Tripadvisor’s “Top Ten Things To Do” in Downtown Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA

Date: September 23, 2016 By: Joe Elder Category: Antiques

TripAdvisor is thetripadvisor-logo world’s largest travel site, enabling travelers to unleash the full potential of every trip. TripAdvisor offers advice from millions of travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools that check hundreds of websites to find the best hotel prices. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching 350 million average monthly unique visitors, and reached 385 million reviews and opinions covering 6.6 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 48 markets worldwide. TripAdvisor: Know better, Book better and Go better.

Here’s the current list (as of September 2016) of TripAdvisor’s “Top Ten Things to Do” in Downtown Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA, chosen by travelers ratings (from one to five stars) and the number of reviews. The list starts with the number 10 pick to the number one in order. Do you agree or disagree with the list? Be proactive, go to Tripadvisor’s website and add YOUR review! Here’s the link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g58083-Portsmouth_Virginia-Vacations.html

Number 10 is the Portsmouth Pavilion– Is a 6,500 capacity outdoor concert venue located in downtown Portsmouth. The Pavilion commodore-theater-theatre-portsmouth-va-olde-towne-frontproduces and presents a broad spectrum of concerts and events, connects audiences to the inspirational power of music and helps new generations of listeners discover the wonder of music and live performance. Portsmouth Pavilion invites audiences and artists to celebrate the joy of live music, the power of community, and the magic of the Pavilion. The covered outdoor Pavilion is located on the banks of the Elizabeth River in downtown Portsmouth and provides one of the best live entertainment experiences in the Hampton Roads area. 16 Crawford Circle Phone: 757-393-8181 Website: http://www.pavilionconcerts.com/

Number 9 is the Railroad Museum of Virginia– Located at Court Street and Wythe Street, the Railroad Museum of Virginia is composed of exhibits and artifacts about the history of railroads and their people as a very important part of Virginia and America’s history. The Museum will be used for the enjoyment and education of the people of Virginia of all ages with a particular emphasis on the education of children. The Museum is also available for special events and field trips. Operating Hours: Friday & Saturday 10:00am – 4:00pm Court Street and Wythe Street . 757-335-2284.
Website: http://www.railroadmuseumofvirginia.com/

Number 8 is Way Back Yonder Antiques– Since 1991, Way Back Yonder has offered a fine selection of quality antiques to customers the world over. Our inventory is collected from the local area, we select only the best to offer our customers. We are a general line antique store with an emphasis on quality, with an inventory that includes items from antiquity to the 20th century, furniture, accessories, lighting, glassware, pottery, porcelains, ceramics, metal and wooden wares, estate silver of both sterling and plate, estate and costume jewelry, coins, collectibles, and other curiosities. 462 Washington Street. Phone: 757 398-2700
Email: waybackyonder@aol.com

Number 7 is The Hill House– Imagine a family went for an afternoon stroll and never returned home…This is what if feels like in The Hill House Museum is a historic home in Portsmouth, Virginia, furnished entirely with family belongings from 19th and 20th centuries. 221 North Street. Phone: 757 393-0241
Website: http://www.thehillhousemuseum.org/

Number 6 is the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum– Established in 1966, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum honors nascarmore than 350 Virginia athletes, coaches, administrators, educators and journalists who have made a major impact on the world of sports. (TAKE AN ONLINE TOUR) The Hall of Fame honors great champions and celebrates the great characters of Virginia’s rich sports history. The interactive family-friendly environment features college sports, media, Olympics, golf, auto racing and Redskins exhibits along with hands-on baseball, basketball, football, soccer and auto racing activities. The Hall is one of only about 16 official state sports halls of fame in the country. More than 45 National Hall of Famers are among its ranks, as are more than 30 of the Top 50 athletes of the century recognized by Sports Illustrated. 206 High Street. Phone: 757 393-8288 Website: http://www.vshfm.com/

Number 5 is the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum– Exploring the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum in Virginia is a panoramic experience, covering over 250 years of Portsmouth’s history.
Come explore the fascinating history of America’s oldest and largest naval shipyard, which is located on the Portsmouth, Virginia waterfront.
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 (EX-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 drydock, which is still in use. At its peak during WWII, the yard employed nearly 43,000 workers.
Founded in 1767 as the Gosport Shipyard, its name was changed during the Civil War to the Norfolk Navy Yard, and later the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. (“Norfolk” was chosen because, at the time, there was already a Portsmouth Navy Yard in New Hampshire.)Naval Shipyard Museum
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum offers a unique perspective on U.S. history, from Colonial to Civil War times and beyond. You’ll find beautiful ship models, uniforms, military artifacts and exhibits portraying life in 18th, 19th and 20th century Portsmouth, Virginia.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum is closed for renovations, and plans to reopen early 2017.   2 High Street. 757 393-8591.
Website: http://www.portsmouthnavalshipyardmuseum.com/

Number 4 is the Lightship Portsmouth Museum– In 1989, the Lightship PORTSMOUTH was designated a National Historic Landmark. Now a museum, the ship’s quarters are fitted out realistically anating artifacts, uniforms, photographs, models, and other curious items. 521 Middle Street. 757 393-8591
Website: http://www.portsmouthnavalshipyardmuseum.com/

Number 3 is Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Art Gallery– Welcome to the world’s most unique and diversified nautical store! custom-made-nauticalSkipjack offers a focused collection of authentic maritime antiques, fine original marine art, custom nautical furniture and furnishings, Skipjack’s apparel, jewelry and other custom nautical/coastal inspired products. 620 High Street. 757-399-5012.
Website: www.skipjacknauticalwares.com

Number 2 is The Commodore Theatre– A luxuriously restored 1945 Art Deco style motion picture theatre presenting first run films with a fine dining restaurant within the main auditorium. 421 High Street. 24/7 info: 757-393-6962.
Website: www.commodoretheatre.com

The Number One Thing To Do in Downtown Olde Towne Portsmouth VA, is The Children’s Museum of Virginia– The Children’s Museum of Virginia is a place where families and caregivers with children ages 1-11 are encouraged to imagine, explore, and discover together through play. Children step inside a world where bubbles grow bigger than they are, where the forces of energy electrify and spark their imagination, where they can be a farmer, a children-s-museum-ofbanker, a scientist, a star gazer and more. 221 High Street. Phone: 757-393-5258
Website: http://childrensmuseumvirginia.com/