Poquoson

Poquoson West offers a coastal community near Newport News and the Chesapeake Bay. “It’s a beautiful waterfront community that feels like a small town, but you’re only 15 minutes away from the action,” says Christopher Griebel, Realtor with RE/MAX Connect, who has been selling homes for a decade and was born and raised in the area. In Poquoson West, residents find a feeling of community but aren’t isolated from the cities nearby. The neighborhood offers Colonial Revival and New Traditional style homes with manicured lawns and paved driveways. Homes range from $445,000 to $600,000. Residents also live in newly constructed American Craftsman homes ranging from $600,000 to $850,000, with wooded, fenced yards. For kindergarten through second grade, children can attend Poquoson Primary School, which has a B-minus from Niche. For grades 3 through 5, kids move on to Poquoson Elementary School, which boasts an A-minus from Niche. Students advance to Poquoson Middle School, which also boasts an A-minus from Niche and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. “There are smaller classroom sizes compared to other Hampton areas,” Griebel says. “Many people in town are involved in the education programs.” Kids may move on to Poquoson High School, which has a B-minus from Niche and offers students a garden where they grow produce like carrots, broccoli, watermelon and blueberries. Residents can get a breath of fresh air at Poquoson Municipal Park, which has a large field and picnic areas. The park hosts the annual seafood festival in October. “The seafood festival is probably the biggest event of the year. At least 50 to 60 vendors visit from all over,” Griebel says. The neighborhood has kayaking and canoeing trails for water lovers. Or locals can visit the Chesapeake Bay for waterfront views. Most residents use Farm Fresh for restocking grocery and health items. Sheffield’s Grocery, which is family-owned, is another place for quick errands. On the weekends, residents can drive down Virginia State Highway 172 to indulge in Mexican food at Chiri’s Latin Kitchen. Or they stop at Poquoson Diner, a mom-and-pop shop that serves American staples. Space enthusiasts can explore the wonders of the universe at the Langley NASA Research Center. In the summer, residents can take a quick 41-mile day trip to Virginia Beach or book a flight through the Newport News/Williamsburg Airport, which is 9 miles away. They can also drive 8 miles away to Newport News to experience the many museums it offers. In the winter, the neighborhood hosts an annual Christmas parade on Wythe Creek Road. “Our float won last year for ‘best float,’ and we are trying to do that again,” Griebel says.

Poquoson City Center offers residents a private coastal peninsula of about 12,000 people. “It’s located right on the water, and the word Poquoson actually translates to ‘great marsh,’” says Kathleen Mckone, brokerage owner of Yorktown Keller Williams Allegiance, who has been selling homes for 8 years and has lived in the area for over a decade. Residents find waterfront living in a small town with proximity to Newport News, which has several major employers for the neighborhood such as Sentara CarePlex Hospital and the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. "People tend to move away from the area and come back," says Christopher Griebel, a Realtor with RE/MAX Connect, who was born and raised in the Hampton Roads area. "It's a very generational town with good community involvement." The neighborhood offers Cape Cods with heavily wooded backyards and porches ranging from $360,000 to $530,000. Residents also have the option of waterfront living in colonials, ranging from $600,000 to $850,000. Waterfront homes typically have elevation to avoid flooding, according to Griebel. For kindergarten through second grade, children can attend Poquoson Primary School, which has a B-minus from Niche. They move on to Poquoson Elementary School for grades 3 through 5. The school boasts an A-minus from Niche and a reading score that exceeds 90%. Students advance to Poquoson Middle School, which ranks in the top 15 for best public middle schools in the Norfolk area and boasts an A-minus from Niche. Kids may move on to Poquoson High School, which has a B-minus from Niche and offers students a career and technical center that has various programs. South Lawson Park is an outside oasis with soccer fields and a 1.5-mile loop for running or walking. The park also has a playground and picnic area where residents can relax in the sun while enjoying snacks. In the warmer months, take a 45-mile day trip to Virginia Beach for relaxation in the sun. Hamptons Golf Course offers people a public, 27-hole course and walking path, for those who don't partake in the sport. Virginia State Route 172 is the main thoroughfare in the area, helping drivers get around. The Hampton Roads Transit offers public transportation for those who need it, helping commuters get to employers in neighboring cities. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is 12 miles away. Residents can find groceries and home items at Sheffield’s Grocery, a family-owned store. On Saturday mornings, 185 offers breakfast in a cozy diner. The local Poquoson Diner is great for homestyle lunch and dinner. “There are lots of mom-and-pop shops compared to bigger franchises,” says Mckone. Residents can also visit Surf’s Up restaurant for fresh seafood. “Poquoson is one of the largest producers of soft-shell crabs,” says Mckone. The area hosts an annual seafood festival in October with an arts and crafts show, vendors and tasty food. On the weekends, space enthusiasts can visit the NASA Langley Research Center to learn more about space exploration. Or drive 10 miles to Newport News to explore all the museums it has to offer. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is also a popular destination in the area, offering 53 rides and attractions. In the summer, book a vacation through the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. Find a coastal oasis with waterfront views in Poquoson City Center.

