If you live, have lived, or have visited the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, chances are you have seen the outstanding changes made in Norfolk. Once regarded as a simple Navy town and a stop on the way to the beach or the more historical areas of the state, Norfolk is fast becoming an impressive metropolitan city. A lively cultural calendar, increased interest from major corporations, and the presence of NATO make Norfolk a city to watch in the future, for potential businesses and residences.

If you have never been to Norfolk, or merely drove through on the way to somewhere else, you should definitely consider a stay. Here are just five reasons to love Norfolk.

1) Growing downtown area There used to be a time, friends have told me, when people were reluctant to go downtown, as it had little to offer in the way of shopping and recreation. In the last five years, however, those same people have changed their tunes! Norfolk is steadily developing the downtown area to be more consumer friendly. The MacArthur Center, one of the city's largest shopping complexes, sits in the heart of an area revitalized by incoming boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Buildings on the perimeter are being renovated to accommodate urban, loft living, while corporations headquartered nearby encouraged the influx of employees to become residential neighbors. To have everything within walking distance - goods, services, churches, and recreation - makes Norfolk a very convenient place to live.

2) Sophisticated dining options With the growth of the downtown area, Norfolk is quickly vying other localities in Hampton Roads for dining honors. From nationally-renowned restaurant chains like Shula's Steakhouse to legendary eateries like Doumar's Cones and BBQ, Norfolk has just about every style of cuisine foodies can enjoy. Eclectic fusion dining, cozy coffeehouses, and savory ethnic restaurants await the famished here.

3) Family friendly activities One can only spend so much time at the beach! A trip to Norfolk offers visitors (and residents) many options for family-friendly entertainment. Recent additions to the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk have made this park a growing local attraction, while the Waterside complex offers visitor a casual day of food and fun along the Elizabeth River. Nauticus, Norfolk's own nautical museum, gives visitors the opportunity to experience life under the sea and on the deck of the mighty USS Wisconsin.

4) The Norfolk Tides Did you know Norfolk is home to a professional sports team? The Norfolk Tides are AAA baseball at its best! Boasting one of the most beautiful ballparks on the East Coast, the Norfolk Tides are farm team to the New York Mets, and have delighted sports fans for several years. Many former Tides have gone on to successful careers with the MLB, and it is always fun to watch games and see tomorrow's sports stars playing today.

5) Year-round festivals Town Point Park in Norfolk is always busy, hosting festivals throughout the year on grassy lawns overlooking the Elizabeth River. From live jazz and reggae music, celebrations of Virginia wine and lowcountry cuisine, to the annual Fourth of July fireworks, Norfolk knows how to entertain.

The next time you consider a visit to Virginia, come to Norfolk and fall in love with this diverse, growing city.

Labels: norfolk, vacation, virginia

Labels: driving, outer banks, travel, vacation

FlowCushion is happy to offer articles on driving and travel safety. Travel safe, and sit healthy with the alternating pressure seat cushion that plugs right into your car!

Whether parking with a private lot or anywhere in a metropolitan area, it is important to employ safety measures so that you won't fall victim to car theft or vandalism. Oftentimes we are lulled into a false sense of security when we go out. Even if we drive to the corner store, for five minutes to get bread, a lot can happen to your car. Here are some tips to consider the next time you must leave your car unattended for a long period of time.

• Always lock your vehicle when parking in public. With newer models, you have the luxury of lock buttons that are difficult to pop. People with older model cars with manual locks should see about having the buttons changed.
  
• Keep valuables out of sight (cameras, CDs, etc.) when you park your car. Never leave anything exposed that might tempt somebody to break into your care. Better yet, if you don't need these items, best to leave them at home.
  
• Park in well-populated, well-lighted areas when you travel at night. Do you know the neighborhood? Is it a place you absolutely have to be at that time? If yes, try to park as close to your intended destination as possible, or find a well-lighted public lot with supervision.
  
• Know the laws about metered parking. In some places it is unlawful to park in a spot with time remaining and not feed the meter. Also, it may be illegal to feed your meter when it is expired (you would have to move your car 500 feet and back to reclaim the spot, unless another car is waiting on it).
  
• Always make sure your spare tire is in good condition in the event of a flat. It is a good idea, too, to keep a can of "fix a flat" spray to get you to a gas station just in case.
  
• It is also good to keep a throwaway camera or cell phone camera handy, should you return to your car and find it has been vandalized or damaged. Take the pictures immediately for your insurance claim.
  
