Firestone

History and astronomy come together in a dazzling way at the Chesapeake Planetarium. From an historic standpoint, the facility is significant because it is the first planetarium built by a public school system in the state of Virginia. But this attraction also offers visitors a chance to gaze into the night sky and be amazed at the intricate patterns and formations that make up the constellations everyone has heard about. The staff is highly knowledgeable and can answer any questions you may have. Also, there are various lectures and special presentations on the schedule. And of course, the opportunity to see the stars up close is always available thanks to the high powered telescopes and other impressive equipment that is available here.

It's always an engaging experience to get close to nature, but it's even more exciting when you see it from the unique perspective of a kayak. Chesapeake's Kayak Nature Tours guides you on an unforgettable trip through Kayak First Landing, the area's most popular State Park surf launch that leads into the Atlantic ocean. Kayak Nature Tours offers several different tour packages all designed to make it a highly memorable, one-of-a-kind experience.

A single tree offers a great place to relax and commune with nature. But at the Chesapeake Arboretum, there are so many trees that your senses will be overwhelmed–but in a good way! This 47-acre garden features a staggering number of trees and also does an admirable job of championing the importance of environmental awareness through various exhibits and attractions. The Chesapeake Arboretum originally opened its doors in 1996 and has been welcoming hundreds of visitors on a regular basis ever since.

A great show is something you can always count on, no matter what is happening on stage at the Willett Hall in Portsmouth. This is the entertainment venue that spotlights the efforts of Portsmouth Community Concerts, a professional organization that prides itself in bringing some of the best performances to the stage. The Willett seats approximately 1,980 people and guests are treated to an incredible array of concerts and events that include classical, big band, country, pop, blues and jazz performers.