The Valdosta area is a place that I’m genuinely sad to be leaving this coming summer. The best way to explain Valdosta is to say watch Sweet Home Alabama, but then put that town in Georgia and add a Target. Coming from big cities on the west coast my whole life, I was nervous about the small southern town vibe, but y’all (yes I say y’all now, just embrace it) it’s great here and don’t let anyone tell you differently.. Just be sure to specify UNsweet when you order an iced tea, and be prepared for the funny look the server will likely give you!
The base is located about 20 minutes away from downtown, so sometimes it takes preparation if you’re planning on getting dinner downtown but it’s totally worth the drive to find the best places in town to eat.
Things to know about Moody Air Force Base
We were very excited about coming to Moody! We actually had it as number one on our preferences, though that had more to do with my husband being from Kentucky and this being the closest we could get to his family with his airframe. Once we got here I learned that I was going to need to learn to talk to strangers, like everyone, and I mean everyone will stop and have a conversation. They love chatting about their days and giving all the advice they can about anything really (I think they can smell it on you that you’re not a local.. That, or my southern accent isn’t as good as I like to think!). Embrace the friendly locals, they know all the secrets about town and can make you feel at home! Oh.. and alligators really are here, if you can’t see the bottom of the water (no matter how small it looks) there’s likely a gator in there. Just keep the kids and pets away from all standing water!
Rachelle
I was excited to get to explore a different part of the country by moving to Valdosta. My husband is a HC-130 pilot so we can only end up at 3 bases! This is a big change for us, leaving the west (and our families) behind. The south is such a great place to be because people are friendly and things move just a little bit slower. Getting your nails done is something new because the people love to chat with you while you get your nails done. The community is strong in Valdosta, so nearly everyone you meet is supportive of the military. Prepare yourself for the dense humidity and bugs in the summer and thunderstorms all summer long. Never forget to ask a stranger what their favorite restaurant in Valdosta is because they might just surprise you with somewhere you’ve never heard of!
Callie
Looking for more specific recommendations from the WAF community on topics like best neighborhoods, favorite restaurants, or doctor recommendations – join the conversation in our private Facebook group of incredible WAFs!
In an effort to better serve every WAF across all branches, and with the help of some amazing other WAFs, we’ve curated branch specific Facebook groups. You can find your branch’s group by joining the general WAF Facebook page and then clicking “visit group”.
