How To Spend 36 Hours With Kids In Newport News, Virginia
I get it.
You need a break, a vacation, but you only have time for a quick weekend getaway. That getaway may not even begin until you get off of work on Friday. Am I right? That was my family’s recent experience as far as time restraints. However, we managed to get on the road a little earlier than expected.
When we asked our youngest daughter what she wanted to do for her birthday, she chose to “go on a trip.” A trip to the beach to be exact! Although we enjoy revisiting destinations, this time we wanted new scenery. A new-to-us city or town and a beach.
Location of choice? Virginia. Sticking with our initial plan, we chose a city in Virginia we’d never visited. A bit of research landed us in Newport News . There were only 36 hours to spare & we wanted the trip as budget-friendly as possible.
The Hotel
Our hotel reservations are typically booked through apps such as hotel.com. The more we use it, the more points we gain towards a free night. We lost out on one hotel deal but eventually chose Comfort Suites Newport News Airport. According to online information, it met all of our hotel requirements (read more about our must-haves here).
Unfortunately, we didn’t take photos of the hotel but you can see our room tour in this vlog. Staff members were extremely friendly & attentive. Breakfast wasn’t spectacular but served its purpose & we were grateful to not have to prepare it.
You couldn’t ask for a better location! Olive Garden & Red Lobster are literally in front of the hotel with other restaurants, the airport, Walmart, & interstate access within minutes. The hotel has a heated indoor pool that we never swam in but noticed other guests frequenting.
Our only real complaint was sharing a floor with noisy guests. Luckily, we only heard them the first night. Overall, it was a good experience & we’d stay again. If you’re not looking for absolute hotel luxury, Comfort Suites Newport News Airport is a good choice.
The Mariners Museum
$1 admission. The end.
The admission price & kid-friendly atmosphere were the first things to interest us but the museum has so much more to offer its guests. Learn of all things maritime as it relates to history, the military, etc. See rare artifacts, explore fascinating exhibitions, hike the Nolan trail, watch 3D movies (few dollars more), listen to lectures, see boats & boat models, enjoy interactive displays, dine in the Mariners Park Cafe or bring a meal to enjoy on the scenic grounds, & visit the gift shop. We noticed a couple of designated play areas for kids as well.
After spending a few hours at the museum, we still didn’t thorougly explore the grounds. This just means we’ll have to return some day. Visit the site for more information about The Mariners Museum. It’s a stop you should definitely add to your list when visiting Newport News, VA.
Buckroe Beach & Park
Located in Hampton, VA, this beach is about a 20-30 minute drive from Newport News. For this trip, our hearts were set on visiting an uncrowded beach! We simply wanted to relax, see (and hear!) the ocean, & allow our girls to run wild.
Buckroe Beach & Park offered us just that!
While there were plenty of people, we had enough space to call our own, spread out & not feel congested. It was so satisfying to witness kids befriend one another & become short-term besties, to see individuals relaxing, to hear families laugh heartily, to watch couples stroll hand in hand, & to be entertained by friends snapping photos for all things social media.
A fantastic time! Watch our beach visit in this vlog.
The beach opens at 10 a.m. & closes at 9 p.m. The pier, concession stands, etc, close at 6 p.m. If you’re looking for a little more excitement, paddleboards, kayaks, & jet skis are available to rent. Jet ski tours are also offered if you’re interested in learning more about local marine life & historic sites.
A bit of additional info… we learned the pier can be reserved for private events. There were areas in the park for groups to grill & congregate as well. Restrooms & showers are located near the huge playground. Porta Potties are available but were extremely dirty during our visit. Just a heads up. Forewarned is forearmed!
Other Activities To Add
Boredom was not a factor during our 36 hour stay. Every moment seemed to be filled. We always have a variety of things to do when traveling but we usually don’t get to them all. Here’s a list of activities you may want to add to your Newport News itinerary.
-The Virginia Living Museum
-Newport News Park
-SPCA Petting Zoo
-Rebounderz Indoor Trampoline Park
-Miss Hampton II Cruises (short drive to Hampton, VA)
-Colonial Williamsburg (read our experience here)
-City Center at Oyster Point (shopping center, restaurants, summer concerts, family activities)
I’m not sure when we’ll return to Newport News but we have a plethora of activity awaiting us! The next time around, we plan to explore the food scene & water activities a bit more. As usual, we’ll keep you posted! Be sure to visit our social media platforms & the channel to see more photos & footage of our trip.
**Watch our Newport News vlogs below & subscribe to our channel to never miss out.
Part 1 (Travel footage, Hotel room tour, Visiting Mariners Museum):
Part 2 (Visiting Buckroe Beach & Park):