Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia, is located on the Elizabeth River, along Hampton Roads, a large natural harbor joined to Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Norfolk is a part of a large metro area known as the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, or more officially, the "Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area." The "NC" comes from the fact that the area neighbors North Carolina, and Currituck County, NC is part of the MSA.

Norfolk has a long history, having been laid out in 1682 and incorporated in 1845. And due to its location, it has long been a major transportation center and strategic military center. The local naval base, Naval Station Norfolk, is the world's largest naval base.

There are plenty of ways to experience the area's history. The USS Wisconsin & Hampton Roads Naval Museum is a great place to start, as the Wisconsin is the largest and last battleship ever built by the US Navy, and the museum is dedicated to the area's more than 225 years of naval history. The Pilot Schooner Virginia, which dates from 1917, can also be toured.

Once you've taken in some history, and want some modern fun, head over to Waterside, a shopping, dining, and entertainment area on Norfolk's waterfront. Norfolk's downtown in general has a wide variety of things to do, ranging from shopping and dining, to entertainment options as varied as American Rover tall ship cruises to the Chrysler Museum of Art.

And since art has been mentioned, when you want some performing arts, check out productions by the Virginia Opera, Virginia Stage Company, Virginia Symphony, or Virginia Ballet Theatre, or check out what's up at the Virginia Arts Festival, which runs from April to June.

If you enjoy sports, attend home games of the various college teams, or of the Norfolk Tides of International League Baseball or the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League.

When you want to get out, visit the Norfolk Botanical Garden, which encompasses 155 acres (63 hectares), and includes more than 20 theme gardens. If you're too tired to walk that much, don't worry – the gardens can be viewed by tram or boat.

Norfolk also has 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) of beachfront, and two state parks – First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park – are only about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east. First Landing has opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and swimming. False Cape is a mile-wide barrier spit, located between Back Bay and the Atlantic, with access (non-vehicular access!) through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

And if you have kids, trips to the Virginia Zoo, home to nearly 400 animals, will be a must, as will trips to the Virginia Marine Science Museum (with aquariums, habitats, trails, and IMAX movies) in Virginia Beach.

See our 3 Jobs in Norfolk, Virginia