Hello everyone.
I have a friend that is interested in moving up to Norfolk, VA. for work and he asked if
I knew anything about anything when it came to the VA beaches.

Being that I've surfed out of state only a handful of times, I was unable to give him any
advice as the furthest north I had traveled was South Carolina.

I caught it good and fun up in SC back in 2003? during a summer swell.
Stomach to head high and just awesome.

But I digress since this is not about me but about a friend that is moving from the sunshine
state to the mountains, the cold, and seasons.

He used to live in the Eau Gallie area, had to move to the SW Florida area for school where
the main vein of the north pumps old people to retire are die and now he's ready to
go have a surf, live his life with his awesome family, and do dad things craze-mo

So, any advice would be awesome
Places to eat, good beer bars to hit up, things to do, places to visit, and all surf spots
Drop all local knowledge here please and thank you

Cheers mates

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hey, i don't know if you read this yet ----------> I <3 16streets.com

thank you Sean O'hare

Delicious beer comes from here

I worked with a dude from there...he always made it seem like a cool place to be. I'm sure there's plenty swell around especially if you don't mind rubber. I think I had a WRV years ago from a shaper in VA...isint virginia for lovers?

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yeaaa buddy

norfolk va - great place if your in the navy... va beach is a little better . can be
fun waves when there is a swell . croatans to the south of the inlet was my spot of choice
caught that place fun many times when first street sucked. only a few hours down to
nagshead but they dont seem to like guys from virginia much... i saw some great graffiti there proclaiming it

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If Virginia is for lovers, I'm in the wrong state.



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hey, i don't know if you read this yet ----------> I <3 16streets.com

thank you Sean O'hare

Delicious beer comes from here

We don't smoke, we don't drink, Norfolk, Norfolk, Norfolk U.

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Dora Hates You

I grew up in VB, and Norfolk is about 15 minutes drive at least to the beachfront, about 25 to the pier or jetty and then it is still only knee to waist, and can get crowded easily. In traffic 40+ minutes. Nags Head is 1.5 hours drive south with no traffic, in summertime it can be 4-5 hours each way. Then it's another hour to Hatteras where the swell usually reaches. By late November you are in 4/3, booties, and hood. By March, it's only for the brave but that's when NE'ers bring the goods.

For the city itself, it's pretty sterile and 'hip' in the newer parts, and ghetto in the old parts.

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http://www.crsurf.com ~ CR Surf Travel Company

http://www.vacationsbygreg.com
Instagram - @crsurf

12 years up there until last summer.  Lived near 1st Street, worked in Norfolk.  I'd live at the beach, lots to do, Wareings Gym, great food, Sandbridge, Croatan, 1st Street, north VB. Locals navigate around the resort area, but aren't consumed by it. Public transportation is good (the Tide) from the beach to Norfolk.  

Breakfast: Doc Taylors and Big Sams. Lunch: Pelons, Taste Unlimited (the one next to Pelons).  Dinner: Tautogs (next to Doc Taylors) or Yukai (not the best, but a lot of sushi - never got sick).

Biggest no-no, don't put any of the tunnels between your work and your house...and winters are no joy.  Norfolk downtown is a pretty cool place to work.

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www.JimKnowsBeachHomes.com 

Edited: 09/30/2014 at 07:37 PM by CoastieJim

spent 22 years in VB and wife is from nafuck,    VB is a fun place a lot to do good surf at pendelton and 42nd st ->North.  avoid 1st st at all costs.    sure the water gets cold in the winter but you will adjust spent many a day in 38-45* water and never wore a hood.   put 100k miles on my car in 3 yrs driving back andd forth to banks. never had a 4-5hr drive even with med helicopter being flown in more like 2 to rodanthe.    dont buy into the lighthouse hype,  98% of the time there is somewhere better. personally I would never live ther now, hell i never go back to even visit anyone.   Too many people and a giant rat race.  best advice I saw so far is NEVER put a tunnel between the beach and or your place of employment. 

hey BR, another Norfolk refugee checking in -

norfolk/hampton/virginia beach/chesapeake is a little like Tampa and vicinity

but with more industry and military

and probably worse waves

all good info provided above

lived there many years and it's no place for a surfer

on the other hand, like Tampa, there's much to do otherwise

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add a signature since I'm here in profile anyway

lived in Hampton for 3 years in the chair force. Va Beach is fun but a ton of dudes. No chicks anywhere. Loved the beach at Croaton tho. Fun Beach Break. 

