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Cultural Amenities

Situated along the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton harbors a quality of life that's second to none in the nation. Hampton's historic charm coupled with scenic waterfront vistas has a small town atmosphere and yet boasts all of the conveniences of a large metropolitan area. Below you discover all of the great cultural amenities that Hampton and the region has to offer.

• American Theatre is a landmark building, newly renovated to include state of the art acoustics and sight lines. It seats 400 comfortably on two levels in plush, artistically restored original seats, each with a perfect view and the furthest being a mere 75 feet from the stage.
• Charles H. Taylor Arts Center changing exhibitions and numerous educational programs are provided year round.
• Peninsula Fine Arts Museum The Virginia Peninsula Fine Arts Museum provides a balanced and stimulating program of visual arts, through dynamic exhibitions and educational programs that appeal to both children and adults. Exhibitions are always changing--one month your family might explore ancient artifacts from Egypt, and the next month see works by up and coming regional artists.
• Chrysler Museum of Art was founded in 1939 as the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Museum experienced explosive growth in 1971 when automobile heir and art collector Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. presented the City of Norfolk with his collection. Since Chrysler's death in 1989 the Museum has continued to grow and expand, building on his legacy with regular additions to its holdings. The Chrysler offers a comprehensive program of changing exhibitions and educational activities for visitors of all ages.
• Harrison Opera House is an intimate 1,632 seat theater with the proud heritage of having been a USO Theater during World War II. Today the theater maintains that historic charm and elegance.
• Virginia Symphony provides over 140 classical, pop, family and educational performances each season.
• Virginia Stage Company located in the historic Wells Theatre, hosts a number of stage productions.

Historic Sites

• Colonial Williamsburg is a showpiece of American history. There are 88 historic buildings and hundreds of reconstructed buildings depicting business, education and cultural life in the 1700s.
• Fort Monroe the original mission was to protect the entrance to Hampton Roads and the several port cities that had access to its waters. It is the largest stone fort in the US. Jefferson Davis was imprisoned here and Edgar Allan Poe was stationed here call (757) 788-3391 or (757) 788-3935. Open year round daily 10:30AM - 4:30PM. Admission is free. Museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
• Fort Wool located in the middle of Hampton Roads harbor, Fort Wool is a pre-Civil War island fortress. Accessible to visitors via the Miss Hampton II tour boat, the fort offers guided tours and historical interpretation. (757) 727-9102, or for additional info, call the Visitors Center at (757) 727-1102.
• Jamestown Settlement in 2007 is the 400th anniversary of the founding of the first permanent English-speaking colony in the New World will be held. Jamestown served as the seat of Virginia's colonial government until nearby Williamsburg was designated in 1699.
• Yorktown Victory Center take yourself back over 200 years ago - both the park and battlefield are maintained as they were when George Washington accepted surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis at the 1781 battle of Yorktown which ended the Revolutionary War.

Higher Education

Colleges & Universities

The Hampton Roads Region has the highest concentration of institutions of higher learning in Virginia and one of highest concentrations in the US. Presently, there are 24 colleges and universities providing quality education to both the region's businesses and residents. This allows them to have access to numerous associate, graduate, postgraduate, and doctoral level courses in a variety of areas of study including the areas of liberal arts, applied sciences, engineering, business, and technical trades.

Medical Care

When you live in Hampton, Virginia you can count on comprehensive, modern health care for yourself, your family, and your employees. Hampton and the surrounding metropolitan area enjoy innovative health education services, numerous alternative healthcare providers and a wide selection of health and fitness facilities. So whether you're looking for top-notch cardiac care, a cozy, comfortable birthing room or an acupuncture specialist Hampton can provide for your family's healthcare needs. In addition to the typical health care programs provided, Hampton and the surrounding area has a host of other medical facilities adding over 2000 additional beds.

Public Schools

The Hampton Public School System includes 37 schools with an enrollment of roughly 21,500 students. Hampton City Schools strive to ensure that all students learn and demonstrate skills for lifelong learning by providing variety of different academic programs tailored to cater to the needs of the students. Our teachers are some of the best in the State and the nation. Hampton is the only school division in Virginia to have one of its teachers selected as "National Teacher of the Year." The city also has out standing technology programs. Phoebus High School has an award winning robotics program. James Mechklenburger, former director, NSBA Technology Leadership Network, classified Hampton City Schools as being in the top 2 percent of technology performing school districts in the United States.

