Visiting Hampton Roads, Virginia
Located in the southeastern section of Virginia, Hampton Roads is the 33rd largest metropolitan area in the country. Also, with approximately 1.7 million people, Hampton Roads is the largest metropolitan area between Washington DC and Atlanta, Georgia. While other highly populated areas typically include only one city and surrounding suburbs, Hampton Roads has a massive land mass of over 2,600 square miles and includes a total of 10 cities and 6 counties. The entire area is divided into 2 subsections by the largest natural harbor in the world: the peninsula and the south side. The peninsula is the northernmost section containing the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg. The Southside, which borders the North Carolina state line, includes the cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. These subsections of Hampton Roads are connected by the James River Bridge and 2 bridge and tunnel complexes. The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, connecting Norfolk and Hampton, was not only the first in the area, but also the first of its kind in the world. To help compensate for poor traffic conditions between the peninsula and the south side, the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel was later built. This newer system connects the city of Suffolk with Newport News. The James River Bridge links the county of Isle of Wight with Newport News. Another important waterway crossing in the area is the longest bridge-tunnel in the world. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is 17 miles long and runs from Virginia Beach to the East Coast.
Considering the historic nature of the area and its geographic position, a large portion of Hampton Roads’ $54 billion economy is due to tourism. Hundreds of thousands are drawn here each year to visit the many attractions the area has to offer. Jamestown, near Williamsburg, is the birthplace of Colonial America and is steeped in hundreds of years of history. After your visit to Colonial Williamsburg, you can take the family to Busch Gardens or Water Country USA, which are just a few minutes down Interstate 64. The resort town of Virginia Beach, with its 38 miles of coastline, always pleases the crowd and continues to attract thousands of visitors each summer. While some of the top attractions have been mentioned here, Hampton Roads offers literally hundreds of options for people of all ages that keep our economy moving even in tough times.
Another notable fact about Hampton Roads is its military influence. Mainly because the area has the largest natural harbor in the world, the Norfolk Naval Base is also the largest of its kind in the world. With the many bases and commands that call our area home, Hampton Roads has the highest concentration of military service men and women in the country. This leads to another staple in the area’s economy.
Our area is also rich in culture and entertainment. Here you’ll find a host of museums and performing arts theaters to challenge your senses, including the Virginia Aquarium, the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Sandler Center, the Harrison Opera House, and the Children’s Museum (to name a few). Hampton Roads also attracts top headline stars through any of its major stadiums including The Scope, Virginia Beach Amphitheater and Hampton Coliseum. Whether you love lounging on the beach, fishing, seeing a great concert, or just shopping, there’s always something to do and somewhere to go.
Hampton Roads is not only a great place to visit, but also a great place to call home.