Epes Newport News, VA

The Virginia Peninsula has played important roles in American recorded history, from the English settlers in the early 1600s to America’s Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War’s 1862 Peninsula Campaign, where the famous Battle of the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor took place.

In 1610, nearby settlers fled their Jamestown home because of harsh conditions. When they encountered Capt. Christopher Newport here on the Virginia Peninsula, he gave them good news that reinforcements and supplies had arrived. Thus “Newport’s News” inspired the settlers to return to Jamestown.

You can learn more about this history at the Mariners’ Museum and USS Monitor Center, the Virginia War Museum, the U.S. Army Transportation Museum and other regional historical sites.

The area’s coastal location along the waterways leading to the Atlantic Ocean has created a diverse business economy that embraces shipbuilding, technological research and international commerce and a strong military presence.

The casual restaurants in the Epes neighborhood reflect the international flavor of Hampton Roads, with Asian, European, American and Caribbean options at moderate prices.

Delights Caribbean Restaurant brings you the flavors of the islands, with traditional foods like ox tails, curry goat, jerk chicken, sweet plantains, and rice and peas. Delights also serves the harder-to-find ackee and saltfish meal, the national Jamaican dish of the nutty-tasting ackee fruit and salt cod. They prepare homemade juices, too, to pair with your food. Belgian Waffles and Steak House supports the locals not just in serving great food, but also through community support. This breakfast-through-late-lunch spot, open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., hearkens back to mom-and-pop diners with hearty American dishes like the club sandwich, BLT, liver and onions, pigs in a blanket, corned beef hash and egg and, of course, waffles. Despite the "steakhouse" name, this is not a source for various cuts of beef but for country-fried steak and chopped steak. However, you can definitely expect down-home cooking, hearty portions and moderate prices.

Chung Oak Korean restaurant reflects the area's Asian influence. Recommendations include: the beef or pork bulgogi, tangy barbecued meat served with steamed rice; go-gi bokkeum, stir-fried beef and vegetables with rice; or yukgaejang, the well-known, spicy, long-simmered soup, made with shredded beef, scallions and other vegetables, and served with steamed rice. A Japanese portion of the menu includes sushi, sashimi and udon hot noodles.

Nightlife is slow in the Epes neighborhood, but other nearby areas present options. Hookah Hut in McIntosh presents an interesting option for local evening entertainment. Stop by during their evening hours, starting at 8 p.m., for a traditional hookah experience, partaking of their flavored smokes. Hookah Hut allows adults 18 and up to participate, and only non-alcoholic beverages are served.

Visit Craft 60 Ale House when you're craving an ice-cold beer and a retro atmosphere. This place pours local and international brews and pairs them with sides of good old-fashioned bar food and friendly service. Be sure to check Groupon before you head over; you can sometimes find deals for this establishment.

At Regal Cinemas at Kiln Creek, you can catch a new-release movie. City Center at Oyster Point presents dinner and a movie at Neo Kitchen + Bar, located in the Paragon City Center 12 theater.

Bailey's Newport News has a number of TVs that let you watch the big game or fight while sipping on cocktails or noshing on pub food. Let the staff here seat you if you have your heart set on watching one thing in particular; this place regularly displays multiple events for your viewing pleasure.

In Port Warwick, the Summer Concert Series hosts a variety of musical acts, including jazz, blues, light rock and roll, samba and folk.

Sidewalks along most of the main roads in Epes, like Warwick Boulevard, Old Courthouse Way and Woodhaven Road, help make biking and walking safe, while the residential neighborhoods are wide enough to accommodate cars, pedestrians and bikes.

Shopping areas in Epes provide free public parking. The community lies between two interchanges for Interstate 64, the major Hampton Roads highway: Route 105/Fort Eustis Boulevard to the northwest and Route 143/Jefferson Avenue to the southeast.

Automobiles provide the primary transportation for most Epes residents. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides economical travel throughout much of the region, with numerous bus stops along the Warwick Boulevard corridor for easy access. A phone call can summon a cab, and Uber also services the Reservoir and the surrounding Newport News region.

The closest park to Epes, Newport News Park, provides a great diversity of outdoor activities. One of the largest municipal parks east of the Mississippi, this 7,711-acre property provides refuge for native wildlife as well as for humans in search of natural beauty.

Newport News Park features 188 campsites, 30 miles of multi-use trails, shelters, picnic tables and grills, waterways for fishing, boating and canoeing, playgrounds, archery, disc golf, Civil War sites and more. The park also hosts two 18-hole public golf courses. Although there are no exercise-centric facilities, the park provides plenty of opportunities to be active. Park admission is free, though fees apply for select activities and for equipment rental.

Pets are welcome but need to have an up-to-date rabies certificate.

At Newport News Park, three events highlight the seasons. The Children’s Festival of Friends in May features entertainment, exhibits and activities. The Fall Festival of Folklife in October presents nationally known performers, arts and crafts, regional foods and entertainment. Celebration in Lights for the holidays transforms Newport News Park with more than 450,000 lights, creating a sparkling feast for the eyes.

Epes residents live in apartment complexes or moderate suburban neighborhoods. The cost of living lies slightly below the national average and below nearby downtown Newport News. The average rental rate for a one-bedroom residence is about $690.

Hampton Roads Transit provides public transportation for the region, ending at York County and James City County to the west. A single trip on the HRT costs $1.75, while the one-day GoPass costs $4. This fare takes passengers to downtown Newport News as well as other regional stops.

Beer prices at local restaurants range from $2 for domestics at happy hour to $4. The gas average generally rests at 7 percent less than the national average.

Newport Crossings Shopping Center and other small strip malls at Epes host national name retailers, including several value-priced stores like Citi Trends, Dollar Tree and Burlington Coat Factory.

Nearby, Patrick Henry Mall, Jefferson Commons Shopping Center and Jefferson Marketplace present national names such as American Eagle Outfitters, Bath & Body Works, Dillard’s, Versona, Lane Bryant, Rue 21, Pier 1 Imports, Lowe’s and Michael’s.

If you’re looking for boutique shopping, head to City Center at Oyster Point and Port Warwick. At Hi-Ho Silver, you can browse handmade sterling silver designs from all around the world, including exclusive designs as well as coveted names like Chamilia or Alex and Ani. DiscoverTEAS at Port Warwick is an experience as well as a shopping destination, with fresh tea sampling daily, a tea exploration station, a blend-your-own tea bar and a Wi-Fi lounge for sipping and browsing the Web, as well as tea ware and accessories.

For grocery needs, start at the Food Lion at Epes. You can supplement your stock with several international markets carrying produce, meats and packaged foods from around the world. These include Far Eastern Food Store, Jung Hah Asian Food Market and E-Mart International Food & Gift store, with Latin American, pan-Asian and Middle Eastern goods.

Trader Joe’s and The Fresh Market on Jefferson Avenue can help meet your upscale and organic food needs. Farther down Warwick, Game's Farmers Market, a year-round enclosed grocery store, stocks an array of local meats and produce as well as bulk Amish-style products.