IPMS 2008 Convention Hotel sold out

I find it hard to believe that anybody could take offense at my last post.  I repeat what I said at the end of that post:  Tidewater Virginia is one of my favorite parts of the country.

Beyond that, I don't think Cougar 38's comments merit a response.

I've lived in Virginia Beach for the past 18 years.  I first was stationed here from 1990-1994 and the area was different from what it is now.  Not that it was bad in any way at all it was actually better from my point of view.  Well, now with the population growth and the Urban Sprawl from Norfolk in the late 90's Virginia Beach is growing.  With that of course comes the traffic and to be honest with you it's a part of living here in this area.  If you want to complain about traffic you're pretty much beating a dead horse.  Maybe the time IPMS should hold the convention at the Motel 6 in Smithfield, Virginia.  Then maybe we won't have to deal with the traffic complainers crying about how long it takes to get from point A to point B!!  Actually, if it was held in Smithfield people would still complain about GAS!!!  That too is getting to be a sore point with me.  If gas is too high for YOU don't freaking drive. Walk, ride public transportation, buy a Smart Car or even better sell your Suburban!!!

Yeah, the Tar heal might be just informing people of the area but the way that the poster went about doing it was too almost say the area was terrible.  Oh by the way I more than likely was on one of those ships that you saw coming over the Hampton Roads Tunnel.  Sorry for your inconvenience.

I certainly agree that Tidewater traffic jams aren't in the same category as DC ones.  Nothing is - though I'm reliably informed that Los Angeles comes close.  But Tidewater traffic has gotten noticeably worse in the 25 years since I moved out.  It seems like some key part of I-64 is always torn up; the section around the Mercury Blvd. exits in Hampton was a mess for well over a year.  And I have encountered ten-mile backups - though not on the daily basis that DC commuters take for granted.  I suspect the traffic engineers in Tidewater, like those in the DC area, have accepted that they simply are never going to catch up with the expanding population.

I suspect the biggest messes during the IPMS Convention will be caused by "beach traffic" on the weekend - people from the Peninsula, as far away as Richmond, heading for VA Beach on Friday evening and Saturday morning, and heading home Sunday evening.  At times like that the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel is a great place to avoid.  But that, of course, won't be a problem for anybody staying in a motel in VA Beach. 

The worst Tidewater traffic jam I can remember was on I-64 in Norfolk, heading "west" (which is actually almost due north) just south of the Naval Base.  It was quite early on a weekday morning shortly before Christmas, and I'd just dropped my father off at the Norfolk Airport.  Traffice was stalled, bumper-to-bumper, between the airport and the Naval Base exit.  Then it suddenly cleared up.  When I got to the Bridge Tunnel the cause of the problem instantly became obvious:  a substantial part of the Mediterranean Fleet was steaming into Hampton Roads, and Navy families by the thousands were on their way to meet the ships.  The sight was worth the inconvenience:  grey warships on grey water emerging through a grey fog, with their crews in whites manning the sides.

I've seen a fair amount of the publicity for the Virginia Beach IPMS convention, and I must say I've been struck by the conspicuous absence of one site from the list of local attractions:  The Mariners' Museum at Newport News.  I used to work there (1980-83), and since then I've had a less-than-pleasant relationship with the place.  But anybody with the slightest interest in ships and/or ship models really needs to see it; the joint has one of the finest ship model collections in the world, to say nothing of the various other maritime artifacts and artworks.  It's a bit of a drive from the VA Beach Convention Center (close to an hour, I imagine), but definitely worth the trip.  If you're in that neighborhood and you're a ship enthusiast, you'll also want to take a slight detour and drive along the fringes of Newport News Shipbuilding.  Security there is tight, and you won't be able to drive onto the actual premises, but there's usually something interesting to see from Warwick Blvd. and the various other public thoroughfares.

I miss lots of aspects of life in Tidewater; for people of my particular, slightly eccentric interests it's one of the most fascinating regions in the country.  But I don't miss the traffic.

