Out with the old and in with the new!! New Year's celebrations at Smith Mountain Lake are in the final preparations for the big party! 2009 has been a year to remember! From the opening of The Southern and Southwest Virginia Fishing Trail at the 2009 Bassmaster Tournament to the record breaking snows of December, a lot has happened this year past. If you are ready to ring out the old year in style, the party at the Mariners Landing can't be missed! Mariners Landing is offering great "staycation" packages for the New Year celebration. The annual New Year's Eve party in Huddleston will be featuring musical guest Dragonfly. They will be performing at Benjamin's at The Pointe during the celebration! With great food, a champagne toast and more, there is no better way to say goodbye to the ol... 12/30/2009

Twas the Night after Christmas on Smith Mountain Lake, Nothing stirred on the water, no boat left a wake.The Marina's were quiet, sailboats tucked in with careIn the hopes that quite soon, Spring would be here! The anglers were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of bass danced in their heads.I with a glass of a sweet Bedford wine Was enjoying the quiet and resting my mind. When out on the lake there arose such clatterI sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.Away to the window I flew in a dash, I heard a boat rumble and a bit of a splash. The moon on the water cast a beautiful glow,So I could see clearly the objects below!There on the water, what should appear,But a man in a boat with eight tiny reindeer? I hollered at my wife "you'd better come quick!"For I knew in a... 12/26/2009

Winter storm warnings are in effect for our area this weekend so we may get that perfect white Christmas after all. So snuggle up next to the fire and break out your favorite Virginia wine and enjoy watching the snow fall! If you still have a few people left on your list to buy gifts for, don't worry! Luckily you can find great gifts right here on the lake! You can pick up food supplies and that last minute gift of wine at The Mouse Trap at Bridgewater Plaza. They have one of the largest selections of wines in the area. When you are done there you can head over to the Gifts Ahoy shop. You can find Smith Mountain Lake attire for any season, Vera Bradley accessories and homemade fudge. All wonderful gifts for the holidays! If you want something unique or artistic, then hurry by The Little... 12/19/2009

  Believe it or not, there are less than two weeks before Christmas! As you hurry about the last of your holiday shopping, don't miss the last Friday of Dickens of a Christmas in Roanoke, VA. This 26 year old tradition is fun for the whole family. You may even get that last little gift you have been looking for! December 18th will be the last of this year's festival. This Roanoke holiday festival has won a "Best Tradition"-Platinum award from the Roanoker Magazine for the last six years! It has also won two Gold awards for "Best Annual Event". But the recognition doesn't stop there! Southeast Tourism Society has also voted it a Top Twenty Event in the Southeast! The Dickens of a Christmas started out as a way to encourage local shopping, but it quickly grew a life of its own! Shop owner... 12/12/2009

With 500 miles of shoreline, there is a lot of waterfront property available in Smith Mountain Lake! This community of 22,000 boasts some of the most beautiful sunsets in country. Homeowners can enjoy the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains reflecting off the lake right from their own backdoor. It truly is a wonderful place to live. It is these amazing waterfront homes that draw many people to the area. Buying waterfront property is completely different from buying a lot in the average community. Here are a few things to remember when looking at a lake front home. First and foremost, you should work with a local real estate expert. That may sound cliché, but when dealing with a waterfront lot, you need the knowledge a local agent will bring to the table. A question such as "How stable ar... 12/02/2009

The big day is almost here! The time of year where you enjoy family, friends and lots of comfort foods! It also kicks off some of the best shopping of the season. It is also time for a certain jolly old man dressed in red to show up at Smith Mountain Lake. It is a well known fact he does some of his best Holiday shopping right here! Santa will be arriving at the lake on November 28th, at 1pm. He will be coming via boat of course and docking at Bridgewater Plaza. He will be available to visit with the children in his workshop from 1-4pm. There will also be free mini golf at Harbortown Mini golf that day starting at noon and ending at four. If you don't get a chance to catch Santa then, don't worry! He will be in his workshop December 5th, 12th, and 19th. When he is not at his workshop, S... 11/25/2009

As most of you know the Home Buyers Tax Credit program has been continued. You can read most of the details in the recent blog: Buy a Smith Mountain Lake Home, Get a Tax Break! With current homeowners now being eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500, many are asking for details on the expanded program and what it means for them. It seems to be almost custom made for those who are ready to retire or downsize their home! You can buy a lot of house for $800,000, but not everyone wants a lot of house to take care of! There is a whole generation of Baby Boomers who are just starting out on the road of retirement! On the top of their list is buying a retirement home. The new repeat buyer tax credit can be applied to a home that is smaller and even less expensive than your current home. The... 11/18/2009

