When the heat turns up this spring and summer, a visit to Smith Mountain Lake means water fun in the sun. Whether it’s a day of cruising around on the boat, beach time at one of the community parks, or water sport action, one thing is sure, you’ll want to look great while doing it. Or, if you're an SML resident, your visiting family and friends may need to get water fun ready when they arrive. Fortunately, the Smith Mountain Lake shopping scene is ready.    Several outfitting locations right at the lake will have just the item you’re looking for. Wide-brimmed hats to shield your face, name-brand bikinis, linen, swim trunks, stylish outfits and more. If you’re coming as a guest, several places stock Smith Mountain Lake T-shirts you can take home as a souvenir.   There’s no need to trave... 03/04/2011

Bring your family and friends to Smith Mountain Lake on November 27th and get in the holiday spirit by participating in the 2010 Virginia Dare Flotilla for Toys Boat Parade. Come on out to see boats decked out for the holiday season with lights and displays. The event is held every year as a local toy drive for "A Child's Christmas" sponsored by Lake Christmas Ministries. The parade hours are from 7pm to 9pm, with the boats leaving Virginia Dare Marina at 7pm. They will travel to Halesford Bridge at Bridgewater Plaza, circle past the Smith Mountain Lake State Park and return to Virginia Dare Marina. Captains and crew members are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy as a donation. If you're just coming to watch the parade, you can donate through local businesses. There will also be collec... 11/11/2010

Film crews shooting the movie Lake Effects here at Smith Mountain Lake hoped to capture the lake's many activities the area has to offer. Many of the background scenes were shot in late June with the movie's primary plot being shot in October.  Some Smith Mountain Lake residents were even part of the action. Aerial shots were taken in a helicopter piloted by Lee Hussy of Penhook, capturing the many boats on the lake as well as wakeboarding. Then they moved on to Penhook Boat Dock on a boat owned by Bill Timmins, where extras Harper Lee Dillon and father Reed Dillon were filmed feeding the fishes at the marina gas dock. Shooting also took place at Dam Island where John and Tanya Doss of Harrisonburg and their daughters Kayleigh and Madison were featured in a family picnic scene. Playing ... 10/31/2010

Whether you live in the area, or are visiting to see the filming of Lake Effects set at or around Smith Mountain Lake, use good old hospitality and etiquette when near the set. Here are some tips you can follow. For Spectators: Stay off the set. If you come across the perimeter of a shoot, don't cross it. There's a lot of equipment on set and a spectator could trip over cords and be injured. Equipment is expensive and if broken can delay filming. Be quiet. If you're watching either from land or water, keep noise to a minimum. Sound equipment is very sensitive and can pick up whispering and talking. Boaters the key word is "idle". A revving boat can ruin a scene. Respect the Actors. If you see them in a restaurant eating dinner assess the situation before approaching. They are not perfor... 10/27/2010

Turn on the radio, or any cable news show, pick up the paper, and you will see headlines about the current real estate market. Is it rebounding? What does the foreclosure mess mean for those trying to buy or sell a home? The scenarios go on and on. It can leave you wondering when will be the right time to sell your Smith Mountain Lake home. Talk to a local real estate agent, and they can give you the real picture for your area. Selling your home in today's market doesn't mean you have to give your house away. It just means you have to know what to expect.First and foremost, find out the actual market value of your home. Your agent can help you do a Market Analysis of your home. You may have to let go of any preconceived number you have in your head. Or, you may be pleasantly surprised a... 10/16/2010

If you have ever had the chance to visit Smith Mountain Lake, then you know the wonderful things you can do here! From boating, to golf, and everything in between, you can find something fun to do. Everyone has a favorite season on the lake. But with the leaves turning vibrant shades of red and gold, it is easy to see why people are "FALLing" in love with Smith Mountain Lake!A great way to enjoy the wonders of fall on the lake is by getting out for a great game of golf! Smith Mountain Lake boasts some of the best courses in the area, and has quickly become one of the Virginia's favorite golf destinations.The course at the top of the list is The Water's Edge. Fall colors abound on the wooded fairways. With greens poised along the water's edge, it gives new meaning to the term "water haza... 10/13/2010

