There’s no finer experience than having grown up in Virginia. Beautiful landscapes, picturesque seasons, and of course, a head start on all of those history lessons. Yet there are some other, more interesting consequences of having lived here for a considerable amount of time. Here are just a few of the quirky side effects you may or may not have experienced from growing up in VA:

1. The instinct to wave hello to anyone you might pass on those scenic back roads...
steven_n_maher/flickr
There's nothing like taking the scenic route to put your mind at ease.
2. And an equally strong instinct of frustration when you see the traffic on I-95.
beelgin/flickr
Traffic on VA's busiest routes is one of the many constants you've come to know and (almost) accept.
3. You know the correct pronunciation of small town names, especially in your neck of the woods.
Doug Kerr/flickr
4. You associate field trips with a feeling of pure excitement and wonder...
Beth/flickr
History class is an interactive experience when you've grown up in Virginia. Whether its Historic Jamestown or Monticello, local field trips are chock full of history.
5. And a horse drawn carriage doesn't make you look twice.
Photo Credit
5. Bug spray is your chosen perfume of the summer.
Free Stock Photos
You probably have a bottle in your car, bag, backpack, or maybe even around your neck.
6. A general distrust of seafood that’s not from the Eastern Shore.
Matt Capriglione/flickr
Photographed above is Crosby's Crabs in Manassas.
7. You're not fazed by a mid-afternoon summer shower.
Sonja/flickr
You can practically set your watch to these thunder storms. And you know that a front porch is the best place to watch them.

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8. Your impeccable manners.
Public Domain Pictures
9. A lack of surprise upon seeing deer just about anywhere.
amy jett/flickr
In open fields, darting across streets, and even in your front yard.
10. Chances are, you've probably developed an enormous appetite for brunswick stew.
Wally Gobetz/flickr
11. And you know the hole-in-the-wall restaurants are actually the best.
Gene M./Yelp
Photographed above is Bonnie Blue BBQ restaurant in Winchester.
12. You know your way around at least one of Virginia's incredible theme parks.
Roger W/flickr
Whether it's Kings Dominion or Busch Gardens, you won't be needing a visitor's map.
14. You've developed a healthy dose of superiority about sunsets because, well...
niemand und nichts/flickr
...who could blame you?
Photo Credit
15. Last but not least, an unwavering love for this state.
Elvert Barnes/flickr
"Side effects" and all, we wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

Can you relate to any of these signs of having grown up in Virginia? Feel free to share and add your own insight to the list. We’d love to hear from you! For related content, be sure to read about The 15 Sure-Fire Ways To Make A Virginian Mad.

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