We love exploring Norfolk, Virginia, with our kids. Norfolk is part of the larger Hampton Roads region. This includes multiple cities, one of which is the ever-popular Virginia Beach, but Norfolk has its own charm. One of our favorites is the USS Wisconsin, a real-life Navy Battleship you can explore. While the USS Wisconsin stays docked, there are several other ways to get out onto the water. There are two downtown areas that are walkable and full of character, with many small businesses, and multiple free parks to explore, plus plenty of good food of all kinds.
The main areas are Ghent/Colley Ave and Grandby/Waterside, where the cruise ships dock. These are only 5 minutes’ drive from each other and are connected by a metro as well. There are a lot more lodging options along Grandby than Colley.
Top Activities for families in downtown Norfolk include the Nauticus and USS Wisconsin, Glass classes or demos at the Chrysler Studio, great food options, and several different boat tours/rides.
If you are willing to drive farther, other top family-friendly Norfolk Activities include the beach, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and the Zoo. Virginia Beach Oceanfront is only 20-30 minutes away and has a wealth of activities as well.
USS Wisconsin and Nauticus Museum
Norfolk, Virginia, is home to the largest Navy base in the country. The USS Wisconsin is a favorite with kids! It was a battleship in the US Navy, launched in 1943 and decommissioned in 1991. Admission tickets to the Nauticus allow you to board and explore the battleship inside and out, learn about life on board, and appreciate the its grand size.
Admission tickets also grant you access to the Nauticus museum building. It includes kid-friendly exhibits such as interactive sailing and port activities, an indoor playground, and local maritime history. You can try your hand as a simulated crane operator or welder, and compare different pulley systems for raising the sails.
If you are going to be there around a holiday, check the website for fun themed events. We love both the Haunted Wisconsin (for older kids) and Winterfest (for all ages).
Town Point Park
Right next to the USS Wisconsin is Town Point Park. You can wander the park on paved sidewalks or lie on the grassy lawn looking out over the harbor. The westernmost part of the park features a unique memorial with printed letters home from veterans of various wars. Town Point Park hosts many festivals throughout the year, so be sure to see if anything is happening when you plan to be there. Some kid favorites are the Children’s Fest in October and the Harbor Fest in June.
The Pagoda near the USS Wisconsin
About a 5-10-minute walk from the USS Wisconsin is the Pagoda. It has housed various businesses over the years and is now owned by a local nonprofit. It is free to walk around the small garden and admire this unique building. In the summer, you can watch the Koi fish swimming in the pond. Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar is only a five-minute walk if you’d like a sweet treat.
Chrysler Museum and Glass Shop
The Chrysler Museum Glass Studio in Norfolk offers free daily glass-blowing demonstrations where you can watch them create amazing art. These are drop-in, and you can look at the glass project displays and shop the store. They also offer various glass classes for people of all ages. This includes a class for kids ages 6 and up to make melted-glass art, as well as advanced glass-blowing classes for teens and adults, and even private lessons.
Getting on the Water from Town Point Park
We had a great ride on the American Rover, a real-life sailbot, that offers 2-hour cruises. This is a casual tour to explore the bay and enjoy the sights from the water. Kids 2 and under are free, and kids 13 and under get a discounted rate. They even allow you to bring your own food.
If you want more information about the Navy base and local ships, check out the Victory Rover. This two-hour boat tour provides plenty of education and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Kids 2 and under are free. You can buy this cruise in combo with the Nauticus tickets if you are interested.
A Pedestrian Ferry across the Harbor
My kids love seeing all the boats, and a great, affordable, and low-pressure way to get on the water is the Elizabeth River Pedestrian Ferry. Adult tickets are $4 for a round-trip ticket, and kids ride free with a paid adult. The ferry runs at least every 30 minutes, every day. It goes across the river to Portsmouth, with two stops, then returns to Norfolk at Waterside. A round trip takes about 45 minutes.
