Hampton Roads (Multi-Day Tour)
This tour can be combined with Washington, DC and Williamsburg travel packages

Welcome to southeastern Virginia's Hampton Roads region, the birthplace of Colonial America, where centuries of American history blend with the most modern technology, the richest culture and a breathtaking landscape surrounded by water.  With its rich history as the birthplace of America and a strong nautical heritage, Hampton Roads boasts an abundance of culturally diverse and nationally acclaimed museums and historical attractions.  Within an hour’s drive is more history, excitement and fun than can be found at any other student destination.

Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia.  Hampton Roads is notable for its huge ice-free harbor, United States Navy and United States Air Force facilities, shipbuilding and repair yards, coal piers and hundreds of miles of waterfront property and beaches, all of which contribute to the diversity of the region.  The water area of Hampton Roads is one of the world's greatest natural harbors and incorporates the mouths of the Elizabeth River and James River with several smaller rivers, and itself empties into the Chesapeake Bay near its mouth leading to the Atlantic Ocean.  The land area includes most of the cities, counties and towns in the southeastern corner of Virginia.  There are also frequent references to the ‘Five Cities,’ after the region's five major cities: (i) Hampton, (ii) Newport News, (iii) Norfolk, (iv) Portsmouth and (v) Virginia Beach, each of which is linked by the circumferential Hampton Roads Beltway.

CAPE HENRY LIGHTHOUSES

The Cape Henry Lights combined, it can be argued, are the most historic lighthouses in America.  This lighthouse location has seen and taken part in centuries of significant American history.  Located in Virginia Beach, the Cape Henry Lighthouses guard the entrance to Chesapeake Bay and is in close proximity to the spot where Captain Christopher Newport first established landfall in Virginia in 1607.  After a delayed effort by the British and State governments to build a much-needed lighthouse on this location, Alexander Hamilton secured funds on behalf of the new Federal Government and George Washington got involved directly with the project.  Washington appointed the first keeper and some reports even had Washington himself discussing the building materials to be used in the lighthouse.  Upon the light's completion in 1789, the Cape Henry Light had the distinction of being the first lighthouse built by the new Federal Government.  One of the most enjoyable things that may be associated with a visit to the Cape Henry Lights is a ride on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel that connects Cape Charles to Cape Henry.  The Bridge has been designated one of the ‘Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World’ and features an 18 mile long bridge that twice turns into a tunnel to allow large freighters to pass into the bay.  It is an incredible structure and features a restaurant and gift shop at the entrance to one of the tunnels where students will see amazing views of the Chesapeake Bay.  Today the Cape Henry Lighthouses provide a wonderful lighthouse excursion seen by thousands of students each year.  In fact, the old historic tower is open for climbing and allows for great elevated shots of the surrounding area.

CARRIE B. HARBOR CRUISE

The Carrie B. is a replica of a 19th century Mississippi river boat, complete with Paddlewheel, and is the most experienced tour boat in Norfolk (the Carrie B. is fully air conditioned and heated for a controlled climate).  Cruise the site of the battle between the famous Monitor and the Merrimac and the nation’s largest naval base.  Your students will get a close look at the huge grey ladies of the Atlantic fleet, including destroyers, nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.  You might see crews playing war games, making repairs or simply waving back to you.  Watch cruise ships, supertankers and tug boats in action as they sail past.  Whether you choose one of their daily sight-seeing lunch tours or charter the Carrie B. exclusively for a dinner cruise, you will enjoy spectacular city skylines and breathtaking sights on the water.

CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART

Home to one of America’s premier permanent collections, the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk possesses more than 30,000 pieces spanning more than 5,000 years of history and offers renowned changing exhibitions as well as significant educational, cultural and art travel programming, including lectures and two films.  Two historic houses, one housing the Norfolk History Museum, poignantly bring Norfolk’s history to life.  Located on the Hague Inlet of the historic Elizabeth River, the Chrysler Museum includes the largest art reference library in the southeast – the jean Outland Chrysler Library – as well as the Museum Theatre, Cuisine & Company Restaurant and Museum shop.

