Category: Blog
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Parksley: LOVE Train Runnin’
*Title is inspired by a fun song by the Doobie Brothers. As we travel up Rt. 316, my mind wanders to my past growing up on the Shore. A lot of my friends lived “up the road” from me, and this street would take me to see many of them in the towns of Greenbush…
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New Kent: A First Lady’s LOVE
As I exit off of I-64, I am immediately surrounded by open fields and tall trees that seem to stretch out for miles. While homes and small businesses are sprinkled about, I get the feeling most of the land here is untouched. There is a hidden history here that if you listen hard enough, you’ll…
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VA Beach (prt 2): Celebrating years of LOVE
Since I’m familiar with the drive to Virginia’s east coast, I allow my thoughts to wander away from what’s around me for a moment. My mind takes a trip down memory lane, thinking about how time flies and the importance of appreciating the good things in life. That every milestone deserves to be honored –…
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Onancock: A Maritime Kind of LOVE
There is a saying “you can’t go home again”. But as I drive north on Rt 13, I have a hard time believing it. I am surrounded by all things familiar – The smell of the salt air as we cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel. The sight of soybean and corn fields growing on…
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FloydFest: Music, Mountains and LOVE
This is a special edition of Leah LOVES Virginia highlighting an official LOVE sign that is displayed during the annual FloydFest music festival.. As I sit on a blanket with my family, surrounded by thousands of others, I close my eyes and begin to sway to the melodies being played. It’s like I’m in a…
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Culpeper: One table holds so much LOVE
As we drive down back roads towards the main downtown, I begin to feel a quiet sense of excitement. While we pass a few major retail businesses, my sixth sense kicks in knowing there is a small downtown around the corner that is just waiting to welcome us with a smile and a story. I…
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Salem: A championship of LOVE
As we pull-off I-81 to find the next Virginia LOVE sign, our surroundings quickly change from busy interstate to one of large old trees, beautiful brick homes and 25-35 MPH streets. I see what looks like friends taking a stroll on the sidewalk to get a bit of sunshine while walking their dogs. While it…
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Bowling Green: An unwavering and historic LOVE
As I travel to my next LOVE sign, I fall into a sense of calm as I’m reminded of the quiet country roads of my youth. Where a Sunday drive could happen any day of the week, and no one would seem to mind. When entering the small-downtown, I realize that no amount of research…
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Mechanicsville: Look into your heart & you’ll find LOVE
Title is from a lyric to the song “I’m Yours” by musician and actor Jason Mraz, who was born in Mechanicsville. As I take the exit off of I-295, I am surrounded by neighborhoods both new and old, and retail businesses that most travelers would be familiar with. But under the surface, I sense something…
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VA Beach (prt 1): Sky above, sand below, LOVE within
As we drive down I-264, the road quickly turns from busy interstate, to local streets surrounded by seaside cottages and multi-story hotels in the distance. There is a buzz in the air with families walking down sidewalks with wagon’s full of beach gear and couples bicycling to a nearby destination. When I look straight ahead,…