Interesting Tourist Attractions in Norfolk

Located in the state of Virginia, Norfolk is known to be a vibrant city full of cultural diversity, delicious cuisine, and filled with all sorts of entertainment for tourists. In its western region sits the Elizabeth River and to its northern region rests the Chesapeake Bay. Because of its proximity to these two large bodies of water, Norfolk is considered to be one of the oldest cities in Hampton Roads; a city which has a rich history and beautiful cultural ethnicity. According to the 2010 census, Norfolk houses about 245,000 residents, making it as the second most populated city after Virginia Beach. 

Because of its perfect location and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, numerous rivers, waterways covered its 144 miles of land. With that in mind, there are no surprises that the government established several maritime and naval bases in Norfolk. 

The art scene in Norfolk is also something to look forward to as it does not disappoint. Its thriving art community welcomes art enthusiasts no matter what their preferences be, lined with studies and galleries; Norfolk has a lot to offer for the artistic minds. Tourists who explored Norfolk had raved about its world-class cuisine from the traditional Southern flavors to the authentic European Cuisines- Norfolk restaurants can tickle the taste buds of every appetite. 

Tourists attractions literally lined the streets of Norfolk but there are certain places that are a must see whenever visiting this interesting city. 

Battleship Wisconsin and the Nauticus Maritime Center 

Within the waters of Norfolk floats one of the most memorable battleship ever created in the US history – Wisconsin, a decommissioned WWII Battleship operated by Nauticus. As one of the biggest battleship built for the US Navy, Wisconsin served its time during the Korean War and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Built in 1943, this massive battleship still marvels visitors from all over the world. Visitors can walk the interior of Wisconsin, a self-guided tour which people can view the series of display related to the history of this battleship. 

Victory Rover Naval Base Cruises 

If seeing one of the largest battleships isn’t enough, then the Victory Rover Naval Base Cruises is a great way to explore Norfolk waters. They have narrated tour cruise including the Portsmouth Coast Guard Station, Portsmouth Naval Hospital, and shipyards near Norfolk. Don’t miss this tourist spot as it’s the largest of its kind and it’s never easy finding one again. They take tourists on board their 150-passenger boat with snack bars and lots of stories to tell along the way. 

Chrysler Museum of Art 

With a thriving art scene, the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk is a great way to spend the day. They offer free entrance with inspirational collections of art and other unique exhibits, the museum has one of the leading glass collections in the US. Their collections can inspire people who not an avid fan of the art world. Chrysler Museum of Art has extensive art collections from ancient art, to European and American painting and contemporary art. 

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2019/05/interesting-tourist-attractions-in.html

Must-See Attractions in New Jersey South Shore

Located in the New Jersey’s southern area, New Jersey South Shore remains as one of the popular attraction in the east coast. Although there is no precise geographical boundary between North Jersey Shore and New Jersey South Shore this means there are more places for visitors to enjoy whenever visiting the place. 

As a thriving place, the New Jersey State Department of Tourism listed New Jersey South Shore as one of the six tourism regions in the state. New Jersey South Shore coastlines rest along the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay while it's inland area is still part of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Many considered New Jersey South Shore as a land of fun and charm. Spreading almost 30 miles of pure sandy beaches, New Jersey South Shore offers a lot of fun recreational activities like fishing and all sorts of water sports. 

With its amazing boardwalks, amusement parks, famous restaurants, great breweries, and a historic village, New Jersey South Shore is indeed a world class eco-tourism on its own. Travel in its southernmost part, one can find the Cape May, considered as a National Historic Landmark in the country, visitors can shop along its cobblestone streets and into the Victorian-era buildings and houses. There are about 600 Victorian styled buildings to see and anyone can dine in their top gourmet restaurants. As touristy as it may sound, here are some of the places that are hard to miss, as these are part of the whole New Jersey South Shore experience. 

Lucy the Elephant 

Let Lucy the Elephant greet you on your first day while touring a whole lot of New Jersey South Shore. This 6-story (yes you guessed it) elephant-shaped building dates back in 1881 and still considered as a waterfront landmark in the area. They offer tours and views from inside out of this quirky shaped building. Indulge yourself in a whole day of fun exploring ‘Lucy’ while shopping for some souvenir from their gift shop. They have plenty of parking spaces, so you can just pull over in this largest ‘road-side attraction in the country. 

