Virginia has it all -- beatiful beaches, mountains and four distinct seasons are just a few of the many things this uncommonly beautiful commonwealth offers. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Chesapeake Bay are important natural attractions that draw people from around the world and shape the topography of Virginia. Located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the eastern seaboard, Virginia is not too far south or too far north, but has easy access to both. While the military and government are based here and bring many people to the area, Virginia's appeal is broader than that. For many, Virginia makes the perfect place to set down roots, enjoy your golden years, or purchase a second home.

Many historic sites that mark the storied past of our growing nation are found in Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown are just a few of the many historic places that draw people to Virginia from around the world. Charlottesvill, Virginia Beach, the Chesapeake Bay area and Smith Mountain Lake are also some very popular areas.

Smith Mountain Lake

Southwest Virginia holds a hidden gem that you won't find in a local mine. Smith Mountain Lake, known as "the Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains," is the cleanest lake on the East Coast. More than 500 miles of largely undeveloped shoreline make the area a pristine place to live, yet it's close to culture, airports and medical centers.

Just 30 minutes from Roanoke, the 20,600-acre lake offers nationally renowned bass and striper fishing, paddling, boating and swimming. Off-the-water amenities include golf courses and equestrian centers.

Franklin County, which borders the lake, boasts the highest job growth rate in the state due to the relocation of some Microsoft offices. Washington D.C. can be reached within three hours by bullet train from nearby Lynchburg, and the Roanoke airport has direct flights to many major cities. Smith Mountain Lake's airport services residents and visitors who have private planes.

With a population over 9,000 and a median age of 44 years old, Smith Mountain Lake has 75 percent full-time residents. Leslie Becker, broker of Smith Mountain Lake Properties, Inc., notes that most people relocate to the lake for "lower taxes, better quality of living and convenience of the larger city less than 30 minutes away. But the most important reason is that the lake does not fluctuate and is controlled, within five feet, so you do not have those large drops other lakes do, you really can boat year 'round.'"

Homebuyers can choose from waterfront houses, golf villas and condominiums, with asking prices as low as $100,000 and up to more than $1 million. Some of the most luxurious homes have access to Smith Mountain Lake's four-star resorts and all their pampering ways. Smith Mountain Lake Properties also sells farms, condos, lots and water access. For those who like to try before they buy, rental properties are available, as well.

Gloucester

Steeped in natural beauty, the peninsulas of southeast Virginia's Chesapeake Bay and River Country are dotted with many communities that offer a peaceful way of life, yet are complete with world-class amenities. Gloucester, Newport News, Hampton, Mathews, Middlesex and Williamsburg are just a few of the area's cities.

The region is renowned for its daffodils and popular activities like fishing, crabbing and sailing on Chesapeake Bay. "The area's many rivers, creeks and waterways not only make for a beautiful natural setting, but also provide a place with many waterfront properties," says Jeanne Hockaday, president/principal broker with Virginia Country Real Estate in Gloucester, Virginia.

A wide variety of home styles can be found on the peninsulas -- historic homes from the Revolutionary War or Civil War as well as super modern "smart homes" and everything in between. "Homes here offer privacy and acreage," Hockaday says. "Home prices remain competitive and opportunities to buy abound in the million-plus market."

A fine example of a Chesapeake Bay-designed hom can be found at 9847 Rowe's Point Road, located on the mouth of the Severn River at Mobjack Bay. This prime waterfront location has deepwater for sailing and terrific views. Situated on twelve-acres of land, the home has a peaceful and private feel, yet is convenient to the peninsula. "The home makes you feel like you are on a permanent vacation," says Hockaday.

The $1.675-million three-level home has a master bedroom suite with a whirlpool and its own private deck and hot tub. An elevator provides easy access to the living areas, which are higher up to take advantage of the breathtaking views -- a feature typical of the region. Expansive decks and windows combined with an unsurpassed location on the peninsula allow for enjoyment of beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Additional features of the property include a private dock with covered boat slip as well as three slips for deep draft sailboats. A small, private sand beach is also included.

Williamsburg

For 400 years, Williamsburg has invited settlers to its enchanting enclave, and they're still arriving.

"Our residents come from small towns and thriving metropolises. They are just starting families and just becoming grandparents. They are schoolteachers and retired corporate executives," says Marley Numbers, a Long & Foster Realtor's luxury home specialist. "What draws them all to Williamsburg? [It's] life the way you choose to live it."

Located on the Virginia peninsula, Williamsburg combines small-town ambiance with convenient location and historic attractions with championship golf and with deep water. The James and Chickahominy rivers host waterfront community parks, private and public marinas, and stunning waterfront communities.

The historic College of William and Mary is an integral part of Williamsburg, along with neighboring schools, colleges and universities. Superb educational opportunities present themselves to both students and volunteers. Residents can also take advantage of world-class restaurants, outdoor summer concerts and exploring the historic triangle of Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg.

