Things to Do in Hampton

Today, Robert, James Cook, and their team of instructors teach courses in open water diving certification, as well as beginners classes and courses that can lead to careers. They also supply divers with all requisite equipment and help organize diving trips to destinations such as the Bahamas.

Bowling at Sparetimes is all about fun and convenience. Bumpers in each of the 32 lanes rise and fall with ease so that parents and children can share a lane, and an automatic scoring system keeps track of frames as pins clatter to the floor. The snack bar provides sustenance in the form of pizza and sandwiches, while the arcade offers a chance to stretch out fingers on both hands. Bowlers also take a break between games at the Winners Circle sports bar, where they can continue enjoy a game of pool or electronic darts. On the weekends, the lights go low during glow bowl, when music videos take over the two 10‘x12’ screens hanging above the lanes and black lights give white T-shirts a bluish gleam so that they can be used to direct approaching UFOs to the parking lot.

Hampton Roads IcePlex caters to skaters of all experience levels, from tot lessons for 4- and 5-year-olds to its hockey league exclusively for polar bears. Youth and adult hockey leagues pit hockey enthusiasts against other local teams for exhilarating season play. The rink welcomes figure skaters of all backgrounds to lay claim to the ice as well, performing the simplest of two-foot spins to the most complex slam-dunks.

Comics such as late-night TV regular Bobby Collins aren't the only ones penciled in on Cozzy's packed schedule. In addition to weekend standup sets, the tavern hosts weekly Texas Hold'em tournaments, karaoke, open mic nights, and private events. Full brunch, lunch, and dinner menus slake appetites with a wide range of pub grub, from salmon cakes benedict to blackened ahi tuna bites. Cozzy's also books comics and DJs for outside events.

At Bethel Battlefield, guests of all skill levels negotiate a range of exciting, obstacle-spattered fields. At the start of matches, players lead daring charges through dense vegetation on the woodsball course or overtake a wall on an urban field as they cover an opponent in a wild spray that forges an abstract modernist painting. For a quick adrenaline boost, strategically placed tubes line the grassy hyperball field, making ideal conditions for fast-paced warfare. A field-paint-only facility, Bethel's onsite pro shop stocks bags of paintballs and equipment from brands such as Tippmann, Bob Long, and Luxe. Committed to a safe experience, Bethel Battlefield starts new players off with a safety training and requires full-face goggles with ear protection to be worn at all times. In addition to general public play, the facility welcomes birthday parties, group outings, and other private events.

With the help of local sponsors and volunteers, The Green Foundation upholds its mission to preserve and publicize the natural beauty of Newport News with the Dig-In Earth Day 5K race. Families, competitive runners, and escaped zoo animals embark on the chip-timed 5K contest and the lighter, 1-mile fun run from the City Center fountain. A post-race party boasts a DJ set, raffles, and prize giveaways.

Sponsors in addition to The Green Foundation include I Am Fitness, an organization that seeks to cultivate health and inspire adventure among Newport News residents through a variety of athletic events.