Smithfield - Virginia

After last year's color blog, I decided that a personal project is a great idea. It keeps the creativity going and is a way to push me each month to create something new. In 2022 I will be featuring a different city or town in southeastern Virginia. I hope it will open my eyes to new places close to my home and inspire some of you to visit.

The first place is Smithfield, affectionately referred to as Hamtown, the home of Smithfield Foods, famous for their pork products. Smithfield was incorporated in 1752. I have been to a few festivals here but have not taken some time to visit the city. When arriving you will first come to Smithfield Station, it has a lot of great shops, a restaurant, a hotel, and a marina. A pedestrian bridge will bring you over to Windsor Castle Park.

There is a short drive from there to Smithfield's historic area. You pass by Victorian and colonial-style homes before reaching the town center. Here you will find many different shops, restaurants, a winery, and a craft brewery. I chose to stop in Wharf Hill Brewery for a Hamtown Heavy Stout and a Different Chicken Sandwich, which of course, had a generous portion of Smithfield country ham. The Celtic shop was great, and mouth-watering treats were in many windows.

Even in January, almost everything was open, the people were friendly, and I am excited to go back and try more places.

Let me know what you think of my view of Smithfield, some from the ground with my regular camera and others with the drone. The architecture and food made this a fun trip for a commercial photographer.