City is a shithole tho. 

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https://www.instagram.com/dj_kaye_/

Lived in VB, worked in Norfolk. Live as close to the beach (VB Area) as possible if you surf. Traffic is bad mornings and afternoons for my commutes, some days when I wanted to surf in the afternoons it would take me 45 minutes from the moment I clocked out to the time I got into the water.

I surfed the Dam Neck area, Croatan, and North End most of the time. Water gets cold so the gear was a hooded 4/3, 3mm gloves, 5mm boots. Long flat spells. Summer is super crowded Cocoa Beach style with designated surfing areas 10am-5pm.

Housing is a little bit more expensive than FL. States taxes. Tourist Taxes when dining out. Lots of Military, local economy depends on it. Lots of rules and regulations for social activities that you may not be used to depending on where you are from.

Loved Doc Taylors for Breakfast. Also liked Egg Bistro in Chesapeake.

Mountains are 4-5 hour drive West and is a very cool area during the fall. I have never been to Richmond (1.5 hrs away) when I was there but always heard good things about it.

Edited: 10/01/2014 at 07:57 AM by seaspray

Born and raised in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Best thing I did was leave 20 years ago for graduate school in FL. Up tight, crowded and congested. Close proximity to the Outer Banks is the best thing about the area.

I grew up surfing there. I'd recommend the North end from 79th to 85th Streets or Croatan south of Rudee inlet. As for OBX... Pea Island, Rodanthe and Avon are closer and just as good as the lighthouse. Rudees is a decent dinner place on the water in VB. The Jewish Mother is an excellent deli/bar if it is still around.

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Big hitter the Lama.

thanks dudes
if you got any more info, spill them beans
i'm gonna send this link to my buddy (he
used to check this a lot)

thanks again

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hey, i don't know if you read this yet ----------> I <3 16streets.com

thank you Sean O'hare

Delicious beer comes from here

your friend needs to make stop #1 the boxx in va beach

ok

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hey, i don't know if you read this yet ----------> I <3 16streets.com

thank you Sean O'hare

Delicious beer comes from here

I am here right now. I is sunny and I hear crickets.

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Love God, Hate Sin...

haha
Awesome twinfin
anything else you can spill about the area?
He's a physical therapist, 33? years young, has a wife, kiddo, and doggy dog,
and is looking to move to an area where it's super cool, not far from the beach,
and has a cool vibe around him.

thanks again

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hey, i don't know if you read this yet ----------> I <3 16streets.com

thank you Sean O'hare

Delicious beer comes from here

Unless he wants to pay for private school, tell him to invest his time in looking at School zones...I was in a great location - bike ride distance from Croatan and 1st Street, but worst elementary schools at the beach.  If he's open to private schools, then best beach neighborhood with family feel, low HOA, bunch of local surfers that are good folks is Birdneck Lakes - low to high $300s, some rentals.

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www.JimKnowsBeachHomes.com 

I hve heard that it is known for subpar surf. It looked pretty fun today! Chest high breaking good at low tide and chest high good shorepound at high. I was not able to surf but had a case of jonesing going on. The north beaches looked really good but parking would be a challenge. I saw several really good shops around. WRV, 17th street and Core Edge(?). A couple of them had skate ramps set up in the parking lot. Va Beach is very touristy although not as bad as Daytona. In Norfolk Rush hour is nuts. They flush the navy base and it is on! Driving rules do not apply.

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Love God, Hate Sin...