What I Learned From My Trip To Virginia

M husband Adem and I recently decided to take a road trip to the East Coast. More specifically, we headed to Virginia to visit my brother. We headed out with no real expectations, and we left with a newfound appreciation for the overall lifestyle in the east. To put it plainly, we completely loved the area.

To clarify, we were mostly around the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area, but we did drive through the state from west to east and stop at a few places along the way.

So here are a few things I learned from my short stay in Virginia.

Their “Cities” Are Not Cities

We were staying in Virginia Beach for a little over a week. But during our stay, we headed over to Virginia Beach’s slightly larger neighbor, Norfolk.

Now, when I thought of Norfolk before, I’d always imagined it would be the kind of bustling place that I would be less than interested in. Boy was I wrong.

We visited a little area of Norfolk called “Ghent” that was flourishing with colors. Whether it was the bounty of trees and flowers that covered the streets, or the antique, Victorian-style homes that aligned each pathway, I was intrigued from the very moment I set foot there.

But my interest didn’t stop there. We made a day of it and decided to walk towards the area that would be considered “downtown.”

Having lived outside Chicago my whole life, this “downtown” was not at all what I was expecting. It was much quieter, with streets and streets of little shops and restaurants. There were a few larger buildings, but not many.

I absolutely preferred it to the busy city lifestyle that I was accustomed to back home. It was a smaller, and more wholesome feeling. Norfolk was surprisingly beautiful in the way that it was set up. It seemed that there were endless possibilities in every direction and, all at the same time, it had just the right mixture of nature that kept it calm and nonchalant.

Hospitality

I really feel like I need to add this bit because it was such a pleasure to be able to experience the culture in Virginia.

Now, I’ve always heard of the good old southern hospitality. But this being our first trip down south on our own, I feel like I really got to experience it first-hand.

People are definitely different. They wave at you. They smile. They say good morning and good night. It felt like people were much more open and genuine overall.

I’m not saying that the midwest is a cold, spiteful place (in some areas hehe). But having grown up in the suburbs of Chicago, I have gotten used to the idea that people tend to keep to themselves. This is what I have always believed as “normal” because it is the only lifestyle I’ve known.

People in Virginia totally broke through that norm. Everyone I met seemed to want to talk about everything and anything. They were the kind of people you could sit around a fire with and talk all night like you were long-lost friends.

Something about the way the people are in Virginia reminded me a lot when I was living in Greece. They have a more passionate, loud and beautiful culture. And it was nice to be reminded that there are people like that all around the globe. You just have to know where to find them. 🙂

Nature! Nature! Nature!

Coming from one of the biggest nature freaks you’ll meet, I am astounded by what Virginia has to offer. Whether it was the boundless hilltops through the Appalachian mountains or the calm rush of water reaching out towards the sandy shores, Virginia has endless possibilities for nature-lovers.

While staying in Virginia, my husband and I were lucky enough to check out a couple of the beaches. We explored the Oceanfront and walked along the boardwalk.

If you’re ever in the area, be sure to check out Sandbridge Beach and Chic’s Beach as well! These two beaches were more remote, but were ideal for anyone who is looking to get away from the crowds.

Speaking of which, am I the only one who didn’t realize how many parks/forest preserves exist in Virginia? It’s seriously like every other mile has another area to explore and the diversity of each place is magnificent!

One of the parks that we got to explore a little was First Landing State Park. This park is pretty huge, and there is a fee at the entrance to get in (pretty sure it was only about $3-$5).

There is an interesting history to this park because it is named for the first English settlers who landed in America (“First Landing,” get it?? :D). So, some of the first settlers were right in this very spot exploring all of the beautiful landscapes. That is pretty cool to think about!

There are two sides to this state park. On one side you have a couple trails and areas where they allow camping. Behind the camping area is a beach, which I thought was very beautiful. Not many people were at this beach so its a nice spot to go to if you need to “get away.” The other side of the park has a massive forest that is one of the most alluring forests I’ve ever seen. I could get lost there for days.

I could go on and on about the beauty of Virginia. But take my word for it. Book a trip and check it out for yourself!!

A Few More Fun Facts..

• Norfolk Virginia is the Navy capital of the US. So there was a heavy air of patriotism and respect for the people, and the city was flooded with this feeling. There is even a Navy boat museum in the heart of the city.
• If any of you are fellow vegans, Virginia was surprisingly vegan-friendly. Basically every restaurant, cafe or sweet-shop we visited had a list of options for us. If you love baked goods, definitely check out My Vegan Sweet Tooth in Virginia Beach. They had a great variety of vegan items. I definitely indulged on my trip!
• The area is very pet-friendly! Whether it was leaving out bowls of water for your pooch, or allowing your furry friends to join you in your home, Virginia had it covered! I could definitely see my dog-child living the life in these neighborhoods.
• The Virginia Beach area also had a very holistic, spiritual side to it. It even has an A.R.E. center dedicated to Edgar Cayce that is worth visiting. It offers free meditation sessions, readings, an open library, retreats, gardens and a cute little gift shop in the main center.

 

There you have it guys. Virginia definitely left a long-standing impression on me. It’s one of those places that I’m grateful that I got to experience first-hand. And I could see myself taking a trip back in the near future!

Have you ever visited Virginia? Anything worth mentioning that I might have left out? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Travels~

Val