VA Arts Festival International Military Tattoo April 19 – 23, 2023

Day One

Group arrival at the Norfolk International Airport, Virginia or your group will transport via motorcoach from their home base to the destination.

Upon your arrival in Norfolk you will be greeted by your knowledgeable local guide who will be with you for the next four days.  Dinner is included this evening at your hotel.  Relax following dinner and get ready for a fantastic, few days of sightseeing and music.  (D)

Day Two

Breakfast is served this morning at the hotel.  Following breakfast, we travel a short distance to the Norfolk Waterfront and board the Victory Rover Naval Base Cruise Boat for a morning of amazing sights along the Elizabeth River and Hampton Road Harbor.  This is one of the world’s busiest seaports, harboring the world’s largest Naval Base and home of America’s Atlantic Fleet.  As we cruise, the captain will provide fascinating and entertaining commentary about the various landmarks and ships.  Next, we make a short walk to our next stop, Nauticus, the home of the Battleship Wisconsin.  Nauticus is an interactive science and technology center that explores the naval, economic, and nautical power of the sea, with exhibits that range from the anatomy of a battleship to the secrets of the deep. Lunch is on your own at either the museum or the nearby waterfront district.  The rest of your afternoon is free to explore the waterfront, take an in-depth tour of the Battleship Wisconsin, visit Town Point Park or our coach will take a trip to the Famous Doumar’s Ice Cream Restaurant.  Dinner is included at one of the fine waterfront restaurants.  We’ll return to the hotel for a private evening musical performance by a local chorus/quartet.  (B,D)

Day Three

Breakfast is included this morning at the hotel. Following breakfast, we will have some free time before starting our day. Due to Covid-19, we travel to Town Point Park where you will have time to view the bands and floats at your leisure. This year due to the virus the Festival will be offering this stationary program instead of a parade. Experience the floats and international military bands from all NATO nations as well as high school marching bands in beautiful Town Point Park. Lunch is on your own with the many vendors in the park. This afternoon we visit the Chrysler Museum of Art, known as one of America’s “Six Magnetic Museums” for its audience engagement. Next, the coach will transport the group to the Scope Arena where you can enjoy the drumline and other Tattoo festivities. Dinner is on your own this evening at one of the nearby restaurants. Tonight’s Grand Tattoo Performance lasts two hours and features musical presentations with all the participating bands and units, concluding in a spectacular grand finale. The Virginia International Tattoo, the greatest and grandest in the U.S., involves more than 1,000 performers. In addition to the military bands and drill teams, there are pipe and drum bands from around the world, dancers, choirs, and much more. The spirit of patriotism and love of country suffuses every event. (B)

Day Four

Breakfast is included this morning at the hotel. After breakfast, we will depart by coach for the Norfolk Botanical Garden. This luscious 175-acre garden boasts over 14 miles of paved and unpaved paths with 60 plus gardens in bloom during all four seasons. The gardens range from those dedicated to a specific region of the world to those displaying a certain species of plant. Fragrant and colorful, manicured and wild, you may catch a glimpse of local birds and wildlife. We will take a guided 30-minute tram tour to view the azaleas followed by free time to explore on your own. Following our visit to the garden, we will travel by coach a short distance to Virginia Beach where you can have lunch on your own along Atlantic Avenue or the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. This afternoon we travel to the Military Aviation Museum for a guided tour of the grounds which is sure to delight aeronautical fans of all ages. Known for their interesting collection of planes, you will have the opportunity to learn more about aircraft used during World Wars I and II. The facility is divided into Army, Navy and World War I hangars and there is also a factory on-site where models are painstakingly restored to their original glory. Aircraft on display include the P-51 Mustang, AD-4 Skyraider, and Polikarpov I-153. A delicious dinner is served at one of Virginia Beach’s fine restaurants before returning to the hotel for the evening. (B,D)

Day Five

Breakfast is included this morning before we depart for home taking with us many fond memories of our time in Virginia.  (B)

Inclusions: 

Four night’s downtown accommodations
Three dinners
Four breakfasts