Atlantic City Boardwalk 

Never miss the most iconic oceanfront in New Jersey, Atlantic City Boardwalk dates back from the 1870s but have a lot of shops and restaurants to choose from. You can just stroll leisurely the boardwalk and just enjoy the sights while appreciating its historical value. Go ahead and indulge yourself with some hot dog, a slice of their homemade pizza or just a couple scoops of ice cream. The ocean views are amazing and it’s worth your time to visit this place. 

Jenkinson's Boardwalk 

Another must-see attraction in New Jersey South Shore, Jenkinson's Boardwalk is known for its family-friendly rides, mini-golf courses, and arcade. If you have kids in tow, this is the place to take them, let them enjoy a variety of rides to choose from. Don’t be scared if you get depleted, there are tons of food choices along Jenkinson's Boardwalk. Locals would often recommend that you stay the whole day exploring the place so you and your kids can have a wonderful time together. 

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2019/05/must-see-attractions-in-new-jersey.html

The Best Tourists Spots in Narragansett Bay

An estuary located on the north side of Rhode Island Sound, Narragansett Bay forms the largest estuary in New England. Its home to hundreds of animal species and act as a wide natural harbor in the state of Rhode Island, some of its islands even extend as far as Massachusetts. A total of 30 islands scattered all over the Bay including Conanicut Island, Prudence Island and Aquidneck Island as the three largest islands. 

Narragansett Bay history can be traced back in the time when two different Indian tribes used to inhabit the area, the Narragansett tribe occupied the west side of the bay while the Wampanoag Tribe reside on the east side near Cape Cod. Most people considered that the Italian voyager Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first non-native people who set foot on the island. He sailed his ship La Dauphine in 1524 in Narragansett Bay after visiting New York Bay. He first called the island as Refugio, meaning the "Refuge" as it has several docking areas paving the way for open forests where it is suitable for travel "even by a large army". 

Soon after the Adriaen Block, a Dutch navigator became curious about the place and mapped Narragansett Bay in 1614. In honor of his commitment and dedication of mapping the island in its entirety, locals named the Block Island after him. 

There are more to Narragansett Bay than meets the eye, as there are several tourists spot to go around with. Here are some of the top rated places to visit in Narragansett Bay. 

Point Judith Lighthouse 

This 51-foot historical lighthouse had seen it all and was even devastated by a memorable 1815 hurricane. Even to this day, it’s a functional lighthouse and an active Coast Guard base. They had had place a designated viewing area so visitors can see the magnificent view from the lighthouse. If you are a lighthouse lover, then this is the place you will surely love in Narragansett Bay. People who had been in the place would often recommend visiting the area during the wee hours of the morning and letting the beautiful sunrise greet you. Point Judith Lighthouse has a public access beach area perfect for kite flying, sunbathing, and swimming. 

Roger W Wheeler State Beach 

Located just miles of Galilee, Roger W Wheeler State Beach or more commonly known as the Sand Hill Cove is the most perfect place for families with small children. It’s far the cleanest beach in Narragansett Bay with tiny waves your little ones will surely love. The shallow water is perfect for beginner swimmers as it heats up faster and stays warmer for a long time. Even on the busiest days, Sand Hill Cove is a delight as they have restrooms equipped with shower rooms, playground, and a lot of concession stands. Most families love it for its sands as it has fewer rocks than most beaches and plenty of parking area. Never leave the beach without first seeing the amazing sunset in Sand Hill Cove. 

Theatre by the Sea 

After swimming in Narragansett Bay famous beaches, why not delight your other senses as well in watching one of the great shows in Theatre by the Sea. The theatre had entertained countless families over the course of 60 years with Broadway musicals and new plays like Annie and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. Then enjoy the soft cool breeze after the show dining out in one of its famous restaurants. 

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2019/05/the-best-tourists-spots-in-narragansett.html

Spending Beach Time in New Jersey North Shore

Located in the coastal region in New Jersey, New Jersey North Shore encompasses about 141 miles of the great beach shore. It borders the Atlantic Ocean from Perth to Cape May Point. Known to locals only as “The Shore”, the place is famous for its numerous boardwalks, water parks, arcades, amusement parks, and its great beautiful beaches. 

The Shore is indeed a very popular destination for many people living in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. But its popularity doesn’t stop there, visitors as far as Quebec, Canada go down south to see New Jersey North Shore’s beauty. Why not? It one of the few places on earth where you can see both sunrise and sunset over the beach from different points of The Shore. 

Although it’s called New Jersey North Shore, there is no specific geographical boundary between northern and southern Jersey Shore. This only means miles and miles of pure beach fun! Some of the top places to visit in the “The Shore” include communities of Belmar, Seaside Heights, and Point Pleasant. 