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY MUSEUM

The Hampton University Museum is a unique institution and a national treasure.  Located in Hampton in the heart of the historic Hampton University campus the Museum is the oldest African American museum in the United States and one of the oldest museums in the state of Virginia.  The collections feature over 9,000 objects including African American fine arts, traditional African, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Island and Asian art, as well as objects relating to the history of the University.  The Museum brings its remarkable collection to the public through an array of educational initiatives including permanent and changing exhibitions, the Children’s Curiosity Room, the Center for African American History and Life, Kids Korner (a story time), publications, lectures, symposia and art workshops.  The Museum also offers a wide assortment of hand-made crafts and other items relating to the collection through its Museum Shop.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

LIGHTSHIP PORTSMOUTH MUSEUM

The United States Lightship Service was started in 1820.  Similar to lighthouses and buoys, lightships were navigational aids.  The lights atop their masts were similar to those in lighthouses but their portability made them much more versatile.  The Lightship Portsmouth was built in 1915.  She served for 48 years off the coasts of Virginia, Delaware and Massachusetts helping mariners avoid dangerous shoals or enter safely into harbors at night.  In 1964 she was retired to Portsmouth and renamed according to the custom of naming lightships after the site where they are stationed.  In 1989 the Lightship Portsmouth was designated a National Historic Landmark.  Now a museum, the ship’s quarters are fitted out realistically and filled with fascinating artifacts, uniforms, photographs, models and more.

MARINER’S MUSEUM

The Mariner’s Museum in Newport News is one of the largest and most comprehensive maritime history museums in the world.  For over 70 years the Mariner’s Museum has illustrated the sprit of seafaring adventure, assembling a renowned and strikingly diverse collection of maritime artifacts including intricately carved figureheads, miniature ship models from acclaimed carver August Crabtree, rare examples of folk art, over 125 boats from around the world in the International Small Craft Center and much more.  And now the remains of one of the most famous ships in history, the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor.  Opened in the spring of 2007, the USS Monitor Center is a $30 million, 63,500 square foot facility that enthralls students with exciting exhibits, houses state-of-the-art conservation labs, brings students face-to-face with history and offers historians rich resources for research.  Recovered artifacts, original documents, paintings, personal accounts and interactive experiences portray an exciting picture of the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia.  Students will be able to walk on the deck of the full-scale replica of the USS Monitor, try their hand at maneuvering a sailing frigate in battle and walk down a mock pier between a wooden frigate and the Ironclad CSS Virginia.

For the nature lovers in your group, the Museum is set on a 550-acre park (the nation’s largest privately maintained park).  Rolling woodlands, 167-acre Lake Maury and five mile Noland Trail make this a true urban oasis.  The Mariner’s Museum is an official site on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail and students can take advantage of their interactive backpack program to learn about topics ranging from the history of the park, its plants and animals, to environmental concerns.  Whatever your desires, bring your imagination and your love of history and adventure.  Classroom programs, guided or self-guided tours and scavenger hunts are available for students and programs are designed to meet national Standards of Learning.

NAUTICUS, THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM

Offering a fun and exciting educational experience for students of all ages, Nauticus, the National Maritime Museum Center located on the downtown Norfolk waterfront, features exciting hands-on exhibits that explore the naval, economic and natural power of the sea.  Nauticus’ uniqueness is evident throughout its 120,000 square foot building.  Feel the unique texture of a nurse shark’s skin, touch a tornado, design a battleship or participate in a simulated naval battle aboard an Aegis-class destroyer.  Plus, experience a main deck tour of the Battleship Wisconsin – one of the largest battleships built by the United States Navy.

While on site at Nauticus, be sure to visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Education Resource Center and check out some of NOAA’s engaging exhibits including Science on a Sphere – a dynamic six foot globe that displays 3D animated images of our oceans and atmosphere.  The Hampton Roads Naval Museum, located on Nauticus’ second floor, examines more than two centuries of naval activity in and around the Hampton Roads harbor.  Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Battleship Wisconsin, the Naval Museum also presents a chronology of the ship’s history in Wisky Walk: Fifty Years of Service.  Students can relive the naval battles and events that took place in Norfolk and helped shape the nation's history through the museum's exhibits.  Battles like those off the Virginia Capes during the American Revolution, Civil War (the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia), World War II and Desert Storm are illustrated through detailed ship models, naval artwork, underwater artifacts and traditional exhibits.  Complementing the maritime experience is the Banana Pier Gift Shop and Iron Whale Café on site.  Explore the power of the sea and don’t miss the real Norfolk story.

