Virginia's crime rates have been decreasing; however, as with any place, visitors should take caution when venturing out after dark in most areas, especially the urban areas of Richmond and northern Virginia. It's best to check with the front desk at your hotel before going into an unknown area. Avoid jogging trails, alleys and unlit parking lots at night. Carrying a cell phone is always a good idea as well.
Dos & Don'ts
Don't refer to the University of Virginia "campus" or you'll be pegged as a visitor. At UVA it's known as the "grounds."
Don't put down the state under any circumstances. Virginians are as patriotic about where they live as Texans or New Yorkers are about where they live.
Don't use foul language at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. It's a finable offense.
Don't underestimate traffic in northern Virginia. The growth spurt in the area and its reputation as a bedroom community for the Washington, D.C., workforce have made the region a notorious, bumper-to-bumper nightmare. Plan accordingly, or pack a lunch and some books on tape.
Do prepare yourself for massive shifts in culture on relatively short drives. Twenty minutes outside the hustle of downtown Richmond, you can find yourself alone, surrounded by farmland and grazing cows. A trip across the bay from the suburban strip malls of Virginia Beach will put you smack-dab in the middle of a quaint fishing village that belongs on a postcard.
Don't pronounce the "r" in Norfolk; it's "Naw-fok."
