Norfolk

The cultural and military capital of Hampton Roads, Norfolk (pop. 238,005) is home to the world's largest naval base — Naval Station Norfolk — and the headquarters of NATO's Allied Command Transformation. Downtown Norfolk has undergone a renaissance with the NEON Arts District, Waterside District entertainment complex, and the region's only light rail system, The Tide, running 7.4 miles from Eastern Virginia Medical Center through downtown to Newtown Road. Ghent is the city's walkable arts-and-dining neighborhood, while Ocean View offers seven miles of Chesapeake Bay beachfront. The city is also home to Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, and Eastern Virginia Medical School. Norfolk serves as the transit and cultural hub of the metro with the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center anchoring HRT's bus network.