1. Hampton Roads Has A Long-Standing Love Affair With Jazz
Ella Fitzgerald was born and raised here. That’s right, “The First Lady of Song” hailed from Newport News and every year they throw a celebratory party in her honor. The Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival brought some of the finest jazz musicians in the world to the Roads for a five-day festival of soul and song.
2. You’ll Feel Like An Extra In "Pirates Of The Caribbean"
The city of Hampton has a storied history when it comes to the pirate Blackbeard. You’ll want to check out the annual Blackbeard Pirate Festival and learn all about how Hampton played a huge role in the notorious pirate’s demise. They put on fun skirmishes and ton of music and fun for the kids.
3. Hampton Roads' Tidewater Accent Even Confuses The Experts
With Southern culture certainly comes southern accents, but you might be a little baffled by the one found here. The areas along the Chesapeake speak Tidewater English. It’s non-rhotic. That means you live in Naw-fick, Vuhginia, not Norfolk, Virginia. They really ought to make a Rosetta Stone course for this.
4. Hampton Road’s Has Got A Park System That Tops Every Other Park System In America
The residents of Hampton Roads love being outside, and they really love their parks. Newport News Park is one of the largest in the nation, and is home to great festivals like the Children’s Festival of Friends and the Fall Festival of Folklife or the Celebration of Lights.
5. The Seven Cities Kind Of Feels Like One Ginormous, But Loving, Dysfunctional Family
Each city is a species unto itself and they have history of fighting to maintain their separate identities. The people are nice, but the politics of each of these cities varies wildly and getting them to work together can be a bit of a struggle.
6. Beach Season Is Short But, Oh, So Glorious
Yes, Virginia Beach is a beautiful beachfront and a large tourist area for a reason. Locals love lounging on the sandy shores, but don’t be fooled into believing this place is a tropical paradise. It is wonderful to catch some rays, but only for about 3-4 months out of the year. This isn’t Florida, people, and it does get cold.
7. The Surfers Here Make All Other Surfers Look Like A Joke
How can we talk about a bunch of beach towns without mentioning surfing? As you can imagine, it’s kind of a big deal around here. Each year the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach is host to the East Coast Surfing Championships competition. You can watch more than a hundred of the world’s top surfers compete for some pretty hefty prizes or take part in some of the awesome activities that take place along the shore.
8. The Family Get-Togethers Are More Fun Than Any You’ve Been To Before
In celebration of the rich history of the area residents come together for Hampton Bay Days every year. It’s one giant family-friendly party with awesome competitions like the Tidewater Dock Dogs event where man’s best friend competes in dock jumping sports to see who’s the top canine companion.
9. There Is So. Much. Music.
The Roads is home to the largest music event on the East coast, the American Music Festival. Big name performers spread out all along the Virginia Beach oceanfront for three days of fun in the sun. The variety of musical acts runs the gamut from country to R&B, so there’s definitely something here for everyone.
10. In Fact, In Hampton Roads, Appreciation For Art Is Awesomely Over The Top
If you’re a fan of art, there’s so much here that you won’t know what to do with yourself. There’s plenty of modern stuff, but it gets pretty eclectic, too. Who’s going to forget the giant Rubber Duck the Chrysler Museum of Art brought in to float on the Hague for its reopening this May?
Hampton Roads is awesome. Looking to move there? Continue your search on Movoto.
11. The Great Dismal Swamp Is A Misnomer And A Half
The somewhat inappropriately named Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (there’s nothing dismal about it) in Suffolk is a fantastic place to explore and enjoy. You can partake in pretty much any activity, from birdwatching to boating and even bicycling and fishing. Make sure to take a camera to catch all of the wildlife floating around. Just try and avoid the gators.
12. Boats, Beaches And Boogie Boards Galore!
No matter where you live in the Seven Cities, your life is probably going to revolve around the beach. Or at least you’ll spend an awful lot of time there. It’s not exactly prime surfing waves around here all year long, but you can have a heck of a time on a boogie board.
13. You Want History? Portsmouth Olde Towne’s Got History Coming Out Of Its Ears.
Walking through Olde Towne in Portsmouth is like taking a step back in time. It’s home to some of the most historically significant houses in the South. Make sure to check out the food and crafts at the Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmer’s Market when you get a chance.
14. Would You Like A Side Of Seabass With Your Trout?
You’ll quickly find that those people living in the Midwest are missing out on the taste of real seafood. You can buy crab legs on every corner and seabass is the main dish at dinner at least twice a week. You might even find yourself partaking in a crab pickin’ if you’re lucky.
