The Itinerary at a Glance
Southeastern Virginia is a hotbed for visual and culinary arts. Talented craftspeople and nationally recognized chefs attract international visitors, and your group members (and their taste buds) will be overjoyed at what Norfolk has to offer. Looking for contemporary galleries and public art installations? Consider a stroll through the NEON District, a collection of studios for over 20 local artists. Want to explore 18th century Virginia history? The Moses Myers House and Willoughby-Baylor House will bring the 1790s to life. Your group can finish a day at these or many other Norfolk attractions with a local wine tasting. Establishments like the Mermaid Winery and Press 626 ensure you’ll get a vino fix while experiencing the historic downtown. You can even become a painter yourself at Pinot’s Palette, where local artists will guide you step-by-step to create a keepsake to commemorate your trip.
3 Unique Experience on This Trip
- View 5,000 years of art history at the Chrysler Museum of Art
- Experience Virginia’s first urban winery at the Mermaid Winery
- Take a guided tour at d’Art Center
Duration: 3 Days
Available: Year-round
This Itinerary is Ideal For: Adults over 21
Itinerary Details
Day 1 – The Best of Norfolk Art
The Chrysler Museum of Art Glass Studio brings you face to face with some of the greatest glass artists as they create handcrafted pieces from start to finish. Watch artists from around the world and learn from their expert techniques and demonstrations. Become a glass artist and take a no-experience-necessary class to get a taste of the magic of glass. Try your hand at blown/sculpted glass eggs, flameworked jewelry, wine glass charms and fused-glass coasters.
Stroll through 5,000 years of art history at the Chrysler Museum of Art, home to Walter Chrysler Jr.’s world-class collection of more than 30,000 art pieces. The museum features a world-renowned Tiffany glass collection, Art Nouveau furniture and works of art from African, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian, Islamic and Asian cultures. The museum also offers an extensive European and American collection of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts.
Sip over 50 wines from around the world at Press 626 Wine Bar. The menu will please all taste buds using only ingredients from local farms for the freshest tastes!
Day 2 – Gardens and Grapes
Relax along a tree-lined riverbank at the Hermitage Museum & Gardens. This early 20th century historic home appears frozen in time, offering visitors an extraordinary trip through antiquity. The museum and gardens consist of a world-wide art collection and contemporary exhibition galleries surrounded by twelve acres of formal gardens and natural woodlands.
Spend the afternoon antique shopping in Historic Ghent. From French country to 18th and 19th century pieces, Ghent is filled with antique shops that offer something for everyone.
You might see your own artwork hanging in the halls of the Chrysler Museum after a few sips and brush strokes at Pinot’s Palette. All you need to do is bring your friends and get ready to be inspired by local artists who will guide you step-by-step through a featured painting. You get to leave with your own masterpiece at the end of the night.
Experience Virginia’s first urban winery at the Mermaid Winery. The winery focuses on producing many small, well-balanced wines using Virginia grapes. The winemaking process can be viewed from the tasting bar where you can enjoy their creations.
Day 3 – Norfolk History and Beyond
Grab a cup of coffee and a bowl at Zeke’s Beans & Bowls in Norfolk’s arts district, the NEON District. Be on the lookout for colorful murals, sculptures, mixed media installations, projections and much more. Discover over 20 local artists and their studios with a guided tour of d’Art Center in the NEON District. The d’Art Center is an environment where working artists are a part of an interactive arts community that engages the public through the experience of art and the creative process.
End your afternoon with a visit to the Moses Myers House and the Norfolk History Museum. Both of these homes are only two blocks apart. The Moses Myers House in downtown Norfolk is the oldest Jewish home in America open to the public as a museum (constructed between 1795-1797) and offers an exceptionally accurate portrayal of life in the 18th century. The Norfolk History Museum at the Willoughby-Baylor House was built in 1794 and currently features permanent and changing exhibit galleries that highlight vignettes of the city, showcasing Norfolk’s evolving history not only as an international port and maritime center but as a focal point of commercial growth with impressive naval and military roots.
Located in downtown Norfolk, Omar’s Carriage House is sure to please! Savor fresh jumbo lump crab cakes and succulent potato crisp flounder at Omar’s contemporary bistro.
For more group travel planning advice in Virginia, be sure to download a FREE copy of the Virginia Group Tour Guide.
