Virginia is a long-storied U.S. state because of its history in the making of the country. It’s been home to eight presidents as of this writing, notably including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

And before even those events, of course, it was the site of the first permanent British colony in North America: Jamestown.

Today, people still love living in Virginia for many reasons, from its gorgeous green beauty to its plentiful jobs, many in lucrative government-contracts.

So, if you’ve been looking to move there but aren’t sure where to settle, allow us to assist.

Here are three Virginia cities where you can definitely get into some of that famous Southern charm.

Staunton

The city of Staunton is definitely that small-town South feel we think you’re looking for in a Southern city. It’s got a population of just above 25,000 people, and it retains its unique Middle-America feel to this day.

That’s pretty incredible, considering the town was founded in 1732. Staunton was actually briefly the capital of Virginia in 1781 state lawmakers ran to escape the British in Richmond.

Today in Staunton, you won’t find any marauding Redcoats, but rather lots of historical sites and small-town fun things to do. There’s the Augusta Military Academy Museum, the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, and the American Shakespeare Center.

You can let shopping, vineyards, and beer tasting finish out your visit to Staunton.

Arlington

Then there’s Arlington, Virginia, a city closely associated with Washington, D.C., and the American government as a whole due to the presence of Arlington National Cemetery. The military cemetery is where thousands upon thousands of U.S. veterans and two presidents (Kennedy and Taft) are buried from over the centuries.

But most people who buy Arlington real estate and move to the city already know about that, as does the rest of the country. What else is there to do in this truly charming city?

Aside from the tours you can take of the nearby Pentagon and DEA (The Drug Enforcement Administration) Museum, you can link up with the Mount Vernon Trail, a bicycle and walking trail that goes from Mount Vernon, George Washington’s historic home, to Theodore Roosevelt Island in the Potomac River.

You can then explore the island and all its lush greenery and marshlands. You can visit the art installations at Dark Star Park.

There’s a lot of charm in Arlington, and you’ll be happy you checked this place out.

Smithfield

Lastly, we’re headed to Smithfield, a pretty small town with a truly small-town feel. We’re talking a population of about 8,000.

But don’t let that number fool you. See, Smithfield’s main claim to fame is for being the site of production of the Smithfield ham, which is produced by Smithfield Foods. It’s often reported that a ham cannot be a Smithfield ham if it wasn’t made in the city limits of Smithfield.

In the meantime, you can check out Smithfield’s other charming aspects, including the 17th-century St. Luke’s Church, the green and beautiful Windsor Castle Park, and the isle of Wight County Museum, which showcases the region’s history through artifacts and documentation dating to the colonial period.

Virginia: it’s a charming Southern state with a lot of hidden treasures to offer. Here’s hoping you can get out there and discover some of them for yourself!

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