Poquoson Shores offers waterfront living in a neighborhood beaming with American history. Once known for being a major economic port in the 1700s, with ties to the American Revolution, the area now offers residents a convenient location, situated next to the Poquoson River and 4 miles from the Newport News and Hampton Roads area. People can easily get to that city action, but you don’t have to live in the chaos of it,” says Christopher Griebel, a Realtor with RE/MAX Connect who has been selling homes for 10 years and was born and raised in the area. “Poquoson Shores is a popular place to raise a family with access to fun.” The neighborhood offers ranch-style homes ranging from $400,000 to $430,000 with three bedrooms and two baths, decent-sized lawns and paved driveways. There are also traditional-style homes ranging from $500,000 to $670,000 with six bedrooms and three or more baths, polished lawns and wooded backyards. Residents have the option of living in waterfront homes, with most elevated to avoid flooding, ranging from $800,000 to $900,000. Children can attend Mt. Vernon Elementary School, which has an A from Niche and ranks No.12 for best public elementary schools in Virginia. “This school system is the No.1 drive for homebuyers,” says Griebel. Kids can move on to Tabb Middle School, ranked as the top public middle school in Norfolk and boasts an A from Niche. Students may advance to Tabb High School, which has an A-plus from Niche and offers a naval science program. There are a few colleges nearby, such as Hampton University which is 13 miles away and Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University, which are both roughly 28 miles away. Kiln Creek Park is popular with residents and offers a 3.2-mile trail for walking or running. It also has a picnic area for relaxing and many sports fields for athletes. Residents visit Buckroe Beach, located at the Poquoson River, for kayaking and boating. Kiln Creek Golf Club and Resort is a popular destination for golfers, tourists and event planners. Drivers use U.S. Route 17 to get around town, while commuters use the public bus system offered by the Williamsburg Area Transit Authority or, WATA, to reach their destinations. The Newport News Airport is 6 miles away, but many people visit Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, which is 12 miles away. Residents drive down Victory Boulevard to visit supermarkets like Walmart and Kroger, which both have pharmacies inside. For date night, couples can head to 3 Amigos Mexican Restaurant or visit Kero Sushi, located across the street, for Japanese cuisine in an intimate setting. On the weekends, locals can head to Regal Kiln Creek to catch a movie or AMF York Lanes for a competitive game of bowling. Residents visit Yorktown Beach, which is 9 miles away, for community-led events like an annual farmers market held from April to November and a Fourth of July fireworks show. Art and history enthusiasts can visit Newport News for interesting museums. Adventure can be found 40 miles away in Virginia Beach, where residents can spend a day in the sun, go ziplining or indoor skydiving.