NORFOLK, Va. — It’s time to take a walk with Patrick.
And last week Patrick took us thousands of miles away for a walk during his summer vacation.
Today, he’s taking us hundreds of years into the past.
That’s the interesting thing about living in a city that was founded in the 1600s, you can get your steps in while taking a step back in time.
Watch: Take a walk through Patrick's cruise ship on the trip to Norway
Last weekend, we decided to hoof it around Norfolk’s oldest surviving neighborhood, Freemason.
I say surviving neighborhood because most of the Mermaid City was destroyed by the British in 1776 at the start of the Revolutionary War.
Freemason is a few blocks from downtown and truly feels like a visit to colonial Norfolk.
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Most of the streets here are cobblestone and many of the homes were built just after the Revolutionary War. In fact, within just a few blocks we walked by homes built in the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
If you’re a fan of cool architecture, spend an hour or two exploring this beautiful neighborhood. You’ll find great examples of Greek Revival, Federal, Queen Anne and Italianate buildings.
There are a number of popular restaurants here and plenty of shopping a few blocks away in downtown. It really is charming, with its wrought iron fences and brick sidewalks.
Watch: Take a walk through the historic homes of Port Norfolk
Just be warned that those charming tree-lined sidewalks can be a little bumpy in spots.
If you want to learn more about the history of the Freemason neighborhood, Norfolk Tour Company offers guided walking tours.
By the way, if there’s a great neighborhood or cool park that’s great for walking, hit me up on Facebook. Just search for Patrick Rockey Weather.
