The Tide MacArthur Square Station

Love, love, love the Tide! Anyone who has become accustomed to mass transit is excited by its convenience & potential. I lived in Atlanta when MARTA was built. And I am a subway lover in NYC. So the Tide has been a very welcome addition to Tidewater.
The MacArthur Station is the perfect stop for so many wonderful destinations. Cross the street and enjoy the shopping at MacArthur Mall. How could I live without the Apple Store, Coldwater Creek or Aveda?
Cross in the opposite direction and experience the Bean There Café. If one wasn’t aware of the outside surroundings, the atmosphere, décor, and creative coffee choices would convince you that you were in a coffee shop in SoHo or a trendy Brooklyn neighborhood.
Walk a couple of blocks and you are at one of the many activities hosted at the Half Moon Cruise Center. Just to its east is Town Point Park with its many festivals and events. Walk along the harbor and you might just see a tall ship, moored in all its majesty.
As you walk back to the station, stop in the newly expanded Main Norfolk Library. Visit the Sargeant Memorial Collection of local and family history. Explore the documents and resources that unravel the history of our beautiful area and possibly even your own family.
But wait! How could we forget about theater row? See a play or musical at the Wells Theater, the Governor’s School for the Arts black box theater or the Roper Center for Performing Arts. Walk a little further or hop back on the Tide for Chrysler Hall, Perry Family Theater, the Harrison Opera House or the Generic Theater. Don’t you love it, when dining on Granby Street, to have your server ask if you have theater tickets. They cater to your time schedule as nicely as NYC.
But, enough about the many reasons to take the Tide to the MacArthur Station. Let’s talk about the station itself.
It has a very aesthetic blend with its surroundings. Walking down the street one is tempted to stop and admire the layout, modern art sculpture and architecture, located on an island in the midst of several streets.
The same feeling applies when riding the Tide. Approaching the MacArthur Station one first notices the art sculpture at the clean and inviting island station. That morphs into the feeling that this is a safe and inviting place.
Let’s get off the Tide at the MacArthur Station. And let’s come back again, and again, and again. Always on the Tide…

Some station names are confusing, some are not. This one is quite obviously located exactly where it says it is — in MacArthur Square. Right next to the MacArthur memorial and MacArthur Center shopping plaza, this station is well lit even at night.
A decent amount of cover from the elements and you’ll be able to hear the train coming before you see it as it goes around a bend before it gets here.
I thought that the stock looked familiar and after I read up on The Tide, I see that it’s the exact same fleet that we use in Charlotte!
This station is on the light rail line between Civic Plaza and Monticello.

I came to Norfolk from Tennessee to visit my son in the US Coast Guard -«Semper Paratus» !! He had told me that he rode the train to work from a station closer to his home to avoid downtown traffic and parking.
I decided to do the same to go have lunch with him near MacArthur Center. I picked up the Tide at the Military Hwy station Westbound. I was amazed at how clean the stations and trains were here after having ride light rail trains in Atlanta, Dallas, DC and Baltimore where cleanliness isn’t always a priority. The ride was quick and quiet into downtown and a nice change from driving in traffic and hunting a parking space.
Many people are concerned about safety on these type trains; personal safety, that is. I have no reservations about it. I ended up riding several times and saw Norfolk Police officers regularly on the trains checking tickets… armed conductors, if you will!
All-​in-​all, is was a positive experience and one I will probably repeat the next time I visit my son.

Can pay with cash or card, schedule is clearly posted, trains are clean and in good condition. I’m a fan.

Chooo-​Choo! Conveniently located right in front of Dillards of MacArthur Mall! There are 2 platforms so dont get confused! Eastbound is furthest away from the mall! I think this is the prettiest station of the Tide. It’s surrounded by topiary, a mini-​mini garden of sort. It’s cute. The Tide schedule is posted. $ 3 round-​trip. Takes cash and credit card.

Great location for this station — very close to MacArthur Center mall, MacArthur Memorial and lots of great places to eat and shop. Not too far from The Plot, either!