Haven't spent time in Virginia? Here are nine fine and divine reasons that the state rules.

1. Virginia has all four Seasons.

In January, you wake up to some snow or sleet and it sucks, and then you wake up in July and it's 98 degrees and humid; but that makes the falling leaves of the fall and the budding flowers of mid April that much more exciting. It's all about the anticipation, right?

2. Richmond Rules.

There is probably a festival going on in Richmond every other weekend in the colder seasons, and twice per weekend in the spring and summer. Go to the Folk Festival, River Rock, the Watermelon Festival, the Lebanese Food Festival, Broad Appetite – the list goes on. There is never a dull time to roam around the city and surrounding areas. This means fun new things, and great people watching. Along with the great weekend life, Richmond is also a food haven. There are new and diverse restaurants popping up all over the place, making it hard to decide where to eat. Richmond was also recently named one of the happiest cities in America – so there's that.

3. The Beach.

Granted, Virginia Beach may not have the dusty white sand beached of the gulf coast of Florida, or the surf of the Outer Banks, but it's a beach. And it's easily accessible from most parts of the state. It's your stereotypical tourist beach, with some added hidden gems, such as the First Landing State Park camping facility.

4. The Blue Ridge Parkway/Shenandoah national park/skyline drive.

This is not something to miss. Whether you drive it, or hike it, the views are beautiful and the mountains are expansive. With its many connections to the Appalachian Trail, it's the perfect place to spend a few days exploring. You can even find yourself coming across some wonders of nature, such as the Luray Caverns.

5. We are not DC – but we are close to DC.

Washington D.C. is an awesome place – it's got so much to see and do, and so much significance, which is why it's cool that we get to be so close to it here in Virginia. However, D.C. also has some of the most chaotic and stressful traffic and overpopulation issues that make us glad that we are not D.C.

6. Southwest Virginia.

The Southwestern handle of Virginia is often forgotten. Besides going on college tours at Virginia Tech, VMI, Radford, or Roanoke College, SWVA is a great place to see down-home Virginia. With its mountains and valley towns, along with the New River (actually one of the oldest rivers in the nation) winding through it, it's a beautiful mystery of a place. The furthest west and south, you can check out Bristol – on the border of Tennessee and Virginia. Finally, where else can you find a life-size foam replica of Stone Henge – called Foam Henge – other than SWVA?

7. Virginia Colleges.

Virginia has one of the best state college systems in the nation. With the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, William and Mary, James Madison University, and more, the state is almost overrun with options to get an amazing education in any subject area. Plus it makes for a lot of fun towns.

8. The History.

I've never liked history class. Probably because learning about the state of Virginia takes so much effort because there is so much valuable history to take from the state. For sightseers this is great, because no matter which part of the state you visit, you will find history. Around DC and Northern Virginia, there is almost too much history to take in at once. In the southeastern parts of Virginia, we learn about the foundations of the colonies. In central Virginia, the remnants of the civil war remain standing in some places, and in the southwest we learn more about some of the more recent bluegrass influences made in the area. It's never ending – like steroids for a history buff!

9. Boat Life.

The rivers and lakes that keep Virginia beautiful are in some of the most hidden places, but are some of the most rewarding places to go. From Smith Mountain Lake, to the James River, the Potomac, and the Tappahannock or Rappahannock, Virginia boasts some awesome opportunities to boat, fish, kayak, and more.

Take a vacation now. It doesn't matter the season – Virginia is waiting to impress you.