Camellia Shores - Norfolk, VA Area Guide

During the 1950s, the Brody organization, a Norfolk residential suburban subdivision company, began to develop tracts of land near the shores of Virginia Beach. Capitalizing on a name that struck a cord with the nearby community, Camellia Shores' homes featured the then-novel indoor/outdoor living concept. These conventional ranch-style houses all included either screened patio areas or fenced-in back yards. The neighborhood filled up quickly with families drawn to its serene environment and strong sense of camaraderie the area still provides. The neighborhood doesn't house any museums. Check out the MacArthur Memorial Museum in downtown Norfolk to get a better sense of why your neighbors feel such a strong connection to this community. Camellia Shores doesn't host any festivals, so check out the local flavor and meet like-minded people at the annual Ribtoberfest — a celebration of live music, beer and BBQ — in Town Point Park.

Head to East Little Creek Road, the northern border of the neighborhood, for lunch grub and dinnertime eats and drinks. This central restaurant hub's small assortment of ethnic restaurants allows you to unwind with familiar favorites or try something truly unique to the area. Make room in your fridge for leftovers from Regino's Italian Restaurant. This old-school Italian eatery serves up hefty portions of classics such as chicken cacciatore and veal Parmesan. Try the housemade Italian sausage and peppers or cheese-stuffed ravioli to best experience the authentic essence of this community gem. The star of the show at Degollado Mexican Restaurant are the chili rellenos. Lightly breaded and overflowing with warm, melty cheese, this signature spin on the classic Mexican fare makes dining here a welcome mid-week treat. This moderately priced restaurant also provides a wide variety of choices for picky young eaters in your brood. When you're looking for the perfect bar and grille atmosphere, The Azalea Inn wins hands down. The Greek and Italian menu features a lot of succulent entrees, including the how-do-they-do-that Hawaiian pizza and the Azalea burger topped mushrooms, ham and provolone cheese. End your night with at Greenies Bar & Grill On The Beach. This part dive bar, part casual restaurant and part outdooor live music venue allows you to let your hair down after the sun goes down.

Interstate 564 and U.S. Routes 58, 165 and 460 make getting in and out of town handy and fast. Since driving is the primary way to get around town, hop on the Hampton Transit Bus on East Little Creek Road when you want to window shop on foot. The subdivisions that make up Camellia Shores are walkable and bikable. However, the only dedicated bike lanes in the neighborhood are along sections of Heutte Drive, the main east-west thoroughfare. Uber ridesharing isn't an option, and calling a cab saves you time over hailing a stray cab you might spot in the area. You'll find free public parking at most restaurants and retail establishments in the area, making shopping and dining out a breeze.

East Ocean View Community Park, visible from the bridge over Shore Drive, lets you catch some rays while staring out into the comforting blue water. A fishing pier and a children's area make this free neighborhood park a handy nearby choice for when you need some rest and relaxation while your kid's and on-leash dogs play in the open green spaces. If you want to have a more exercise-centric experience, head out to the free Lakewood Park in the neighboring Talbot Park area. The well-maintained soccer/football fields, basketball court and nine tennis courts let you burn off calories with others interested in your game. This park doesn't host any events, but does house several expansive playgrounds with unique items, a rowing center and a dance and music studio. On-leash dogs are also welcome at this facility.

The cost of living in Camellia Shores is slightly higher than the Hampton Roads average as well as higher than the national average, with one-bedroom rental residences running about $858. Gas prices usually fall at about 9 percent less than the national average and grabbing a beer at a neighborhood bar costs you about $5.50. When you need to take the bus to the center of town, expect to fork over roughly $1.75.

Although East Little Creek Road houses a few nationally known stores, including Cato and Citi Trends, two of the coolest locally-owned stores are found off of this main business thoroughfare. Hop over to Second Chance Thrift on Shore Drive to score a deal on gently used clothing, shoes, books, pet goods, and home décor. Because this store donates a portion of its proceeds to the Virginia Beach SPCA, this place makes you feel great about spending your hard-earned money. What Second Chance Thrift does for your wallet, Wine & Cake Hobbies Inc. on Tidewater Drive does for your soul. This local best-kept-secret houses everything you need to throw a fabulous party, brew your own beer, make your own wine and have the wedding of your dreams on a budget. Run in Camellia Shores' Walmart Neighborhood Market on East Little Creek Road when you need to pick up a few groceries. When you want to stock up on organic items, gourmet cheeses, and other harder-to-find items, head over to Harris Teeter in neighboring Ghent to browse its ample selection. Although the neighborhood doesn't host a farmer's market, the Farmers Fare Farm Market at East Beach is just minutes away. After you choose your produce, check out the Artisan bakery for out-of-this-world bread and treats.