner, we ate at Le Cellier, which has amazing steaks and cheddar cheese soup. Our reservation was close to closing time, so we ended up closing the park. Our waitress came from Canada, and we learned from her that international employees are contracted to work at the Disney Parks for a year.

Japan Pavilion

Japan came in as my number 4 favorite pavilion. I have always been interested in Japan so it would always rank high. They have the most food related shopping, which I can appreciate. My sister recommends the sushi.

United Kingdom Pavilion

In No.5 is the United Kingdom Pavilion. I enjoyed wandering around the back courtyard area, which I also had zero memory of seeing before this trip.

The Other Pavilions

The final pavilion rankings are as follows: Mexico, France, Norway & Germany (tied), and Italy. Mexico’s indoor pavilion makes it unique; by contrast, Italy doesn’t have much going for it and it only sold high-end goods. While in France, be prepared to wait in line at Les Halles for good pastries and bread.

The American Adventure pavilion is hard to rank. From a photographic point of view, the pavilion is in last place because it’s only one building. However, The American Adventure attraction makes it one of the top pavilions in EPCOT. After many vacations of passing it by, I finally managed to actually get inside and experience it for myself. It’s a marvel how they managed to fit all the various aminatronics and set pieces on that stage.

Conclusion

I’ve always enjoyed the World Showcase because it’s a fun way to experience different cultures. I experienced different cultures by going through the many different pavilions buying different candies and chips. I also enjoyed focusing less on doing all the rides and attractions and instead allowing myself time to see places I’ve never been to before. So next time you are at EPCOT (or another theme park) consider taking time to look at it from a different perspective-you might like what you see.
June 14, 2026
A Fun Day Out in Underrated Woodbridge Virginia
Woodbridge is not the first place one thinks of when thinking of major travel destinations in Virginia. Much of the discourse around Woodbridge online revolves around its suburban character; the Prince William County Tourism Website proclaims Woodbridge as having Virginia’s largest outlet mall. But I believe that there are hidden gems in the most seemingly mundane places that are worth a day trip. So here is my suggestions for a fun day out in underrated Woodbridge Virginia. Keep reading for YouTube Videos about other places in Prince William County.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
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Restaurant in Woodbridge, VA

A Good Unique Dining Option

The deciding factor for me to go to Woodbridge was trying Bangladeshi food at Dhansiri Restaurant. Bangladeshi food bares some similarity to Indian food, but more beef oriented. I ordered Beef Bhuna, which was tasty, but even after asking for the mild it still had heat, so I would suggest eating elsewhere if you can’t handle spice.

Rippon Lodge Historic Site

After lunch, I drove to Rippon Lodge Historic Site, which is the second oldest house in Prince William County. Rippon Lodge has seen many changes over the years; it was once a small house built around 1745-1747 by Richard Blackburn, whose son Thomas Blackburn fought in the Revolutionary War under George Washington. The Blackburns and Washingtons grew closer when Thomas’ daughter married George Washington’s nephew.

Rippon Lodge As It Looked Before 1924

Eventually, the Blackburns lost the property and Rippon Lodge changed hands several times until 1924, when Wade H. Ellis and his wife drastically changed the shape of the house to its current appearance. A descendant of the Blackburn family bought the house in 1952 and owned it for half a century. Prince William County acquired the property in 2000 and opened the house for tours in 2007.

I received a self-guided tour with a pamphlet providing information about the house (which is where the above information came from). The employee led me from the admission room to the opposite side of the house. He gave me a basic overview of the house before leaving me on my own. Although I was expecting a guided tour, it was nice to be able to go on my own pace.

One thing Rippon Lodge did that I like is showing what the house looked like throughout the years, rather than focusing on one specific era. I always felt that many historic house museums should focus on a more comprehensive look at the site’s history, especially if no one particularly noteworthy owned the house. The house also revealed the many architectural changes it went through, such as how they moved the chimneys and altered rooms.

The grounds of Rippon Lodge are very beautiful. The pergola covered with roses particularly struck my eye. There’s also a well, some outbuildings, and a family cemetery located on one of the trails.

Neabsco Creek Boardwalk

Neabsco Regional Park Is Also Known As Rippon Landing Park on Google Maps

After Rippon Lodge, I went right across the street to visit Neabsco Regional Park, which is particularly notable for the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk. The Boardwalk is a winding 3,300 feet long (or .625 miles) trail that goes above the marshy Neabsco Creek. The 90-degree heat made the mostly treeless boardwalk a slog, but the views and seeing a beaver building a dam made it all worth it.

