Virginia is seen as normal, or even boring, because of its proximity to the nation’s capital. What many don’t realize is that this is one of the oldest states in the nation. This gives it a long history and a lot of time for things to have gotten weird over time.
These are three of the strangest things you simply have to visit while you’re in town!
Why Virginia Isn’t So Boring
Virginia was the first piece of land that European settlers made their way to in the 1600s. This means it’s had over four hundred years where it’s undergone countless changes from politics, to people, to culture. Before the first settlement: people had lived here for thousands of years, and it shows.
Some of these attractions are strange in the way that they’re funny, but others are strange spots to stop simply because they’re not what many would find in a normal vacation spot.
Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant
Although the Mothman has seen a recent surge in popularity and visits, this is a cryptid that’s been haunting the forests of Point Pleasant, Virginia, for the last sixty years. The first encounter said they saw floating red eyes and a giant moth approaching, screeching at them and chasing their car as they drove away. After this first experience, more reports were submitted until it became a small craze that left people locked inside their cars.
Although in modern times, most assume what was experienced was actually an owl, the Mothman Museum allows you to imagine what life would be like if it was something else. With a famous Mothman statue out front, this is an incredible stop for anyone who’s curious and wants to see something you wouldn’t see anywhere else.
The Arlington National Cemetery
Cemeteries aren’t the usual stop for vacationers, but Virginia is different. The Arlington National Cemetery is a military cemetery that’s still active and burying new veterans and their spouses and family. This cemetery walks you through the history of wars and the people who fought for what they believed in, including graves of soldiers who couldn’t be identified when their bodies were located. `
This is a heavy stop to take but an important attraction to visit if you want to get on the historical edge while you’re on vacation or looking at Arlington real estate.
The DEA Museum and Visitors Center
The DEA has collected countless items while they’ve operated. From illicit drugs, they’ve seized to bizarre weapons and incredible feats of trickery in how people hide items in their luggage or vehicles. There are also plenty of history lessons and walk-throughs to educate you on how the DEA came to be and what it does in the modern day. This is an interesting museum, and it’s worth a visit if you want to see something different!
Virginia is an Incredible State You Shouldn’t Underestimate
If you get the chance to travel to Virginia and aren’t sure about where to start: it’s time to consider checking out some of these attractions. Virginia is an amazing state you could never get sick of visiting!