I also grew up in Virginia (Southwestern part / now living in Birmingham, AL) and cannot say enough good things about the state. Virginia football is in the tank and Virginia Tech keeps trying to be relevant, but just can’t seem to make it to that next level.

but the severe lack of things like strip malls and movie theaters turn this lilywhite, suburban-raised upper-middle-class guy off on the state.

Also, for the Mississippians out there: there are portions of the state which are about as bad off, if not worse, than the Mississippi Delta. If the Delta had hardwoods, mountains, and nothing but white people, you’d have some counties in West Virginny.