[shputz]

Hampton Roads MINI afficionados,

At April's request, I've put together a route which would tour lower Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth). I'll caveat this by saying that while I've been in this area for about 14 years all total and have driven pretty much all the roads, I haven't tried out the route in toto. I tried to incorporate my idea of a nice afternoon road trip - several cities, fun roads and a variety of interesting scenery (noted after a few of the roads). I started from a central point I figured most would be familar with (Downtown Tunnel), but of course you can start at any point!

MINI Route 1 – Lower Hampton Roads

Norfolk

Starting from Downtown Tunnel heading E on I-264
Exit on Waterside Drive to Boush St (Town Point Park, Waterside, battleship Wisconsin)
L on Brambleton Avenue
R on Colley Avenue (Ghent)
L on 26th St
R on Hampton Blvd (ODU, Norfolk Yacht Club, Naval Station)
R on Taussig Blvd which turns into I-564 (NAS Norfolk)
I-564 to I-64 W
Take 15th View St exit (last one before HRBT) onto Shore Drive
Long drive on Shore Drive along Chesapeake Bay (enters Virginia Beach)

Virginia Beach

Shore Drive turns into Atlantic Avenue
Follow Atlantic Avenue south down the Virginia Beach Strip
R on 5th Street, take first left onto Pacific Avenue
Pacific Avenue turns into General Booth Blvd
L on Princess Anne Road (goes to downtown Pungo)
R on Indian River Road heading W
L on Elbow Road (nice MINI road)
R on Butts Station Road (you’re in Chesapeake now)

Chesapeake

L on Clearfield Avenue
L on Kempsville Road (short)
R on Battlefield Blvd to Great Bridge Bypass (short)
Take Bypass to I-464 N
Exit on 337W (Jordan Bridge)

R on Effingham Street (takes you through Old Town Portsmouth)
R on Crawford Street
Take I-264 E and you’re back where you started!

Jim

[obehave]

Sounds good. Any stops and eats?
And I've only been through the Downtown once in 30 years

[AprilWhine]

Sounds great Jim! When are we going to do the drive?

[shputz]

Quote: Originally Posted by obehave

Sounds good. Any stops and eats?
And I've only been through the Downtown once in 30 years

There are lots of good places to stop and plenty of places to eat, and I'm sure others will have plenty of other ideas. Off the top of my head:

Attractions: Town Point Park, Battleship Wisconsin, any stop along the bay, First Landing State Park, 31st street (and anywhere along the Oceanfront), Pungo, Old Town Portsmouth

Stops (places with big parking): City park in OceanView, First Landing State Park, 31st St (or close there about), Pungo, Old Town Portsmouth

Eats: Ghent (lots of little cafe type places), Duck Inn at Lynnhaven Inlet (possible club stop), Jewish Mother Deli on Pacific, other Oceanfront (tried to pick places with personality)

Jim

[shputz]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

Sounds great Jim! When are we going to do the drive?

How about Saturday, 15 November, say about 9:30 - 2 PM? I shot you a PM with some other thoughts.

Jim

[AprilWhine]

Answered your PM, anything you have time to do is great!

[shputz]

MINI Enthusiasts in Hampton Roads,

The HR Club MINI is organizing a MINI drive on November 15th, starting at 9:00 from the Harbor Park (home of the Tides) parking lot. We can socialize and take pictures there, then start off around 9:30, proceeding by Waterside, Ghent, up Hampton Blvd, and east along Shore Drive. We can grab some lunch and more pics at the Duck Inn, off Lynnhaven inlet, then cruise the Oceanfront, scenic Pungo and rural Chesapeake, Old Town Portsmouth, and end up where we started, probably around 2-3 PM.
If people are interested, I'll make a reservation at the Duck Inn for us. I can make copies of the route. I've never done this before, but I love MINIs and cruising around the area! I'll be really fluid and open to ideas, flexible is far too rigid!! Let us know what you'd like to see and do!

Jim

[AprilWhine]

Locking this thread, please reply to the new one.