Slightly different viewpoint from someone still living in "Tidewater":

JT, what a mixed message!  Yes, I'd agree that our region is suffering from a common urban problem with typical "commuter based congestion".  However, to put it on par with DC & Northern Virginia, I think not!  Because the convention will run during the latter part of the work week, the typical 'rush hour' traffic conditions will need to be considered when planning transportation.  However, much of the traffic is flowing 'away' from the Beach in the morning, towards the Norfolk Naval Base and other assoicated activities, so the highway traffic flow towards the convention center is quite tolerable.  Also, most of the AM traffic issues are winding down by 9:30, with the afternoon rush starting up up at 2 pm thru 5:30 or 6 so a window exists for smooth sailing even through the various 'chokepoints' (i.e., the tunnels & bridges.)  For folks coming to the convention, a bit of planning and some advice from the locals regarding times and routing should allow for less traffic headaches during the work week.  No guarantees of course, but it certainly is isn't like DC with it's ten-mile long backups!

I know the convention committee is emphasizing visitor information to help getting around to the various (and 'modeler' attractive) destinations in the area, so everyone can get the most 'bang' for their time here.  As for the hotel situation, I recommend taking full advantage of lodging further from the Beach if need be, especially if you will have a vehicle or shared ride.  Research locations using the various internet resources (MapQuest, etc.) to look at some alternative routings, as the 'interstate' highway is not the only way to get from A to B, and please, ask for help through the convention website if you need advice.  Recommend patience and understanding as VA Beach is a resort area and summertime is the peak season (and part of the reason it is a good site for the 'family vacation' aspect of the convention.)

I believe it all boils down to where you (and yours) are going to spend your time - I'd recommend don't plan on spending it in a hotel!  If you've not been able to commit to lodging prior to this point, well, the lodging right at the 'Beach' fills up early for obvious reasons.  Look at alternatives and cooperative strategies to meet your vacation 'objectives' and contact us locals for advice, I known we're all glad to help answer questions (realizing of course that we don't have any control of what the hotels are doing!)  We want everyone to have enjoy their stay, after all, because we want a successful convention.

Cheers!  Robert Beach

Norfolk, VA  #9460

I'm not an IPMS member, but I used to live in Tidewater Virginia.  The good news is that the area is full of reasonably-priced motels.  The bad news is that it's one of the east coast's most notable and depressing examples of urban sprawl.  (Nothing can compete with the DC area in that category, but Tidewater is getting to the point where it's worthy to be mentioned in the same breath.)  If you live in that neck of the woods you get used to the idea that a drive of half an hour from one place to another is routine - and if you have bad luck with the traffic, that half hour can turn into an hour or more.  I used to be a rabid Tidewater Tides baseball fan; I thought nothing of driving 45 minutes each way between my apartment in Newport News and the balllpark in Norfolk - several times a week.  (In those days, of course, gas was a lot cheaper; I might feel differently nowadays.) 

Hotels and motels near the water in Virginia Beach do indeed fill up in the summer.  But check out what Red Roof Inn, Motel 6, Econo-Lodge, and the other chains have to offer elsewhere in Virginia Beach.  There are a couple of Red Roof Inns just off I-64 that would be tolerably close to the convention site.  And if you really get desperate, try Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Newport News, and Hampton.  If you stay on the Peninsula and commute to the convention, you'll be treated to a nice view of Hampton Roads and the ships at the Norfolk Naval Base on each trip (as you watch the needle on your gas gauge drifting toward empty.)

I'll probably drive up (three hours from here in Greenville, NC) on the last or next-to-the last day to visit the vendor's room and admire the models - and visit some favorite other places in Tidewater while I'm at it, and stay in a Red Roof Inn somewhere or other.  As I've stated in various other threads (to the point where other participants are undoubtedly sick of hearing my views on the subject), I don't believe in model competitions and have no interest in the judging.  (I imply no disrespect for the judges, or criticism of people who do enjoy model contests.  I'm simply not interested such things at this point in my life.)  But I've gone to the last two IPMS conventions in Virginia Beach and thoroughly enjoyed myself - and I'm certainly looking forward to this one.