At some point, the Boardwalk abruptly ends and turns into a narrow wooden trail that goes deep into the woods. It turns out that the boardwalk is the only connection between the two different sections of Neabsco Regional Park. I only found that out after getting lost in an unmaintained section of the park.

Conclusion

I enjoyed exploring the things to do in Woodbridge. I hope this blog post allows people to view Woodbridge through different eyes. So next time one is looking for a fun day out, consider Woodbridge and Prince William County in Northern Virginia.

The grounds of Rippon Lodge Historic Site are open every day from dawn to dusk, but the house itself is only open from Friday-Monday from 10:00-4:00. Guided tours are supposedly at 11:00 and 2:00, but I arrived at 1:40ish and the employee only gave me the self-guided option, so keep that in mind. More information about the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk found here.

Below is the companion YouTube video, which show in greater detail Rippon Lodge Historic Site and Neabsco Creek Boardwalk.

Other Towns in Prince William County

If one wanted to make a full weekend (or weekday) vacation to Prince William County, I have two videos from my old YouTube channel about Occoquan and Manassas (links in name). Occoquan Historic District consistently ranked as one of Virginia’s most beautiful small towns. Old Town Manassas is the County Seat of Prince William County and played an important role during the Civil War.

If you want to explore more of the NOVA area, read my blog post about Alexandria.
June 7, 2026
Exploring The Forgotten Side of Downtown Orlando
Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

People think of Orlando as a place of entertainment with its many Theme Parks, most of which are actually outside of the city limits. Orlando itself the fourth largest city in Florida and a major hub for business and government services. I’ve visited Orlando with my family many times, but this trip was the first time I actually stepped foot in Downtown Orlando. How does Downtown Orlando hold up as a travel destination? Stay till the end to see suggestions for a non-theme park-oriented trip to the Orlando area.
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Lake Eola Park

My Dad and I went Orlando in order to visit my sister, arriving on a Sunday. My sister, now being a local, recommended we visit the Orlando Farmers Market at Lake Eola Park. This had to have been the largest farmers market I’ve ever seen, as there was an endless supply of vendors with food, drinks, and crafts. After a thorough search of all the options, I settled on Ethiopian and Tequeños paired with a giant cup of homemade lemonade.

Imagine Having the Ibis Be Your Trash Bird

Afterwards, the three of us walked around Lake Eola Park. We found out later at the History Center (mentioned below) that Lake Eola is not a lake but a sinkhole. It’s a very stable sinkhole since there’s a large fountain in the middle and a bandshell on the water’s edge.

Real Swans With Fake Swans

Lake Eola Park is lovely and a popular hangout location for locals. Besides the bandshell, there’s a play area, rock garden, Chinese pagoda, and rental swan boats.

Walking Downtown

After walking Lake Eola, we went off to explore more of Downtown Orlando. Orlando is a mix of different styles with gleaming skyscrapers alongside Victorian buildings.

Old and New

The skyscrapers primarily (but not exclusively) surround Lake Eola. They tower over the lake/sinkhole and provide dramatic contrast. Office buildings are not what comes to mind when one thinks of Orlando.

A good portion of Downtown Orlando is lined with trees, which compliments the many historic buildings located throughout the city. Besides the Victorian Church Street (mentioned below), the Downtown is a mix of styles, including Mediterranean, Colonial, and Art Deco. There’s also the Brutalist public library, but the less said about that the better.

Downtown Orlando was a happening place that Sunday. Beside normal city crowds, one plaza was full of drunk college age students. My sister theorized that they were University of Central Florida students celebrating their graduation.

The Plaza on a Crazy Sunday Afternoon

The Same Plaza on a Less Chaotic Tuesday Morning

I noticed vibrant public art while walking through the Downtown. I managed to capture a couple of them on camera.

Church Street

While exploring Downtown Orlando, we walked through Church Street. It was the place to be several decades ago, but now much of it is pretty much abandoned. I did see a sign say “Church Street Improvement Coming Soon,” so maybe in a few years it will be successfully revitalized.

While some of Church Street has seen better days, the Church Street Market is thriving and does have open businesses. I did not go into any of them, but it did make for a good place to take photos.

History Center

On Tuesday, Dad and I went to the Orange County Regional History Center. The History Center is conveniently a couple blocks away from Lake Eola Park. Be aware that at certain times people are not allowed on Heritage Square Park in front of the museum, or else security will scold you.

Statue of Man Sitting On an Alligator

The History Center provided a fascinating look at the history of Orlando and Orange County. I learned so many new things, such as how ranching once played an important role in Central Florida’s economy. There’s also a section devoted to the history of the Disney Theme Parks, which is not something one normally finds in a local history museum.