Locals often recommend these places as they add more life to beach fun. Of course, whenever you go to “The Shore”, even in its tiniest nook, the place is scattered with amazing beaches. Speaking of beaches, there is a wide list of beach life in town, Sea Bright, Ocean Grove, Long Branch, Bradley Beach, Lavallette, and Belmar are all worth seeing. Here are some of the top recommendations in New Jersey North Shore. 

Spring Lake 

If you are looking for either some quiet family time together, Spring Lake is one of the most refined beach spots in the “The Shore”. Located just about 60 miles from downtown New York, it’s one of the most visited places in the area, but because of its topographical area, it doesn’t feel like it. To complete the town experience, check in at the Breakers Hotel. The hotel has undergone major renovations along with some name changes since opened its town in public sometime in the 1800s. 

Ocean City 

Ocean City is far one of the most amazing places to visit in “The Shore”. Often referred to as the “America's Greatest Family Resort”, it never leaves the place as one of the top rank beach in New Jersey. With 8 miles of beach waters, top with mind-blowing sandcastles and fun water activities it's easy why visitors love this place. Even their boardwalk is a celebrated place, it’s teeming with life even more on Thursday nights in July and Augusts which most certainly you will be entertained with live music and magicians. 

Avalon 

The towns of Stone Harbor and Avalon formed yet another great thing in “The Shore”, not just friendly camaraderie, but a wide stretch of beach shore known for kiteboarding. The cool ocean breeze in Avalon is the best in the area which the sand dunes will certainly agree on. Stroll along 96th Street into their shopping strip and you might see the best flip flop in season along with other homemade jewelry and souvenirs. Sealed the hot day with ice cream from Springer’s, with at least eight decades of perfecting this creamy goodness, it’s the best you’ll ever taste.

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2019/04/spending-beach-time-in-new-jersey-north.html

More Reasons to Visit Nantucket

In a tiny island 30 miles from Cape Cod in the state of Massachusetts, there’s a place known for its beaches adorn with majestic dunes, Nantucket is a beautiful summer destination lined with fantastic restaurants and luxury boutiques. The name Nantucket came from similar Algonquian names meaning “faraway island”, and living to its name, the town is a tourist’s destination and a summer colony. It’s laid back country style paired with the cobblestoned street, rustic cedar-shingled buildings, and century-old churches charm tourists in coming back for more. 

It’s fairly easy enough to get to Nantucket without breaking the bank; you can take the Red Line going to South Station. Once you arrived there, you can catch a Plymouth and Brockton bus to Hyannis and from Hyannis just take the Steamship Authority's ferry to Nantucket. This route is pretty much popular among tourists who come to Nantucket, as the “slow ferry”, can make out most of the journey. Enjoy the fresh air blowing from the sea, as you indulge in good old fashion commute. The ride usually takes about 2 ¼ hours but has small great amenities like café, wifi, and has good seats. But if you don’t like riding the bus or the ferry, you can always book a flight from Boston straight to Nantucket. 

Whether you are coming to see its pristine beaches or just a curious tourist for the day, there are several great destinations to explore in town. The Whaling Museum remains as one of the most popular destinations in Nantucket because of its influence as a 19th-century whaling hub. One important thing to remember, though, if you are coming during springtime, it would be nice to bring rain gears as it can get rainy or foggy in town. 

Renting a bike is a sure way to explore Nantucket thoroughly. The town has designated bicycle paths that are wide and mostly flat, so there’s no worrying about ripping a muscle in a steep ride. Most people prefer to do this as you can go wherever your feet can take you. You don’t even need to bring one, as the town is lined with bike rental shops as soon as you step on the wharves. 

Even if you only have a few hours of spare time, it's nice to check out this hidden summer destination for a day. If you are in Boston, and really wants to get away from it all, you might want to see this beautiful tiny island of Nantucket. 

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2019/04/more-reasons-to-visit-nantucket.html

Some of the Best Destinations in Myrtle Beach

Located on the East coast of Horry County in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach is known as the “The Grand Strand” of the state. Stretching about 60 miles of beach, it attracts hundreds of people swimming in its pristine waters. As one of the major centers of tourism in the state, it ranks as the second fastest growing metropolis in the US. The subtropical weather and the city’s amenities is what makes 14 million people keep coming back for more and to discover Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach is home to at least 32,240 people as of 2016 and is known for its celebrity-designed golf courses, and beachfront boardwalk. Boasting of a 60-mile long of beaches, visitors can never go bored sightseeing and exploring it many souvenirs stands, restaurants as well as it arcades. A popular tourist destination in town is the old-fashioned Family Kingdom amusement park which has the SkyWheel and the tallest Ferris Wheels in all of the US states. 

