Things to do & SEE in PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth offers so much to explore for APA Virginia Attendees! Discover local attractions, shops, and restaurants to make the most of your visit! Here are some suggestions of places that we think are a must!
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​FOR HIStory Lovers​​​​​​​​
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OLDe TOWN - 10 MIN WALK FROM CONFERENCE HOTEL
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Olde Towne, Portsmouth, VA
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Olde Towne Portsmouth, established in 1752, lies at the heart of the city’s historic district. Nestled along the banks of the Elizabeth River, this charming neighborhood offers much to explore—from self-guided walking tours of original period homes to a variety of museums and cultural landmarks. Make time to wander Olde Towne and discover its history.​​​
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Lightship portsmouth Museum - 2 MIN WALK FROM CONFERENCE HOTEL
Lightship Portsmouth Museum
London &, Water St
Portsmouth, VA 23704
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OPEN: Friday-Saturday, 10 AM-4 PM
Admission Fee: Free, suggested $3 donation
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Built in 1915, The Lightship PORTSMOUTH is now a museum, but once was a mobile guide for mariners through the East Coast to help them enter the harbor safely at night. It is now permanently "anchored" along the waterfront right next to the Conference hotel. If you plan to arrive to the conference early, be sure to stop by the museum on Saturday to learn about this historic ship and spend a day-in-the-life of the 11 member crew from 1955.
​Portsmouth Art and CULTURAL CENTER - 9 MIN WALK FROM HOTEL
Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center
400 High St
Portsmouth, VA 23704
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OPEN: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 AM-4 PM
Admission Fee: $3
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​The Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center is a place bustling with life and culture. With two expansive art galleries, workshops, performances, and live music, there's always something to see here!
FEATURED PIECE: A PURPLE PATCHWORK SEWN IN SISTERHOOD​​​​
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Witness the beautiful quilt creation inspired by the novel, The Color Purple created by the Hampton Roads-based 54-40 African American Quilters Guild of Virginia. Celebrate Black History and take in the powerful storytelling through this piece of art. OPEN ONLY UNTIL JULY 20, 2025!
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Portsmouth NAVAL SHIPYARD MUSeum - 4 MIN WALK FROM HOTEL
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
2 High St
Portsmouth, VA 23704
OPEN: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 AM-4 PM
Admission Fee: $3
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Dive deeper into the rich maritime history of this area and visit the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. Located right next to the Lightship Museum, you can spend some time browsing artifacts and models!
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​FOod and entertainment​​​​​​​​
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baron's PUB & Restaurant - 11 MIN WALK FROM HOTEL
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Baron's Pub & Restaurant
500 High St
Portsmouth, VA 23704
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Open Mic Night - Monday, July 21
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Sign up starts at 7:30 PM and performances from 8:00-11:00 PM! Don't miss it!
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Trivia Night - Tuesday, July 22
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End your Tuesday night with some brain power and participate in some themed and general trivia from 7:00-9:00 PM!
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The Commodore theatre - 10 MIN WALK FROM HOTEL
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​The Commodore Theatre
421 High St
Portsmouth, VA 23704
Box Office OPEN: 5:45 PM M-F, 12 PM Saturday & Sunday
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NOTE: Plan on being in line by at least one hour prior to the scheduled opening times to tickets show being sold out
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Swing by the Commodore Theatre and catch a movie showing. In this luxuriously restored 1945 Art Deco style motion picture theatre, enjoy a film along with some food in the casual dining restaurant. From seafood chowder to Florida key lime pie, there's something for everyone!
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The bier garden - 11 MIN WALK FROM HOTEL
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​The Bier Garden
438 High St
Portsmouth, VA 23704​
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OPEN: Tues-Thurs, 11 AM-9:30 PM; Fri-Sat, 11 AM-10 PM; Sun, 12 PM-9PM
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​A German cuisine restaurant with a variety of offerings using family recipes. The Bier Garden features 23 taps and over 400 biers to choose from!​​
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Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas - 8 MIN WALK FROM HOTEL
​Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas
450 Court St
Portsmouth, VA 23704​
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OPEN: Tues-Thurs, 5 PM-10 PM; Fri-Sat, 5-11 PM; Sunday, 5 PM-9 PM
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Come try this unique restaurant experience at the Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas restaurant. Known for their creative cocktail options, speakeasy, and subterranean cafe, this place is a hit! ​
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OLde towne farmer's market - 9 MIN WALK FROM HOTEL
​Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers’ Market 400 High St
Portsmouth, VA 23704
​OPEN: 9 AM-2 PM, Saturday ONLY​
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Spend some time at the local Portsmouth Farmer's Market in Olde Towne (open on Saturday mornings)! Ranked within the top 5 Farmer's Markets in the state, this is a stop that you can't miss! Find local products and tons of fresh food.
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Elizabeth river ferry -
1 MIN WALK FROM HOTEL ​
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Elizabeth River Ferry
6 Crawford Pkwy
Portsmouth, VA 23704
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Ferry runs to Norfolk every 30 mins! For more detailed ferry schedule, see below!​
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