Virginia's Natural Bridge is a 20-story stone formation in the shape of, you guessed it, a natural bridge. The bridge itself, located at 15 Appledore Lane in Natural Bridge, Virginia, was created when a cavern collapsed many, many years ago, leaving the bridge you see today.The Bridge alone is more than enough to make you want to spend a day in the area, walking where such men as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson walked or exploring the authentic Monacan Indian Village nearby. But in the fall of the year, other activities at the Natural Bridge are sure to attract your attention as well.The Corn Maze, at U.S. 11 and Golf Course Road, is just one such happening. Starting on October 1st, the corn maze is open to visitors every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through November 7th, from 10 ... 10/09/2010

Our Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce has put together a video on DVD for those planning to visit or relocate to Smith Mountain Lake. It's on sale for only $7, which even includes shipping charges.While this is a rather short video, it has been divided into two parts to let you see what's going on at Smith Mountain Lake. The first part is called "Vacation" and shows places to go and things to do while visiting the beautiful Smith Mountain Lake area.The second part of the video is called "Relocation" and highlights what makes Smith Mountain Lake such a great place for those moving to the area.YouTube has some great little videos about Smith Mountain Lake  that you may also enjoy. You can also watch these videos at the Chamber of Commerce site while you're there ordering yo... 10/07/2010

In 2009, foreclosures totaled over 2.8 million homes. In 2010, the predicted numbers are even higher; close to 3 million homeowners may face foreclosure. So what does that mean for the people who lost their homes due to the downturn in the economy? One of the valid questions is, "How long before I can become a homeowner again?" Fortunately, it may be sooner than some realize. Losing your home to foreclosure can be heart-wrenching, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! While some who have been through it believe they have to wait up to seven years before trying to buy again, in actuality, you may be eligible for a FHA loan three years after foreclosure. If they required previous homeowners to wait seven years, the housing market may never recover. Here are a few facts about qualif... 09/30/2010

Virginia is known for its many wineries where you can go to purchase your favorite wines, taste a few new ones and possibly find some new favorites in the process. Wine lovers often have special wines to serve with certain foods. They love to drink the wine but may also be into collecting wines and having the wine on-hand in their homes for special occasions.If you're a wine enthusiast who stores great wines in your home - or would like to - you may want to consider having your own wine cellar. When shopping for a beautiful Smith Mountain Lake home, be sure you tell your real estate agent you want to see houses with wine cellars.Fine wines have special needs that a wine cellar can take care of. Optimally, wine needs to be stored in temperatures between 52 degrees and 58 degrees F. to ke... 09/30/2010

Thinking of making the move to a beautiful new home on Smith Mountain Lake? Congratulations! We know you'll be very happy here.Maybe you've wondered what the year-round weather is like in the Smith Mountain Lake area. Well, we definitely have four seasons and almost perfect temperatures, so if you're thinking of leaving your northern home and are afraid you will miss out on the wonders of four distinct seasons, fear not! You'll get to enjoy them all at Smith Mountain Lake.We celebrate summer, when the daytime average high temperature in July is 86.6 degrees and the average low is 62.8 degrees. The growing season is approximately 180 days long, and we're generally frost-free from April 20th through October 16th. For those planning their new landscaping and wondering which plants are best... 09/28/2010

If your home has been on the market for more than a few months, it may be time to see if you need a little "facelift". Fall can be a great time to increase your home's curb appeal without spending a lot of money. Making your home stand out above the rest can help your Smith Mountain Lake home sport the best decoration of all: a SOLD sign!Keep it Clean!Besides keeping the lawn neat and clean, the dog days of summer usually do not see a lot of outside maintenance needed on your home. Now that fall is here, it may be time to step up your game! Make sure to keep gutters clean from fall debris, or better yet add a leaf guard. Trim back the non-flowering bushes and shrubs as they begin to enter their dormant stages, to keep everything neat. Fall is also a great time to plant new trees or shru... 09/25/2010

Whether you're shopping for a dress, a bedspread, or your new home at Smith Mountain Lake, looking within your price range is the best way to go. There are several reasons why shopping within your price range is the best plan. Here are a few for you to ponder:1. Smith Mountain Lake has lots of beautiful homes in lots of great price ranges. So stick with what you can afford and avoid falling in love with a house that's beyond your means. Trust me, the lower-priced homes can be just as beautiful and just as perfect for your family, so avoid the potential heartache and shop within your price range.2. Shopping for a new home on Smith Mountain Lake is a lot of fun. Selling you that new home is fun for me too. But spending a lot of time looking at homes that you won't be able to obtain a mort... 09/23/2010

