Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

My son did really well on Craigslist too, and you can start "shopping" now :)  Also, there are thrift stores in the area for Norfolk's Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters - (CHKD) - though they have more housewares than furniture from what I recall.  Here are the addresses (one in Portsmouth, three in Norfolk, six in Virginia Beach) - http://www.chkd.org/giving/thrift/

My son met this lady who has a warehouse full of furniture and household items that she is selling.  He furnished his apartment from her cheap.  He said it is nice stuff.  It was over Christmas and she gave him a Christmas tree for free! Send me a private message and I can give you my son's information if you want to contact her.

cmyhero do check out housing in Hampton, VA 23666 zipcode area! 10 mins from buckroe beach 20 min to Norfolk and maybe 30 to oceana

@Cmyhero-if you are looking to split the distance between Norfolk and Oceana, Virginia Beach is probably your best choice.  There are lots of areas that have excellent schools, the community has multiple rec centers that are very inexpensive to join and it is central to the two bases.  This is our fourth time living here; we finally settled in Virginia Beach.

I would be very cautious about any place that requires going over a bridge or through a tunnel.  Traffic can be a nightmare, especially on Friday evenings and during the summer months. 

If you want more information about the local area, you can contact the Fleet and Family Support Center and ask for the Relocation office.  They can send you a "Welcome Aboard" packet with a ton of information about the community. The number is 757-444-2102.

Good luck!

loriLAB:

There is a really nice thrift shop on Shore Drive very close to Gate 5- Little Creek Base. It's in the same shopping center as the Navy Credit Union and it's called Second Chance or Second Time Around(something like that).  Hope he finds some good stuff!  (Yvonne)

Awesome!

My son and his wife live in Norfolk and they have never had any problems.  Live on Tidewater Drive 2BR townhouse.  Ten minutes from base close to shoppinng and a great park within walking distance.  They have vacancies.

Walker's Chase

Click the link/  Shows Photos, floor plans, etc.  My daughter in law feels safe there.  They have never had any problems.  There is a rental office there at the complex.  They also have 3 brs.  Norfolk is kind of a strange town, you can ride down the street and dumps on one side and nice stuff on the other.  I can give you her number in an email if you would like.  She is going to the community college downtown now getting ready to go back to Nursing School at Old Dominion in the fall.  My son is deployed with the IKE.

I recommend the Navy Lodge on Hampton Blvd - very nice, good rate, includes continental breakfast, and is close to the base.

I found out last time that my Sailor had to be there within 24 hours of my check in as he was on duty the day I checked in.  After making reservation just call and ask to speak to manager and they will note this in your reservation.

Mine was deploying on my last visit so I guess they take that into consideration as well.

GoldnG8r-Unless you are escorted by someone with a military ID, you will not be able to get on base.  If it is a special event (homecoming...) then your Sailor can arrange to have you added to the base access list. Otherwise, unaccompanied civilians can't get on base.

If you are just visiting for the weekend and plan to be on base whenever you are not with your Sailor, have him (her? :-))  see if there are any rooms at the Navy Gateway Inns and Suites (NGIS).  There are a couple of these right on base, the one on Pocahontas Street is within walking distance of most of the piers as well as the on-base food court.  The other is on the Naval Air Station side and would probably require a taxi ride to get around base.  These rooms are often booked by military folks on temporary assignment to Norfolk, so don't give up your room at the Lodge until you have confirmation from NGIS. 

Enjoy your visit!

How did you get your name on the access list? Thru the Ombudsman?

How do I find out who the Ombudsman is for the USS Donald Cook?

@CindyLou-There are two ways: you can email the ombudsman via the Ombudsman Registry (the link here) https://ombudsmanregistry.org/?m=contactombudsman&r=12&rcc=...

Or, you can contact the Fleet and Family Support Center in Norfolk and ask for the contact info for the Cook's ombudsman.  That number is 757.444.2102.

Hope this helps!

Hi everyone my son has received his orders to Newport News shipyard.His ship is being built. I believe USS Gerald Ford. Can anyone give information of what to expect? He is driving there fromGL.  