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK

Norfolk is the proud home of the largest naval base in the world.  Naval Station Norfolk occupies about 4,300-acres of Hampton Roads real estate on a peninsula known as Sewells Point.  Port facilities extend more than four miles along the waterfront and include some seven miles of pier and wharf space.  Seventy five ships and 134 aircraft are home-ported here and when they are not at sea they're alongside one of the 13 piers or inside one of the 11 aircraft hangars for repair, refit, training and to provide the ship's or squadron's crew an opportunity to be with their families.  Your 45-minute tour is conducted by Naval personnel and students will have an opportunity to see aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, large amphibious ships, submarines, supply ships, airplanes and helicopters.  The tour also features historic homes from the 1907 Jamestown Exposition, a 300th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the first permanent English settlement in America in 1607.  Twenty one states constructed buildings that celebrated their history and industry.  Pennsylvania House, a replica of Independence Hall, is one of several state houses that are still standing at the Naval Station.

NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDEN

Norfolk Botanical Garden provides an educational experience while entertaining students of all ages.  More than 20,000 students are reached every year at the Garden by programs, classes and Norfolk Botanical Garden lectures.  From its humble beginnings to its status as a nationally recognized garden that attracts visitors from around the world, Norfolk Botanical Garden has experienced amazing growth.  Today the Norfolk Botanical Garden is an ideal setting for students.  It is an oasis of green smack dab in the middle of Hampton Roads but worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Come on out and let one of their Garden Teachers lead your class to some of the hotspots for an hour, then hop on board the Critter Crawler Tram for a 30-minute cruise with one of their Garden Guides who will show you all 155 beautiful acres.  The Norfolk Botanical Garden is unlike other gardens around the country because it is practically an island.  Take advantage of their uniqueness by scheduling a Lakes Alive tour that puts your class onboard one of our Garden Boats taking them through the canal system and out onto Lake Whitehurst.  While onboard, a Garden Teacher will use various instruments to teach students about fresh water ecology, the lake as an ecosystem and the Chesapeake Watershed.

OLDE TOWNE LANTERN TOUR

As a city is dedicated to preserving its heritage, Portsmouth presents an architectural view unrivaled in elegance and diversity.  Colonial. Federal. Greek Revival. Georgian. Victorian.  The Olde Towne Historic District encompasses in a single square mile one of the largest collections of antique homes.  There is nothing as beautiful as Olde Towne at twilight.  Gentle breezes rustle ancient trees as lights twinkle from the boats on Crawford Bay and lanterns give a warm glow to cobblestone streets.  Discover legends, folklore and architecture on your walking tour.  Guides in period clothing will share Portsmouth’s history of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD MUSEUM

Come explore the fascinating history of America’s oldest and largest naval shipyard.  During the Revolutionary War the shipyard was described by the British as ‘the most considerable one in America.’  It’s been burned three times by retreating armies because of its strategic importance.  Many historic ships have been built here, including the CSS Virginia (Merrimac), the first ironclad to engage in battle, the nation’s first battleship, the Texas, and the world’s first aircraft carrier, the Langley.  The shipyard is also home to the country’s first dry-dock which is still in use.  The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum offers a unique perspective on United States history from Colonial to Civil War times and beyond.  Students will find beautiful ship models, uniforms, military artifacts and exhibits portraying life in 18th, 19th and 20th century Portsmouth.

SPIRIT OF NORFOLK

In an area blessed with hundreds of ways to play on the water, a dining cruise aboard the Spirit of Norfolk is one experience you should not miss.  Docked at the Waterside Marketplace in downtown Norfolk, this year-round harbor cruise ship offers one of the most entertaining and affordable lunch and dinner packages in town, complete with a close-up of the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet.  An afternoon or evening filled to the brim with wonderful food, live music and dancing.  This is the ultimate Norfolk experience.