Fall is in the air, but that doesn't mean there isn't still time this fall to cruise Smith Mountain Lake on the Virginia Dare, Smith Mountain Lake's l9th-century replica of a side wheeler. The 63-foot-long Virginia Dare cruises Smith Mountain Lake from April to December every year, booking 2-hour lunch, dinner, and Sunday Luncheon cruises as well as private charters.For a seated meal, 112 people will fit, but for an hors d'oeuvre cruise, she can handle up to 135 happy cruisers. You can charter the Virginia Dare for a private cruise for your wedding, birthday, anniversary or other celebration, or get a boarding pass for any of the public events and daily cruises that are held throughout the season. In fact, October 1st you will see the Virginia Dare cruising and serving dinner during the... 09/21/2010

Happy Anniversary, Blue Ridge Parkway! Yes, that's right, our beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway celebrates 75 years this fall. Building of the Parkway officially began on September 11, 1935, near Cumberland Knob in North Carolina. Work in Virginia began in February of 1936.Stanley L. Abbott, who became known as the "father of the Blue Ridge Parkway" for his work on its design, was hired to plan the route. Abbott developed a plan to create the Parkway as a chain of parks and areas of recreation where visitors could stop and enjoy the panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as the natural wildlife and flora and fauna of the area. The project was under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Much of the early work was performed by crews hired under various New Deal programs.... 09/17/2010

Choosing a real estate agent to help you purchase your Smith Mountain Lake home shouldn't be a difficult decision. Here are a few suggestions on what to look for when finding the perfect agent for YOU:1. Someone who will listen to what your wants and needs are, and who is able to zero in on houses that fit those directives.2. An agent who knows the market and can steer you to homes that fit not only your needs but also your price range. Smith Mountain Lake is a large area and it can be quite time-consuming to find a good fit if you don't know the market.3. An agent that knows about local schools, activities, health care, restaurants, and other daily life necessities that have a substantial affect on your overall life at Smith Mountain Lake.Jane Sullivan Horne meets all these criteria. S... 09/15/2010

If you have ever had the chance to visit Smith Mountain Lake, you know why it is called the "Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains." There are some beautiful luxury waterfront homes along the shore. If you have always wondered what they are like inside, you will soon have the chance to see some of them. October 1st and 2nd will be the Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour.The tour has its roots in the 1991 SML Multiple Sclerosis Home tour, set up by Jeanne Wagoner. They hoped to raise at least $10,000 for the charity, by allowing a tour of their homes. To everyone's amazement, over 1,200 people attended the tour, and over $49,000 was raised by auction items, ticket sales, and sponsors. Nineteen years later, the tour is still going strong, with eight homes participating this year.One of the ... 09/13/2010

If you've been trying to decide whether now is a good time to buy your retirement home on Smith Mountain Lake, don't think about it any longer. It is definitely a good time to buy. Mortgage rates are at all time lows and many beautiful homes are available to fit your retirement style.Are you active and love sports or do you want to putter around your garden? Do you want to live in a large home with lots of space or are you ready to downsize a bit? How about a pool or other amenities? Plan now to come to Smith Mountain Lake this fall and have a look around.With lots of local activities in the Smith Mountain Lake region, retiring here is the perfect choice. Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, visiting wineries, driving the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, or golfing, all this and so much more i... 09/13/2010

Thinking of a Home on Smith Mountain Lake?  How about a Smith Mountain Lake Foreclosure for 50% off?  Folks, it is happening every day!  In the past couple of weeks we have sold two separate Smith Mountain Lake Foreclosed homes for 50 cents on the dollar!  I had an email from right here on Active Rain that said, "I have always bought at the top of the top of the market, I am ready to buy down in a down market.  Will you help me?"  Of course I said, "YES"!  It only took a couple of weeks to find the house of their dreams and we found it!  If want to buy at Smith Mountain Lake Virginia, whether it is a second home, retirement home, or a vacation home, Smith Mountain Lake has the home for you.  There are an abundance of Smith Mountain Lake Short Sales and Foreclosures ready for buyers like... 09/12/2010

Want to taste some new wines or reconnect with some wines you already love? Then you will certainly want to plan on attending the 22nd annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival. This year's festival is set for September 25th and 26th.Here are some of the particulars about this year's Festival:27 Virginia wineries will be in attendance. If you can't find a wine you like, you're just not trying!85 craft and food vendors will also be participating. For those who would rather eat than drink, or do both, now's your chance to find some new favorites.Each day two local bands will be performing for your musical enjoyment. Saturday's bands are Barefoot West and Burning Bridges. On Sunday, Barefoot West will again be playing as well as The Worx.The festival is located at LakeWatch Plantation in Mo... 09/08/2010