Virginia’s Underrated Coastal City Is Breaking All-Time Visitor Records This Summer

Virginia may not have been on your summer bingo card, but it turns out it is for nearly half a million travelers in June alone — a new record for one of its most under-hyped cities!

Nope — we're not talking about Virginia Beach or even one of the state's best-kept secrets, we at Travel Off Path reported on months ago.

We're talking about Norfolk, a coastal city that is typically overshadowed by the aforementioned Virginia Beach.

With an influx of new airlines and flights, fewer crowds, splendid summer beach weather, and a vibrant arts and culinary scene, Norfolk is an underrated escape you didn't know you needed.

Move Over, Virginia Beach: Norfolk Is Here To Stay

Residents of Norfolk shouldn't be entirely surprised that their beloved city is surging.

With new flights and new hype, Norfolk is embracing more visitors ready to explore one of the South's top hidden gems, despite being home to over 230,000 people.

According to ABC13 News, a key factor in summer demand is the rise in flights jetting off to Norfolk.

In fact, I was surprised to see a direct route from my hometown of San Diego, as there's not even a nonstop option to Cancun from here.

That's where Breeze Airways comes in to play. One of America's newest airlines has been scoping out routes not often served, and hey, it caught my eye along with many others.

Led by Delta and American, Breeze falls third in Norfolk's unofficial flight popularity contest, but the fact that this lesser-known carrier is connected to numerous airports has put this city on the map for many who wouldn't have considered visiting otherwise — like me!

Even as exciting as Breeze's arrival was, most recently JetBlue has entered the chat, accounting for over 7,000 of the nearly 500,000 that flocked here in June.

With plentiful ways to get here, it's no coincidence Norfolk is having a record-breaking summer. It's here to stay for good, making a name for itself behind Virginia Beach, the state's most renowned vacation spot.

Travel Tip: If you're flying here on a budget airline, check out Travel Off Path's new Discount Airline Calculator to make sure it's worth sacrificing legroom!

Thriving Arts & Chesapeake Eats

Norfolk is full of surprises, most notably the buzzing arts scene anchored by the vibrant NEON District.

This is where you'll find the Chrysler Museum of Art, showcasing a broad range of art from ancient to contemporary periods.

The NEON District pops with color at every turn with unmissable murals, public art installations, and creative energy emanating from its many galleries.

It may have caught your eye “NEON” is capitalized; that's because it's an acronym standing for New Energy of Norfolk, the city's first official arts district.

You won't want to miss out on this pocket of downtown, but there's far more to enjoy too, especially when it comes to local food.

Norfolk hugs the famous Chesapeake Bay, the deep waters home to Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs and Virginia Oysters that you'll find on most menus.

A local favorite is Norfolk Seafood Company & Oyster Bar, but if you don't like plates of whole or slimy bivalves and creatures with pinchers, there's more to love about the food scene here, and there's no better place to indulge American staples than Freemason Abbey Restaurant, set in a circa-1873 church.

The Bay Or The Atlantic? Visit Norfolk's Best Beaches

Norfolk's beaches are set along the bay, while Atlantic beaches are in neighboring towns with far warmer waters than I'm used to in Cali.

One of the main appeals of visiting Norfolk's beaches is that it's less popular than, say, Myrtle Beach, anywhere in Florida, and nearby Virginia Beach.

Plus, the waters are generally calmer to enjoy a nice swim.

Ocean View Beach Park is considered the “jewel” of Norfolk's beaches, hosting fun concerts throughout the year and has lifeguards on duty for summer, as well as Community Beach Park.

Though Norfolk is rarely overly crowded unless there's a thrilling festival going on, East Beach may be your best bet for your own slice of paradise, with possibly more seagulls than fellow beachgoers.

My personal choice would be Sarah Constant Beach Park, boasting a long stretch of golden sands in an idyllic setting.

As for beach hotels, there are many scattered boutique hotels along the waterfront, but Best Western Plus Holiday Sands Inn & Suites is the top choice for a familiar name in an unbeatable location.