Hi everyone, i would like to send my message out in hopes of getting some recommendations on great places to live and work in Virginia. I have never been and thought i would start with this discussion board to research good communities.
What is important to me above all in choosing a place to work is a definite preference for smaller, reputably safe communities as i would be relocating with my family and this is priority #1. I love the outdoors so access to the forests and mountains are definitely a plus also. I would of course be looking for an area that is affordable and reasonably priced in terms of accommodation if there is such a thing!
Hope you can help, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
Hi, I was just wondering how the weather is in that area? Is it very humid in the summers (I hate that)? Are the winters SUPER cold?? Basically, I want to move somewhere w/ mild, comfortable weather but close to mountains & lakes or an ocean.
I lived in Roanoke for 2 years and Virginia for 23 so here's what I know....
Roanoke is in SW Virginia, in the mountains and it's beautiful!! Pretty mild really, but it can be humid! Not nearly as humid as the Williamsburg/Va. Beach area..but humid just the same. Winters aren't Michigan cold, but they can get down below freezing occasionally...just long enough to kill the bugs, usually. Occasional snow - I remember in March of '93 when I was living there and we had a TON of snow..but that's really rare.
Really is a wonderful place, I'd go back if I could.
Hi, I was just wondering how the weather is in that area? Is it very humid in the summers (I hate that)? Are the winters SUPER cold?? Basically, I want to move somewhere w/ mild, comfortable weather but close to mountains & lakes or an ocean.
VA does got humid during the summer, but not as badly as other southern states I think. The winter cold depends on location...close to mountains, yes..elseswhere sometimes.
Hi, I was just wondering how the weather is in that area? Is it very humid in the summers (I hate that)? Are the winters SUPER cold?? Basically, I want to move somewhere w/ mild, comfortable weather but close to mountains & lakes or an ocean.
Roanoke/lynchburg is close to mountains and lakes! Roanoke is right at the bottom of lots of mtns. the big lake is between the 2 cities (smith mountain lake) and claytor lake isn't far either.
weather-
i am speaking for roanoke, specifically.
it can get cold. 30's to 40's normal for winter. Snow is usally 3-5 times a winter, with significant accumulation maybe once. maybe twice (more if in mountainous areas directly near roanoke)
warm? yes. humid? yes, sometimes. we have highs in the 90's less than 10 days a summer. 80s are average.
Roanoke/lynchburg is close to mountains and lakes! Roanoke is right at the bottom of lots of mtns. the big lake is between the 2 cities (smith mountain lake) and claytor lake isn't far either.
weather-
i am speaking for roanoke, specifically.
it can get cold. 30's to 40's normal for winter. Snow is usally 3-5 times a winter, with significant accumulation maybe once. maybe twice (more if in mountainous areas directly near roanoke)
warm? yes. humid? yes, sometimes. we have highs in the 90's less than 10 days a summer. 80s are average.
Massenutten is nice, and not far from Harrisonburg, so going to the store wouldn't be a half-day trek. There's also an indoor waterpark at Massenutten now.
My wife wants to move to Virginia this summer (we are in Cali.) and I'm concerned about the "safety" thing from previous posts, in Richmond. Why is that? We can't even buy a shack in Orange County, CA with $400K! I do ER and she does dialysis; we are both RNs. Can you recomend any areas? We do not have family or friends in Virginia.
My wife wants to move to Virginia this summer (we are in Cali.) and I'm concerned about the "safety" thing from previous posts, in Richmond. Why is that? We can't even buy a shack in Orange County, CA with $400K! I do ER and she does dialysis; we are both RNs. Can you recomend any areas? We do not have family or friends in Virginia.
Chesterfield and Midlothian which are both outside of Richmond (about 15 mins or so) are both pretty safe areas. I've got friends there and they love it.
I lived in Roanoke for 2 years and Virginia for 23 so here's what I know....
Roanoke is in SW Virginia, in the mountains and it's beautiful!! Pretty mild really, but it can be humid! Not nearly as humid as the Williamsburg/Va. Beach area..but humid just the same. Winters aren't Michigan cold, but they can get down below freezing occasionally...just long enough to kill the bugs, usually. Occasional snow - I remember in March of '93 when I was living there and we had a TON of snow..but that's really rare.
Really is a wonderful place, I'd go back if I could.
vamedic4
I lived in Bedford,VA my whole life until going off to college. It is a beautiful small town near the Blue Ridge Mountains. There is also Smith Mountain Lake close by, and plenty of opportunity to do things outdoors. The only downside to living in Bedford is there is not a ton to do socially if you are young - you have to drive to Lynchburg or Roanoke to go to the mall, movies, etc. But Bedford is growing, so its getting more nightlife.
The weather is great. You get all four seasons with a little snow in the winter and plenty of sunshine in the summer. Bedford is also very historic - there is the DDay National Monument there and Thomas Jefferson's summer home, Poplar Forest. Its not a bad place to live, as long as you aren't young and looking for tons of excitement.
My wife wants to move to Virginia this summer (we are in Cali.) and I'm concerned about the "safety" thing from previous posts, in Richmond. Why is that? We can't even buy a shack in Orange County, CA with $400K! I do ER and she does dialysis; we are both RNs. Can you recomend any areas? We do not have family or friends in Virginia.
Depending on where you locate in Richmond, safety is a concern. Obviously the inner part/downtown are of the city is where to avoid living. The downtown area is continously being revitalized and updated to make it more "friendly" but be aware that it's only several blocks. This is where the main university/teaching hospital is located here. There are still pocket neighborhoods around downtown that I would be careful being out in.
West Henrico county is a good area to live..housing is actually fairly good compared to Calif. Lots of subdivisions being built and lots of growth in the western part of the county.
There are several hospitals throughout the Richmond area that you can apply to work.
Thank you all, it's in my plan to be there this summer.... I'm not worried about winters. How are the schools there? We have 2 little girls! I'm working nights now but thanks a lot to all of you.
I would avoid HCA hospitals at all costs. I would take Bon Secours over HCA any day. I've worked at one Bon Secours and one HCA in the past and Bon Secours won hands down.
:lol2:
vamedic4, EMT-P
1,061 Posts
I lived in Roanoke for 2 years and Virginia for 23 so here's what I know....
Roanoke is in SW Virginia, in the mountains and it's beautiful!! Pretty mild really, but it can be humid! Not nearly as humid as the Williamsburg/Va. Beach area..but humid just the same. Winters aren't Michigan cold, but they can get down below freezing occasionally...just long enough to kill the bugs, usually. Occasional snow - I remember in March of '93 when I was living there and we had a TON of snow..but that's really rare.
Really is a wonderful place, I'd go back if I could.
vamedic4