Things to do in & around Norfolk while you're stationed here

Well one of the things I am lucky for is being stationed where I grew up... We have 5 kids. The oldest is 11, the youngest is 4. 3 boys, 2 girls. And each one is different from the next. And my husband & I have never been big into spectator sports. And did I mention that the husband is an E6 and I stay at home. So everything we do has to be inexpensive and suit as many kids as possible. The "Mscale" goes from 0-7 and is based on how many of us love an activity or eatery. So over the years of being asked about fun/cheap things to do or great restaurants that won't break the bank I have kinda generated a stock list of awesomeness...

Eating:
#1... Doumar's. On Monticello at 22nd. My children are the 6th generation in my family to eat here. It's a drive in (pretty rare nowadays) that is so close to perfection, it was even featured on "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives" on Food Network. It has been open forever and has great food & fab ice cream & cones... My huge family can PIG OUT and we only spend about $40 Mscore:7
#2... Orapax. At the end of Redgate Ave in west ghent. Greek food at an awesome price. They have everything from gyros & spaghetti to saganaki & Parmesans. I recommend the Pegasus wings and spanikopita. They rock. I usually have to get more than 1 order so that everyone is satisfied. The manager Tom was a very gracious host to my FRG's half way party. Don't leave without a bottle of their house dressing! We spend closer to $80 for dinner but lunch is about 1/2 that. Mscore:7
#3... Rancho grande. They have 2 (soon to be 3) locations in Chesapeake: Eden Way (non smoking) or Military Hwy. They are by far the best of the many Mexican food restaurants in the area the cheese dip is to die for. And the service is great. We have had many a family birthday and FRG meeting... they even do the super-embarrassing-sombrero-birthday-singing! Mscore: 6

Activities:
#1... Norfolk Zoo. Sure it's not Chicago, National or San Diego. But they try ;) The admission is $7 & under and they have all the basics... The kids love it. From time to time they run special events and they offer a membership. For a family my size the membership costs about the same as getting in for one day. Plus, there are members only events that they do like "Feast with the Beasts" where they open early and serve a buffet breakfast and do a thing while each of the animals eat- *note to light stomachs- avoid the lions' breakfast. It's not for the squeamish. The food at the "Beastro" is kinda lame and costs a fortune though. Mscore:7
#2... Virginia Aquarium. This place is so big! It's really exciting and has an IMAX. It is a little pricey but it offers a membership and a 10% military discount. But worth it even if you only go once per year. Mscore:7
***Now these things ARE on all of the tourism board lists, so now for a few things you might not have been force fed***
#3... Beaches... The Virginia Beach ocean front is a tourist trap. As a local, I have avoided it at every turn. The streets (both of them-no joke) are so heavily congested during the summer that walking from home is a better option NO MATTER where you live! So as a local, I offer you 2 options that aren't teeming with tourists, tweens and emo kids who are angry that they were dragged on the FamVa... Oceanview: the water is murky but it's calmer and less infested with jellyfish. It's perfect for folks with little kids because it's on the Bay so there is less/very little undertow. Or Sandbridge: sure its in the Kingdom of Far Far Away, but the water is warm and you can actually boogie board there. And if you are down with driving for 1-2 hrs., The ES (eastern shore to non locals) and Kitty Hawk/Nags Head are pretty close. Nags head is the closest you will get to surfing around here. sorry:\
#4... Movies... Sure, there are Regals and AMCs all over the place. Try Cinema Cafe... ESPECIALLY if you want to do dinner and a movie with out being out until midnight... Not everyone has a nanny, right? Cinema Cafe has an ABC lisence and full restaurant (hot sandwiches, burgers, pizzas & appetizers) and they have 2 versions... a second run theater that show slightly older movies for $2(matinee) to $4 and then Cinema Cafe Premiere has brand new movies for the average movie price. 2 of each location is available. The score for this depends on the movie... by by and large its a Mscore:7.
#5... Mermaid hunting or Dolphin Watching. Best part... It's FREE! For those of us pigment deprived individuals, the beach is a fun day followed by a week of wreaking of noxema and taking cool showers to tame the heat from the 2nd degree burns in spite of wearing SPF 2000! A few years ago Norfolk started Mermaids On Parade. There are about 100 (mostly in) Norfolk- concentrated downtown. A few years later Promise Dolphins (raising money for LiveStrong) started popping up in Virginia Beach- concentrating closer to Sandbridge. The artwork is awesome and it doesn't take much to go out and find one or two while running errands to add to our collection. My oldest child is the hold out. I asked him if he would be into the Chicago Cows, Baltimore Crabs, Lexington Pigs or the Wolves in Raleigh... but he's a putz and brings the Mscore down to 6... My husband doesn't even mind looking for mermaids as long as we don't eat up a whole day doing it and the kids aren't acting like animals in the back seat. Great for home schooling... art/civics/geography/mythology... take your pick.
#6... The 3Fs.. Fests, Fairs & Fetes. I forget to look all the time but between the 3 south side cities there is almost always something going on. Especially during the summer. The best way (I have found) is to use the local events calendar from the Virginian Pilot. It will have all of the Pow Wows, festivals, carnivals and flea markets. You can narrow your search to music, church, comedy, children & more. Free, Cheap, Expensive... whatever you are looking for. We have had tons of fun at the events that the calendar has clued us in on... HUGE ASSET!
I'll add more as I think of things... but if you have specific questions, just let me know.