15. The Drinks Are So Spectacular That They’ll Knock You Right Off Your Feet
The food at Waterman’s Surfside Grill is simply terrific, but most people come for the drinks. Specifically, the Orange Crush. A splash of Sprite, some triple sec and orange vodka is all it takes to make the perfect drink. They taste so good that you’ll forget you’re drinking alcohol.
Tip: Make sure to take a friend or you might find yourself waking up on the beach before you know what hit you.
16. People From Hampton Roads Will Give You A Crash Course In Southern Hospitality
It’s not the backwards, toothless, “my mom is my sister” kind of South, but one rooted in traditional Southern heritage. There’s strong American pride running through these streets, and you better get used to chugging sweet tea and eating BBQ. It is south of the Sweet Tea Line, after all.
17. If You Live In Hampton Roads, There’s A 99.9% Chance You’ll Be Famous One Day
The residents of Hampton Roads are about to become huge fans of "The Voice," if they weren’t already (who doesn’t watch that show??). That’s because hometown hero Pharrell Williams is about to join the panel soon. He’s not the only famous person from these parts; Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Ella Fitzgerald, James Avery, Patton Oswalt, Bob Saget, Wayne Newton and Wanda Sykes all call this place home.
18. But The Beaches Occasionally Turn White In The Winter
This might get confusing for some of those from out West, but that white stuff covering the beaches during the winter months? That’s not some fancy, new-fangled type of sand. It’s snow. Because it gets cold here. Not Canada cold, but you’ll be needing to add a few layers to your wardrobe here.
19. Dining Out Is An Astoundingly Laid-Back, And Extremely Delicious, Experience
No Frill Bar & Grill is one of those rare places where you just can’t seem to go wrong ordering anything on the menu. It’s extremely laid back, as the name implies, and their beer selection is local and top-notch. It’s a great place to relax with friends on the weekend or after work.
20. There’s A Military Member Around Every Corner. Seriously—Every Corner.
I hope you’re a fan of the armed forces, because Hampton Roads is home to around 20 different military facilities including Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval station. You don’t have to be a fan of war to support the men and women who make up America’s toughest heroes.
21. The People Of The Roads Must Have The Most Resilient Ear Drums On Earth
Does Costco sell earplugs in bulk? You might want to think about investing in some. The only downside to living in a military town is the low-flying jets overhead. The planes constantly departing and arriving at the nearby airport don’t help much, either. It’s amazing that everyone in Hampton Roads isn’t deaf.
22. If You Want to Ensure That The Second Date Happens, You’ll Take Your Girl To Catch 31
You want delicious seafood while watching the tide roll in? Then try Catch 31 Fish House & Bar. Make sure to sample a bit of everything at their raw bar, especially the oysters. They also have fire pits that make for some great ambience on date night.
23. The Waterfront Explodes In The Most Epic Display Of Fireworks On Earth Every Year
The Seven Cities were built around one of the best waterfronts in the nation and they enjoy celebrating it. HarborFest is the biggest waterfront festival and it happens every summer. It’s a weekend that includes tons of free family events, food, music, the Parade of Sails and the largest fireworks show on the East Coast. You’ll want to make it a priority to check this out.
24. History Pretty Much Started In These Parts
Hampton Roads happen to be just a short drive away from the Historic Triangle of Virginia. For those not in the know, that’s Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg and the place that started it all, Jamestown. The area is steeped in American history, and you’ll probably play witness to numerous reenactments while you’re here.
25. Bring Your Bug Spray, Because The Mosquitoes Are Everywhere
The summer months bring tons of sunshine to the area, but they also bring a wave of humidity that will soak through your clothes in two seconds flat. You know what likes humidity? Mosquitoes.
There’s not any huge danger of catching West Nile Virus, but you can get covered in splotchy red marks all over if you forget to bring your bug spray.
26. Hampton Roads Proves That You Don’t Need A Happening Downtown To Have Fun
One of the biggest complaints you often hear about Hampton Roads is the lack of a focal point. There isn’t really a true downtown in any of the Seven Cities, though some of them have been making great progress in recent years. No matter, though, because with a playground this large there’s an endless amount of things to keep you busy.
What do you about living in Hampton Roads? Tell us in the comments below!
Hampton Roads is awesome. Looking to move there? Continue your search on Movoto.