Elementary School Programs

Each Hampton City Elementary School offers Breakthrough to Literacy, Reading Recovery and Accelerated Reader programs. These programs are geared to insure that students are given the tools needed to become successful and enhance their skills. Success for All emphasizes oral language development, alphabet familiarity and phonic awareness for kindergartners, beginning reading programs for grade one, and 90 minutes of uninterrupted daily reading instruction for grades two through five. Additionally three Hampton Elementary Schools have converted to a Year-Round format. Year-Round schools offer the same 180 days of schools as a traditional calendar. However the school begins in August and ends in June. Extended breaks are included in the school year allowing parents the opportunity to use them for off-season vacations. This program which is voluntary, proves that all children can learn year-round.

Middle School Programs

Hampton Middle Schools offer the traditional middle school as well as the Fundamental and Magnet schools. The Fundamental school is based on the belief that learning takes place best in a carefully structured, well-disciplined educational environment. The major emphasis is on basic academic skills and subject matter a, and fostering good study habits. The Jones Magnet Middle School is a small school of about 600 students with class scheduling similar to a college environment. This scheduling design allows for twice the traditional class time for math and language arts/reading and gives students the opportunity to concentrate on fewer subjects each semester. Admission to Fundamental and Magnet Schools is through an application process that is based on a lottery system. Hampton City Middle Schools also offer the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, a college-preparatory program designed to enhance test taking skills, study skills, and time management.

High School Programs

Hampton High Schools offer Dual Enrollment programs for juniors and seniors with local colleges. This allows Hampton students to get a jump on their college curriculum at little or no cost to the families. Additionally Hampton Schools offers specialized programs, such as the award winning Robotics Program that allows students to become involved in high-tech automation. The Blue Phantom Inn allows Phoebus High School students to operate their own in-school restaurant. The Firm is a business class that is set up to model an actual company. Students are employees and are assigned responsibilities and projects with the instructor serving as the company's CEO. The Firm reinforces punctuality, organizational skills, prioritization, business etiquette, ethics, self-motivation, and teamwork. In 1999 Hampton High Schools enhanced their programs by adding the Senior Mentorship Program, which provides opportunities for 12th grade students to gain experience in chosen career paths in various businesses and industries on the Virginia Peninsula.

Advanced Opportunities

The Governor's Magnet School for Science and Technology is also located in Hampton. Students spend five hours a week with scientists from NASA Langley Research Center, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and other government, private agencies and industries. A valuable feature of the Governor's School is the mentorship program in biology, chemistry, and physics.

Recreation

Sports enthusiasts have found a mecca here, with numerous year-round athletic events. Beautiful parks abound throughout the city. Over 2,250 acres are available to residents and boating, swimming, hiking, playground apparatuses and outdoor concerts are a nice compliment to the wide array of back-to-nature experiences. Sandy Bottom Nature Park, a 456-acre recreational facility and Grandview Nature Preserve with over 475 acres of salt marsh, tidal creeks, and Chesapeake Bay beachfront offer great opportunities for nature lovers.

Golf is also a popular activity in Hampton. The Hamptons Golf Course and The Woodlands were recently named the top two golf courses, respectively, for the most rounds played annually in the region by Inside Business magazine, a well-read regional business publication. Over 50,000 rounds were played last year at each facility. A total of 32 courses were included in the study.

At Hampton's Langley Speedway, NASCAR fans enjoy Late Model and Grand Stock races. At the Hampton Coliseum, a variety of motor sports events, including exciting motorcycle races, thrill fans year-round. Hampton host a major boating event the Hampton Cup Regatta, featuring limited Hydroplane Racing. Other sports attractions include the AAA baseball team the Norfolk Tides, an American Hockey League team the Admirals and Professional Soccer Team.

Beach & Waterfront Activities

Outdoor enthusiasts will find endless opportunities for recreation exploring the Chesapeake Bay which shares its shores with Hampton. Hampton's miles of waterfront offer access to numerous marinas including the Salt Ponds Marina which is one of the largest on the Chesapeake Bay, providing storage for boats up to 80 feet long and downtown Hampton. The Intercoastal Waterway also flows through Hampton, accommodating powerboat and sailing traffic.

Buckroe Beach offers lots of fun in the sun with a wide beachfront, two piers, a covered pavilion and spacious park area. During the summer, Big Band concerts and outdoor movies create a family atmosphere. Beach season is Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Grandview Nature Preserve, a 578-acre preserve and estuary, includes a two-mile beach in a pristine setting. This remote area is ideal for wildlife observations, ecological studies and hiking. For relaxing excursions on the Chesapeake Bay head to Hampton's downtown where you can find boats to take you on harbor tours, whale watching and chartered fishing trips.

Special Events

Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau. The Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau promotes Hampton as a travel destination to convention and meeting groups, group tour travelers and individual visitors.

Downtown Hampton Development Partnership. Through innovative arts initiatives, special events and cooperative marketing programs, the Downtown Hampton Development Partnership plays a vital role in the viability of Downtown Hampton.