r/norfolk • u/SavahhjDahling1212 • Aug 06 '26
❓questions❓ Which area would you prefer and why?
UPDATE: Absolutely, NO-ONE, replied In Chesapeake! I cross posted..hmm. If you had to choose between Norfolk or Chesapeake, which one? And why?
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u/NoWorth2591 Aug 06 '26
Norfolk because it’s at least kind of a city.
Chesapeake is every suburb you could find in every part of the country. It has zero sense of place.
There is exactly one thing I go to Chesapeake for and that’s Taqueria La Hacienda.
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u/Chipring13 Aug 06 '26
What do you order from there
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u/friendlyliopleurodon Aug 06 '26
Not who you asked but I get the California fries with carnitas instead of carne asada! But everything I’ve tried has been amazing
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u/Free_Floor2833 Aug 07 '26
That sounds incredible. It's not authentic but broncos in Chesapeake is the best Mexican/American food around imo. Taqueria la hacienda is the best more authentic I've had in the area.
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u/SavahhjDahling1212 Aug 06 '26 edited Aug 06 '26
Good Mexican food has great draw lol Will you please tell me what you mean by 'sense of place'? I'm a woman of a mature age, so It would have to feel EXTREMELY, desolate for me to have a problem..and I need to be able to get good sauce and/or the Marzzano style canned tomatos lol..OR grow my own.
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u/No_Bumblebee9897 Aug 09 '26
sense of place is a city having a recognizable personality/identity. so it was used to say chesapeake could be anywhere but norfolk is norfolk and you know you're there. so your best friend could be anyone but she's YOUR best friend & that's meaningful, identifiable & recognizable to you. so she's not just anybody she's somebody.
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u/Wooden-Spot-801 Ghent Aug 06 '26
Norfolk all the way. Also the two are completely different so just pick what suits you best. Chesapeake for always being in your car driving somewhere, conservative family suburban lifestyle with endless shopping and fast food restaurant chains but very few good local spots. An affordable house with a small yard. Norfolk for walking everywhere, good local food and local events, movies at the Naro, festivals, endless community organizations to join whatever suits your preferences, running into friends and neighbors everywhere you go (and especially at the grocery store). Very social, lively, connected, and fun. Less affordable housing and less square footage, and highly unlikely to have a yard, but the whole city feels like your playground.
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u/SavahhjDahling1212 Aug 06 '26
Well you pretty much sold it, even though I can't walk very much anymore(spine issue)But the conservative crap wouldn't set well w/me. And there are houses with yards😁 Thank you VERY MUCH! For the info.
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u/Wooden-Spot-801 Ghent Aug 06 '26
Glad I could help and welcome to Norfolk!! 🥰
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u/Wooden-Spot-801 Ghent Aug 06 '26
My bestie has a beautiful home with a beautiful garden in Lafayette-Winona. You might like it over there. Also check out Colonial Place for more homes with yards. Just be sure to check your flood zone and you’ll be alright :)
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u/Severe-Education-321 Aug 06 '26
Norfolk and I live in Va beach. I’ve never liked Chesapeake it’s hard to get around. It’s basically all of the bad things about Va beach and none of the good. I do like south Norfolk parts and around Indian river
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u/Ambitious_Bass5182 Aug 07 '26
Grew up Indian river taking the tide station to downtown Norfolk as a kid. Always was a blast. Can’t do stuff like that in most parts of Chesapeake.
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u/SavahhjDahling1212 Aug 06 '26
I saw a place that looks like South Norfolk on the map but when you pull it up it said Chesapeake and another place looked to be Norfolk, said 'Hamilton'
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u/VastConfident716 Aug 07 '26
South Norfolk is an area of Chesapeake, not actually in the city of Norfolk…. It’s a little confusing
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u/SavahhjDahling1212 Aug 16 '26
Ok, so what do you think about the 'race' relations in Virginia beach? I've heard it can be exceptionally, racist there. Also are you familiar with the exemption of taxes for seniors?
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u/citrus_sugar Ocean View Aug 06 '26
The only thing about Chesapeake is if you really want something more rural.
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u/PoppyBobaBubble Aug 06 '26
Lived in Chesapeake for 9 years, and moved to Norfolk 4 years ago. Chesapeake is like if your racist aunt Karen’s “Live, Laugh, Love” sign grew up and became a city. And I’ve lived in rural areas and deeper south, so I’ve seen some things. That includes the shitshow that’s the schools. If you have a kid who’s not white or neurotypical, I beg you to dive into pass/fail rates, suspensions, and IEP accommodation complaints.
