My Virginia

The James River Plantations (Charles City County) Nestled between Williamsburg and Richmond is a hot bed of Virginia plantation homes along the James River. These certainly aren't the only in Virginia, for Virginia is loaded with these illustrious mansions of the bygone Era statewide. However, these are the most historically known and best preserved. Its pretty hard to do all these in one day. I recommend you make accommodations in Richmond or Williamsburg first, and then explore . All along Rt 5, you'll find these treasures. Most are all open to the public- with the exception of Carter's Grove, which is undergoing extensive restoration and at the mercy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The most famous along this route include Shirley, Westover, Berkley (site of the First Thanksgiving), and Sherwood Forest. A guided tour is included for each mansion- Westover is open only on the grounds, but a picnic by the lovely old house is a must! Charles City County is al...

Virginia is a wonderful destination for any family during the summer months. From June through October, you can expect nice hot and sticky weather to put you in the mood for the beach, pool, or the mountains. Virginia has so much to do and see, I'm making this a two-part post. Virginia is so steeped in history and cultural events as well, making it much more enjoyable for those with intellectual pursuits. Here's a List of Places To Go and See This Summer in Virginia VIRGINIA BEACH Fun in the Sun !The obvious first choice, of course, but in no order. Virginia Beach has everything. Its a mix of Southern hospitality and Las Vegas excitement. You can do it all- stroll the boardwalk, swim in the ocean with the hungry man eating sharks, or fish on the pier. The restaurants have excellent local seafood- I highly recommend the soft shelled crab sandwich- fried and battered to perfection. The best places to eat are Rudee's (On The Lynnhaven Inlet), The Jewish Mother, and ...

Does a "Sweet Tea" line in Virginia really exist? I'm afraid so. It didn't used to be this way, but when you get north of Richmond, its harder and harder to find places that will serve you sweet tea- or even give you a choice. In Northern Virginia and close to the District, you may get blank stares when asking for that sweet goodness- even if you're a native like myself who was raised on it. 50 years ago you could get sweet tea state wide. From Leesburg to Danville from Winchester to Virginia Beach- it was the drink of choice among Southerners, and Virginia was no exception. However, because of a major recent influx of Northerners and Midwesterners, Sweet Tea is almost extinct in many places of the Commonwealth. Even in Richmond- you will be offered "sweet" or "unsweet tea" but only if asked. The problem lies in a gradual homogenization of Virgina into a more Mid-Atlantic state, rather than a Southern one. A litmus test as to whether you...

Governor Bob McDonnell proudly has declared that April is Confederate History Month. We Virginians are glad! Virginia played a most significant role in the War-Between-The-States. On April 17th, 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union, and not long after, Richmond became the new Confederate Capital. Because of Virginia's more central location, it was a pivotal point in the War. More than 90% of the War for Southern Independence was fought right on Virginia soil. There are countless battlefields in the commonwealth- many steeped in historical moments on both sides. While some ignorant people may argue this move celebrates enslavement, the proud lads in grey were fighting for the sovereignty of their home state, and for truth and freedom and independence! In their eyes, they were fighting the Second American Revolution. As Jefferson Davis himself said: "We fight not for slavery , but for Independence!" How proud we should be as Virginians , that Virginia played such a monume...

Chances are when people list typical Southern cities they rarely, if ever think of our Nation's Capital. However, Washington D.C. has always been a Southern city at heart, and despite her awkward crowning as the Union Capital during the ill-fated War, the city itself and her people were Southern. Washington, now considered by most to be part of the Northeast corridor, has a pace of life that is slower than its sister cities to the North, and the layout and structure of Washington is very different than the densely populated Northeastern cities. Baltimore is often considered a Southern city as well- yet to me, that is where the North ends. As Baltimore much leans more towards Northern culture than Southern, Washington is the opposite. Washingtonians like to sometimes drawl, and they like their BBQ and the city is a sweltering mess during the summer time. While being hot in the summer doesn't make a place particularly "Southern" (New York can be hot as heck too), its j...

Proper Southerners know how to say and do things a certain way. Many Northerners are puzzled by some of our customs. Being from Northern Virginia (which is technically, indeed, the South), I am aware of many of the nuances that Southern folk know and, frankly, unless you grow up South of the Mason Dixon line, many will seem foreign to you! A Proper Southerner Knows: -How To Address A Group of People. Acceptable greetings are: Y'all, You-All, You Folks. But never say "You Guys", unless it is actually a group of "guys". Northerners bemoan our use of y'all and how provincial it sounds, never stopping to think how absurd we think it is when they call a female group of people "You Guys" and never blink an eye! Y'all is always plural, unless you are speaking to one person who is representing a group. For example you ask the store clerk "Where do y'all keep the butter beans?" You mean not just the store clerk, but the store in general. T...

This is framed and hangs on our parlor wall: "To be a Virginian, whether by birth or adoption, and especially on one's mother's side, is a passport to any state in the Union, and a benediction from above". My mother's family has been in Virginia since the 1600s. They came to the Richmond area soon as it was discovered. I also have ancestors in other southern states, but Virginia by far, is my most beloved. I have traveled to many places, but there's no other place that can compare to the Commonwealth. Ironically, the Virginia we know of today, is not how it has always been. Our brothers in West Virginia , Kentucky, and Tennessee, were part of us. As was Ohio, and the whole western half of the country above the Louisiana Purchase. What an incredible history we have here.