Moving to Fayetteville NC area in May-June. [Archive] (2024)

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almazing

6th April 2013, 21:51

I'm in the Navy and I've been selected for a special assignment in Ft. Bragg so I will be transferring there from San Diego, CA. I have never spent any extended period of time in the area(besides a week long selection process) so I don't really know what to expect. If there is anyone in the area, I would like to ask which places are good to live in, which apartments to avoid, what are the bad parts, etc. Essentially, help in selecting and locating an apartment or home for a single young male to live in.

Also, any information on clubs, autocross events, mountain roads, and general fun driving type stuff is welcome :D.

michaelo

6th April 2013, 22:06

here ya go:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g49136-Activities-Fayetteville_North_Carolina.html

almazing

6th April 2013, 22:12

here ya go:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g49136-Activities-Fayetteville_North_Carolina.html

Seen that. I'm not looking for general information on the area. I'm looking for specifics from the locals or regulars in the area. You can only learn so much about an area online. It's much better to hear it from people who actually live and work there.

Dragonfighter

7th April 2013, 00:51

I'm in the Navy and I've been selected for a special assignment in Ft. Bragg .......

Who'd you piss off?:eek::rofl:

Just kidding. Can't help you on the lodging aspects, but you'll be about an hour 45 min from the beaches in Wilmington (Carolina and Wrightsville), and about 4 hours from the foothills of the Appalachians, where the good roads start. To the Tail of the Dragon would be around 6 hours. Fayetteville is in what's known as the sandhills, it's pretty flat there, but there are some okay backroads. I used to fly into and out of Pope AFB (next to Ft. Bragg) a long time ago, but never was based there, so I'm no help with living there. I lived in raleigh for a pretty long time, about an hour from Fayetteville, and used to be familiar with Fayetteville itself, but 16 years has probably changed things a lot.

Norfolk, Va is about 3-1/2 hours from Ft. Bragg, in case you need a Navy fix, and if you want to hang out with the Marines, Camp Lejune is about 2-1/2 hours.

If you get to Wilmington, once you're settled, the USS North Carolina (BB55) is there. Good luck with your assignment, drive up to the mountains some time and give me a shout when you get near Hickory, I'll show ya some roads.

kitesurfer

7th April 2013, 07:45

retired navy here...i was raised about 40 miles north east of ft brag in chatham county. i've never lived in ft brag so can't help with the in town situation. but southern pines/aberdeen area is a 30 minute commute to the drop zone and many of the soldiers there live in the souther pines area and commute daily. though not at all mountainous, there are many hilly/crookid roads once you get out of the sandhills. head for carthage, in moore county, and the good country roads start getting pretty with farms, pastures, rolling hills.

almazing

7th April 2013, 21:21

Thanks for the info. Seems like I have to travel a little further to get to the fun roads, which is unfortunate. I hope the autocross scene there is active.

FatKao

7th April 2013, 23:11

THSCC is your hookup for autocross.

http://www.thscc.com/general/info/calendar.php

NCR also runs somewhat close, but I can't figure out their website to find an actual schedule.

http://www.ncrscca.com/

TSCC is the next closest, a lot of their venues are going to be a decent drive for you.

http://www.auto-x.com/

Depending on how much you're willing to drive you could autocross almost every weekend in NC.

VIR and CMP are the local tracks. VIR is amazing, CMP is a good track as well but it's no VIR.

The Driver

7th April 2013, 23:31

Good heavens, a "squid" assigned to Bragg. Hope that you are not a "leg", or you'll be scorned as if you've slept with everyones gf's/wives!

That been said, my time @ Bragg was PRICELESS! Good luck sailor!

PS: If you are enlisted, generally speaking an E-7 in the Army is not "NCO royalty" like in the Navy/Corps, so please prepare to the "slight adjustment". If you are an officer, I have nothing to say, as I sure wasn't when I served!

almazing

7th April 2013, 23:36

Good heavens, a "squid" assigned to Bragg. Hope that you are not a "leg", or you'll be scorned as if you've slept with everyones gf's/wives!

That been said, my time @ Bragg was PRICELESS! Good luck sailor!

