Taking photos is one of the best ways to freeze your best memories in time. An even better thing is to have excellent pictures with specific features in the background. If you are in Norfolk, Virginia, various beautiful places will make your photos outstanding, whether you are looking to store them in your travel archives or beautify your social media space. Here is a list of some of the most photo-worthy places in Norfolk.

The Murals in NEON District

NEON is short for the New Energy of Norfolk, and this district exists to keep the city’s artistic heart alive. If you would like to participate in celebrating Norfolk’s art, go to the NEON District in downtown Norfolk, marvel at the countless murals, and take some memorable pictures. You will find ‘Bloom’ by Carl Medley111 and Charles Rasputin on Bash Street. Over on Wilson Avenue, ‘The Dream Machine’ by Jeff Beck will be waiting to wow you. Another lovely one is ‘Happier Times’ by Troy Summerell on Granby Street. The murals are quite many, so you can challenge yourself to photograph as many as possible and see how far you will get if you’re up for it. 

The Pagoda and Oriental Garden

At Freemason Harbor, you will come across a breathtaking Pagoda. This gift from Taiwan in 1989 will make for an excellent background for your photos. Around the Pagoda is an oriental garden containing perfect architecture, plants, and water arrangements. You will find many beautiful places to take pictures in this garden, so feel free to explore. The Koi pond will also make for the perfect backdrop, so consider trying that option.

Ocean View Beach Park

Everyone loves pictures by the water, and Ocean View Beach Park is an excellent place to capture some of the best. You can take photos on the beach, by the fishing pier, or at the on-site museum. If you’re going there solely for the pictures, consider going early in the day before it gets too crowded so you can easily capture the best shots.

Battleship Wisconsin

This is among the largest battleships the US Navy has ever built. That is reason enough to take a picture of this historical creation, even if you are not interested in war machines. Consider that it took part in World War 11 and the Korean War, and you will have a solid premise for taking a shot for your archives. You can tour the battleship and photograph everything that fascinates you as you go along. There is a charge for the tour, so if you want a picture of the battleship without taking the tour, you can take one while you’re along the Elizabeth River trail- the view is still pretty perfect from there.

Norfolk Botanical Garden

No place in Norfolk beats this garden if you want to take pictures of nature. The over 150-acre garden has been in operation since 1938, and it keeps getting more versatile and beautiful as time goes by. Countless plant, bird, and butterfly species are displayed in over 50 gardens. Water surrounds three sides of the garden, so you can take pictures with that as your background or hop onto a boat if you prefer. If you’re looking to capture some family photos, this is the perfect place. The World of Wonders garden is specifically tailored for children, so you can get excellent shots of your little ones joyfully exploring instead of just asking them to pose and smile. You will be split in choosing where to take the best photos because the place is bursting with beauty. 

The Chrysler Museum

If you love art and culture, you want to take a picture at this beautiful museum. Fantastic artwork is on display; you can capture shots of the marble staircase and unique galleries as you go along. While you’re here, make a point to check out the Glass studio as well. You will experience and photograph one of the largest glass art collections in the USA.

The Hague

You will spot a pool called The Hague close to the Chrysler Museum. It is easy to ignore, but you can get some excellent shots here. Consider taking one over the bridge with the water and lovely architecture as your backdrop.

Norfolk Mermaids

Going around Norfolk without bumping into a mermaid or two in random places is impossible. Kevin Gallop, a Norfolk sculptor, once produced over a hundred mermaids. He then incorporated local artists to design and paint them, after which they were set up in various places in the city. After that, the mermaids kept coming up and are now part of what makes Norfolk what it is. The mermaids are beautifully designed and will make for excellent photos, so be sure to capture them whenever you spot one. A few places to look out for mermaids are Harbor Park, Nauticus, Virginia Zoo, and Ocean View Beach.

Freemason District

Freemason district is Norfolk’s most ancient neighborhood and has lovely old homes and well-kept gardens. You will love walking along the cobblestone streets and capturing the beauty of ancient times.

The Hermitage Museum and Gardens

The Hermitage Museum will provide you with countless pictures of beautiful art from all over the world. Before exploring the beautiful gardens, you can take excellent photos of the historic Sloane House here. The gardens span over 12 acres, so you will have more than enough places to pose for the perfect shot. You can also spot the Lafayette River from the gardens, making for a beautiful water background. You will find this photo-worthy gem along North Shore Road.

Final Words

With our suggestions on the best places to take photos in Norfolk, you should be able to get the best shots all through. You will notice that most of these places are typical for visitors. If you do not want photos with strange faces in the background, consider going before areas get crowded. Going earlier in the day will also help you avoid the struggle of getting the perfect points for your photos.