US - Norfolk & VA Beach
I mean I get it. It’s got some old areas. It’s got some quaint areas. It’s got some up and coming areas. The problem is simple, Norfolk is all over the place. There are too many areas, and you can’t walk from one to another. Even their harbor area isn’t fully developed. I’ll never understand this. Why can’t we fully develop one area and then move on to the next.
Granby street is the prime example of this. It has pockets of promise, that then disappear for a few blocks only to pop up again later.
Basically, they are working on it, and I need to go back when things are more filled in.
VA Beach is completely different than Norfolk. Have you seen their real estate prices btw?! Out of this world. But anyway, it remains a perfectly fine beach visit and has come a long way since its down trodden days of my youth.
At the end of the day the vast majority of it is classic boardwalk beachfront, but there are many spots of hope and I can still find fun with a hot dog and an arcade. I certainly hope that never changes.
*Note to self, if you rent one of those ridiculous multiperson bikes again we are done. You have done it in Orlando and now you have done it here. It’s terrible. Literally jogging would be preferable to that torture.
Moxy VA Beach - Aug 2023
It’s a perfectly fine Moxy. Our suite was roomy but it has no separate room. The balcony was huge and the ocean front worked well, but in va beach the boardwalk is just for walking and even the closest rooms are too far away to hear waves.
I prefer the Marriott because it’s nice and the Navy Jets fly right over your head.
The Moxy is walkable to a couple restaurants but I’m not sure that’s reason enough. Typical cool Moxy lobby with a fun but tiny pool.
If you don’t get the ocean front suite I don’t think you should stay here.
Marriott Ocean Front VA Beach - Jul 2020
The new Marriott ocean front is pretty rad actually. We got the one bedroom suite and I’d probably say the rooms are the worst feature of the hotel. They are fine don’t get me wrong, and certainly better than 99% of options on a boardwalk style beach, but the grounds scream they want this to feel south beachy, then you get to the room and it’s mainly just business class style. Bathrooms were big and I liked how they connnected to the bedroom and living room, super helpful with a kid. The JR suites did not have separate bedrooms (but they can have balconies unlike the one bedrooms) so keep that in mind next time.
*All balconies on the south facing corners are twice as big as the ones facing north (facing away from va beach center). The suites are way bigger rooms though, way bigger.
Mini fridge is empty, tv only had online streaming, but the room service menu was ample.
The restaurant downstairs was great, and handled the Covid 19 problems well. Pool was also great and the indoor option worked well when we felt outdoors got too crowded. The beach chair service was also nice.
The Cavalier across the street is super nice and very south beachy, but it’s more regal and grand than modern. Almost our style for sure but the kid sealed the deal on staying on the beach. The cavalier only has an indoor pool on site, but they’ve built this pretty rad and private to the hotel beach club across the street right next to the Marriott pool area. It’s nice but being across the street ain’t the easiest oh shit I forgot something in the room location. Plus the beach club had zero kids items on their menus so that kinda showed we made the right call.
Had an outstanding experience at Becca for dinner in the cavalier. They swung for the fences (in va beach) on design of this cool restaurant. The outdoor grounds were great and outside of the flies I was very impressed. Great service, good food, and overall a stellar atmosphere.
On our way out the cav was showing ET on an inflatable screen on their lawn. Very family friend and a super nice touch.
We went back and had great dinner inside in one of their pricate rooms for my birthday later on in 2020. Again very impressed.
Great Wolf Lodge - Feb 2022
Usually we only find ourselves in this area for Busch Gardens…and if you haven;t been to hallowscream you must go! (and always pay for skip the line). This time we wanted a place for the kids in a gloomy part of the winter.
We got the Grizzly Bear Suite - this was one of the only rooms, themed or otherwise, that had 2 separate rooms connected by a common area, so for 2 families it worked out great. Most suites are 1 separate bedroom and then the other beds are in the common area. The only problem was that the 2 separate rooms was an advantage, but the largest bed option was a queen, there were 2 in one room and 1 in the other and a fold out sofa in the common room. Soooooo…crap.
Anyway, to be clear, this is not, truly not, nice. This is fine. This is doable. This is for the kids.
The dining options were probably worse than you’d expect. We did go to their next door, pseudo in the family, full service casual restaurant, because we couldn’t hack the on site buffet. It was a fine experience. I felt bad for them because the owners are so inexperienced and it could be good.
We did go to Casa Pearl in Williamsburg proper. You should go to Casa Pearl. Cool spot.
Marriott Waterside Norfolk - Jul 2015
I mean come on…no mini bar, no water bottles, room service appeared to be only breakfast and only until 11am, and they had pay per view but of course no porn. Bathroom was meh as well.
Their premier restaurant “Shula’s” was run by ridiculous people who shut the damn thing down and wouldn’t let us in when they were half full…plus the douchebag running the door was a total douchebag.
I would say the location is about as good as it gets in Norfolk…
Notes
-Having a lobby store to supplement your lack of anything in the rooms was perhaps the only redeeming thing about the rooms.
-The valet dudes were efficient and nice.