Virginia
Discover Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia is a state in the South of the United States with nearly 9 million inhabitants. Bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and the west by the Appalachian mountains, with expanses of farmland in between, Virginia has much to offer history buffs and lovers of scenic landscapes. Virginia's three largest cities are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake.
Taste of Virginia...
The Virginia Department of Agriculture lists producers on its Virginia Grown website, and there are dozens of seasonal food and drink festivals across the state. Quality processed foods made in Virginia are promoted through the Virginia's Finest program. Most of the signature dishes of the state are common to Southern/American cuisine. Country ham is a cured specialty frequently served at holiday meals and breakfast with the largest producers based around Surry county, with perhaps the best known being based in Smithfield. In the Southeast is the county of Brunswick, one of several locations that claims itself to be the birthplace of Brunswick Stew . The Highland County Maple Festival celebrates local maple syrup producers high up in the Blue Ridge mountains, the lines for the Ruritan's pancake breakfasts are super long, though with a friendly atmosphere, and can be avoided by dining in an area restaurant/inn. Do try the maple doughnuts made with nutmeg and fresh maple syrup. The Chesapeake Bay region produces some of the nation's best seafood, especially crab and oysters. Virginia law requires you to be 21 to buy alcohol or consume alcohol. Photo ID will be required to prove age. Beer, cider, and other alcoholic drinks are available from most restaurants and bars, with purchase prohibited between 2 and 6AM. Variety of what is available differs from restaurant to restaurant and when in doubt people should check menu or with a waiter to see what is available.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsVirginia has nine airports with commercial service. Northern Virginia (the Washington DC suburbs) is serviced by Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). DCA, often referred to simply as "National" or "Reagan National," is the better airport for access to Washington DC due to its proximity and access to more Washington Metrorail lines; however, it is mostly restricted to short- and medium-haul domestic flights. Almost all international service and long-haul flights serve Dulles, a Star Alliance gateway and United hub, and also the more convenient airport to DC's western suburbs. For Central and Southern Virginia destinations, Richmond International Airport (RIC) offers nonstops to major East Coast cities as well as most of the major domestic hub airports east of the Rockies, plus seasonal service on ultra low-cost carriers to Florida....
Regions
Explore Areas"Virginia Is For Lovers" is the enigmatic motto of the Virginia tourism council. What makes Virginia particularly suited for amour remains something of a mystery, but the state does have many great fe…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Travel around Virginia is primarily by car but public transportation is also relatively abundant in the Northern Virginia suburbs near Washington, DC. Amtrak trains run from Norfolk/Newport News to Richmond and out to the western panhandle. Trains also run north and south between Richmond and the Northern Virginia/DC area. A third major line runs from the western panhandle, north through Charlottesville, and up to Northern Virginia. Virginia Railway Express (VRE), a commuter rail line, serves Washington, DC from points as far away as Fredericksburg and Manassas. The Washington Metro has several rail stations in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Loudoun County. Hitchhiking is slow-going in Virginia. Rides are hard to come by and the Virginia State Police are notorious for hassling travelers (hitchers and motorists alike). Your best bet is either to stick to the state roads in the mountains, or to stick to rest stops on the major highways.
Language & Talk
English is spoken by most residents. The regional dialects in Virginia include the Tidewater dialect in Eastern Virginia, Virginia Piedmont in Central Virginia, and the Central Appalachian dialect in the Western parts of the state. The Virginia Piedmont dialect is also native to Northern Virginia and much of Maryland but is less common in this region today, though it remains the predominant way of speaking in and around the towns of Warrenton and Culpeper along with Spotsylvania County, which form Northern Virginia’s southernmost boundaries. Much like the rest of the DC area, the General American accent dominates Northern Virginia (and brash East Coast attitudes along with it), something of a shock to older Virginians who remember the area's rural past.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Certain cities in Virginia have crime problems, in particular, the cities of Richmond and Norfolk. However, most places in Virginia, like the rest of US, are safe. Check with locals to determine what areas you should avoid. Standard safety rules apply: Stay in groups as much as possible, trust your instincts and do not flash around cash or large value items. If you need urgent medical, fire, or police assistance, all areas participate in the 911 program. The northwestern part of Virginia, mainly the Shenandoah Valley, is inside the National Radio Quiet Zone, a huge area of land where radio transmissions are strongly restricted to protect the Green Bank Observatory. The result is that cell phone service is mostly nonexistent. Radio stations are limited, too, with just the Allegheny Mountain Radio network operating a handful of low-power FM rebroadcasting stations.