The deadline for the First Time Home Buyer Tax credit was fast approaching, but we have good news!! The $8000 Tax Credit program has been extended! Not only do first time buyers now have until April 2010 to choose a home, but those current home owners who are looking to buy a home may also qualify for a new $6,500 credit! There is a little something for most everyone in the extended program! If you were worried about missing the November 30th deadline, you now have until April 30th, 2010 to be under contract to buy a Smith Mountain Lake home and get a tax break! You can schedule your closing anytime through June 30th, 2010! The extra two months to close will hopefully avoid the backlog of closings agents have seen as the original deadline approached. If you are a first time home buyer, ... 11/14/2009

Smith Mountain Lake is well known for its weekend getaways and as a summer vacation hotspot. But with its temperate climate, the region has grown into a year round travel destination boasting a growing residential community. A true "Four Season" community whose shorelines, services, amenities, and attractions create the perfect place to visit and live!!  There is no doubt Smith Mountain Lake has four seasons. Boating is most popular from the early spring all the way to the colorful days of fall. The brave of heart can even venture out on the lake in the winter. The average temperatures in January are highs in the mid forties to lows in mid twenties. The Lake does not freeze over, so about the only thing you can't do on the Lake is ice skate!  In the crisp spring air you will see flashe... 10/30/2009

  The peak of fall is upon Smith Mountain Lake! The leaves are at the height of their autumn display of colors. The wineries have finished the fall crush and the wonder of wine making is well underway. Boat owners are contemplating whether to brave the cold or winterize their boats. As the weather cools, lake activity begins to slow. This all adds up to one conclusion: tis' the season... to buy that vacation home! One of the best times to purchase a vacation home is during the off season.  After enjoying one last peak season, sellers will put their property on the market. This makes it a good time to get a great deal on a lakefront home! So why put Smith Mountain Lake at the top of your list? Oh, let us count the ways!! Seasons of Fun! Many of the things real estate experts will tell yo... 10/27/2009

You know that Bedford County is known for its history and its wine! This weekend you have the chance to enjoy both, plus a little music and some stargazing too! You can enjoy candlelight tours of the Old City Cemetery, Spooky Ghost stories, and checking out the lovely hues of autumn leaves, all without leaving the area! Gravestones Talk! On Saturday evening, you can choose from lots of great things to do with the family. If you love history and stories of days gone by, then the Old City Cemetery Candlelight tours is right up your alley! The Old City Cemetery can be toured any day of the week from dusk until dawn. The daytime visits are free! The Mourning Museum is open 11am -3pm everyday of the week through October. There are other museums on the site to tour as well. But if you want t... 10/21/2009

It may be hard to believe, but Christmas is less than 90 days away! Actually truth be told, we are under 75 days left until the big day! While that may seem like a really long time left to do your shopping, if you are considering having something shipped, you may want to start shopping now! Don't forget all the wonderful things you can order from right here in Smith Mountain Lake!   Emerson Creek Pottery makes a great gift! Each piece of this beautiful pottery is handmade. Using clay from their property, they create each piece without a template or stencil. The work of Emerson Creek Pottery has been seen at Mt. Vernon, Monticello and even the Smithsonian! A gift from any of their collections could easily become a family heirloom. From the popular Fields of Iris to the holiday favorite C... 10/14/2009

The hustle and bustle of summer at Smith Mountain Lake is pretty exciting. Lots of activities and days in the sun seem to fly by way too fast! A sunset summer cruise is pretty amazing. But don't count out the ol' Lake just because autumn is here! You may be surprised at what you may find if you take a Saturday to cruise the lake in fall!   Don't winterize that boat just yet! There are some pretty spectacular things to see. There is probably nothing more peaceful than the lake in the fall. Boat traffic is pretty slow compared to summer months, so there is certain tranquility to a crisp autumn cruise. The air is fresh and the foliage is breathtaking! One real advantage is the colors seems to last just a little longer around the lake, giving you more time to take it all in! So grab a cup o... 10/10/2009

