The Seven Cities consist of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Newport News, and Hampton. And while this collective overall makes up the delightful Hampton Roads metro, each location on its own offers a distinct and unique experience, one of which is Chesapeake.
So, what is unique to only Chesapeake among the Seven Cities? Here are five things only found in Chesapeake.
1. The Great Dismal Swamp
Chesapeake is home to a large part of the Great Dismal Swamp, where you can find what one Yelper described as a great place to “enjoy raw nature.” This free park has nothing dismal about it, including some amazing bird watching due to the nearby refuge as well as kayaking. It even has a historical aspect of its own involving George Washington himself. Just be sure you pack some bug spray!
2. Relive our nation’s history
Speaking of George Washington and history, you can also only experience The Battle of Great Bridge in Chesapeake. This battle, in which royalist forces were repelled across the Great Bridge, ultimately lead to any British power fleeing from the colony of Virginia. To celebrate and honor this victory even today, the city puts on a Revolutionary War reenactment each year to view and enjoy.
3. Get out to Hickory Ridge Farm
Hickory Ridge Farm is a short drive from the main part of Chesapeake, but it is still very much part of the city. This family-owned farm is a favorite spot to hit in strawberry season, where you can hand pick your own bag of sweet, locally grown produce, as well as in the fall as a pumpkin patch with hayrack rides and more.
4. Where to eat in Chesapeake
All cities worth living in and visiting in will have favorite places to eat, and Chesapeake has much to offer here. Locals love hotspots such as Noodle Man and its variety of noodles and soups, Off the Hook and its amazingly fresh seafood selection, or some good BBQ at the veteran’s owned Hazed.
5. Look to the skies with the Chesapeake Planetarium
While any planetarium is an awesome experience for the whole family, Chesapeake’s is unique in that it’s the first planetarium built by a public school in the state of Virginia. Located in the Chesapeake Municipal Center, this planetarium offers a number of free public programs, including telescope observations.
This list only offers a brief glimpse of all the things that you can only find in Chesapeake, and we encourage you to see them all for yourself—as well as share anything you think deserves to be broadcasted about this wonderful city!
And whether you live in this city now or have plans to relocate to the area, you should know that we want to help. Click here for more information on the benefit and value of using Chesapeake self storage.
