Beyond the Obvious in Hampton: Blue Ridge day trips and history stops
Curious about what you'll do when you live in Hampton? If you like the idea of sailing on sparkling waters, getting artsy in waterfront galleries, and are daring enough to try crabbing with a chicken neck off old docks, Hampton is calling you home! This list of fun things to do will take you from beaches to battleships and give you a full tour of Hampton's historic coastal charm.
Laura, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Laura arrived in Virginia in 1988 with a teaching job, a love of sunshine, and zero idea she’d still be here decades later—now basically an honorary ambassador for the state. She’s tracked down over 800 of Virginia’s iconic LOVE signs, a feat that probably deserves its own license plate. When she’s not at the beach or debating which El Azteca location does the best Nacho Fajitas, she’s editing Snappy Scout’s Virginia guides, helping readers discover the local quirks and hidden gems she’s been living (and loving) for years.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Will You Do in Hampton?
From weekend adventures to iconic road trips, here's how locals spend their time off.
on a Saturday with perfect weather
or Buckroe Beach before the sunburn and seagull chaos begins
when the gals come to town for the weekend
Wine tasting at Bluebird Gap Farm then downtown shenanigans
rainy dreary day
Virginia Air and Space Center where astronauts beat weather or the cool Fort Monroe’s Casemate Museum
intellectually stimulating
Hampton History Museum because you're fancy like that
artsy
Charles Taylor Arts Center for culture without pretension
outdoorsy
Grandview Nature Preserve where marsh views cure everything urban
fitness oriented
Hampton River Trail for joggers who like waterfront motivation
with your dog
Sandy Bottom Nature Park where pups become wilderness explorers
family oriented
Carousel at Downtown Hampton for old timey wholesome vibes or walk around the rockets and planes at Air Power Park
in need of a selfie
Fort Monroe beach with that historic fortress backdrop energy
you have to see this
Fort Monroe where history majors weep with architectural joy
on a budget
Buckroe Beach because sand and sunsets remain gloriously free
My Favorite Local Spot in Hampton
Stuft Restaurant in Historic Phoebus has an amazing Bulgogi Cheesesteak Eggrolls appetizer that you could make a meal out from. But if you shake then, then try the a creatively stuffed taco that is nothing like Taco Bell. Test your knowledge at Trivia Night or sing along with the band.
— Laura Gray
Virginia Local Expert
Ready to See If Hampton Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Hampton guide for the bigger picture.