If you have the time, get off in Portsmouth and take a 10-minute walk down to The Children’s Museum of Virginia. It features a large, unique exhibit with some of the most impressive physics demonstrations at any kids’ museum I’ve visited. It’s called “Dr. Forces Travelin Energy Extravaganza.” There is also a fun bubbles exhibit and plenty of the typical children’s museum fun.
The Elizabeth River Trail
The Elizabeth River Trail is along much of downtown Norfolk’s waterfront. It’s a great place to walk, bike, or scoot. The interactive map shows you the location. Don’t miss the Glowline in West Ghent (don’t forget to bring a blacklight). There is also a climbing structure if you prefer to go during daylight hours.
Food near Grandby Street
One main street in Norfolk is Grandby Street, just a couple of blocks from the USS Wisconsin, and there are plenty of food options here. Benny Demato’s sells pizza by the slice, and the slices are HUGE.
Lamia’s Crepes is perfect for sweet or savory crepes. If you sit inside, you can watch them make the Crepes. The owner is from France, and several of the employees speak French, making the experience feel that much more authentic.
I love supporting small businesses, so the Seldon Market is the perfect place to stop. It is an enclosed alley of small shops where businesses get a little extra help getting started. Last time I was there, I got a fancy brownie s’more from S’Mores Mi Amor and grabbed a coffee from a Fig Jam bakery. There are also shops and maker spaces here. At the end is one of my favorite established breakfast spots in Norfolk, The Stockpot.
Gourmet Gang is a great place for sandwiches. If you love cheese, check out the Grilled Cheese Bistro. For unique burgers, we like Jack Brown’s. It is a bar, so with kids, this might be a better spot for lunch. For a quick, affordable, kid-friendly menu, check out Famous Uncle Al’s Hot Dogs. The FreeMason Abbey is well known for its excellent she crab soup and is housed in a circa 1873 church.
My favorite coffee shop near Grandby is Cure Coffeehouse. It offers great coffee, food, and seating. I always see a kid or two there, and the bathrooms have changing tables.
Restaurants with Arcades
Circuit Social Arcade Bar sells wings, pizza, bar munchies, and chicken sammies. Plus, they have plenty of arcade games and duckpin bowling. Never heard of duckpin bowling? Give it a try! It’s similar to regular bowling, but the balls and pins are smaller, and you get three tries instead of two
Next to Town Point Park is the Waterside District. There are several restaurant options here, as well as a delicious treat stop called The Fudgery. Waterside is a good place to stop for food and clean bathrooms during the day, but it is adult-only at night. There is a small-to-medium-sized arcade inside.
Used Art Store and Studio
Keep an eye out for 757 Creative Reuse, a store that sells used art supplies. I love this idea! They also have classes and an open studio. They are currently located in MacArthur Mall, which is being shut down in June of 2026, but their website says they plan to relocate and remain in Norfolk.
Rock Climbing for Families
Latitude Climbing has a location in Norfolk, but there is no climbing, just bouldering. Personally, I like boundering better as it’s easier to get on and off routes, but the kids prefer ropes and higher routes. I like Latitude because they have a very specific area on their website saying they are welcoming to kids of ALL ages. They even host “boudler babies” and “small sender” events! How cool!
Activities on Colley Ave and Ghent
Colley Ave has plenty of great restaurants, unique shopping, and other activities. There is a French store with a toy section called Le Marche, and another children’s toy store called The White Rabbit.
I had a great time at the Catnip Cafe on Colley. This little storefront houses 20-30 cats. They are all adoptable, but you don’t have to be hoping to adopt to visit them! You can buy a pass to play with them for half an hour or an hour. This supports their living costs, socializes the cats, and keeps them in a high-visibility location for people interested in adopting them. Win-Win! Kids must be 5 and older.
There is a Color Me Mine painting franchise. If you want something with more of a local flair, check out the Mermaid Factory. It is the same concept, but you get to paint a miniature version of a Norfolk Mermaid. They also have dolphins, starfish, octopi, and more.