I'm not actually allowed to talk about what my assignment is, but it's not what most people think. I may as well 'not even be there'. If that makes any sense.

The Driver

7th April 2013, 23:44

I'm not actually allowed to talk about what my assignment is, but it's not what most people think. I may as well 'not even be there'. If that makes any sense.

Been that I'm a native of CentCom HQ's, I know perfectly what you mean. I was stationed @ Bragg in 1992-93, so I bet that place has changed A LOT. Could you stay @ Pope AFB while you are situated? You know that ChAir Force housing is DOD's greatest achievement!

almazing

7th April 2013, 23:44

THSCC is your hookup for autocross.

http://www.thscc.com/general/info/calendar.php

NCR also runs somewhat close, but I can't figure out their website to find an actual schedule.

http://www.ncrscca.com/

TSCC is the next closest, a lot of their venues are going to be a decent drive for you.

http://www.auto-x.com/

Depending on how much you're willing to drive you could autocross almost every weekend in NC.

VIR and CMP are the local tracks. VIR is amazing, CMP is a good track as well but it's no VIR.

Great information! Thanks a lot. Looks like some really long drives to get to some events. That's unfortunate. But at least they are there :D.

Dragonfighter

8th April 2013, 14:04

I was stationed @ Bragg in 1992-93, so I bet that place has changed A LOT.

Not sure about the base, but Fayetteville has changed a TON. I had friends there in my "formative" years (last few years of Vietnam era) and "Fayette-nam" was a real wild west town. Visit Hay Street on Friday night, then go to the Womack clinic on Saturday morning. Nothing is as it was in those days.

Eulark

9th April 2013, 10:19

I dont really know much about fayetville, but Wilmington is quaint and the beaches rock, so be sure to come out here to the water!

almazing

9th April 2013, 10:59

I dont really know much about fayetville, but Wilmington is quaint and the beaches rock, so be sure to come out here to the water!

I plan to do that. When I'm not busy working or autocrossing, I go freedive spearfishing in the ocean. I hope it's good diving in Wilmington like it is in San Diego.

Eulark

9th April 2013, 14:36

My girlfriend dives and there are plenty of wrecks and stuff to explore underwater. Plus i know several people who like spearfishing here. So i would say you'll be more than happy here.

There are several charter companies in the area for that stuff too.

7thSon

9th April 2013, 16:55

I plan to do that. When I'm not busy working or autocrossing, I go freedive spearfishing in the ocean. I hope it's good diving in Wilmington like it is in San Diego.

You'll be thrilled with the amount of autocross events. Many of the lots are small, but some aren't.

Diving? Unfortunately, not. Stuff to see, but not the variety spoils. I spent much of my time in California out at the Channel Islands (or in NorCal beach diving at the other Fort Bragg). Not the same. The beaches are pretty cool, though. Water is warmer, but much more commercial.

You'll not be disappointed in the roads if you come to the mountains. Well worth the drive.

almazing

10th April 2013, 12:35

You'll be thrilled with the amount of autocross events. Many of the lots are small, but some aren't.

You'll not be disappointed in the roads if you come to the mountains. Well worth the drive.

Sounds excellent. I'll just have to take some vacation time to go spearfishing in other countries then. I'm not particularly excited about moving to Fayetteville, but I can't be negative about it.

How's the hunting there in NC? I'm particularly fond of hunting wild boar... with a bow... and knife. Sidearm use only when I feel like I'm in any danger. Wild boar is real good to eat(but hard to prepare) and is one of the few animals in California you can hunt all year round.

7thSon

10th April 2013, 13:39

I am yet to see a wild pig, here, but I haven't been all over the state. I quit hunting before I moved here (my bow was stolen out of my brother's truck just prior to leaving Cali, anyway). I know there must be pigs, as I hear people talk about them. Plenty of other game, too. Fewer quail and grouse (in my area) but tons of turkeys and white tail. If you hunted blacktail and mulies, you'll be pretty surprised by deer hunting, here. The "stands" are not something I ever even imagined. I think the deer and fowl hunting "down east" is even better than here.

I can't remember the name of the shop, but there was an archery supply place in Redding, CA. If you ever had a chance to talk to the owner about his boar hunting experiences - wow! He was scarred up from one end to the other.