A weekend travel itinerary

As I mentioned in my last post, we hosted some friends this past weekend. I really love it when we have guests -- I love showing off our town and I spend the days leading up to the visit playing logistical Tetris to try and fit as much as we can into the time allotted. This trip, I think we really succeeded in finding things for all of us to enjoy. The tourist season is in full swing in Hampton Roads, and so I thought I'd post what we did each day in case anybody out there needs ideas of how to pack a weekend full of fun.

Saturday AM: Our friends J. and P. and their kiddo arrived late Friday night. In the morning, we celebrated their arrival with breakfast at Yorgo's Bageldashery in Norfolk. Yorgo's is always bustling on the weekends, thanks to its location near Ghent and the ODU campus. But still, we've never had any problems finding a table by the window to spread out with a paper and a latte to relax before a busy day. Yorgo's offers a whole host of vegan, Paleo, and vegetarian options, which is nice for our family, with our food allergy situations. Driving there from our house takes us through some of the prettiest parts of Norfolk, and gives us the chance to show off some of the prettiest places in the heart of the city.

Saturday PM: an afternoon of swimming and sunbathing at the North End beaches.

Saturday night: a blue crab feast on our back deck. We picked up three dozen blue crabs (about half a bushel) from Margie and Ray's in Pungo. Bonney's and Sons is another favorite, but we really like Margie and Ray's because of the spicy rub they use. Paired with some corn on the cob and fresh rolls, and you have a simple feast that feels like something special.

Sunday AM: the moms took the babies to the Virginia Zoo and had some fun visiting animals, playing in fountains, and riding the train.

The dads spent the morning on a kayaking expedition. They used SouthEast Expeditions, an outfit that launches from a variety of locations on the Eastern Shore. The guys launched from a location just over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (across the peninsula from Kiptopeke State Park) and spent the morning paddling through the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge. They crossed Blackbeard's Creek and wound up exploring Smith Island, an uninhabited barrier island off the eastern shore with a remote, pristine beach. They were both big fans of the experience (but a little tired out by the time they got back).

Sunday PM: a late lunch at Genghis Khan Mongolian BBQ, a family favorite. Whenever our friends visit they ask to eat there, and we are all too happy to oblige because we love it. Yum.

We always have a great time when our friends come to town -- we can't wait until they come back. Area readers, can you offer any other must-sees to add to the list for their next visit?

Have a great weekend, everyone! Try to stay out of the rain if you can...