As a coastal city with a rich history, Norfolk offers an appealing mix of scenic natural areas and manicured urban greenspaces. From expansive botanical gardens to riverfront parks to vast wildlife refuges, Norfolk’s diverse parks provide plenty of options for outdoor recreation and relaxation.
| Park Name | Features and Activities |
|---|---|
| Town Point Park | Waterfront park with festivals, concerts, and scenic views. |
| Botanical Garden | Extensive gardens, tram tours, and seasonal events. |
| Ocean View Beach Park | Beach access, live music events, and picnic areas. |
| Lafayette Park | Historic park with playgrounds and sports facilities. |
| Northside Park | Large park with sports fields, pool, and skate park. |
| Elizabeth River Trail | Scenic trail for walking, biking, and river views. |
| Plum Point Park | Natural area with trails and bird watching. |
| Lakewood Park | Family-friendly park with playground and walking paths. |
| Barraud Park | Sports fields, community center, and picnic areas. |
| Sarah Constant Beach Park | Beachfront park with relaxing environment. |
| Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center | Recreation center with gym, pool, and classes. |
| Tarrallton Park | Park with sports facilities, dog park, and playground. |
Here are the top 12 parks to visit when exploring Virginia’s historic port city of Norfolk.
Norfolk Botanical Garden
Name and Location: Norfolk Botanical Garden, 6700 Azalea Garden Rd, Norfolk, VA 23518
History and Significance: These 175-acre gardens feature thousands of plant varieties and stunning seasonal displays. Open since 1938.
What to Expect: Discover rose, butterfly, and themed gardens. Traverse trails and spot birds from the observation tower.
Visitor Information: Open daily 9am-7pm in summer. Admission $12 for adults. Trams and cafe available.
This 175-acre botanical garden is one of Norfolk’s most treasured attractions. The diverse gardens include formal rose gardens, whimsical children’s gardens, vibrant azalea gardens, and tranquil Japanese gardens complete with koi ponds.
The World of Wonders butterfly house allows up-close viewing of exotic butterflies from around the globe. The tram tour provides an informative overview of the sprawling gardens. For a family outing or romantic stroll, the Norfolk Botanical Garden delights all year-round.
Lafayette Park
Name and Location: Lafayette Park, 51 Fenchurch St, Norfolk, VA 23510
History and Significance: This quiet downtown park with a central fountain provides green space in the city since 1873.
What to Expect: Stroll along tree-lined walking paths. Bring a picnic. Let kids play at the playground. Enjoy public art.
Visitor Information: Free entry. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. 2-hour metered street parking.
Adjacent to the Lafayette River and Norfolk Naval Shipyard, this waterfront park provides scenic views of bustling harbor activity. Visitors can watch enormous naval vessels glide through the channel while strolling along the park’s 1.5-mile trail or pausing on benches.
Interpretive plaques describe the history of the shipyard and key battles fought in the area. The park also contains a memorial commemorating the French navy’s contributions during the Revolutionary War. With its prime location along the downtown riverfront, Lafayette Park is a peaceful yet lively urban oasis.
North Shore Riverfront Park
Name and Location: North Shore Riverfront Park, 1101 Riverside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510
History and Significance: This downtown park along the Elizabeth River opened in 2015 as part of the city’s revitalization efforts.
What to Expect: Stroll the riverwalk, have a picnic, and enjoy scenic views of the Norfolk skyline from the piers and benches.
Visitor Information: Free entry. Open daily dawn to dusk. Paid street and lot parking nearby.
Stretching for nearly one mile along the downtown waterfront, this riverfront park boasts stunning views of Norfolk’s skyline. Visitors can stroll the waterside boardwalk, lounge in shaded hammocks, or let kids burn off energy at the nautically themed playground.
The centerpiece is the Battleship Wisconsin docked right next to the park, which visitors can tour. Seasonal events include yoga classes, movie nights on the lawn, and harborfest celebrations. For city skyline views and waterfront access, the scenic North Shore Riverfront Park is a top pick.
Hermitage Museum and Gardens
Name and Location: Hermitage Museum & Gardens, 7637 North Shore Rd, Norfolk, VA 23518
History and Significance: This early 20th century home displays artwork on 12 acres of formal Elizabethan gardens.
What to Expect: Tour the historic home and admire fountains, boxwoods and rose gardens outside. Peacocks roam the grounds.
Visitor Information: Open Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm. Admission $12 adults.
Once the 1907 country estate of a prosperous Norfolk family, this historic site allows visitors to experience an early 20th century estate. The museum within the restored Arts and Crafts mansion contains furnishings, artwork, and dècor portraying life during the Gilded Age.
Outside, visitors can explore the estate’s formal gardens showcasing ornamentals and seasonal displays ranging from spring bulbs to fall foliage. Lectures, workshops, and special events add to the appeal. For a glimpse of Norfolk’s extravagant past, the Hermitage Museum is a treat.
Forest Lawn Cemetery
Name and Location: Forest Lawn Cemetery, 1504 Colley Ave, Norfolk, VA 23517
History and Significance: This 226-acre cemetery serves as an arboretum with over 60 tree species, opened in 1894.
What to Expect: Walk the winding paths to admire old trees and sculptures. Historic burial grounds provide tranquil scenery.
Visitor Information: Open daily 8am-5pm. Free self-guided walking tours. Map at office.
While cemeteries may seem an unconventional choice, Forest Lawn Cemetery’s sprawling arboretum-like grounds provide a peaceful urban wilderness filled with fascinating artwork and architecture. The crests of hills within the cemetery offer panoramic city views.
