What do you love/hate about Chesapeake? (Virginia Beach, Alexandria: apartment, hotels)

[lpkg123]

What does everyone love or hate about Chesapeake? I am thinking about moving to the area from SC. All input would be great!

[VA7cities]

I love how it still has that southern feel to it. Its like a more southern version of Virginia Beach.

[stva]

As a kid growing up, I thought it was a great place.

Pluses- Most areas are very safe
Great place to raise a family, i.e. great schools.
Close to the Outer Banks!
Most of the shopping that you will need.

Cons - Would be very boring for someone in their 20s
Housing can be expensive in nice areas.

[lpkg123]

Thanks for your replies. I am trying to decide if I want to move my family from SC. The schools are not good here.

[xGrendelx]

I rarely go to Chesapeake, mostly because there's not a lot there I can't get somewhere else, but I will say that the traffic around Greenbrier is a pain.

[lpkg123]

It seems Chesapeake is a good area to raise kids. Will we have to commute to another town for employment? I am in the social work field and my husband had done all kinds of different jobs. I have done a lot of research on the internet (or have tried at least). I am planning on coming up to visit the area. We live in Greenville, SC right now. there are about 63000 people. I see that Chesapeake is much larger and that kind of makes me nervous. If anyone has any recommendations on areas to stay while visiting or hotels to stay at that would be great.

[spritle]

there are a lot of hotels in the greenbrier area of chesapeake. we moved to the area in 2007 and landed in an apartment in greenbrier. i wanted to explore the area before buying a house. we ended up buying in the hickory area of chesapeake and love it. it is family friendly, the schools are great and it is a convenient location for commuting to work. we are also from the south (tennessee) and like the small town feel of chesapeake. its true that it isnt as built up as other areas, but we like that. we also seemed to be able to get more house for our money. we do sometimes wish there were more sit down restaurants here, but it really is only a 20 min drive to downtown norfolk and a 30 min drive to the beach.

[lpkg123]

that sounds like what I am looking for in an area. Close enough to town but still far enough away to not be in the hustle and bustle of the daily things. I cant wait to visit next month

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by lpkg123

It seems Chesapeake is a good area to raise kids. Will we have to commute to another town for employment? I am in the social work field and my husband had done all kinds of different jobs. I have done a lot of research on the internet (or have tried at least). I am planning on coming up to visit the area. We live in Greenville, SC right now. there are about 63000 people. I see that Chesapeake is much larger and that kind of makes me nervous. If anyone has any recommendations on areas to stay while visiting or hotels to stay at that would be great.

I would personally not worry about Chesapeake being too big. My father lived in Chesapeake in the Western Branch area from 05 to 09 and I visited there a couple of times while he lived there. At the times I visited I was living in the Washington DC area in Alexandria (pop 130k+). Chesapeake felt much smaller than Alexandria. I think that is part of Chesapeake's charm is that while you have a considerably large pop city it is more like a small-town laid back feel.

[emeraldgirl]

Chesapeake is ideal for families and pretty safe. It lacks variety when it comes to restaurants or other cultural aspects. It's your basic suburban community and is great if that's what you are seeking.