Six of the Best Things in Newport News

Last Updated on March 11, 2024

The gateway into Southeastern Virginia and the front access to the Atlantic waterways, Hampton Roads makes up 16 cities and many other smaller, unique communities. Among these larger cities is Newport News.

Home to roughly 180,000 people, this stretch of land on the eastern border of the James River offers its residents a great place to visit, work, live, and play. For more, here are six of the best things in Newport News.

1. The best Newport News neighborhoods

As with all cities, Newport News is chock full of unique communities and neighborhoods to checkout, such as Hidenwood. In the central part of Newport News, Hidenwood stands out with its single-family homes as well as a large population of military members.

HIlton Village on the south side of town offers a solid mixture of both single-family homes and apartment complexes in a well-established neighborhood, with many of the buildings and structures dating back to the 1940s. Checkout and explore the Newport News neighborhoods for yourself!

2. Grab a piece of Valhalla at Viking Burger

Sometimes you just need to have a burger, and thankfully, Viking Burger is ready to answer that call. Whether you ordering a classic Odin or a more mischievous Loki, you cannot go wrong. Definitely checkout the Viking Fries, complete with the Viking sauce, which is similar to a finely minced chili and well seasoned. Combine that with a cheese sauce on the thick cut fries, and you can’t lose.

3. Taste the sea at Harpoon Larry’s Fish House and Oyster Bar

Being so close to the water, seafood is a must in Newport News, and when you want to get some seafood, you have to try Harpoon Larry’s. Offering curbside during the Covid-19 shutdown, locals recommend such dishes as the she crab salmon or go big with the BB Seafood Tower.

You can also just enjoy the overall vibe of the place, including a strong selection of local beers.

4. See history come to life in the Virginia Living Museum

Folks come to the Virginia Living Museum to see, well, history come to life. Offering a variety of exhibits that include both live animals and an aquarium as well as the dinosaur discovery trail, which showcases 16 of the massive creatures that once walked the world.

5. Hit the beach at Huntington Park

When you need to get out and enjoy some fresh air, you have to checkout Huntington Park. This place offers 60 acres that includes fishing piers, a beach, a park, and even a museum. The best part is the cost of admission: free. Ideal for families or even an outing two. 

6. The affordable life is found in Newport News

According to Bestplaces.net, Newport News is highly affordable compared to both Virginia and the rest of the country. The site scores cities, with the national average being a score of 100. Overall, Newport News scored a 92.8, and there was significant savings seen in housing. In fact, Newport News has ranked among the most affordable cities in Virginia.

The median home cost is $181,200, which is about $50,000 cheaper than the national average. That being said, renting is slightly closer to the national averages.

Thankfully, whether you’re looking to move here to take advantage of that lower housing cost or want to get more out of your current Newport News apartment and more, Newport News self storage can help. Click here for more info on Newport News storage facilities.