The Oceanfront is 30 minutes away, and Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens 45 minutes in the other direction. Portsmouth may be smaller than Norfolk across the river, and it might not have the surf and sand of Virginia Beach, but it does have its own fair share of attractions and best-kept secrets. What do we cherish most about Portsmouth? The Olde Towne waterfront is just one of our many treasures. Unlike many urban cities, our buildings are scaled down so that the daily life of the river is not lost behind high-rise buildings. That means motorists driving down High Street can occasionally catch a glimpse of a majestic cruise ship undergoing repairs across the river or a battleship making its way down the harbor to the nation's oldest naval shipyard, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth. To enjoy the richness of the waterfront, a cruise by day or evening aboard the Carrie B, an exact replica of a 19th-century Mississippi riverboat, provides panoramic views of the nation's oldest shipyard, its first U.S. Naval hospital and the world's largest naval base, Another popular cruise, on board the Capt. Rudy Thomas, brings visitors to Portsmouth from the Eastern Shore for a delightful overnight stay at the Holiday Inn-Olde Towne. During their visit, guests discover the charm of Olde Towne on trolley tours or evening lantern tours. This scenic Chesapeake Bay cruise also departs from Olde Towne to take visitors to Tangier Island and Crisfield, MD, for an overnight excursion that includes a seafood feast fit for King Neptune before returning to Portsmouth the following day. Carrie B Harbor Tour Explore the world's largest natural harbor, see the nation's first naval shipyard, and cruise the site of the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac aboard a replica of a 19th-century Mississippi riverboat. Light menu served on board. Tours available April through mid-October only. Daytime tours depart from Portsmouth's North Landing (adjacent to Harbor Tower) at 12: 10 p.m. (90-minute cruise) and at 2: 10 p.m. (2-1/2 hour cruise). Sunset cruises, available June I through Labor Day, leave Portsmouth at 6: 10 p.m. and last 2 -1/2 hours. (757) 393 -4735. Chesapeake Bay Cruise Explore the Chesapeake Bay on a scenic four-hour cruise between Portsmouth and Crisfield, Maryland. Tangier Island Cruises offers cruises in and out of Portsmouth on the luxurious, climate-controlled Capt. Rudy Thomas. The package from Crisfield, MD, to Portsmouth is offered two days a week. Both trips return the following day and include: round-trip cruise, lunch on vessel both days, overnight accommodations, breakfast buffet and a tour of the Naval Base from the vessel as it is on its way to Portsmouth. The vessel also makes a reverse trip from Portsmouth to Tangier Island, then on to Crisfield, MD, for an overnight stay. June through mid October (Cruise info - Tangier Island). Phone: (410) 968-2338 or (800) 863-2338.