Conclusion

Overall, I enjoyed seeing a side of Orlando that is usually forgotten about in the popular consciousness. I hope this blog post shines a light on this mostly unknown side of Orlando. So next time you plan on visiting Orlando, consider taking time out of your trip to visit the Downtown area. As for what I did on Monday, you will have to come back to look at my blog post about EPCOT.

Much of Downtown Orlando is pretty walkable, but you would need to drive to exploring the greater Orlando area. The Farmers Market at Lake Eola Park happens every Sunday from 10:00-3:00, more information found here. The Orange County Regional History Center is open everyday and is a five minute walk from the Lake Eola Park’s bandshell.

Restaurant Recommendations

Metro Espresso Pizza: My mother and sister discovered Metro Espresso Pizza while moving my sister and has become a favorite place. They serve very good pizza and other Italian dishes that my sister recommends.

Taco Kat

Taco Kat: As Dad and I were leaving that Tuesday, we needed a convenient location to eat lunch and say goodbye to my sister. As Taco Kat is only steps away from the History Center, we decided to go there. They serve good tacos and quesadillas.

Other Things to Do

Whether you want to take a vacation to Orlando without going to the Theme Parks or just want to add another stop to your vacation, I offer extra thing to do below. Here are some places I have been on a previous trip 15 years ago, or wished to go to on this trip in the greater Orlando area. All three museums closed on Monday.

Mennello Museum of American Art: I went to this Museum back when it was called the Earl Cunningham Museum. It still showcases his artwork (in the folk style), as well as works from other artists. Check out the giant tree in front of the Museum while you’re there. EST 10 minutes drive from Downtown.

Orlando Museum of Art: This Museum showcases American art from the 19th and 20th century. It also has a collection of African and Mesoamerican Art. EST 11 minutes drive from Downtown.

Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens: This Museum showcases the sculptures of Albin Polasek, as well as goes over his life. I still think about the story about him waiting 40 years to marry his first wife, then remarrying again a year after her death. EST 20 minutes drive from Downtown.

Nature: There is plenty of nature parks in the greater Orlando area so I will list them in order from closest to furthest from Downtown Orlando. In order: Wekiwa Springs State Park, Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, Seminole State Forest, Little Big Econ State Park, Green Mountain Scenic Overlook and Trailhead, and Lake Louisa State Park.

Sports: My sister would like me to mention that the Kia Center and the Inter&Co Stadium are within walking distance from each other. If you are staying in a Downtown hotel, one could easily walk to both places within 20 minutes or so.
June 1, 2026
Things to Do in Beautiful Colonial Williamsburg
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

I made two nonconsecutive trips to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia; living close to Williamsburg does have its benefits. The first trip focused on seeing historic homes normally closed to the public as part of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week, while the second trip focused on seeing the remaining historic house museum that I had never been to before. Both visits work together to give an overview of what to do in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. At the end, I showcase the natural beauty of College Landing Park to complete your Williamsburg Virginia tour. This blog will serve as a companion to my first YouTube video so keep reading to the end.
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The Governor’s Palace

Historic Houses in Colonial Williamsburg

Virginia’s Historic Garden Week was the reason for my first trip to Colonial Williamsburg. The two houses I managed to get a rare glimpse into were the Ludwell-Paradise house and the Coke-Garrett house. These two house are private homes that are normally closed to the public, but were opened for one day for this event. The Ludwell-Paradise house once was the home of the Ludwell family, of which several of its member converted to Eastern Orthodoxy. The Coke-Garrett house serves as the home of the Presidents of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and had just finished a restoration only a couple of days before the event. I have no pictures of the insides, but it was interesting seeing modern kitchens inside 18th century buildings.

Have a Colonial Style Convenience Store Instead

I also went to Bassett Hall, which was the home of the John D. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. This House is usually only open to the public on Thursdays-Saturdays, so I took a rare opportunity to visit. I also went to the Bray School, where enslaved children received an education in order to accept their lot in life.

Garden of St. Mary Chapel

The George Wythe House

Several weeks later, I decided to visit the remaining historic homes I’ve yet to see. I first went to the George Wythe House located besides the Palace Green. George Wythe was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the first law professor of the United States. It had the typical grand 18th century Georgian interiors and a very beautiful garden.

The Robert Carter House

Next, I went right down the street to see the Carter House, an incredibly long house that I could not fit entirely within the picture. The House is entirely bare on the inside, with zero furnishings and several holes in the walls exposing the wood and brick work. Our tour guide told the fascinating story of Robert Carter III, a man who turned from a dissolute playboy to a conscientious man who manumitted more of his enslaved people than anybody prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. The house is only opened on Tuesdays-Wednesdays.

