Paddle a kayak or canoe across Lake Drummond and you see how Chesapeake spreads over a lot of ground, and a good chunk of it is wild. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and the lake are the headline draws, along with Northwest River Park and the Dismal Swamp Canal. Bring bug spray, because ticks and mosquitoes come with the territory. The rest of the city is mostly suburban and small-town, with Greenbrier for shopping, Deep Creek for a quieter feel and Great Bridge, where the Revolutionary battle site sits.
About 255,000 people live here, part of the Hampton Roads region of nearly 1.8 million. Norfolk is about 15 miles away and Virginia Beach about 25. A local ale trail and spring wine and kayak events give visitors a few extras. Housing sits near or a bit above the national norm, and the market is steady. Violent crime is close to the national average, and car break-ins are the most common problem. The bigger practical concern is water, with hurricane season from June to November and tidal flooding on low roads.
