I am moving to VA beach in a couple months from Wrightsville Beach NC. I have lived within walking distance of the beach for the last few years and hope to find a place similarly close to the beach in VB. Does anyone have any advice on particular areas/neighborhoods in which to look for a place? Also, what kind of price range should I expect for a 1 bedroom? Also, I'm curious about the waves in VB. I know it's the east coast and therefore generally ****ty but I have heard varying descriptions of the waves in VB. Some people have told me its so bad that I might as well live in Ohio and others have told me it's pretty much the same as Wrightsville. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
i live a few blocks back in a one bedroom and pay 1200 a month, as far as waves go its an upgrade you will see a lot more surfable days im not saying its going to be head high and glass but it will push a log more often then not. plus the water gets colder and stays colder longer which equal less ppl in the water, plus your only an hour from ob not 5 hours . people want to hate vb but it can be a real fun city
I have never lived in VB, but for the Past few years, my Fiance and I (Both from MD) have been keeping our eyes open at places back east where we could move and live at the beach live we do now. We have been looking at OC MD, VB and Wilmington, NC area. VB turns out, on paper, to be a really good place to live as far as the job market and real estate. It is also much more of a year round economy than other coastal mid atlantic towns. I have been checking the surf in all three of these places for the past couple of years, pretty much daily, and honestly, all three places are very similar as far as swell and consitency go. Obviously they have different angles etc, so each place has its good and bad days, but over all, as far as recorded surfable waves, VB is statsically ridable more than Wrightville beach it. WB gets some good SE swell in the fall, but VB has better winter swells etc… They are pretty similar from what I have researched though. A lot of OC MD guys say that VB has much mushier waves etc, where VB guys say the opposite and always rep their proximity to OBX… So, tis whatever. I think you will be really happy in VB. It has everything WB does really. Water on the crystal coast can look clearer, but as for surf, VB is a minor upgrade from what I understand. I also think a lot of VB guys talk trash about VB so we all stay away. Smart move =)
i agree with all you guys. also i would suggest the condos down in sandbridge. they are real cheap right now. they are in the 2s and 3s. they are literally on the beach and overlook the ocean. plus there is a sick break in front of the market next door to the place
Thanks for the info guys. Usually I get sarcastic, assanine responses to questions about VB bc it has such a stigma around it for some reason. I will be extremely excited if the waves in VB are even marginally better than WB (actually I live south of WB in Carolina Beach but there's not much difference in the waves). I have lived in New England, North Florida, San Diego, and Southern NC. Honestly, I before moving here I heard the waves were crap but besides San Diego this is the best surf location at which I have ever lived. Here I surf on average about four days a week. 70 percent of those days are crap (knee/thigh to waist at best), but I need my fix at least a few times a week no matter what. I'm moving to VB to teach and work on my PhD at Old Dominion so like my current situation, my schedule will be flexible enough to be on it when there's waves. I'm glad to hear I'm not moving to a place that will be a huge downgrade. Not too excited about 38 degree water though
OCMD vs. VA Beach I would absolutely agree that VA Beach is mushier than OC. I've lived in VA Beach for a year and a half now, and last fall I made the drive to MD many times and got better waves up there. Once I realized the Outer Banks are actually closer, I started going down there, and even the northern spots like Kitty Hawk and Nags Head seem to usually be better than either. I'd also agree that VA Beach is a great place to live though, and the waves are still plenty fun. The scene here is also pretty cool. It's less lonely in the winter since it's more of a year-round place, but the water doesn't seem to be too crowded. The only really crowded days seem to be in the summer when it's basically flat anyway. Like OC, however, the "surf beach" thing in the summer is super-annoying. Packing everyone into the same few blocks on a heavy day in the middle of hurricane season is so stupid, especially when the lifeguards have the ocean cleared out elsewhere. Every summer I can't help but think of the Bear's words in Big Wednesday, "You'll be living under the booted foot of the lifeguard state!" My only other complaint is the communist parking fees. It's almost impossible to go surf without paying a few bucks to park. That really adds up, especially when they make you pay 5 bucks or whatever for the jetty lot through NOVEMBER when the tourists are all gone. I'm sure there's ways to get around it, but I haven't found any. Beyond that, VA Beach is a great place. I love it here, just gotta be honest about the drawbacks. Aloha and good luck with the move! -Matt
yes, vb does jam everyone into a couple blocks down by first street and croatan in the summer. However whenever there's a wave in the summer over waist high, they lifeguards put the red flags up. That means you can surf anywhere you want on the whole ocean front but to be "cautious". So basically whenever theres waves in the summer, you can surf wherever. ITs only when its knee high will you find yourself at first st. battling for a wave with 50 other dudes... go figure. That being said, im not saying 1st street will be empty on a head hi day in the summer, you can just go wherever else you want.
didn't know that! thanks for the info., now for parking...know any tricks for that? it's kinda crazy down there. i went for some beers with a buddy post-surf 2 weeks ago, and we almost just went home because there wasn't anywhere to stash the car on a tuesday night in march.
park in the city owned lots at night. one of the smartest things about the oceanfront the beach gov has done is make those lots only a dollar for vb locals after 5pm and you can stay till 2.
Have surfed VB for a few years (wife is stationed here in the Navy). Waves suck most of the year ...anyone who says different has lived here too long ... but February to May is usually pretty fun with week(s) long stretches of waves (as long as you don't mind wind swell or have a open schedule for when the wind shifts). Added extra bonus is cold water which keeps the crowds thin in most spots. Since I'm leaving for the Pacific in 3 months here is a tip. Shhhh! There is a place that is wide open for surfing even in the summer, no leash law, cops won't try to write you ridiculous tickets, and no Pendelton military rent-a- cops... in fact till the November monster Nor'easter was on of the better bars in VB (excluding 1st & 3rd). If you call bs then you are obviously not in the know. Make friends with someone in the Navy or lives in the way North part of Sandbridge to get parking because that is what keeps the crowd thin...or get creative and walk... put it all together and you will see what I mean. Other gems to be found in the Bay and on the Eastern Shore when storms are near but I have probably told too much already and don't want to ruin it for everyone. Do some research... plenty of beans have already been spilled on this site look around for stuff dealing with VB. Enjoy it if your stuck.. if not don't stay too long.
Eastern Shore Yea I think I know a few of those Eastern Shore spots hahaha. Google Earth is very helpful! Now if I only had a boat...hardly worth the effort for most, so I don't think crowds will ever be an issue at the place I'm thinking of...