The Peyton Randolph House

I then walked down Nicholson Street to see the Peyton Randolph House. Peyton Randolph served as President of the First and Second Continental Congress. Our tour guide delivered a personable look at the lives of the Randolph’s and their enslaved people.

Duke of Gloucester Street

On both trips, I enjoyed strolling along to Duke of Gloucester Street, Colonial Williamsburg’s main thoroughfare. The street starts at William and Mary, goes through Merchant’s Square, and passes through 18th century Williamsburg. It turns out that Merchants Square is the oldest planned shopping center in the United States dating from 1927. The images below will show you Duke of Gloucester (DoG) Street (and accompanying side streets) in chronological order.

Wren Building College of William and Mary

DoG Street With Merchants Square in Foreground and Capitol in Background

House on the Palace Green, I Think a Private Residence

One of Several Trade Signs in Colonial Williamsburg

King’s Arms Tavern

College Landing Park

A five minute drive from Merchants Square is College Landing Park. It’s a riverfront park with only a fishing pier, kayak launch, boat ramp, and a hill with stairs. Although it’s a small park, it will do just fine after a long day of exploring Colonial Williamsburg.

Reflections in Murky Water at College Landing Park

Conclusion

Overall, I greatly enjoyed my two visits to Colonial Williamsburg. Although I have been there many times before, there were still so many places and things I had yet seen. So whenever you visit Colonial Williamsburg, consider all of the places I’ve mentioned alongside the Governor’s Palace and Capitol building. Perhaps you could even visit the two private homes the next time Historic Garden Week happens in mid-April.

While it’s “free” to walk around Colonial Williamsburg (you need to pay for parking on an app), you would need to purchase a ticket to enter into many of the buildings. Single-day Tickets go for $33.75 online or $37.50 at site for people 13 and up; Multi-day Tickets go for $55.00 for people 13 and up. More information can be found here. Information about Historic Garden Week is found here.

If you want to learn more about the early days of America, Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne are nearby. Read my blog post here.

Below is my YouTube video about my two trips to Colonial Williamsburg. Think of it as a wordless vlog, giving you the sights and sounds of Colonial Williamsburg. The video shows much more than this blog, such as the gardens of the two private homes, Bassett Hall, the Bray School, etc.

Colonial Williamsburg Restaurant Recommendations

It makes sense to recommend many different restaurants as Colonial Williamsburg is an all-day destination. I will go in order from fanciest to least fanciest.

Colonial Williamsburg has several dining establishments the replicate the experiences of eating at a tavern during the colonial era. The King’s Arms Tavern was founded in 1772 and has the waiters dress in period attire. I chose the King’s Arms Tavern in particular because I once had my birthday meal there.

The Blue Talon Bistro serves French cuisine, located on the parking lot behind Merchants Square. I also had a birthday meal here, and I would love to eat here again.

The Cheese Shop is a local institution located on Merchants Square. Its sandwiches are a favorite with my family. Head next door to Wythe Candy and Gourmet Shop for specialty candy.

Rick’s Cheesesteak Shop is located on Prince George Street. I’ve been there once and enjoyed their cheese-steak sandwich.

Precarious Beer Project is located in a building on the other parking lot behind Merchants Square. They have three little restaurants located inside, of which I enjoyed the birria tacos of Electric Circus Taco. I’ve only been inside a rainy Monday lunchtime and a Tuesday afternoon, so I bet the place is much livelier at nighttime.

If you wanted to go to explore more of the greater Williamsburg area, I can recommend many different restaurants. In order from closest to furthest from Merchants Square are: Bonanza Social Kitchen (Korean Fried Chicken), Anna’s Brick Oven Pizza-Pasta (Wood Fired Pizza), Honey Butter’s Kitchen (Breakfast Food), Taqueria Maria Bonita (Mexican), and Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que (a local institution). Also, I highly recommend going out of your way to get Duck Donuts, but make sure they’re open before you make the trek particularly if you go earlier in the week.
May 19, 2026
Best Sunday in Portsmouth Virginia at The Commodore Theatre
When I first heard about The Commodore Theatre in Portsmouth Virginia back in December 2025, it immediately caught my interest. This historic Art Deco theater had been transformed into a dining establishment so one could dine while watching first run movies. But I quickly forgot about it until early April when the idea of starting a travel blog sparked inside me. After some deliberation, I decided that The Commodore Theatre would be the subject of my first post. Keep reading for Portsmouth VA museum recommendations at the end.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
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Lunch

Hawaii BBQ Serves Good Food If You Are Willing to Drive Out of the Way

My Dad and I set out on April 12th, where we first had lunch at Hawaii BBQ, which serves both Hawaiian and Chinese cuisine. Hawaii BBQ is actually a 17 minute drive from The Commodore Theatre, but I have been wanting to go to a Hawaiian restaurant for a long time and the opportunity finally presented itself. There is another restaurant on my bucket list named The Bier Garden that’s right across the street from The Theatre, but the timing would not have worked out either before or after a matinee show.

