Everything, Including Dolphins

A couple of weeks ago, we decided to spend the Labor Day weekend in the Tidewater (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, and other cities) area.  For a while last week, it was looking like Tropical Storm/Hurricane Ernesto would force a change in plans.  Thursday night, neither of us were optimistic, but we decided to hold off on making a decision until the absolute last minute (Friday at Noon, so we could cancel the hotel without a penalty).

 

Even Friday morning, the weather forecasts were not looking too good.  However, we decided that worst case scenario, we would enjoy a few museums and the indoor pool at the hotel.  We made it through the rain, wind, and down trees Friday night and set out to find some relaxation.  Speaking of trees, the Virginia DOT needs to think about their clearing policies and realize that when they move trees out of the way, they do not need to leave them less than an inch from lanes of traffic.

 

The Omni we stayed at in Newport News was great.  It started off a little shaky, as they did not have the room type we requested.  They did compensate with free breakfast the next day.  Eventually, we got the room type we wanted, and they even discounted the rate we were quoted, so it was an overall positive experience.  The pool was a little cool for being indoors, but the whirlpool was perfect.

 

Saturday morning arrived with a little rain.  We decided to go to Virginia Beach first, thinking we would spend half a day there and then go to Norfolk.  We first hit the boardwalk and enjoyed the morning quiet.  The storm had passed, so the weather was pleasant, though a little dreary.  The highlight was getting to see dolphins in the distance break the surface from time to time.  If Mandy can see dolphins when she visits the coast, it is worth the trip.

 

We ended up spending the day in Virginia Beach, with the weather clearing up and sunning up by mid afternoon.  We visited the Edgar Cayce Center (which Mandy can discuss in more detail) and the Virginia Aquarium (nice, but not worth the money unless you buy a discount ticket), then had dinner along the boardwalk.  The meal wasn't great, but the location was nice.  Our worst experience of the trip occurred after dinner, when we found that our car, which we left with the valet, was still sitting where I had parked it WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION.  For some reason, the valet did not understand why I did not give him a tip.  While I do not want to criticize the food at Angelo's by the Sea, I recommend you do not use their valet service.

 

Sunday found ourselves enjoying the fine cuisine of Waffle House, then going to the Nauticus facility in Norfolk.  The best two parts of the center, the Naval Museum and the Battleship U.S.S. Wisconsin, are free.  The part we paid for, the maritime center, was not as great, except that we got to see sharks, stingrays, and a few other sea creatures.  We didn't mind it, however, as the rest of the visit justified the tickets.

 

Our trip concluded with a pass through of Williamsburg on the way home.  It was too late in the day to take the tour of Colonial Williamsburg, but we still stopped by the Visitors Center and had supper at a very good local restaurant ( The Yorkshire).  From there, it was a quiet, peaceful, calm weather trip back to Manassas.

 

Another highlight of the trip was crossing the Chesapeake Bay near Norfolk at dusk Saturday night.  The sunset and its accompanying mixture of colors were picturesque and elegant.  Overall, the trip was worth it, as it enabled us to visit another part of Virginia, spend some time near the ocean, relax, and enjoy the last remnants of summer in proper fashion.