Newmarket - Newport News, VA

Newmarket sits within the independent city of Hampton, which itself forms part of the greater Hampton Roads area in Virginia. This area has long played an important part in the nation’s history, most notably during the Civil War, when most of Virginia joined the Confederates. Fort Monroe remained in Union hands and was considered symbolic, both politically and as a symbol of freedom to former slaves.

Newmarket lies near the Virginia War Museum next to the James River.

While you won’t find any notable restaurants within the Newmarket neighborhood itself, plenty of food options surround the neighborhood, from the expected chain restaurants to a few stand-out, specialty options for both lunch and dinner.

Try Circa 1918, a small restaurant on Warwick Boulevard serving new American cuisine alongside a substantial bar and wine list in a cozy, romantic atmosphere. Make reservations because the booking list fills up fast.

For a unique setting to grab a bite for breakfast or lunch, Tommy’s Restaurant serves American comfort food surrounded by retro-styled decor. According to locals, this place serves the best fried catfish you’ll find in the area.

The nightlife options closest to Newmarket can be found along West Mercury Boulevard. Cozzy’s Comedy Club and Tavern serves some great bar food and tasty drinks to enjoy along with its commendable line-up of regular comedians to make you laugh after a long day at work. Dance the night away at PBR, a dance club on Power Plant Parkway that features everything from a mechanical bull to an integrated Twitter feed displaying hashtagged pictures taken by patrons on one of the main TV screens in the bar. PBR also occasionally hosts live musical acts and, in addition to live music at some of the local bars, the Hampton Coliseum about 8 miles from Newmarket regularly hosts live music and other performances.

To travel around the Newmarket neighborhood and outwards into greater Hampton, you are probably going to need your own vehicle due to the limited public transport and the need to travel outside the area to reach most amenities. Though around 20 bus routes service the area of Hampton, with roughly eight stations within Newmarket connecting to those routes, ride-share services such as Uber do not currently operate in the area and taxi cabs cannot be hailed on the street. Several cab companies service this area, but you should expect significant wait times when arranging for a car.

You won't find much in the way of on-street parking or parking garages in the neighborhood, although Newmarket lies very close to a major highway system that allows quick transport into the city center. Little to no biking infrastructure has been installed in this neighborhood, but it does connect to several bike friendly roads.

Just as with shopping and dining, you need to travel slightly outside this neighborhood to find a green space to enjoy. Head to Briarfield Park to find 49 acres of green space with four lit softball fields, five lit tennis courts, four large picnic shelters available for reservation, a fitness trail and a large playground for children. When scheduled sport events take place at the fields, concession stands open up as well.

Huntington Park Beach includes a large playground area for children called Fort Run, which overlooks the James River and also features picnic shelters available for reservation. The beach portion of the park opens from Memorial Day through Labor Day with limited lifeguard hours. Take advantage of a fishing pier and an additional fishing pier for children, as well as a public boat ramp featuring dedicated parking, a rose garden with gazebo, two ball fields and Vietnam War and Holocaust Remembrance memorials. This park hosts the Virginia War Museum, with a number of items from past wars past on display throughout the park.

Both parks include paths that are suitable for exercise-minded individuals, as well as the dedicated fitness path at Briarfield Park. All parks are free and open to the public except in the case of special events, during which there may be fees. Pets should remain leashed at all times except in specially designated areas in accordance with city policy.

The average cost of living in Newmarket, Virginia sits roughly four percent below the cost of living within Washington, D.C. itself. To reach the center of Hampton, expect to pay between $1.75 and $3.00, depending on what public transit you use to complete your journey. The median rental cost for a one-bedroom apartment is $497, while you can expect to pay around $8 for a pint of beer. The price per gallon of gasoline runs about two percent less than the national average.

Though Newmarket remains largely residential in nature, a few focused shopping areas can be found in the vicinity. Prominent shopping areas in Hampton lie toward the center of the township, about 3 miles away from Newmarket.

Mary’s Florist serves the area with beautifully arranged flowers for all major holidays or special occasions in a family-owned and -operated store. For handmade candies and sweet treats, try Sweetie’s Unique Treats, which caters for just about every occasion. If you’re looking for a pair of combat fatigues or a good pair of work coveralls, G.I. Joe’s Army Surplus has you covered with its range of military surplus and industrial gear.

Located about five miles from Newmarket, the City Center Farmers Market Oyster Point is well worth the short drive. This market sells most major goods, including bulk Amish-style items that are largely locally produced. Expect to travel around four or five miles outside Newmarket to find the nearest grocery stores in the center of Hampton, near the crossroads of Interstate 64 and Highway 258.