   I came up with a quicker way to look for places: In google type zipcodes norfolk or what town.That should show all the zip codes in the different area.  Then open a new tab and type norfolk rentals and the zip you want to search in. My son needs to find a place.  He lives with his sister and her fiance and sister is xferring to Mayport, Fl and her fiance is deploying in early April.  I have of course been helping him look!  I found 2 places for him to look at. He wants to live alone for a while so I hope one of these will do. This will be his first place on his own!

Lori...my personal opinion...Navy moms/families/ROCK  :)  Glad Joe is doing well - going to be a great new chapter in his Navy life...  to quote a good new friend of mine -  Peace

CindyD, I just sent you a friend request.  I too would like the contact info for the furniture warehouse.  My son is getting his own place soon, my daughter is xferring to Mayport, Fl.  This is his first place too.  He went from home to bootcamp to barracks during school, shared house during prototype.  He wants to be on his own this time. Thank you

Looking forward visiting my son over Easter, can't wait!! 

Hello...how's everyone?  Hope all is well with all of you and your sailors.  We are going to visit our sailor Easter weekend....can't wait to see him and spend a few days with him and hope the sun shines a little for our weekend. Take care all:)

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome I have received.

Hello!  My son has been in Norfolk for just a few days.  This is first duty station and he is an IC assigned to the Lincoln.  He is in the BEQ on the base in Portsmouth and so far is pretty bored and lonely.  He hasn't yet bought a car so he's pretty much stuck on the base when he isn't working.  I'd love to give him some suggestions on things to do to meet people, etc.  he does have a room mate but the room mate is gone most of the time.  From what I understand, there are no shops, restaurants or anything within walking distance.  Do any of you have suggestions?  Thanks in advance!

SandraAM,  My husband and I are driving there to spend a few days with him, sorry I'll miss you.  You enjoy that grandbaby over the holidays!

I'd post the question on the FRG's Facebook page; or message and/or email them.

Hi all, my son deployed the morning (3/11/13) on the USS San Antonio. Would love to see some pictures as I wasn't able to be there. Heard he was 'manning the rails'.

It is not good news I'm afraid.

Cindy D, thank you for your son's contact info.  He got right back to me yesterday after I texted him!  We will be in touch with the furniture lady after Nathan finds a house to rent.

Colleen, your  welcome!  My son has an apt at Beechwood near base and really likes it.

Singingbird- There is a lot to learn, isn't there?  Your best bet for getting mail to your Sailor as quickly as possible (once it reaches the ship) is to include rate and rating (such as MM3) and the division name.  There may be more than one person with the same name on a ship, so the more specific you can make it, the better! 

Have fun sending those letters and packages. I wish the post office gave rewards points...:-)

singingbird, this is also a cool group for care package inspiration plus tips 'n' tricks!   http://www.navyformoms.com/group/carepackageideas

beachmom, ain't that the truth??  We'd be cleaning up at the P.O. lolol

Absolutely!!

Ship 12 and Cindy D, thank you for the apartment info.  I will let my son know.

Sandra Am, My son, daughter in law and 7 week old grand daughter live in Admiral's Way complex. It is located right next to Mariner's Watch on Warwick Ave. We have visited at least 7 times over the past 9 months that they have lived there. Both places are very well kept. In fact Steve's place had new carpet, and some fresh paint added before he moved in. He would have been at Mariner's instead, but he misunderstood how the income limit worked to qualify. They now need to move to a 2 bedroom place, since the birth of the baby. They went back over to Mariner's to look at 2 bedroom places. That is where he has wanted to live. However, now that he has something to compare to, they have found that the kitchen is so much smaller than what they have. Mariner's is a larger complex. It is with an electronic gate to enter. We have not been inside, just son & dil. I can't imagine they are dirty. Like I said, that is the place my son wanted. Admiral's has assigned parking with spaces for visitors. Just have to get a permit at the office. We usually seem to get there when the office is closed. There is a ton of off street parking. We have left at different hrs of the evening, had to walk thru the complex to our car. At no time have we ever felt unsafe or had suspious people hanging around. I dont put much clout into google searches. I hope your son looks at the housing himself and then makes a descision. I'm in no way dissing the person who gave you the info, just saying it's like anything else. You may love a hotel or restaurant, and I may think they are the worse places on earth !