Visitors often stay all day gushing about the perfect beach weather along the string of beaches in Myrtle Beach. People can’t get enough of the southern hospitality of its local, eating the freshest seafood, and marveling at the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Families with smaller children can surely enjoy the mild waves of Myrtle Beach. The beach also has great water activities like Jet Skiing and deep-sea fishing for boating fanatics. 

It would really be fun choosing a hotel or a rental property along the shores of Myrtle Beach, as it's difficult finding a public bathroom and much more hassle finding shower rooms. Aside from going to the beach, here are some of the places worth visiting in Myrtle Beach. 

Ripley's Aquarium 

One of the most popular destinations in the country, Ripley's Aquarium has great exhibits all year round. Located along the Broadway at the Beach complex, the aquarium has a massive 340-foot underwater tunnel called the Dangerous Reef. The tunnel is home to some of the amazing fish species like tarpons, sharks, and manta rays along with green moray eels. Kids will love the interactive Discovery Center Exhibits where they can know more about the puffer fish and horseshoe crabs. The aquarium also offers a swim with stingrays experience, behind-the-scenes tours, and hosts children parties for additional fees. 

The Carolina Opry 

Since its debut in 1986, The Carolina Opry has been the main venue in Myrtle Beach for live music and shows. The best time to see any show in The Carolina Opry is during the Christmas season when they held their Christmas special events. Many who saw the show raves by its amazing performances that are Broadway quality. 

Mt. Atlanticus Miniature Golf 

As Myrtle Beach is known for its golf courses, it's mandatory to visit even just one golf course in Myrtle Beach. One of the most popular golf courses in town, Mt. Atlanticus Miniature Golf has very interesting obstacles that anyone can enjoy any day. They have real mountains and various architectural challenges in its complex 36 holes mini-golf courses. It’s a great family activity when the waves are too strong for the little ones. 

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2019/04/some-of-best-destinations-in-myrtle.html

Things to Do in Moosehead Lake

Moosehead Lake as the name suggest resembles an antlered moose. And it’s just the beginning; it was named as such because the lake has been home for countless of moose since time immemorial. People would come to the lake just to take a glimpse of a moose and it will not go home disappointed. Every day people can take pictures of a moose, lots of them effortlessly without fail.

When Henry David Thoreau and his companions arrived at the are, they were amazed in the beauty of the lake and its surroundings. Thoreau even describes the lake as “a gleaming silver platter at the end of the table”. Considered as the largest lake in Maine, Moosehead lake sits between Longfellow Mountains with its water coming from the Kennebec River. The lake hides about 80 islands with Sugar Island as the largest. It’s part of the region that includes the West branch of Penobscot, the Pleasant, the Saint John rivers, and the Piscataquis. 

There are so many reasons why you need to see Moosehead Lake as there are a number of things to do in the lake for the whole family. But is seeing the great moose out of nowhere every single day isn’t enough for you then perhaps hiking and the fall foliage may get you going in this lovely place. Moosehead Lake boasts of activities of the great outdoors all year round. 

But the first thing you need to do when you arrive at Moosehead Lake is to find some moose, as you can’t go to the lake without looking for one. The lake is home to more than 70,000 moose in the state of Maine, so chances of finding one are super real. June has the most sightings of moose throughout the year and you may need to be extra careful driving especially at night when they are known to cross streets. To even have more fun in your moose sighting adventure, the lake offers a number of moose guide and tours. 

Hiking is a huge part of Moosehead Lake region and most that come here never miss the Moosehead Pinnacle Pursuit. Part of the challenge is hiking through the six mountains in the area namely, Borestone Mountain, Number Four Mountain, Mount Kineo, Whitecap Mountain, Eagle Rock, and Big Moose Mountain. These hikes can really challenging but are very doable and rewarding as the views on top are really amazing. The bonus part of the hike is during the winter season as you can collect the Winter or Winter Ultra badge for hiking these mountains. 

The Moosehead Lake really transform into a great picturesque beauty of nature, turning forest of luscious greenery into a work of art of varying colors. Fall foliage is a time when the autumn leaves are in their most colorful; imagine leaves of different colors like fiery red, orange, purple and yellow. Timing is everything if you want to see the trees in their finest; arrive too early and you may see mostly green leaves, arrive too late and the leaves may already wither and fall into the ground.

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2019/04/things-to-do-in-moosehead-lake.html