I’m a Virginia boy to the bone, and I consider NC our “sister state” so…in the spirit of giving credit where it’s due, North Carolina’s beaches AND mountains are objectively bigger and badder. The Outer Banks has the best surfing on the eastern seaboard and NC has more 6,000+ foot peaks than any state east of the Rockies. Virginia’s Blue Ridge feels downright civilized in comparison. Virginia is so damned sweet and approachable, though, and we have the Shenandoah Valley. I’ve been to 45 states and “The Great Valley” is truly special. In his 1992 album opener “Into the Cornfields” Colin Hay (of ‘I come from the land down under’ fame) sings of driving through the American south on tour. “We’re in Virginia now, it’s beautiful and green, the hills and valleys and open skies, it’s the best we’ve ever seen.”

The Appalachian (“apple-at-chin”) Trail runs from Georgia to Maine, traversing 2,100+ miles through 14 states, and 500 of those miles are in Virginia, more than any other state, so we have that goin’ for us…which is nice.