When we think of winter, usually what comes to mind is beautiful, snow-covered landscapes, fireplaces, and getting bundled up to go ice skating or sledding. In Virginia, you never know what you're going to get when this time of year rolls around.

You probably have to go to a ski resort to see snow.

It might snow once or twice, and you'll be lucky if there's even enough to make a snowman. If you want to see a lot of snow, you're going to have to go somewhere else.

Hot chocolate is not ideal.

When it's almost January and temperatures have consistently been in the 60s and 70s, hot anything is not ideal. We can just stick to iced coffee and frozen hot chocolate for now.

You can never put away your summer clothes.

It will be 50 degrees one day and 80 degrees the next. The weather is as unpredictable as it gets, so don't bother putting away your shorts and flip flops, but also don't leave your coats in storage. You'll probably need a coat and flip flops in the same week; you never know.

You have to buy new clothes when you're home for breaks.

When you pack to go home for winter break, everyone is packing sweaters, coats, and boots. If you live in Virginia, you probably have to go shopping as soon as you get home because those clothes aren't practical when it's 75 degrees. But this isn't something to complain about.

The fireplace never gets used.

Would you turn on the fireplace in the summer? No, and we can't even turn ours on in December because it's still hot outside half the time.

Sure, you can go ice skating outside.

We have outdoor ice skating rinks, we're fun. You'll probably have to wear short sleeves, but it's possible.

When it finally does snow, you wouldn't want to be anywhere else.