Family friendly areas in norfolk or Hampton?? (Virginia Beach: houses, transfer)

[youngmama]

HI! my name is Clara I am a young mom of a 2 year old and wife to a Navy Vet. We are currently in N. Carolina and my husband is transfering schools (going to Old Dominion, i'd be attending either there or the community college in hampton). We have never been to Norfolk or Hampton very long at least not long enough to really know what the area is really like. We would LOVE to live in a very family friendly area and since we're moving there YEARS sooner than initially thought I really would love to have this information. Preferably one by good schools (our daughter will be starting preschool in a year or two depending on the schools age requirements, here they have to be 3).. Thanks sooooooo much in advance

[Midwife Tara]

Hi Clara. If your husband is going to ODU, live in Larchmont. It's the neighborhood that surrounds ODU's east and north side. The public school here (Larchmont Elementary) is great, there are several good preschools (Larchmont United Methodist, Good Shepherd, etc.), there are kids everywhere and, because folks move in and out of here all the time (heavy military presence), people are pretty quick to embrace newcomers. You'll actually feel like you live in a neighborhood here, not just a place where strangers have houses.

Don't try to divide your time between Norfolk and Hampton. You will spend all of your time stuck in traffic at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. It looks like a short distance on a map, but the traffic reality is ugly. Tidewater Community College has campuses here in Norfolk and in Virginia Beach if you need a community college. (Not that the commute to Va. Beach is much fun from here either, but at least there's no tunnels or bridges.)

Good luck with your move, and welcome to Hampton Roads!

[mwz26]

I agree with Tara, I live in Larchmont and love it here.