Moving to Norfolk VA

Jessica - posted on 06/29/2010

You will be fine here in Hampton Roads! I have lived here since 2005. There is alot to do in the area. There is also a network that you may want to join. Go to www.hamptonroadsmommies.com it is a forum but we get together and have playdates and fun activities for mommies and their children. It is a great group of women and kiddos. Hope you sign up. Good Luck with the move and welcome to the area!

Charity - posted on 06/22/2010

Try to get involved with your husbands command wives group. Also the local rec centers (both in Va. Beach & Norfolk) they have mommy and me time play groups. Looking at your photo you are both very young the bases daycare centers have drop off times (about 2 hours quarterly) where you 2 can go out and enjoy each other. Try to live near one of the bases and always get the MWR magazine when you see one. I think the housing you are talking about is in Hampton and I have had a lot of friends live in that area it is great for raising children quiet and safe. Depending on the brach of military and your hubbys MOS he may end up doing some travel time to get to work since you will be north of the bridge.

Don't think just because you are moving don't worry about "loosing" friends. You can always buy blowup mattresses and have them visit for a historical trip (lots of history there military & civilian) or a fun trip to go to Busch Gardens or just to go shopping. Parks are not in short supply there either and most of them are great!!!! Make sure you take your child(ren) to the Norfolk Base at XMAS to see the ships decorated and the boardwalk at the beach.

I was stationed there for 13 years and gave birth to 4 children during my time in the Navy. My oldest daughter loved it there so much she moved back after high school and lives there with her BF. The bases off cheap movie theatres, free concerts, water parks, pools, bowling, softball teams, soccer teams, and much more you just need to make sure your hubby talks to his command and finds out what all they have going on. Also there is the Family service centers where all dependents can find great information.

Be open to the new experience and grab life by the horns and hold on tight. Your family and friends will be tripping over each other to visit you and check out the sites.

Cassandra - posted on 06/22/2010

I live in Va Beach, there is plenty to do, you just have to keep your mind positive and find others... lol there is always another military wife looking to get out of the house! That is why Norfolk/Va Beach is so great... so many people in basically the same situation as yourself. You'll basically always find someone to relate to! It's true the traffic is horrible, mainly because we have all the worst drivers from every state in one tiny place. lol. The beach it lovely, however if you don't want to get ran over by people you might want to look into goting to Dam Neck Base in Virginia Beach... it's awesome, and typically not too crowded! Hope the move goes well! lol just like kelsey said above me, love making new friends so message me ssometime. Cassandra

Kelsey - posted on 06/22/2010

I moved here a little over a year ago from TN. I had culture shock lol I've been visited my family at least once a month since we've moved here. There are things here I like and things I don't just like TN. I agree with Jessica... get involved cause it will make the transition a lot easier to deal with. There are fun things to do here. Historical stuff, beaches, fireworks in the harbor are great, shopping malls, parks and there is a really nice botanical garden near the airport that is fun to go to. One thing I wasn't prepared for was the traffic. It sucks... Tunnels and bridges and traffic.... My husband is stationed at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth. Unfortunately without doing enough research we decided to live in Portsmouth to save in gas and time because of the tunnel traffic. It was a bad decision on our part. Wish we had lived in VA beach or Norfolk or Chesapeake. Hope it all goes smoothly for you!! Message me sometime, love to make new friends here. :)

Jessica - posted on 06/22/2010

I lived in Virginia Beach for five years while my husband was stationed in Norfolk. My best advice to you is not to be shy about getting involved. Otherwise, you very well could end up at home alone with the baby all the time. It's a big area, with lots and lots of military, so it's easy to find someone who is in the same situation you are. There are a lot of fun things in the area, lots of festivals, minor league baseball and hockey, a few theme parks about an hour away, great beaches and parks, and lots of cool historical stuff --do some research on the area, and be sure to get out and experience some of it!!! Best of luck to you and your family!! =)

Cassie - posted on 06/18/2010

I just left there after 5 years being stationed in Norfolk. We lived in Virginia beach and the area was really nice. There are mom groups you can join who meet at the mall or the park. Haley went to a preschool in the area and we loved it. Everyone was really nice and it was affordable. The friends I made were thru my husband and our neighbors. Are you actually moving to Norfolk? I'm not sure where Queens Way is.

Melissa - posted on 06/17/2010

my family lives in yorktown, which is across the bridge from norfolk. I love the area and that's where my husband and I plan on living when he retires. BTW....most military wives don't live anywhere near their family, so just be glad you're with them now, and start getting used to being away.

Kelsie - posted on 06/16/2010

Thank you for the encouragment. Im so nervous to move. I am from Austin TX so Im used to being around many different types of people and experiences. Im just hoping Ill be able to get out and meet people while im living there! I think I will go crazy if im stuck in the house all day

Donielle - posted on 06/14/2010

There are lots of playgroups in this area. If you go to meetup.com, there are lots there for you to choose from. I had my daughter while my hubby was on deployment and had my mom's help the first 4 months of her life, so I was terrified when I came back to VA and had to do it all by myself. It really isn't as bad as you think. It's scary, but you'll get into the swing of things in no time. :D



I'm currently in the Norfolk area as well and can introduce you to people if you'd like, but I won't be here very much longer. Only a few months.

Damaris - posted on 06/13/2010

There is so much to say, I've lived here in the Norfolk area for about 10 years. My husband is in the Navy and his job doesn't really get to leave this fleet. Norfolk is a very urban area. Not like New York, but there are many New Yorkers here. There is a big mix culturally in this area. So if you are only used to seeing one group of people then get ready for a bit of a culture shock. That said, if you are open to new experiences and exploring around you will have fun. Those housing units are newly renovated on the inside. You will have lots of neighbors and the trick is coming out of your shell and meeting someone new.

Paige - posted on 06/13/2010

I'm probably moving up that way as well soon (we're just waiting on confirmation for orders). I've been doing research, and, as far as I can tell, there seems to be plenty to do around the area as long as you're willing to leave the house. Granted, that's a good rule of thumb for moving anywhere, but, after being stuck in Pensacola for the past few months, prospects for making friends just look far better in a place with a higher concentration of other human beings with more varying interests and more things to do. Depending on your hobbies, there should definitely be groups for you to join and people to meet. It appears to be an area where being proactive can get you a long way. Sorry this is not more specific, and most of my opinions are based on conjecture from boredom-influenced research, but I've moved around a lot and it all seems about right.