Chesapeake – Big City with A Small-Town Feel
Chesapeake in Virginia has a lot to offer for people looking for a combination of urban and rural ways of living. In fact, it is partly the reason why a lot of people choose to move to this vibrant city.
Virginia’s second-largest city based on land area, Chesapeake is also an ideal location for a variety of businesses. Its close proximity to prominent cities and vast public transportation options have helped it appeal to businesses like General Dynamics, HSBC Financial, Hewlett-Packard, and more.
Brief Overview of Chesapeake
A peaceful, quaint city located near the Virginia coast, most residents find Chesapeake a comfortable place with a low-key atmosphere.
Like most cities, there are plenty of fun and educational opportunities, like the Children’s Museum and the Chesapeake Planetarium. The city also features a vibrant dining scene with chain restaurants, fast foods, and more. Some of the local favorites include Lockside, Ddeb’s A Taste of Home, Broken Egg Bistro, City Deli, Daikichi Japanese Bistro, Pirates Cove, and Andiamo Pizza. If you are here, you should also try the Burrito Perdido, where you get everything freshly prepared.
What’s more, Chesapeake’s convenient location in the heart of coastal Virginia along the Intracoastal Waterway means you have access to nearly 22 miles of fresh and salt waterways. Fishing, paddling, canoeing, and kayaking are easy to indulge in. Furthermore, the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Northwest River Park and Campground are perfect for birdwatching and walking scenic trails. The city also has ample parks and green spaces.
Even with so many things to do, Chesapeake still maintains a small-town vibe, where people are nice and welcoming. Some of the best neighborhoods in the city are Great Bridge, Greenbrier, Hickory, Deep Creek, South Norfolk, and Riverwalk.
Whether you prefer the combination of rural farmlands and suburban neighborhoods in Hickory, the convenient location of Greenbrier in the heart of Chesapeake’s main commercial area, or the distinctive home designs and gorgeous greenery of Riverwalk, you can be sure you will have the life of your dreams in Chesapeake.
Homes for Sale
Education in Chesapeake
If you are moving to Chesapeake with students, you are guaranteed to have some of the best choices for education. The Chesapeake Public School System serves the city, offering education to over 39,000 students through the area’s 45 schools.
Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade can pursue education at respectable schools like the Greenbrier Primary School, Greenbrier Middle School, Oscar Smith High School, and more. South Chesapeake and Western Chesapeake have top-rated schools. Two high-in-demand schools in these areas with excellent state rankings are Grassfield High School and Hickory High School.
Climate in Chesapeake
Chesapeake residents enjoy mild weather for the most part of the year with all four seasons. Extreme cold temperatures are rare in the city, and snow isn’t frequent. The winter months average around 32 to 41 degrees with five inches of snow per year than the national average of 28 inches.
Chesapeake gets 211 sunny days per year, six days more than the US average. The summers are long, with temperatures varying from 77 to 87 degrees. However, the hot stretches are often interrupted by cool periods of rain and winds of the Atlantic Ocean. The area averages about 47 inches of rain a year than the national average of 38 inches—the right amount to keep your flowers watered, but not so much that you have to carry your umbrella everywhere.
Public Transportation in Chesapeake
You can use the Hampton Roads Transit, the local bus that serves Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, and other areas of Hampton Roads. Or, you can share a ride with someone using vRide.
Greyhound offers bus services to major cities on the east coast, including Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, and Suffolk. You will also be able to get to some east coast cities if you get on an Amtrak train. It has stations in Newport News and Norfolk.
Make Your Home in Chesapeake
While outdoor activities and attractions are plenty in Chesapeake, you don’t have to be an outdoor enthusiast to enjoy your life in the city. The area is brimming with various attractions like the Chesapeake Arboretum, Greenbrier Family Skating Center, the Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex, the Ocean Breeze Waterpark, and the Cloud9 Trampoline Park.
Rich in history, the city is also home to some of the best vintage stores, in addition to various retail establishments, delicious dining, and engaging social events.
Find out why so many people are happy to call Chesapeake their home.