• Where possible, travel with a friend.
  
• Keep a membership to an auto club in case of theft or breakdown. In the event either should happen, stay in a populated area like a store until help arrives.

By parking safely, you stay safe to arrive home or your intended destination.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Lively
http://EzineArticles.com/?Park-Safely,-Be-Safe&id=224593

Technology is wonderful. How fortunate we are to live in an age where coffee can be brewed instantly, where we can speak with people on the other world, and where we can instantly download news, mail, and financial statements in real time over small, wireless computers.

To do all of this while driving...we should reconsider.

It goes without saying that more and more people are DWD - driving while distracted. The advent of new technologies gives rise to new demands on our time. We get into our cars with a thousand different things on our minds. The simply usability of a cell phone allows us to reach any point from any where, yet to talk while driving can lead to safety concerns. One second of attention away from the road can cause an accident, and soon you won't have to worry about getting anything done.

The advent of new technologies may also give rise to new stress, new urgency to get things done. While driving, however, it is important to be safe and comfortable, that your concerns will come to thoughtful solutions once you are on solid, unmoving ground. What is a problem before you get in the car will likely remain one while driving, therefore it is important that nothing distract you from getting from point A to point. Once at point, then you can pry open your cell phone.

Make the drive time your personal quiet time. Back straight, eyes on the road, hands on the wheel. Focus on the cars around you rather than the issue you are unable to reach at the moment. Let the radio play softly in the background, invest in a nice car seat cushion for your comfort, and let the drive be your personal refuge. You may find without the added distractions that your mind will be sharper, and ready to attack anything that awaits you at your destination.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer and contributor to various health websites, including the Nutranique company, which distributes the FlowCushion car seat cushion.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Lively
http://EzineArticles.com/?Be-Comfortable-and-Clear-Behind-the-Wheel&id=169622

Looking for a place to drive with your new FlowCushion in the front seat? Why not a trip to the Outer Banks?

On a dark night, far from the shores of North Carolina, ships may be guided safely to their respective ports by the beams of lighthouses and stations bordering the Outer Banks. Just as the lighthouses represent a means of security for sailors finding their way through difficult weather at sea, they also symbolize the romanticism of the nautical life. Each year, thousands of visitors come to the Outer Banks to see these impressive monuments, if only to briefly live vicariously through the light keepers of old and enjoy the stories they have to tell.

Before modern technologies like radar and other navigational systems allows sailors to negotiate the waters with ease, lighthouses stood, literally, as the one of the main devices to help ocean travel. Situated along coastlines around the world, light keepers kept large flames alive to alert passing ships to dangerous areas like rocky shores, or to guide cargo into ports. It is estimated now that only fifteen hundred lighthouses remain, though not all are operational. Many on the east coast of the United States, including those in the Outer Banks, have been preserved as national or state landmarks, and visitors are welcomed to climb their arduous circular stairs for a bird's eye view.

For tourists with an interest in pharology, the study of lighthouses (derived from the island of Pharos in Greece, home of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria), the Outer Banks lighthouses will definitely keep you busy, and in shape! Here are just a few of the sights you can expect to enjoy when visiting the shores:

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – Perhaps the most famous lighthouse in the state, the Cape Hatteras station is also the tallest and one of the oldest in the nation. An easily recognizable black-striped obelisk, over two hundred and fifty stairs takes visitors to the top, which is the equivalent of twelve stories. The lighthouse is open to visitors normally from March through October, where all can learn the colorful history of this national treasure.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse – Standing tall in Corolla, one of the northernmost points in the Outer Banks, Currituck Beach Lighthouse is unique in that it is one of the few unpainted beacons in existence. Once illuminated by oil lamps, this light station has since been upgraded with the latest technology, and its light can be seen for nearly twenty nautical miles. Visitors are welcome to explore between Easter and Thanksgiving.

Ocracoke Lighthouse – While Hatteras boasts the oldest lighthouse on the shore, Ocracoke has the distinction of being home to the oldest operating station. Ocracoke Lighthouse is also the shortest freestanding one in the Outer Banks, standing at seventy-five feet. As it is still operational, the actual lighthouse is closed to visitors, though pharology enthusiasts are welcomed to tour the grounds.

For a taste of nautical history and breathtaking views of the Outer Banks, include a visit to an area lighthouse. Let the light guide you.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance travel writer. She writes for the Currituck County Department of Travel and Tourism and for FlowCushion, the alternating air pressure driver's seat cushion.