The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk
The Virginia Zoo is only about a 10-minute drive from downtown Norfolk. It is a medium-sized zoo with lots of animals, including red pandas, zebras, giraffes, otters, lions, and more. There are options for behind-the-scenes animal encounters if you are looking for an elevated experience. The zoo is safe, but the surrounding area isn’t ideal, so I would plan to return to the Colley/Grandby area for food and lodging.
Norfolk’s Beachfront
While Virginia Beach is best known for the oceanfront, you can enjoy beachfront in Norfolk as well. The Norfolk waterfront is on the bay side of Virginia. This means shallower water and fewer waves, perfect for kids! We like to go to the Sarah Constant Beach Park. It’s about 20 minutes from downtown Norfolk.
Norfolk Botanical Gardens
The Norfolk Botanical Gardens are right by the Norfolk Airport. This is about 15-20 minute drive from downtown. They have 60+ themed gardens, a seasonal splash pad, rotating food trucks, and more.
Theater and Sports
The Norfolk Tides Baseball team plays in a stadium in Norfolk. The Admirals Hockey team plays at the Scope, which also hosts concerts. Check out SevenVenues for all the details on times for hockey, music, theater, and more.
Kid-Friendly Food in Ghent
I used to live in Ghent, which is a very walkable and family-friendly neighborhood. It is about 10 minutes from the USS Wisconsin.
One old classic is Doumar’s Cones and BBQ. It’s been open since 1904 and is a drive-in but also has indoor seating. Skinny Dip is a pick your own toppings yougurt shop-a sure favorite with kids. O’s Doughnuts is similar in that you can mix and match frosting and toppings for your favorite cake doughnuts.
The best pizza is at Cogan’s Pizza. Go for lunch or early dinner as it is a bar, but it has a great decor and a friendly vibe. Check out the Fishin’Pig for BBQ, seafood, and southern cuisine. Plus, you can write on the paper they use as a tablecloth, and there is a kids’ menu.
Vang Goh’s Bistro doesn’t have a kids’ menu online, but I have to list it because it has an amazing thing on the menu called “The Experiment.” I went with my mother-in-law, and we LOVED this. It was $60 for a 7-course meal of the chef’s favorites. Each time you order, it is different and lets you try so many options.
Nearby Kid Stuff in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads
The top nearby thing to do would be the beach itself. Keep in mind, my family prefers Norfolk’s ocean view for a few reasons. First, the water is shallower and generally safer for kids. Second, it tends to be less busy. If you want the traditional beach experience with the boardwalk and all, the Virginia Beach oceanfront is what you are looking for.
There are plenty of fun things in the city. The Virginia Aquarium is well put together with huge turtles, river otters, Komodo dragons, jellyfish, and more. Hot tip: You can see the seals for free at the entrance. There are dolphin and whale tours through the aquarium or with other companies. There is one of the best ropes courses I’ve visited, next to the aquarium. It has tons of options, with plenty to challenge people of all ages (5+ years) and experiences. We had a blast with iFly, an indoor skydiving experience.
The Virginia Living Museum is in nearby Newport News. It has lots of animals, a dinosaur discovery trail, and some science museum exhibits about tidal pools and clean energy.
The Virginia Air & Space Museum is 30 minutes north of Norfolk. It has memorabilia, an IMAX theater, and lots of interactive exhibits.
Does your kid love the idea of Go-karts but find them a bit too slow at normal attractions? Check out Lemans Karting with real Go Karts that go real fast. Kids 8 and up can drive on certain days/times. Older kids, ages 11 and up, can take a class to drive with adults during regular track time. Kids 5 and up can be passengers.
In Conclusion
I’ve lived in Norfolk, and my husband’s family is still from the area, so we have visited this town many times. Despite that, we are still finding more fun things to do in Norfolk, Virginia, with the kids! I love Norfolk.
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