UNITED STATES ARMY TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM

The Army Transportation Museum in Newport News is devoted entirely to the history of the United States Army transportation from colonial days to the present.  It offers a unique glimpse of the importance of logistical support of the Army and is a must when visiting the Virginia Peninsula.  The Museum complex occupies six acres inside Fort Eustis.  Nearly 100 full sized vehicles, amphibians and tugboats, aircraft, rail rolling stock and experimental craft can be seen.  The gift shop within the Museum offers a large variety of transportation related gift, souvenirs and models.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

VIRGINIA AIR & SPACE CENTER & IMAX THEATRE

Located in Hampton, the birthplace of America’s space program, the Virginia Air & Space Center features dozens of hands-on air and space exhibits, a premiere interactive aviation gallery that spans 100 years of flight, more than 30 historic aircraft, unique space flight artifacts and more.  Student’s imaginations will soar as they launch a rocket, pilot a space shuttle, become an air traffic controller, fly an airplane or climb aboard a World War II bomber.  Come face to face with the Apollo 12 Command Module that went to the moon, a Mars meteorite, a DC-9 passenger jet, a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer or take a spin on the Hampton Carousel (a restored, turn of the century carousel).  When you’re done touring the Museum, experience a 3D IMAX film in the giant-screen Riverside IMAX Theater.  There is always something new landing at the Virginia Air & Space Center.

VIRGINIA AQUARIUM / MARINE SCIENCE CENTER & IMAX THEATRE

The Virginia Aquarium / Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach hosts over 700,000 gallons of aquariums and live-animal habitats focusing on Virginia’s diverse and unique marine environment.  With more than 300 hands-on exhibits, 10-acres of marsh habitat, a 1/3 mile nature trail, two animal touch tanks and the states largest 3D IMAX Theatre, a visit to the Aquarium is not only exiting and fun but truly educational.  Animal highlights include sharks, sea turtles, harbor seals, river otters, stingrays and more.  To complete the experience at the Aquarium there are two stores and a café.  Seasonal boat trips, which include dolphin and whale watching, ocean collections and cruise creek cruises, take you to the animals for a truly educational adventure.  Take a journey of water through Virginia's marine environment and catch a glimpse into a world seldom seen by many.  The Virginia Aquarium / Marine Science Center – it’s a life experience.

VIRGINIA LIVING MUSEUM

View endangered red wolves.  Get up close to a loggerhead turtle and moon jellies.  See fish with no eyes and frogs that change colors.  Touch live spider crabs and fossilized dinosaur tracks.  At the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, living exhibits depict Virginia’s natural heritage from the mountains to the sea with over 250 living species.  Experience a steamy cypress swamp and a cool mountain stream.  Explore the underwater world of the Chesapeake Bay and the underground realm of a limestone cave.  Touch famous Bay creatures, plus enjoy hands-on activities.  See spectacular views of the sun from the observatory and travel the universe in the Planetarium Theatre.  Outdoors, stroll the ¾ mile elevated boardwalk to view animals in naturalized habitats and native plants.  Whatever you decide upon, the Virginia Living Museum is a wonderful hands-on educational experience for students of all ages.

VIRGINIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM

Located in Portsmouth, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum was established in 1972 to celebrate Virginia’s contributions to the world of sports – past and present.  A unique, interactive, student-friendly learning environment, the Hall of Fame is one of only 16 state halls in the United States and is one of the few that offers a wide variety of educational programs for students of all ages.  The Hall features college sports, media, Olympic, gold, auto racing and football exhibits.  In the Sportsplex students can test their speed to see if they are ready for the big leagues as radar measures how fast they can throw a baseball.  Then see how much the size, shape and weight of a ball makes a difference as students experiment with speed by throwing various balls the same distance.  Learn how the force of gravity and friction affect a soccer ball and see what it takes to overcome their power.  Then predict the angle of a football thrown to reach an intended receiver.  Visit the Auto Racing room, sit behind the wheel of a NASCAR simulator, and feel what it’s like to take on the track.  After discovering the role of aerodynamics on a racecar, they’ll realize it is not as simple as it looks.  From the effects of DNA on performance, to the aerodynamics of a baseball, to the effects of sugar and fat intake on the body, teachers and students alike are engaged and educated.  At the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum students can play their way into sports history and learn a lot about the world along the way.

VIRGINIA ZOO

A world of awe and wonder awaits.  Come stroll along its towering boardwalk on a walking safari through Africa where you’ll see animals big and small living in their naturalistic habitat.  See the majestic giraffes, magnificent elephants and kingly lions.  Keep a look out for rhinos and tigers, too! They have monkeys to delight you, mandrills to amaze you, ostriches and almost 350 more incredible creatures from snakes and sloths to a bongo and a seven pound lizard.  The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is a delightfully pleasant and educational treat for students of all ages.

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