Maybe One Day I Will Go to the Bier Garden to Experience This

Downtown Portsmouth

After lunch, we drove to The Commodore Theatre. Parking is a little complicated, as there are several parking lots nearby that turned out to be private lots. We did eventually find street parking conveniently located to the the Theatre. Afterwards, I explored a little bit of High Street; the downtown area of Portsmouth with its charming tree-lined streets.

This Church Cemetery is Actually Right Next Door to The Theatre

The Commodore Theatre

Finally, we arrived at The Commodore Theatre. After briefly waiting in line for the ticket counter to open, we bought our seating arrangement. I refer to the seating chart and not tickets because (as mentioned above) you are seated at tables rather than seats. We had the odd situation of having to go inside the lobby to wait for the man to assign our tables rather than waiting outside at the ticket counter.

The Commodore Theatre Shows Contemporary Movies

A Sign Recalling the History of The Commodore Theatre

The Commodore Theatre still retains much of its old Art Deco charms. The lobby showcases photographs of The Theatre before its restoration. The Commodore Theatre now plays first run films with Dolby Digital and THX sound. One can appreciate the dedication it took to not only bring new life to the building, but make it relevant for modern audiences.

The Lobby with Photographs of The Commodore Theatre Before Restoration

More of the Art Deco Lobby

An Alcove Showing What The Theater Would Have Looked Like Back In the Day

The actual auditorium portion of The Commodore Theatre is very unique. It resembles a 50s nightclub more than a movie theater, up to and including the crystal chandeliers and curtains covering the screen. Each section had tables seating about three or four plush chairs that can move. Each table had elegant lamps and 90s business phones where one can call to order everything from popcorn to a meal.

A Very Unique Movie Watching Experience

What most impressed me about the theater are the two murals on each side of the walls. One mural unfortunately had a large portion cut out, but the other one remains intact and still looks very impressive. It’s amazing how much effort theaters made to decorate back in the day, particularly when it would mostly go unseen while the audience watched the movie.

A Mural Entitled The Vision of a New World

A WWII Naval Mural Unfortunately Missing A Segment

As for my opinion on Project Hail Mary, I thought it was Entertaining. I thought it had a good story but large parts just dragged and other parts I felt were overly comedic. On the other hand, my Dad loved the movie. In all, I enjoyed my experience at The Commodore Theatre and highly recommend this unique movie watching experience.

If you want to see another historic movie theater, please read here.

Another View of The Commodore Theatre

What To Know Before You Go

The Commodore Theatre is located at 421 High Street Portsmouth, VA 23704. The Commodore is open daily with shows at 7:00 PM, and a matinee on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Seating assignments go on sale starting 75 minutes before the movie showtime (no phone or internet reservations in advance). Parking is not the easiest, but there is some parallel parking in the general area. If you own a Tesla, they even have an electric vehicle charging station at The Theatre.

Other Things to Do

If you want to make a full day in Portsmouth, here are some things I have done or wish to do in the City. Be aware that some places may not be open on Sunday, and none on Monday or Tuesday. I will place them in order of closest to The Commodore Theatre to furthest.

Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center-This arts and culture center offers rotating visual art exhibitions, lectures, classes and performances and is steps away from The Commodore Theatre. It is open Wednesdays-Sundays from 10:00-4:00. Two minute walk.

Children’s Museum of Virginia-This would be a fun place to go if you have little children; I certainly had fun when I went there as a kid. It is open Wednesday-Sunday from 9:00-4:00. Three minute walk.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum-This Museum promotes the history of the City of Portsmouth, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and the armed forces in Hampton Roads. It is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10:00-4:00. Seven minute walk.

Hill House Museum-This historic house tells the story of the Hill family who lived there for 150 years. I have not been here yet, but it is on my bucket list. It is only open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12:00-3:00. Nine minute walk.

Lightship Portsmouth Museum-This restored historic ship is next door to the Naval Shipyard Museum and depicts the daily life of a 1955 lightship. It appears to only be opened seasonally, so check back often. Ten minute walk.

If one had a lot of time, downtown Portsmouth is about a 10 minute drive to downtown Norfolk, which has many attractions and restaurants.
May 11, 2026