Living in Portsmouth, Hampton Roads, VA
Living in Portsmouth, Hampton Roads in Southeast Virginia affords a relaxed lifestyle. This town, seated at the mouth of the Elizabeth River, serves as home to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The distance to larger cities is rather small, lying just eight miles downriver from Chesapeake, VA, and across the water from Norfolk. As part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, historic Portsmouth real estate gives the community an air of timeless style with some buildings dating back to the town's founding in the 1750s.
Things to Do
Despite its comparatively smaller size next to other Virginian towns and cities, the Portsmouth neighborhood offers a wide variety of activities for residents. In fact, there is enough to do that people rarely find themselves going to larger nearby cities to find entertainment.
Shopping in Olde Towne is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon, with antique stores, clothing boutiques, cycling stores, art galleries, gift shops, and other retail establishments offering a fantastic array of merchandise. Once you've shopped your way through town, enjoy a delicious meal at one of two dozen eateries, choosing from fare that ranges from a simple burger and fries to complex fusion cuisine. Many eateries offer a great selection of beer, wine, and other libations to accompany your meal. Take a post-lunch stroll down to the Fresnel Lens, an historic lighthouse lens of epic proportions, and enjoy the sights along the way.
Housing in Portsmouth
Housing in Portsmouth ranges from the small and simple to the extravagant. More houses than apartments and condos are available, but there is still a good selection of the latter. There is a fantastic mix of styles and price points, with old early 1900 colonials to contemporary single-family dwellings ready to be called home. It's easy to find both large and small homes, making this city desirable for many. Homes for sale in Portsmouth don't always last long on the market, but there is still a decent selection.
Travel and Transportation in Portsmouth
When you choose to buy a home in Portsmouth and settle down, you'll find commuting to larger cities and the surrounding areas is easy with ferries that run back and forth across the river and bay, and buses and light rail services to the majority of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. If you don't work in the immediate area, you can still get to and from work with very little effort. If you choose to drive, the city is accessible via I-264 and many other roads.
