1. The Difference Between A Hokie And A Wahoo
If you live in Virginia, you can either be a Virginia Tech Hokie or a University of Virginia Wahoo, but you can never, ever be both.
2. Skinny Dipping Isn't Done In The Ocean Or In The Nude
Skinny dipping isn't some secret activity, it's what you do at the best make-it-yourself frozen yogurt bar in Virginia: The Skinny Dip.
3. There’s More Than One Virginia
You almost never hear someone from Virginia just say they're from "Virginia." Those from the north call their home "NOVA," then there's Virginia Beach, and there's Southern Virginia, and other places, but West Virginia is another state, come on.
4. Why Virginians Know All The Words To "Enter Sandman"
The same goes for why they’re jiggling your car keys around in the air at the TV. These rituals are vital to the Virginia Tech Hokies football team, and all true fans will follow along.
5. C Is For Ceiling, G Is For Ground
The Luray Caverns in Luray are some of the most gorgeous natural wonders in Virginia, and as all locals know, the stalactites come from the ceiling and the stalagmites come from the ground.
6. This Reel Doesn’t Have Anything To Do With Fishing
The Virginia Reel is a folk dance done to songs like "The Rattlin' Bog" or "Scotland the Brave," and it's most popular on Virginia's Colonial Day.
7. Why Virginia Fights Over Stew
The main reason is that Brunswick Stew is delicious, and in Virginia it's generally chock full of chicken or rabbit. But Virginia and Georgia fight over which state is its place of origin.
8. It's Just "The River"
More often than not, Virginians grew up getting invited to go hang out at the River, meaning James River.
9. Where To Find A Gorilla In A Bathing Suit
Ocean Breeze Waterpark is the best waterpark around, and, sure, maybe that's because of the great slides and other rides, but probably it's because of the gigantic gorilla mascot wearing sunglasses and a bathing suit.
10. What It's Like To Live In Colonial Times
Chances are, if you grew up in Virginia, you've taken at least one school trip to Colonial Williamsburg. So, you understand history from hands-on experience like no one else in the country.
11. There’s No Reason To Freak Out About The Jet Noise
The Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach means that there are often naval aviators flying F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets overhead, but never more impressively than during the huge NAS Oceana Air Show.
12. Yes, The Grounds Really Are That Beautiful
Students at the University of Virginia go to one of the most beautiful schools in the world. Just ask UNESCO, who designated the campus a World Heritage Site alongside the Acropolis in Greece and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
13. All The Secrets Of The Gardens
Virginians have been to Busch Gardens more times than you can count on your fingers and your toes, so they know all the shortcuts, the best rides, and the times to hit a line when there won't be any wait.
14. Tattoos Aren't Just Body Ink
As the largest event of its kind in the whole country, the annual Virginia International Tattoo brings military bands and their fans from all across the United States to perform alongside choirs, dancers, color guard, gymnasts, and so much more.
15. The Tavern Is The Best Place For Breakfast
The Texas Tavern isn't in Texas, it's an institution in Roanoke, and it's not really a tavern as much as a diner. But it's been running since 1930, so you know it's good.
16. America's First Lady Of Song Has A Legacy Worth Dancing About
Newport News' annual Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival pays homage to this legendary American jazz vocalist and the musical legacy she has left on the entire country.
17. What It's Like Inside Presidents' Houses
Virginians have so much American history right on their doorsteps—particularly the homes of three U.S. Presidents: George Washington's Mount Vernon, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and James Madison's Montpelier.
18. Where You Can Find The Land Of Pink And Green
If you think this festival is all about fruit and flowers, think again. For more than 80 years, the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival has drawn Virginians in with more than 40 fun events, including a wine festival, a carnival, parades, fireworks, dancing, and live music. And yes, of course, apple pie baking competitions.
19. What Exactly A Hokie Is
More often than not, this is what Virginia Tech students have to explain most to outsiders. So once and for all: it's complicated, look it up.
20. Gabby Douglas Is The Best Olympian Ever
Virginia Beach local Gabby Douglas not only killed her competition in the 2012 Summer Olympics, she made history doing so left and right, as the first African American gymnast to become individual all-around champion and by setting records with her gold medal wins.
21. No, It's Not In Washington, D.C.
Yes, it may be close, but the military memorial site Arlington National Cemetery rests in Virginia, where you can celebrate the country's veterans alongside the Tomb of the Unknowns, the USS Maine Mast Memorial, and Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial, among many others.
22. Surfing Isn't Just For Hawaii And California
Every year Virginia Beach hosts the massive East Coast Surfing Championships, which draws the best surfing talent from across the whole country.
23. Yes, Virginia Has Ghosts And Locals Know Where They Are
Looking to spook yourself? Take a drive down Elbow Road, or go under Colchester Overpass, aka the Bunny Man Bridge, on Halloween, or head over to the Aquia Church in Stafford. Plus, Colonial Williamsburg is chock full of ghosts.
24. Why Everyone Is Dressed So Fancy
Twice a year for the Foxfield Races, University of Virginia students and many Virginians dress up in their best traditional Southern aristocratic garb and watch the best steeplechase race in the whole country.
25. Everyone In Hampton Is Busy In Early September
To celebrate the Chesapeake Bay, the Hampton Bay Days annual festival draws a crowd of hundreds of thousands to Virginia for what is essentially non-stop fun and entertainment.
26. Where To Find The Best Fireworks
Looking for the biggest and best fireworks display on the East Coast? The Annual Norfolk Harborfest in Downtown Norfolk, Virginia can satisfy that need, along with four whole days of fun and games.
27. These Big Fields Have Serious Meaning
All Virginians know where the Civil War battle sites are, such as Manassas and Fredericksburg and have probably taken school or family trips to tour them all.
28. What These Bumper Stickers Mean
You'll find a lot of Virginians with the "OBX" bumper sticker on their car, and it stands for the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a popular vacation destination for locals.
29. This Is The Best Folk Festival In The Country
World-class folk music and artists come to Virginia for the Richmond Folk Festival, aimed at pulling together all different cultures with food, music, and dance.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Virginia? Tell us in the comments below!
