Marriott Springhill Suites

Board the motor coach with your tour guide to learn about Norfolk’s colorful 325 year history as you ride through the

lovely historic district and restored areas. View the stately homes along the Hague, old St. Paul’s Church, the Moses

Myers House, the Chrysler Museum of Art, MacArthur Memorial, the historic Freemason District, as well as many other

points of interest. Downtown Norfolk has undergone a complete transformation in the last decade and features the

beautifully renovated Town Point Park with the Armed Forces memorial, brand new $34milliion cruise terminal, waterfront

condos and state of the art shopping area.

Visit Norfolk’s premier waterfront attraction, Nauticus, the National Maritime Center. Nauticus is a unique and thriving

campus of visitor attractions that explores the economic, naval, and natural powers of the sea. Features here include a

series of ingenious interactive exhibits, shows, and theaters with various films.

Also housed here is the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, one of ten museums officially operated by the U.S. Navy.

Highlights of the naval battles and exhibits of detailed ship models, artwork, and memorabilia are showcased in the

museum.

A true highlight of your visit to Nauticus will be a tour of the battleship Wisconsin, one of the famous Iowa-class ships.

This great ship saw action in WWII, the Korean war and most recently in the Persian Gulf war. Wisconsin is permanently

berthed beside Nauticus where it is accessed by a connecting walkway. The main deck and sections of two upper decks

are open for you to explore.

A memorial service will be held on board the Battleship (pending availability).

Tour the Norfolk naval base, which is part of Naval Station Norfolk - the largest naval installation in the world. Home port

to 78 ships, ranging in size from aircraft carriers to submarines, 26 aircraft squadrons comprised of 133 aircraft and

headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet, this naval complex occupies over 8,000 acres of land and is home to more than

100,000 military personnel. Your tour will take you past the 14 piers and through the Naval Air Station. You will also drive

by the historic homes built for the 1907 Jamestown Exposition on “Admiral’s Row” which now house the flag officers.

Lunch at one of the clubs on base is included.

Housed in a 135 year-old renovated church, Freemason Abbey Restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Norfolk.

The building was built, and originally dedicated as a church in 1873 by the congregation of the Second Presbyterian

Church and converted in 1988 to the Freemason Abbey Restaurant & Tavern. The menu of Freemason Abbey features

fresh seafood, lobster, steaks, pasta dishes, their award winning She Crab Soup and much more. This restaurant is a

favorite among local and sure to be a great start to our reunion.

Enjoy beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay as you ride through Virginia Beach. See the historic

lighthouses and the First Landing Cross at Cape Henry where the English colonists first came ashore in 1607. Walk out

on the overlook to see where the bay and the ocean meet, and where the famous Battle of the Capes took place during

the Revolutionary War. Ride down the resort strip and past the Tidewater Veterans Memorial, a unique structure which

pays homage to veterans everywhere.

Visit Virginia Beach's newest attraction, the Military Aviation Museum, located at the old Virginia Beach Airport, this

museum is home to one of the largest private collections of World War II and Korean War era fighters, bombers, trainers

and seaplanes. Many aircraft have been fully restored to their World War II condition and are used for flight

demonstration, static display or movie production or commercials. This museum is dedicated to the preservation of

historical aircraft before they are lost forever. A box lunch will be provided at the Museum.

Next, enjoy a visit to Norfolk Botanical Garden, which dates back to 1938, and is considered a premiere example of

horticultural excellence. The garden represents 155-acres of colorful landscapes, unusual flowers, mature forests and

seasonal plantings and features one of the largest collections of azaleas, camellias, roses and rhododendrons on the east

coast. Fall is a beautiful time in the garden, and their motto is that “something is always in bloom”. Enjoy a relaxing

trackless train ride, and spend time browsing in the garden gift shop which specializes in unique gifts and hard to find

gardening books.

Enjoy a three hour dinner cruise on the magnificent Spirit of Norfolk. The ship leaves the Waterside pier area and travels

north on the Elizabeth River, passing Nauticus, the National Maritime Center, Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth

Marine Terminals, the Lamberts Point coal piers, and Norfolk Naval Base, the world's largest operational naval base and

home of the Atlantic Fleet. The Spirit features a top-of-the-line buffet with several hot entrees. The selection includes

beef, poultry, and seafood, fresh vegetables, potato, salad, rolls and butter, and dessert. During the cruise, we will be

entertained by talented staff who perform popular hits that you are sure to recognize! The interactive dj will kick off the

cruise with an energetic send off and performance. The ship has two fully enclosed, climate-controlled lower decks and

an open-air upper deck.

a treasure trove of more than 35,000 items inspired by human experiences with the sea. For 70 years the museum has

illustrated the spirit of seafaring adventure, assembling an internationally

renowned and diverse collection of maritime artifacts - including figureheads, scrimshaw, handcrafted ship models,

decorative arts, prints and paintings with a nautical theme, and small craft from around the world.

The USS Monitor Exhibit opened in 2007. This $30 million exhibit includes artifacts, history and accounts of the career of

the USS Monitor displayed in a 63,500 square foot space. The center's galleries are re-creations of times and places -

turning points of experience, re-living the Civil War battle of the ironclads, USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, which was

to change naval warfare forever. This exhibit is world class and one of the country's premier Civil War attractions.

fascinating and entertaining commentary along the way aboard this naval themed vessel. You will thrill to the sight of

aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, guided missile cruisers and all of the other ships that form the world's most powerful

armada. Light snacks are available on board.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ORFNW?groupCode=UAAUAAA&app=resvlink&fromDate=10/3/10

&toDate=10/8/10

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ORFNW?groupCode=UAAUAAB&app=resvlink&fromDate=10/4/10

&toDate=10/8/10

Registration fee is $300.00 per person. We are using a tour

service this year (they are saving us big $$$).