Indian River - Chesapeake, VA Area Guide

When the Jamestown colonists were settling the area, the Indian River area was still home to the Chesapeake Indians, but by 1669 they were all gone. The area remained rural farmland for 300 more years until urban sprawl began catching up. The pollution of the Elizabeth River wiped out the local oyster industry, and eventually the rural roads turned into highways and the area became modernized.

There are no museums or annual events in Indian River, but further south, you can find Chesapeake City Park with year-round events and Battlefield Historic Park, remembering the local Revolutionary War battle.

If you find yourself in the Indian River neighborhood and you want something besides the chain restaurants, your first stop should be Kervan Kebab House. This restaurant serves Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Turkish food. In a place called Kebab, of course everyone tries the chicken shish kebab plate, but if you want something even more exotic, give the red lentil fingers or rice-stuffed grape leaves a try. Kervan Kebab House is vegetarian friendly. For dessert the baklava is a popular choice, and don't forget that the restaurant serves Turkish tea for free.

If you're looking for a cozy alternative to the large breakfast chains, give D'cracked Egg a try. The pancakes are homemade, of course, and with choices like sweet potato with pecans, you're bound to find a new favorite flavor. Despite the name, D'cracked Egg also serves dinner southern style, with traditional items like meatloaf, baked pork chops and mac 'n cheese with sides like collards, yams and rice.

And since you're mere miles from the ocean, and since this is Indian River and has a connection to the water, you might be craving a little seafood. If that's the case, you have to check out Wicker's Crab Pot Seafood restaurant. With drinks served in mason jars, this is truly a Southern restaurant. With a menu that features handmade crab cakes, fresh raw oysters and hush puppies to rave about, you can tell that four generations of waterman have made Wicker's one of those places that you'll return to again and again.

For nightlife, many people head to the south of the neighborhood, right along the I-64 corridor, where there are a lot of chain bars and restaurants. One unique hotspot is The Eagle's Nest Country Bar. Not only is it a bar and restaurant, it's also a radio station. Tour buses can frequently be seen in the parking lot as up-and-coming bands perform and chat with the DJs.

The Indian River area is in the northeast area of the city. It has four major roads running through it, one of them a state highway and one of them I-64, the Hampton Roads Beltway. The main roads are all well serviced by the Hampton Roads Transit system with several bus lines and frequent buses, making it easy to get around. Buses run up into Norfolk with stops at the colleges and universities, making living across the river from school an easy choice.

Using the HRT is pretty easy. Rides are $1.75 one way, and they accept cash, coins or reusable fare cards, which are a good idea if you're a frequent rider. Because Indian River is such a residential area, there aren't public lots to park in to catch the bus. Most people walk or get dropped off at a stop.

If the bus isn't your thing, check out the different cab companies that run throughout Hampton Roads, such as Norfolk Checker Taxi, Yellow Cab of Norfolk, Norfolk Black and White Cabs, or check out other options such as Lyft or Uber.

Because the residential areas of Indian River are so old, most of them don't have bike lanes and only partial sidewalks. There are no dedicated bike lanes on the main roads, but you will still see people out riding carefully with traffic.

A community gathering spot in Indian River is the Clarence V. Cuffee Community Center and Library, which also has the Campostella Square Park right next door. The community center features a gym and fitness room, a game room, kitchen and a Teen Zone room with computers. There is also an outdoor playground with picnic tables and basketball courts. The community center offers classes and sports for kids, teens and adults. Enjoy some pick-up basketball, tennis lessons, line dancing, or just walk with friends in the mornings.

If you're looking for a little more adventure, check out Indian River Park. This 91 acre city-owned park features not only nature trails with a creek running the length of the property, but trails and jumps for bikers and BMX riders.

The cost of living in Indian River is 6 percent lower than the whole city of Chesapeake. Residents can find a one-bedroom apartment to rent for about $1,021 per month.

In Indian River, grabbing a coffee is around $4, which might seem high; fortunately, this is actually 8 percent lower than the national average. This area also sees lower gas prices than the national average, running about 7 percent lower than the rest of the country.

While the northern half of the neighborhood is dotted with 7-Elevens, the main grocery and shopping areas are to the south, right along the 64 corridor. There you'll find Food Lion and Farm Fresh, and if you go over 64, down to Greenbrier, there you'll find even larger chains like Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

Indian River butts up against the western edges of Virginia Beach, and some of the stores bleed into each other. Regardless of its Virginia Beach address and the Indian River location, Birdland Music is a must-visit if you are a music lover. Selling CDs, vinyl and even tapes, Birdland has been in business since the 50s and has been family owned for over 40 years. Known as the best independent music store in the Hampton Roads area, this shop has new, used and vintage, and the owners and managers can speak all things music. Stop in for an experience, and you won't be disappointed.

Another great boutique to check out is Haute Swan. This store focuses on women's fashion, featuring women's apparel, accessories and cosmetics, sells higher-end items that are trendy and fit all sizes.

And if music and clothing aren't your thing but comic books are, then put Zeno's Books on your list. In business for over 20 years, this comic book shop is loaded with all things comic and Comic-Con.