On the Eastern shore of Virginia is the not so quaint town of Norfolk, VA. Home to the Norfolk Naval base which is the oldest naval base in the country, this town offers a variety of things to do for just about everyone. Of course the naval base itself offers guided tours, which is a great activity for the family. Along naval lines, but closer to the center of town is the USS Wisconsin, a decommissioned naval ship. This is a great visit if you want to see a naval exhibit without doing the entire base tour.
Norfolk however is so much more than a Navy town. There is culture, the arts and fun things for the entire family. The Virginia Symphony plays in Norfolk on and off, I have gotten to see them once and the show was spectacular. The Norfolk Historical Walking Tour is awesome, but if you have small children make sure that you bring a stroller for them.
A personal favorite of mine is the Cape Henry Lighthouse. There is just something about a lighthouse that inspires nostalgia in me and this lighthouse is perfect for that. Speaking of nostalgia, the Moses Myers house was built in 1792 and still has most of its original furnishings. If you are in Norfolk and have a taste for something like Colonial Williamsburg, then the Moses Myers house is a perfect little visit.
At the end of the day, the best place to walk around and wind down is the Norfolk Botanical Garden. There is nothing more perfect to end the day than the sun receding a bit toward the horizon while you stroll through the gardens. At the right time of year the cherry blossoms are in bloom and you just want to sit back and fall asleep surrounded by all this beauty.