Photo Blog: Virginia Beach & Norfolk, VA
Tour: Virginia Beach & Norfolk, VA
Tour Dates: April 22-25, 2025
Tour Director: Karen Coffey
Tour Director Highlights: The Norfolk Botanical Gardens are a joy to the senses as you ride the tram through this park. It is a feast for the eyes to see the beauty and intensity of the flowers in bloom along with the creative trunks and roots of the older trees in the gardens.
The Military Aviation Museum is packed with planes from all the wars in hangers around the campus. We had a guided tour with lots of history. It is sobering to think of soldiers flying all kinds of planes…many of the forerunners of the whole aviation movement. Walking through the Nauticus, and especially the Battleship Wisconsin, really makes to you appreciate the sacrifices that were made for our freedom! Those young men lived in tiny bunk rooms on a BIG ship! So amazing.
An old sailing ship gave us a ride around the harbor in Annapolis where they narrated about the ships in the harbor, as well as, interesting facts. It’s relaxing and informative, and some of us even helped “hoist the sails”!
Truly the highlight of this trip is the Tattoo! In the early 17th century, soldiers enjoying a reprieve from the seas would have a signal of drummers or trumpeters to instruct innkeepers near military garrisons to stop serving beer and get the soldiers back to their posts. “Doe de tap toe (Turn off the tap)!)” Today, those drums and trumpets have become a display of amazing military bands from all around the world. It is an indescribable event, made more special this year as the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Army and Navy was a part of the 800+ musicians from around the world. All congregate in the hall for the last playing of taps, then the final piece is “Amazing Grace”…complete with bagpipes, drums, and all the bands. Three outstanding singers took turns singing it in three different languages while accompanied by a large choir. Goose bumps!
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