There’s a lot of good suggestions above. Personally, I’m a big fan of the local music scene - always have been (stationed here in 1985, and I’ve never left.) Most of my friends are musicians, and I’m out at least once a week catching a show from a band playing (mostly) original music.
What is it you’re looking for? Where are you living? What business are you in?
Just about everywhere I’ve lived or been so far I could get around with a taxi or some type of public transportation, or at worst a buddy’ll have a car. The last place I lived at, good old Bumfuck, Mississippi even had a taxi service; tho to be fair there weren’t many places worth going to so that made going around a little easier. “Where do I feel like going today? The blue-colored Wal-Mart or the green Wal-Mart?”. I guess I’ve been spoiled. This is the first place I’ve been where I’ve seriously needed my own POV -and that one’s hit me like a ton of bricks. DPS/DMV bureaucracy, residency, maps, knowing how to get to places, I don’t know any of that stuff. I’ve heard about coming up and down in and out of those tunnels -like you’re in Whac-A-Mole.
I actually live within a short walk from the beach. A couple relatively clean and secluded ones too. The weather’s been cold and windy (oh that wind! It burrrrnnnsss meeee!!) and a bit drab on account of January, but the scenery’s nice and come summer it looks promising.
I live there! Well not at that base (heavens no, I’m a gator!), but one of the other ones in the neighborhood.
This is relevant to my interests.
Everywhere I go I like to check out the local music scenes to see how it is over there. Some stuff goes everywhere, some bars are like nothing else anywhere, but there’s usually a city’s own flavor to its sounds.
Yeah, public transportation is pretty much non-existent for people that don’t want to take two hours to go the same distance you can drive in 20-30 minutes. Once I tried to take the bus from Virginia Beach (Chimney Hill area, and I had to drive there) to the Naval Base in Norfolk. Two hours, and there wasn’t any traffic problems. It just took forever.
Drop me an email or PM with what you like (genres, nationally known bands, etc) and I’ll point you in the right direction.
As mentioned before Busch Gardens is lots of fun, it has 5 or 6 really good coasters. King’s Dominion isn’t that far away either, just north of Richmond off I-95. It has more kid-friendly rides but also some great coasters of its own.
Well, if’n you’re at Li’l Creek, head on down down to VA beach. If you’re a hippy-type squid (jarhead), theres a great shop on Pacific. It stands alone and is painted bright blue. It doesn’t have a traditional name, per se, but we call it “half-moon” as there’s a carved half-moon outside.
Lunch? Head on down to The Raven… not too military there. Just want a sammich? The reuben (on marbled rye) at The Jewish Mother’s deli (northside) is fantastic.
The Jewish Mother is a great place for both food and music. Nothing fancy, just good. And their desserts are to die for.
When I still lived there, my dad would always want to go to The Raven [insert .wav file warning here] when he and and my mom were visiting.
Sadly, the Duck-In, which would have been close to you if you’re at Little Creek, Skylark, is no more. Beautiful view of the bay, it had. It’s been torn down to make way for condos. Figures.
You also must visit The Grate Steak (which isn’t too far away from Little Creek either). I do believe that’s a Hampton Roads area requirement.
If you want to check out Williamsburg AND you like beer, there’s also the Green Leafe Cafe, right across from William and Mary. Much beer in bottles and on tap, and pretty good food too.
You can also check out concert events at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater. There’s a search function there that will pull up other stuff for other venues as well.
The Azalea Festival will be happening in a few months with all its surrounding events too.