How to Pick Sites to Visit in Hampton, Virginia

Hampton, Virginia may not spring to mind as an ideal exotic place to take a family vacation, one must keep in mind that the city is close to several other well known tourist sites. These include Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. The Hampton area, which is part of a bigger area known as the Virginia Peninsula, is also deceptive. It is home to several different historical museums of its own, not to mention being located close to sister city, Newport News, which houses a multitude of museums of its own.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A list of the "types" of areas in which you and your family or group are interested in visiting;
• A list of the different subject matters in which you and your group or family are interested;
• A computer with an Internet connection;
• Paper; and
• Pencils or pens.

How to Pick Sites to Visit in Hampton, Virginia

1. The first step in planning your perfect visit to Hampton, Virginia is to determine the different "types" of sites and the different subject areas, like history, horticulture, or theater, in which you have an interest. The list might include, but certainly wouldn't be limited to the following sites:
   
   Museums and historical sites,
   Unique restaurants,
   Sport sites,
   Shopping sites, and/or
   Other entertainment.
   
   With list in hand, go to the Internet and research each of your areas of interest. Another alternative would be to call the Virginia Tourist Bureau or the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce to ask them to forward tourist materials to you. Be sure to pay close attention to the days and hours of operation for each site you intend to visit. Also determine if there is an admission cost and, if so, how much it is so that you can plan your budget accordingly.
2. If museums and historical sites are of interest to you, consider one or more of the following Hampton sites:
   
   The Casemate Museum, which displays weapons, uniforms, and artifacts of the Fort's unique history within our nation;
   Virginia Air and Space Museum, which displays artifacts from our country's space race;
   Hampton History Museum, seeks to increase awareness and understanding of the city's history;
   Hampton University Museum, which outlines the university's unique history in both the city and the nation;
   Little England Chapel, a school for African Americans in the 1880's.
   
   Don't forget other nearby historical sites like: The Colonial Williamsburg Museum; Historic Jamestown; The Jamestown Settlement; The Yorktown Victory Center; The Yorktown Battle Site; The Berkley Plantation (site of the first official Thanksgiving); The Shirley Plantation; Sherwood Forest Plantation (home of President John Tyler); The Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William and Mary; Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum; and The Waterman's Museum.
3. Explore the city's unique restaurants like:
   
   Captain George's Seafood Restaurant, world renown for its seafood buffet;
   Johnny Carinos Country Italian Restaurant, known for its fabulous Italian dishes;
   Grey Goose, a delightful deli with fabulous soups and salads;
   Wok 'N Roll Cafe, for unlimited delicious oriental food; and
   Steak and Ale, for mouth watering steak.
4. If you want to partake in sports while on your vacation, check out some of the city's favorite sports places:
   
   Hampton Golf Course, a 27-hole championship course;
   The Woodlands Golf Course, with 18 holes;
   James River Country Club Course, an 18 hole championship course; and
   Eaglewood Golf Course, located on Langley Air Force Base.
5. Those with shopping on the brain can try one of the area's strip shopping centers.
6. When relaxation is needed, check out one of the city's many day spas.
   Children will love Bluebird Gap Farm. Bluebird Gap is a working farm that allows visitors to both see and experience farm life in Virginia.
   
   Those seeking a unique viewing experience may want to try an IMAX movie at the Virginia Air and Space Museum.
7. Those enjoying the great outdoors while also exploring antique crafts, may choose to visit the Hampton Carousel, which is one of only 170 working antique wooden carousels left in America.
8. Filter your original list down to the sites that you most want to see. Make sure that they fit both within your budget and the time you have allotted for your Hampton visit.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay within your allotted budget. Choose only those sites that you and your family or group most want to see.
• Take advantage of the area's "free" tourist sites like Bluebird Gap Farm.
• Have fun! Choose things that are relaxing and will make for a wonderful memory.
• Take advantage of "free" tourist materials that can be obtained at the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
• Take lots of pictures and/or video so that you can remember your visit for years to come.
• Don't try to see everything. Both you and your family will become frustrated trying to rush through in order to get to each site. Instead, choose the most important ones and allow yourself sufficient time to do it justice.
• Don't over extend your budget. You'll be angry with yourself afterwards and the visit to the area may be forever marred.
• Don't allow yourself to be "bullied" into purchases. Buy only what you really want and can afford.