The weather is starting to turn and the best time of the year to be at mile zero on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is fast approaching. September and October are my favorite months along this stretch of the ICW. Warm water and cool breezes balance the days and nights, offering comfort in the cockpit and long lounges on the aft deck. And there’s no better spot to watch the world go by than the new Waterside District Market in Norfolk. At the beginning of the AICW, it’s is a must-stop if you’re headed south for the winter or looking for a weekend jaunt on your boat.

If you’ve been following this series on Norfolk over the past month, you might recall that I took the Waterway Guide flagship ADONIA to Waterside Marina in July for a week of festivities in celebration of the reopening of Waterside Market. The hospitality, ambience and new restaurants downtown were exceptional. The renovation and reopening of Waterside District along with The Main were eagerly awaited.

Waterside District’s Market has been open all summer and from the latest reviews it’s starting to get settled in. Whether you’re interested in eating at the Market or taking a short hike into the heart of downtown, or even getting a ride to Historic Ghent, Chelsea, North Colley and Beyond, there are plenty of great restaurants and pubs that will get you out of the galley for a night or two.

And, while you’re out and about with the boat safely tied up at the marina, take in a movie or pick up provisions or gifts at MacArthur Center.

Many transient vessels wait until the first of November to cross south of Cape Hatteras due to insurance requirements and the end of hurricane season, providing some extra time to relax. Don’t rush south just to sit in a marina or on the hook. Time your visit to Norfolk to coincide with the opening of the theater and opera seasons.

The VA Stage Company, headquartered in the Wells Theater opens with Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, September 13 through October 1, 2017. The Wells was built in 1912 and served as the opulent flagship for Wells Amusement Enterprises, a string of forty vaudeville theaters owned by Jake and Otto Wells throughout the South. It is a stunning example of Beaux Arts theatre architecture. The stage company is entering its 39th season.

Virginia Opera is nationally known and respected for the identification and presentation of the finest young artists. In its 43rd season, Virginia Opera will open September 29, October 1 and 3, 2017 with Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saens, which premiered in Weimar in 1877. The opera dramatizes this well-known biblical story, including the famous "Bacchanal" of the pleasure-loving Philistines. This production is not to be missed. 

Norfolk has a new vigor and commitment to its place among original American cities. The great news for boaters is that most of the excitement, culture and energy are all within walking distance or a short ride from Waterside Marina on the waterfront. See you there…