Notable memorials and mausoleums honoring Norfolk residents offer a glimpse into the city’s past. Visitors also enjoy watching wildlife like deer, squirrels, and a diverse array of birds that call the cemetery home. Forest Lawn’s well-tended grounds create a tranquil respite from city life.
Newport News Park
Name and Location: Newport News Park, 13560 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA 23603
History and Significance: This huge 8,000+ acre park offers recreational activities from hiking to boating on the reservoir.
What to Expect: Hike or bike scenic wooded trails. Rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, or pontoon boats to explore the reservoir.
Visitor Information: Open daily 8am-dusk. Entry $4 per vehicle weekday, $5 weekends. Activity fees apply.
Located in nearby Newport News, this massive 8,000-acre park provides plenty of fun for outdoorsy visitors to the region. Activities include kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, biking, and fishing on the park’s 230-acre freshwater lake.
There are over 100 campsites, cabins, and yurts that allow for camping immersed in nature. Ten miles of multi-use trails cater to hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. For a scenic dose of the great outdoors without leaving southeastern Virginia, Newport News Park is an ideal choice.
Norfolk Botanical Garden Eagle Cam
Name and Location: Norfolk Botanical Garden, 6700 Azalea Garden Rd, Norfolk, VA 23518
History and Significance: This live webcam provides a real-time look at a bald eagle nest at the gardens.
What to Expect: Watchparent eagles care for eggs and eaglets up close via this 24/7 footage from the nest. See nature unfold.
Visitor Information: Free online access. Streaming Jan-June during nesting season. Video highlights on YouTube.
While not a physical park, this live streaming webcam offers unique access to nature from anywhere with an internet connection. The webcam provides real-time views of a bald eagle nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden, allowing viewers to observe intimate eagle behaviors.
Zooming capabilities make it easy to get a close-up view of eaglets hatching, being fed by attentive parents, and making their first flights from the nest. Interpretive materials enrich the experience. The Norfolk eagle cam provides an up-close safari-like opportunity.
Lafayette Dog Park
Name and Location: Lafayette Dog Park, 51 Fenchurch St, Norfolk, VA 23510
History and Significance: This downtown fenced dog park first opened in 2003 within historic Lafayette Park.
What to Expect: Let your dog play off-leash in the secured areas with separate spaces for large and small dogs. Bring waste bags.
Visitor Information: Free entry. Open daily sunrise to sunset. Street parking available nearby.
Nestled along the Lafayette River, this spacious nine-acre park provides a fun off-leash area for Norfolk’s canine residents and visitors. The park features designated spaces for large and small breed dogs to romp, play fetch, and socialize safely. Shady trees and benches give human companions places to relax.
Water fountains including a doggy shower help keep pets cool. Organized Yappy Hours with snacks for dogs and owners add to the tail-wagging good times. For furry friends, Lafayette Dog Park is a local gem.
North Landing River Park
Name and Location: North Landing River Natural Area Preserve, 1501 Mill Dam Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457
History and Significance: This undeveloped 725-acre park preserves coastal habitat along the North Landing River.
What to Expect: Hike wooded trails to the riverbank. Spot birds and wildlife in untouched maritime forest. Access the river by canoe.
Visitor Information: Open daily dawn to dusk. Free entry. No facilities. Park near trailheads off Mill Dam Road.
Encompassing 381 acres bordering the North Landing River, this park protects open green space in Virginia Beach while offering recreational opportunities. Amenities include over five miles of trails for hiking and cycling, fishing access points, canoe/kayak launch sites, and primitive campsites.
The park’s trails connect to the larger Southeastern Virginia Greenway Trail. With options for camping, paddling, fishing, and more, the park provides the perfect destination for nature lovers in the region.
Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve
Name and Location: Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, 810 Atlantc St, Portsmouth, VA 23704
History and Significance: This urban wilderness area protects wetland and woodland habitats, opened in 1993.
What to Expect: Hike over 3 miles of trails and boardwalks while birdwatching and observing wildlife and plants.
Visitor Information: Free entry. Trails open daily 8am-5pm. Visitor center open Tue-Sat 9am-5pm.
This 142-acre nature preserve surrounded by urban Norfolk provides a scenic oasis for wildlife appreciation. A ADA-accessible boardwalk winds through wetland habitats to scenic overlooks and two small beaches along the creek. Over 200 bird species utilize the preserve during migrations.
Visitors might spot herons, egrets, osprey, falcons, hawks, ducks, geese and other wetland birds. Interpretive signs describe the creatures and native plants. For convenient wildlife watching minus the hike, Hoffler Creek Preserve offers prime access to nature.
Town Point Park
Name and Location: Town Point Park, 1 Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510
History and Significance: Situated along the Elizabeth River, this downtown park has welcomed visitors since 1752.
What to Expect: Stroll riverfront paths, admire public art and fountain, relax on benches, and enjoy free concerts at the pavilion.
Visitor Information: Park open daily sunrise to sunset. Free 2-hour parking along river.
Set along the banks of the Elizabeth River right in downtown Norfolk, this scenic park provides glimpses of both historic landmarks and natural beauty. Lush gardens, open lawns, and towering trees make it a popular spot for community events and leisurely strolling.
Visitors can admire views of downtown and the mighty Battleship Wisconsin docked just offshore. The placid river attracts boaters, kayakers, and stand up paddleboarders. Public art, historical markers, and a restored pier round out the amenities of this urban waterfront oasis.
Conclusion
Norfolk’s parks encompass everything from formal gardens and urban waterfronts to vast wilderness preserves and wildlife habitats. Visitors will find just the right natural escape within the city limits, whether seeking history, scenery, or adventurous recreation. When getting outdoors in Norfolk, these top parks guarantee memorable experiences surrounded by the city’s natural beauty.