Norfolk, VA and NATO Fest Featuring the Tattoo

Norfolk, VA and NATO Fest Featuring The Virginia International Tattoo Festival

Trip Duration: 4 Days

 

 

Trip Inclusions

• Meals: 3 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

• Tour Director

• Overnight accommodations

• Deluxe motorcoach transportation

• Baggage handling and related gratuities

• Taxes

 

 

Trip Highlights:

 

NATO Fest

Explore more than 30 countries in a Day - without a passport! Food, culture, and entertainment are just a few of the attractions in store for you at NATO Fest. Enjoy cultural performance acts and demonstrations from NATO member nations.

 

Parade of Nations

The Parade of Nations is the longest continuously presented parade in the region and the only U.S. parade that salutes NATO. It is a favorite of area residents and tourists from far and wide! Enjoy a fabulous parade of marching bands, NJROTC teams, Virginia International Tattoo performers, and floats that represent all 28 NATO member nations in this annual parade.

 

Seating is reserved seats (not bleachers). We suggest bringing a sweater or jacket for the beginning of the parade, but it will get warmer as the parade goes on.

 

Virginia International Tattoo

The Virginia International Tattoo is renowned for presenting the traditional sounds of the massed pipes and drums, sharing a profound sense of American pride and patriotism, and celebrating our friends and allies through the exciting spectacle of international performers.

 

A cast of over 900, including bagpipers, drummers, military bands, dancers, singers, drill teams, color guards, and performers of all kinds will travel from the four corners of the globe to Norfolk for the Virginia International Tattoo. This awe-inspiring show is the largest tattoo-military musical display in the U.S.

 

Premium Center seats are comfortable theater like seats that fold down. Each of the staircases have railings.

 

Virginia International Tattoo Hullabaloo: Three hours prior to each Tattoo performance, enjoy a variety of tasty foods and craft beers, music, dance and drill performances, photo-ops with performers and even an audience judged piping competition, all on Scope Plaza.

 

Nauticus & The Battleship Wisconsin

Visit Nauticus, an exciting science and technology center exploring the power of the sea. This high-tech, virtual reality "museum" allows visitors to explore the rich life of the ocean realm, human uses of the sea through shipping and the role the port of Hampton Roads has played in world maritime affairs.

 

Visit USS Wisconsin at Nauticus, one of the largest battleships ever built.

 

Victory Rover Naval Base Cruise

Enjoy a 2-hour narrated cruise aboard the Victory Rover. Cruise the smooth waters of the Elizabeth River and Hampton Roads Harbor, watching for Aircraft Carriers, Nuclear Submarines, Guided Missile Cruisers, and other vessels that form the world's most powerful Armada.

 

On board the Victory Rover, you'll find comfortable seating, clean restrooms, an air-conditioned enclosed deck, an open air upper deck, a snack bar, and a souvenir shop.

 

Norfolk Botanical Garden

Norfolk Botanical Garden resides on 155 breattaking acres surrounded by Lake Whitehurst. Explore more than 40 themed gardens that boast some of the east coast's largest collections of azaleas, camellias, roses, and rhododendrons.

 

The Garden is recognized as a Virginia Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. More than 200 African American women and men cleared this land and planted thousands of azaleas and daffodils as part of a Works Progress Administration initiative during the Great Depression. Today, the WPA Memorial Garden pays tribute to those efforts and the Garden's proud heritage.

 

Admission includes a guided tram tour highlighting seasonal blooms.

 

Fresh Cone & Ice Cream at Doumar's

As the home of the original waffle cone, Doumar's believes in creating great traditions and keeping them going. You'll love their handmade waffle cones, rolled right in front of your eyes on the original four iron waffle machine, built in 1904.

 

Doumar's has a long history and has been featured on the Rachael Ray Show as well as Diners Drive Ins & Dives.

 

Chrysler Museum of Art

The Chrysler Museum boasts fifty galleries, a growing collection of more than 30,000 objects, an interactive space for families, and the only glass studio of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region. From ancient artifacts and the modern masters to Tiffany glass, visitors will experience one of America's top glass collections. Our visit includes a glassmaking demonstration at the nearby Perry Glass Studio, bringing the art form to life as world class artists show how these masterpieces are created.

 

Douglas MacArthur Memorial

Located in downtown Norfolk, the Douglas MacArthur Memorial serves as the final resting place for General Douglas MacArthur and his wife. The memorial houses an extensive collection of military and personal artifacts, offering visitors a comprehensive look into the life of General MacArthur and the millions of American men and women who served during the Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, the Occupation of Japan, and the Korean War. Treasures on view include 19th and 20th-century medals, flags, paintings, weapons, and equipment. Additionally, a 25-minute film on MacArthur's life is shown in the theater, providing a deeper insight into his remarkable legacy.

 

 

Meal Information:

 

Dinner at Orapax Restaurant on day 1 offers the following chioces:

• Chicken Parm

• Fried Flounder

• Chicken Alfredo Pasta

• Grilled Chicken Breast

• Eggplant Parm

Includes bread, salad, & a brownie.

 

A boxed Lunch from Panera on day 2 includes the following sandwich choices:

• Smokehouse BBQ Chicken:Smoked, pulled chicken, BBQ sauce, red onions, and aged white cheddar on Ciabatta.

• Bravo Club: Oven roasted turkey breast, Black Forest ham, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, signature Bravo sauce, salt and pepper on Tomato Basil sourdough

• Mediterranean Veggie:Zesty sweet peppers, feta, sliced cucumbers, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, hummus, and sprinkled with salt and pepper on Tomato Basil sourdough

Includes a Bag of Chips, Pickle, Cookie, & Bottle of Water.

 

Menus are subject to change.

 

 

Need to Know:

This is a citywide event and the downtown area will be very crowded. Starr has reserved seats (not bleachers) for the Parade of Nations. We recommend bringing a sweater or jacket for the beginning of the parade.

 

 

Accessibility:

Starr has a select quantity of wheelchair accessible motorcoaches available; therefore, we suggest you contact a Travel Advisor to discuss any needs you may have before reserving your trip.

Holiday Inn Express, Norfolk, VA

Enjoy your stay at the Holiday Inn Express, Norfolk Airport. The hotel features an indoor pool and Fitness Center. All guestrooms are suites with a separate living and bedroom area. Guestrooms include coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator, hair dryer, iron/board, and in-room safe.

Norfolk Tattoo Promo Video