The city of Chesapeake was created in 1963, when the former independent city of South Norfolk was consolidated with Norfolk County. Located south of Chesapeake Bay (covering 2,500 square miles and the largest estuary in the United States) in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia, the city covers over 353 square miles of land area in Southeastern Virginia. A major landmark is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel that opened in 1964, and considered one of the “seven engineering wonders of the world”. The city is also on the east side of the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River just across from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, 40 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Nearby cities are Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Hampton. It’s the fastest growing city in Virginia. South Norfolk is a community in Chesapeake.
Numerous comfortable accommodations include Springhill Suites, Hampton Inn Chesapeake, Courtyard Marriott, Fairfield Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Red Roof Inn, Town Place Suites, Northwest River Park, Savannah Suites, Holiday Inn Express, and Days Inn. There’s great camping at Northwest River Park with boating, fishing and horseback riding.
With over 200 restaurants, popular dining options include Cara’s Restaurant, Blue Diamond, 2 Moms Café, Captain D’s Seafood Restaurant, Caluzzi’s Bainbridge Restaurant, Dave's Cove Hickory Firewood, Gabrielle's Gourmet, Dominic's Of New York, Famous Uncle Al's, Jerry's Of Chesapeake, and Grill At Great Bridge.
Attractions to visit are Bergey’s Dairy Farm, Fun Forest (three-acre children’s playground), 107,000-acre Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Chesapeake Veterans Memorial, Northwest River Park, the Chesapeake Arboretum, Chesapeake Planetarium, Chilled Ponds, and the Virginia Civil War Trails, watch waterway activity along the historic Dismal Swamp Canal and the Albemarle Chesapeake Canal on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, take a cruise on the 72-foot Bonny Blue luxury yacht.
Annual events include the Chesapeake Jubilee, Battle of Great Bridge, Chesapeake Open Horseshoe Tournament, Paddle for the Border at the Dismal Swamp Canal, Shrimp Fest, and the Great American Food Fest.
Written by: Natasha Lawrence