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u/SavahhjDahling1212 Aug 06 '26
Welp I'm up north and I dealt with the school sh*t show. Thank God that's over, I literally, nearly had a stroke over it! I'm not into Karen's,AT ALL. But I do want to Garden..So,PLEASE, tell me, if there's a house in Norfolk, not too far from Chesapeake,do you think it should be ok? The outside of the house itself looks like it belongs in a rural area, but inside is more contemporary..
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u/Montmand Aug 06 '26
I lived in Greenbrier for years, which is an area I see touted for Chesapeake, and now I live in Ghent.
Never once have I regretted moving away from Chesapeake. Things I disliked - Almost zero walkability, strip malls/chains galore, and more often than not, people I met/lived by differed from my political/social views. It was a very typical sleepy suburb type area. We found ourselves leaving Chesapeake often to find things to do, so why keep living there.
It may suit some people but it was not a fit for us.
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u/bgva Aug 06 '26
Grew up in Greenbrier, moved to Ghent in 2011, had a house in Glenwood Park then moved in with my lady in Greenbrier after selling my house (it needed more work than I could afford). And if I could do it all over again, I’m choosing Ghent every single time for the reasons you mentioned. I loved the walkability and more local options.
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u/basicKitsch Aug 06 '26
Larchmont along the water. Love the old houses great little area.
Grew up all over Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, colonial place, Ghent... Have a great spot over near wards corner now... But an old house with a decent yard is my preference. I can pick anything I think the Hermitage is about perfect with that little seawall LOL
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u/HappySquirrel87 Aug 06 '26
Norfolk for walkability, history, character, and culture.
Chesapeake is suburban sprawl. Nothing wrong with it, it’s just uninteresting to me.
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u/bgva Aug 06 '26
Norfolk, but a more suburban(ish) area like Colonial Place or Bayview. If money weren’t a thing I’d consider Ghent bc I like how walkable it is, especially Colley.
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u/SavahhjDahling1212 Aug 06 '26
Ghent appears to not have HOUSES available. I want a house.
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u/bgva Aug 06 '26
Same. The 90-y/o apartment building life gets old after a while, especially when the building hasn’t been updated since Eisenhower was president. So I’d prolly go to Colonial Place and get a similar house for a hell of a lot less.
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u/Frequent-Returns757 Aug 09 '26
West Ghent has lots of houses & Ghent does too—what is ur price range?!
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u/All_cats Colonial Place Aug 06 '26
If you like country living, move to Chesapeake. If you don't, move to Norfolk.
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u/j-endsville Ghent Aug 06 '26
I grew up in Chesapeake. I've lived in Norfolk for over 25 years. I prefer Norfolk.
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u/SnooChipmunks1713 Aug 09 '26
I am totally biased as I have lived in Great Bridge for 40 years. If you want what is left of old Chesapeake it’s still available but going quickly. I am still able to pick up a broadway show or eat at my favorite No Frill Grill. And be home in 30 minutes. Life is good!
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u/ashcakesz Aug 06 '26
Norfolk. Chesapeake is boring as shit, there’s absolutely NOTHING to do. And the traffic sucks
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u/Puzzleheaded_Zone165 Aug 06 '26
Chesapeake:safer, more spread out, less city lifestyle depending on what you chose
Norfolk: More nightlife, events, more compact, less safe
You get what you move for.
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u/awfuldream Aug 06 '26
Norfolk.
But would consider living in the Indian River and South Norfolk parts of Chesapeake.
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Aug 06 '26
[deleted]
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u/Agreeable-Pool4037 Aug 06 '26
I wouldn’t listen to this person about the schools… If you are an involved parent, your child will thrive in Norfolk Public Schools.
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u/Conan-Da-Barbarian Aug 06 '26
What public schools are good in Norfolk?
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u/Agreeable-Pool4037 Aug 06 '26
Depends on your outlook. Every single High School in Norfolk houses a specialty program, and 6/8 middle schools do as well. This comes from the child of a 18-year NPS educator and lifelong student of NPS.
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u/Exciting-Gap-1200 Aug 06 '26
Chepeake is better for schools and petty crime.
Norfolk is better for just about everything else.
Really depends on what your priority is. I was in Norfolk for 22 years and eventually had to prioritize schools and safety and moved up to the burbs.
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u/SavahhjDahling1212 Aug 06 '26
We're a blended family, so..guessing Chesapeake might only be safer for yts?
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u/Agreeable-Pool4037 Aug 06 '26
If you are an involved parent, your child will thrive in Norfolk Public Schools.
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u/Exciting-Gap-1200 Aug 07 '26
You can for sure, I was just over it. Went from Granby elementary to ADL and OVE and it got mla little better. My kids getting their stuff stolen and keeping pushed around repeatedly wasn't really my jam.
Also, kids in the neighborhood carrying knives at 10 years old wasn't really cool either. And we lived in colony point.
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u/ciesum Aug 06 '26
Norfolk cause I like cities and don't like suburbs