Now that it’s spring, you may be looking for new things to do outside. Tucked away in Hampton, is a place where freedom lives. With a history dating back 400 years, Fort Monroe offers plenty of space for exploration and education.

Scratch Bakery started years ago in Lashonda Sanford’s home. Her daughter was celebrating her second birthday, and Sanford needed a cake. After making multiple calls and finding no one to help, Sanford took matters into her own hands. She baked and decorated an Elmo-themed cake from scratch.

For a nice escape with a radiant view of the Chesapeake, head to Buckroe Beach.

Old MacDonald’s Farm has nothing Bluebird Gap Farm in Hampton. Watch WAVY-TV’s Tamara Scott and Symone Davis enjoy the wonders of this free interactive public park.

Phoebus is going to be the next Ghent. That’s what local businessman/real estate tycoon Richard Levin has been saying for a few years now. He put his money where his mouth is by purchasing numerous buildings in the historic “main street” corridor (Mellen Street) of Phoebus.

“I felt like the type of experience we’re offering did not exist in this neighborhood and there was an opportunity to bring something new, fresh and exciting to a community that was underserved,” said Fox Tail Wine Bar co-owner Justin Ramos. “I plan on fixing that problem.”

Once upon a time, there were two chefs…Ugh! Sorry for that saccharine start. But in my defense, when you’re telling the story about a couple who just opened a French-inspired bistro and bar called The Baker’s Wife and owns a restaurant with Goose in the title, well, you can’t help falling into a fairy tale frame of mind.

The historic town of Phoebus is in the midst of another resurgence and revitalization. There is a palpable sense of excitement and progress in the air, and it’s infectious! Some say it has been a long time coming — now it seems that all the pieces are falling into place.

Hampton Restaurant Week is set to kick-off, and this year, it’s returning for two weeks. The event will run from March 7 until March 21 with takeout specials also available for the first time.

Fort Monroe, where the first Africans arrived at English North America in 1619, has been named a “site of memory” with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s slave route project, Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday.

It’s a rainy Thursday morning at the corner of Mellen and Mallory Streets. Dinner service doesn’t start until 5 p.m., but the team at The Baker’s Wife Bistro is on-site several hours ahead of time, preparing.

The Hampton Convention and Visitor Bureau has put together a driving tour of black history sights for Black History Month and beyond. Check out a few of the spots in this week’s Reck on the Road.

Here are some of my recommendations of travel destinations where you can visit Black history sites in the U.S. year-round.

There are so many Black history sites across the country that commemorate important moments in not only Black history but American history. Many of these sites celebrate the awesome achievements of Black Americans while others honor the lives of so many who were unjustly taken from us.

The 400 Years Forward driving tour through Hampton is a great way to celebrate the city’s rich African American heritage during Black History Month.

The Phoebus section of Hampton oozes charm. Cruise down Mellen Street at the intersection with Mallory and you get the feel of a classic small-town American main street. Theater? Check. The American Theater is a treasure. Local restaurants? Check.

Thinking about what travel should look like in the South in 2021 is difficult. It’s important to consider the coronavirus infection rates before going anywhere and to wear masks, even if it’s not mandated. The locations chosen aren’t major cities and provide better distance.

Walking and cycling have become increasingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although colder weather may be a disincentive for some walkers, many of Tidewater’s trails come into their own during the winter months

In this week’s Hiking Hampton Roads, sports reporter Megan Plain continues her efforts to raise funds to fight the #1 and #5 killers, heart disease and stroke.

Even in an area as steeped in history as the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton stands a head taller. Here are a few quick examples. Hampton is the oldest continuous English-speaking settlement in the United States.

One of the newest beers at Oozlefinch Beers and Blending pays homage to a restaurant just a mile up the road.

A time ago, Hampton’s Air Power Park had three Ajax missiles — two were repainted white, remounted and now flank the entrance.

Two local entities have given themselves a branding makeover: CREW Hampton Roads has become CREW Coastal Virginia, and the Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau has unveiled a new logo.

Standing near the entrance to Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, is a large specimen of a Southern live oak tree (Quercus virginiana) estimated to be between 150 and 200-years-old.

Graylyn Owens came to Fort Monroe early Saturday and sat in his car overlooking the Chesapeake Bay near the state marker that commemorates the arrival of first Africans to Virginia in 1619.

Built in 1803 and automated in 1972, the lighthouse is the second oldest on Chesapeake Bay. In the Anglo-American War it was seized by British forces during their advance on Washington, but survived serious damage.

You can easily spend a few days here and combine your visit with a side trip to some of the other popular destinations around the region. Use this guide to plan your visit and enjoy the best things to do in Hampton, VA.

Virginia’s Fort Monroe National Monument is the largest stone fort in American history as well as the site of Chief Black Hawk’s detainment, Civil War salvation, and the first arrival of Africans to the continent.

This is another of the beaches in Virginia with historical significance! Buckroe Beach is one of the oldest recreational areas in the state and was first designated for public use in 1619.

Hampton and its surrounding communities offer coastal getaways from Washington DC. Learn about this region’s aeronautical history at the Virginia Air and Space Museum and the legacy of piracy at the Hampton History Museum.

Old Point Comfort Lighthouse is located at Fort Monroe in Hampton. It was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in 1802, making it the second oldest in the Bay.

Grandview Nature Preserve is a gem of a beach in the Hampton Roads Area. Strolling the shoreline, visitors will have the opportunity to admire beautiful birds and wildlife.

In Hampton Roads and across the country, beer festivals have been a hallmark of spring and summer — from the mostly local Williamsburg Craft Beer Festival to the left-field collaboration beers of the overnight Common Grounds Festival in Virginia Beach.

Hampton Roads is the region around coastal Virginia that includes Hampton, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Newport News. It’s accessible by three airports and is a few hours from Richmond.

Even long before bridges made them easy to reach, Virginia beaches were attracting tourists from Washington D.C. and other communities on the eastern coast. Virginia offers something for everyone

Emancipation Oak is perhaps one of the most iconic trees in all of Virginia. This Live Oak, located on the campus of Hampton University, has born witnessed to some of the most significant moments of our state’s history.

A year ago, Hank and Henry Morgan were scurrying around War Memorial Stadium making sure the last coats of paint were applied and the final nails were driven just days before the Peninsula Pilots started another Coastal Plain League season.

Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water music festival was crushed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but his generosity in Hampton Roads is having an even greater impact for people in need.