Sandra AM,  My son turns 21 on the 27th.  Would like to surprised him with something, we wont be visiting him till the 30th. 

Does anyone know of a good bakery, that would deliver him a special cake? 

I'm looking for some help, my daughter and another sailor are moving in to a apartment at the beginning of April. I was wondering if anyone can suggest where I can tell them to look for furniture that doesn't cost that much as they are scheduled to deploy next February. The girls have no furniture, I will be going down the week of Easter to see my daughter and try to help her organize her apartment as this is there first apartment.

Also does anyone know anything about apartments called Merrimack Landing??? 

Thanks!!!

Thank you for the cake info.  I'm to late to order a cake for an APO/FPO address.  That takes 2-3 weeks for delivery.  My son only has the ship address, even though he is in port.  Any other suggestions, thank you.

Sandra enjoy your time with your son and daughter in law and that precious baby!!

Hope the weather is better there than what we have in Missouri.

My son is on the USS Bataan.

Scocer Mom this site might be of some help. http://cinchouse.com/  And of course thrift shops or consignment shops are always a great source. I do not know what is in the area though.  Our son is living on the barge right now. He is assigned to the USS Enterprise but is waiting for new orders before he settles anywhere.

Soccer Mom, my son did well on Craigslist.  Also went to this Ikea, about 2.5 hours north on 95 in Woodbridge - for desk, bookshelves, tables, lamps, even kitchen stuff.  It all fit in the car, and he hired a handyman to assemble it all in about an hour  - smart if you've ever put together Ikea stuff! lol

jackarita26,  That is very sweet of you, I don't expect anything like that.

Very thoughtful!!!!

jackarita26 I just remembered he will be out at sea on his birthday.  I just mailed him a card and I will be seeing him March 30th.  So his cake will be a couple days late.  Thanks,  you and your daughter are very thoughtful.

There are a number of Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters thrift shops in the area, here's their site with addresses - http://www.chkd.org/giving/thrift/; there's also this one near the main gate into the Little Creek Naval base; it benefits the SPCA - http://www.secondchancethrift4pets.com  And two moms here recommend a store, don't know the name but you can ask LoriLAB, her son just bought stuff there for his new house  :)

On April 27, my neighborhood is having a community yard sale.  It is a pretty amazing event, each home sets up their sales in their own driveways, but as many as 100 home will have sales.  The neighborhood is on the water, fairly upscale and a lot of older people who are looking to downsize.  This could be a great place to pick up some furniture and household items.  The neighborhood is called Baycliff; it is off Mill Dam Road near the Hilltop area of Virginia Beach.  If your sailors are looking for some good deals, tell them to check it out!

There are also a number of thrift stores in the area:  Childrens' Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD), Goodwill, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Second Chance Thrift Store (supports SPCA).  You can google any of them to find the most convenient locations.

I know that I have seen the information before, but I can not seem to locate it.  Trying to help my son and look ahead for a place for him to rent when he comes back from deployment.. Any suggestions of places?  I would really appreciate the input.

Norfolk and Virginia Beach are becoming well known for their restaurants.  Lately the area has been appearing on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" with Guy Fieri quite a bit.  He has checked out Doumar's (Norfolk, burgers, great ice cream) Leaping Lizard (Virginia Beach, sandwiches, salads, farm-to-table), Citrus (Virginia Beach, breakfast) and several others.  Depending on your tastes, you should be able to find some great, locally operated places to eat.  Lots of seafood places along Shore Drive in Virginia Beach (Croakers, Dockside, Bubba's, One Fish, Two Fish) and then more eclectic dining in downtown Norfolk along Granby Street (Pasha Mezze, 456 Fish and many others).  Really, if you are downtown anywhere, you can park your car and wander into any one of a number of good restaurants. 

Happy eating!