Virginia has long been known as an agricultural state. In recent years we have become known for our beautiful wineries and orchards. It only makes sense that Farmer's Markets are a wonderful place to take full advantage of the area we live in. Right here in Smith Mountain Lake/ Moneta we have Moneta /Smith Mountain Lake Community Market. This market is a season market open through October 31st. Roanoke Natural Food Co-Op has locally grown food available all year round and is open to members and non-members to purchase fresh and organic produce. Green is Good! "Going Green" is a very popular catch phrase. Many people are doing their best to "buy organic" in an effort to be more environmentally friendly. But did you know buying at a local farmer's market can make a larger "green" impact t... 10/02/2009

People flock to Smith Mountain lake every year for the golf on one of our championship courses.  When you buy a home at Water's Edge or one of our other waterfront developments, I want to keep you up to date on anything that might affect your satisfaction. Vicki Millehan, Vickislakehomes.com Dear Water's Edge Member,I would like to thank you for your patience during the past couple of months with the condition of various greens. As you may be aware, we have struggled with a new disease called "Take-all Patch," which attacks the root system of new greens. We have worked closely with Virginia Tech over the summer to correct the problems and we are seeing many improvements. The last couple of weeks have been ideal growing conditions and the weaker greens are recovering nicely.During the co... 09/23/2009

If you have been looking for a reason to come check out the area, there is no better time than this weekend! September 26 and 27 is the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at LakeWatch Plantation! It is still not too late to buy advance tickets at a discount! You can even buy them online, but hurry, advance tickets are available until September 23rd! The SML Wine Festival is a favorite event and one of the most popular with visitors! Wineries from across the state come to offer samples of their top wines. Add to that wonderful food and live music and you have a great weekend ahead of you! With so many wines and so little time, how do you know what wines to sample first? Well, first off, if you are going to be sampling a lot of wines: bring a designated driver! Law Enforcement will be pres... 09/22/2009

You have finally decided you are ready to take the plunge and purchase that dream home on Smith Mountain Lake! You couldn't pick a better place to buy a home! The area has much to offer. With so much to choose from, how do you decide the home that is right for you? The answer depends on your needs. Let's start with the reason you are buying a new home. Is this home going to be your primary residence or a second home? If you are looking for a place to get away from it all or looking for a place to grow roots, knowing the answer to this basic question will help your agent narrow down the potential homes for you! If you are not sure yet what you are really looking for, make a list of what you WANT in a home and what you need. This list will be a big help as you look at properties. The next... 09/18/2009

I think everyone knows what a great area Smith Mountain Lake and the surrounding areas of Virginia are! Personally I don't think there is a better part of the country! If you have been dreaming of owning a home in Bedford or Franklin County, now may be the time. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's $8000 Tax credit for first time home buyers will soon be over. It is not too late to take advantage of the program!! The program is open until December 1, 2009. If you want to qualify for the program, you need to get started as soon as possible. Closing should be started no later than October 15th. To be eligible for the credit; you need to complete the purchase of the home by November 30, 2009. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when you close and the t... 09/03/2009

You know every once in awhile you need to go a little wild! And there is probably no better place to get a little wild than at Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virgina Dare! On the first Wednesday of the month, you can learn about the local wildlife while enjoying a beautiful cruise on the Lake! Owner Alice Swain loves that it gives passengers a chance to learn more about the Smith Mountain Lake State Park! On the Wildlife Wednesdays, Lauri Schular, Smith Mountain Lake State Park nature interpreter, will be on board to help narrate the noon cruise! "Some folks don't even know the State Park is right around the corner from where the Virginia Dare docks," said Schular. On the August 5th cruise, she shared about the return of the Osprey to Smith Mountain Lake! Even the Osprey think this is a... 09/01/2009

Hickory Hill Vineyards and Winery is family owned and has ties that go back to the very beginning of Smith Mountain Lake. Owners Roger and Judy Furrow are natives of Roanoke VA. You could say Roger's father had a hand in creating Smith Mountain Lake. He was a part of the crew who helped built Smith Mountain Lake Dam. Twenty-Five years ago Roger and Judy planted their first 250 vines, now this vineyard is into the second generation and going strong! Hickory Hills has a lot of history behind it. It was actually Virginia's 75th winery and the Second winery in Bedford County!! Hickory Hills is a part of the Bedford Wine Trail as well. With the fall crush just starting to ramp up, there is a unique aspect at Hickory Hills that is hard to find anywhere else. You can become a part of the harve... 08/28/2009