Easy hikes and walks in Fort Monroe National Monument

Ocean View lies at the edge of Norfolk and, as the name suggests, it has excellent views over the water. There are a number of public parks and beaches for visitors to enjoy, along with a nice assortment of restaurants and bars to choose from.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and are having a hard time trying to figure out where you start exploring in Fort Monroe, the visitor center is a great place to start. They can let you know what you can plan to see while on the bike and what exhibits are worth hopping off the bike for.

The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse was built in 1802. It is still used as a navigational aid and is the oldest building at Fort Monroe. It is clearly visible from the road as you ride past, but keep your eyes peeled and look for the lamp, as the lighthouse sits between two private houses which is not where you expect see a lighthouse when riding along the coast.

Fort Monroe in Virginia has a rich history, built in the early 19th century to guard the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. It played a crucial role in the Civil War as a Union stronghold. Later, it served as a military post until its closure in 2011. Today, it stands as a national monument.

Beautiful place to rest, relax and enjoy different things. People come from all over to... sit and read a good book, fish, boat, jet ski, swim, get a tan, bird watch, dolphin watch (you never really know , when they come). For tours about the rich history, photo shoots and weddings. For exercise, run or walk (dogs allowed on a leash).

If you are a history buff this is a must see if you are visiting the area or live in the area and have never been there. It's an old military base with a museum and lots of history. Beautiful old houses and church. The museum has a lot to offer and you can freely enter the grounds of the base. I have to say that some of the apartments are occupied by civilians so please be careful. We don't want to trespass on someone else's property. Fort Monroe is very educational. It is surrounded by a moat and you can walk up the steps in front of the museum and visit a real pet cemetery while walking on the museum's roof and enjoying spectacular views as the museum itself is actually built into the earth. It's free, but you must purchase tickets, which you can get at the information center just a few steps from the museum.

Sooo different from other lighthouses I've visited. Check out the steps! I don't quite understand how they built them. The hourglass-like device is the LED light bulb in the Fresnel lens. Wow. You should enlarge the black and white photo. This is the lighthouse of Old Point Comfort "back then". You can see Fort Monroe's wall and cannon openings on the right. I'm not sure how the builders were going to miss the lighthouse if they ever had to fire from these ports. Thank you to the USCG and Fort Monroe Authority staff for making lighthouse geeks euphoric.

Beautiful place, rich in history and picture worthy sights.