Things to Do in Newport News

ArtInspired pools together various forms of art to spark creativity and help members make positive lifestyle changes. In one part of the facility, visitors wade through the depths of their imagination during educational programs, including in graphics, photography, marketing and design. To burn off stored up energy, those same visitors may want to slide into their workout gear and partake in ArtInspired's collection of dance-based fitness classes. Those classes–which steer away from typical group fitness routines–include Zumba, Bollywood dance, and hip-hop, amongst others.

From its four locations around Hampton Roads, Cinema Cafe combines old-fashioned American cuisine with first- and second-run films. The multisensory experience has garnered the movie houses a total of 11 gold medals in the Virginia-Pilot's Best of Hampton Roads 2012 awards. Thanks to a roaming wait staff, diners can place their orders mid-film and enjoy them right in the theater, a practice that discourages pizza scalpers from stalking customers in the lobby.

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.

Though hiding from opponents deep within the jungles and cave mazes surrounding ancient Incan temple ruins would normally induce acute panic attacks, it's actually part of the fun at LazerRush. After viewing an instructional film that covers the game's rules, players equip themselves with a laser-sensitive vest and phaser. Once inside the 5,800-square-foot arena, they slalom through dark and smoky corridors on missions to defend their base, conquer their competitor's base, and confuse as many vagabond cats as possible.

After each game, scorecards reveal where participants placed, which opponents they hit, and which opponents hit them in turn. Outside the arena, meanwhile, scoreboards keep spectators abreast of the action inside, as do large plasma monitors that stream each game.

Hampton Ballroom, which first opened its floors 20 years ago, houses a team of instructors passionate about helping students become well versed in a wide variety of dances. The expert teachers lead group classes to get feet sashaying to styles such as salsa, foxtrot, rumba, cha-cha, and tango, and also offer one-on-one private lessons. Wall-to-wall mirrors flank the wood-floor studios, allowing participants to keep an eye on their moves and to scope out any vampires in disguise.

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.