Nearby Norfolk's big-city shopping, restaurants and major universities, cultural and recreational facilities complement Williamsburg's hometown amenities. Just 45 minutes to the northwest, Richmond, Virginia's capital and center for banking and commerce, is home to Fortune 500 companies, universities and the Medical College of Virginia. Washington, D.C. is an easy two-and-a-half hours' drive north.

Luxury homes in Williamsburg suit any lifestyle, with golf course, marina and riverfront home sites, as well as nature preserve and country club locations. Single-family homes range in size from 2,000 square feet and price from $400,000 to more than $5 million.

One of these luxury properties is 1548 Harbor Road, located in the Marina Village of private country club community, Governor's Land. A 6,000-square-foot riverfront property with an outstanding vista of the James River, it has its own private beach. The asking price is $1,999,000.

Virginia Beach

Known as a premier resort area, Virginia Beach is located in the southeastern part of Virginia's Atlantic Ocean coastline at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Blessed with thirty-five miles of beaches that grace the oceanfront and the bay, Virginia Beach also is home to many inland waterways. "This is a great place to have a second home because of our mild climate and all of the water we have here," says Jeanne West, associate broked with RE/MAX Alliance in Virginia Beach. "There are so many waterfront properties in Virginia Beach."

One of the area's central features is a three-mile long boardwalk that is a prime spot for a leisurely stroll as well as the site for many festivals. "There are lots recreational, historic, and cultural opportunities in the area," West says. "It can be like a year-round vacation here." Close proximity to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia's wine country, and the Wintergreen Resort are among the many neighboring attractions that offer something to suit anyone's interest.

The Broad Bay Point Greens golf course community is home to one of Virginia Beach's premier properties, a home that exemplifies the area's relaxed lifestyle. The $3.999-million home is situated on Broad Bay. Its dramatic design is evocative of a cruise ship and includes 6,700-square-feet of living space. A black marble foyer rotunda has a circular lightwell to the foyer below. A lower level recreation area has a large curved bar, fireplace and a hot tub. It has breathtaking waterfront views and opens up to the terrace, pool and spa.

The back of the home offers 180-degree views of the water and overlooks First Landing State Park. The home's additional features make it the perfect place for watersports. A private pier can accommodate a forty-eight-foot vessel; the boathouse has a lift for a thirty-two-foot boat. A floating dock area has a jet ski lift.

Charlottesville

Picturesque Charlottesville, Virginia is known for its historic properties. Realtor Rick Walden of Virginia Estates, who moved to central Virginia in 1970 from Colorado, specializes in large farms and estates, some of them dating back more than two-and-a-half centuries.

"There are historic properties in Charlottesville and in every direction," Rick explains. "When John Smith settled in Jamestown and they worked their way up the James River, they had been going along boring flatland and then reached the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. That's where the people with money ended up, with their tobacco farms and the like. The hub of that area was Charlottesville."

Most everyone knows that early presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe called Charlottesville home, but there are other historic aspects to this city of 43,750. You might even call the town charmed. During the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars, as battles raged and blood spilled all around it, Charlottesville was essentially spared from carnage.

The Charlottesville of today appears charmed as well. The city has been a regular on surveys of best places to live. "We have a super-stable economy," Rick explains. "University of Virginia pumps a huge amount of money into the local economy. Unemployment is always among the lowest in the nation. The quality of life is very pleasant. We're 30 minutes from the mountains, a couple hours to the ocean. UVA brings people in from all over the world, so it's a very cosmopolitan community, and very cultured. And the taxes are very moderate compared to similar type towns.

One of Rick's current listings is a Shelton Mill Farm, an enchanting 3,155-square-foot home on 269 beautifully rolling acres. It was built in 1780. Lovingly renovated and modernized, it's still graced by a quaint charisma. "The home is ready to go," Rick says. "The owners have taken great care of it. It's a wonderful country manor home."

Southern Virginia

"There's no doubt that the lake has provided a huge opportunity for this area to grow," says agent Debbie Shelton of Prudential Waterfront Properties in Virginia. "But at the same time, some people come here who don't even know there is a lake. It's a big, beautiful body of water, and it's surrounded by lovely rural communities, farms and properties."

Debbie is talking about the bucolic area surrounding Smith Mountain Lake in southern Virginia, about 45 minutes southeast of Roanoke. It's long been an agricultural region, but more and more farms with ample acreage are being turned into recreational properties. "It's rural but not isolated," Debbie says. "The place has experienced an influx of people from other parts of the country. There was a kind of culture shock, a bit of a us-versus-them attitude. But now it's all pretty much integrated. You might be driving down Route 40 behind a guy on his tractor, but you just slow down, take a breath and wait for him to turn off the road."

Debbie says one of the main reasons people relocate to her area is the beautiful climate. "There are four distinct seasons, but none of them are severe," she says. "We get some snow, but not much."

Because of low taxes and comparatively affordable prices, people are increasingly drawn to buying property near, but not on, Smith Mountain Lake. The lake is easily accessible to nearby residents, with plenty of public access, including boat ramps and recreation spots.

One of Debbie's very attractive listings is a beautiful 33-acre property with mountain views, a stocked pond and restored farmhouse fo $449,900.