Have you been to Hampton, Virginia?

When I think about moving to a new area, first thing to pop into my head is … “where am I going to go to hang out?” Or better yet, “where can I go to get some fire 🔥 food?” Moving to the 757 [some 16 years ago👀] I learned quickly that there are 7 different cities here. Aka no shortage of either of those things!

While in college I ended up jumping right into the local scene. From music to journalism, I was constantly finding my way off campus to explore this new area.  It was always interesting to hear so many of my friends and locals talking down on the area and saying things like,

“It’s boring here, or there is nothing to do…” but I was having the time of my life exploring and discovering all these new places! I remember saying to those same people,

“If you can’t find something to do in 7 different cities then maybe YOU are the problem, bruh!”

At the time I got heavy into social and started posting and talking about the places I was finding so I could show my friend and silence the naysayers… that when I noticed a shift. People from the area were telling me constantly, “I have lived here for x amount of years and didn’t even know that existed”…shortly after that I formed the brand, Nomarama, and here I am today!

As long as I have been in the area I’ve predominantly lived in Norfolk and VB but I have definitely made trips to other cities like Suffolk, Chesapeake, Ptown & Virginia Beach.

While I eventually acquired clients in Hampton I’d make the trip specifically for them but never actually had time to fully explore… until recently thanks to @visithamptonva 😀

I repeat… if you live in the 7 cities and are sticking to strictly one of those cities, you are doing yourself a serious injustice.

Each of the cities, like Hampton, has its own vibe & energy that deserves to be tapped in.

The fam and I drove into Hampton, despite the cloudy, possibly rainy day- we were greeted with a colorful welcome along Mallory Street. We saw so many local businesses, with much holiday cheer decorated along the streets and storefronts, and easily found parallel parking for our stops. How appropriate that across the street from parking was a large orange sculpture that read, “SPREAD LOVE!” I immediately knew our trip was off to a good start. 

We headed straight to Scratch Bakery, a local black-owned sweet & coffee shop. Right when you walk in, you are greeted with the SWEET smells of everything delicious they make in-house. The aesthetic was clean, modern, with still the touch of Southern hospitality- the staff was kind and eager to help us decide from all the mouthwatering flavors of cakes and sweets they offered. In the back towards their outdoor patio section, Scratch Bakery has a small play table, where the little one really enjoyed playing kitchen by “making us milkshakes” and “mixing up cookies” while my pistachio ice cream affogato was being prepared. An affogato is an espresso shot (or two!) served over your choice of ice cream… you heard that right- get your caffeine and sweet tooth fix all in one. The boys devoured their Death By Chocolate cupcake while I crushed my Red Velvet cupcake- you gotta try ‘em and take extras home for later (the Strawberry Shortcake cupcake was my midnight snack). We look forward to coming back and trying their fantastic selection of cakes by the slice.

Walking distance from Scratch Bakery is Fullers Raw Bar, a recommended lunch spot on the corner. We wanted to ensure it was family-friendly and they have booths and seated areas separated from the bar, still immersed in their entertaining signage and hanging nautical decor. Their fresh oyster selections of the day were listed on hanging chalkboards, we learned about the differences from our helpful server and had to try a few! While the kids comfortably colored in their sketchbooks at the table, we ordered lunch for the fam and were not disappointed. First, I and the kids loved the french fries- and they have the skinny, crunchy kind that are perfect with some malt vinegar and ketchup. Secondly, the fried fish was battered just right, served with lemon and my favorite hot sauce, Crystal’s! Mmm.. a nap right afterward would have been great, haha but we had more of Hampton to enjoy so off to Fort Monroe we went.

While driving to Fort Monroe, the kids spotted a dock so we pulled over to park and take a quick walk to check out the beautiful view of the water. As we walked up the dock, we spotted pelicans and seagulls resting on poles across from us while we quietly enjoyed this moment with nature. It started to sprinkle as we ran through the parking lot but we were really enjoying a day out in Hampton together!

We had never been to Fort Monroe National Park and really didn’t know what to expect. There were historic brick buildings, some looked like large residential homes while others were facility buildings. After a short drive, we found the Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center where I highly recommend you start your first time visit to Fort Monroe! There’s a large digital touchscreen interactive guide you can navigate through yourself to find out about events, tours, maps, and further information about Fort Monroe, or if you’re still like me, I enjoy getting to chat with the local Visitor’s Desk staff- where we learned and were able to sign up for a free tour of the Fort Monroe Casemate Museum (open Wednesday through Sunday). You walk across a bridge over the moat into a tunnel that leads you to the Casemate Museum where we were able to spend time learning and educating the children on the history and impact of such a location- most memorably that it became a place of sanctuary for enslaved men. Virginia is filled with a depth of history and Fort Monroe certainly is part of it.

After our stop in Fort Monroe, we wanted to let the kids explore the Virginia Air & Space Science Center! They both have been multiple times before and were eager to return. The main lobby itself even has a cool futuristic tiling that appears to change color from the angle of light reflection! The robotics section upstairs was definitely a favorite- gotta love interactive fun!

The Hampton Carousel was the last stop of our trip- it was right across the street from the VA Air & Space Science Center. The kids couldn’t help but run towards the brightly lit building, and when we entered, the whimsical horses of the carousel were a sight to see! We learned while riding that it was one of the OLDEST carousels in America, I had no idea. I’ve had friends who’ve had photoshoots at the Hampton Carousel for special occasions- I understand now after my first time there!

Hampton proved to be filled with a blooming community with historic roots- new places worth exploring, and historical locations worth learning about. Definitely will have to come by again soon to see what else Hampton has in store.

For a look into our adventure head over to my Nomarama Insta [ @_Nomarama_ ]. And next time you are looking for another weekend getaway, don’t feel like you have to drive hours away… this one’s just a stones throw and there’s SO much to do!

For more visitor information head to VisitHampton.com to stay up to date with city events and updates.