Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia’s most popular lake, offers superb recreational activities, 500 miles of shoreline, a wide variety of water sports, and affordable lakefront real estate. Known locally as “SML,” it is the “Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Smith Mountain Lake is best known for its Striped Bass fishery. This lake regularly leads the state in producing “citation” sized stripers. There are also good populations of both large and smallmouth bass. Public access is very good with both public boat ramps and private marinas.
Twin Creeks Brewpub is a brewery and restaurant located in the historic Brugh Tavern within Explore Park. Amenities include a full-service restaurant with burgers, sides and appetizers, outdoor fire pits, a Virginia wine and cider bar, and outdoor music events. Additionally, the brewpub can host private events, showers, and parties. Spend the day enjoying the wonderful activities found in Explore Park and relaxed afterward in this rustic and quaint brewpub.
Brooks Mill Winery is a small farm fruit winery operated by H.T. and Rhonda Page near SMith Mountain Lake in Franklin County, Virginia. We have been making fruit wine as a hobby for more than 16 years.
From dry dinner wines to sweet dessert wines, Brooks Mill has a wine for you. The winery also has several award-winning wines, including the popular Blackberry (Fingerlakes Wine Competition bronze medal), Blueberry (Fingerlakes Wine Competition gold medal), and Pear dessert wine (Fingerlakes Wine Competition bronze medal).
The winery also grows blueberries, pears, apples, peaches, and cherries.
The tasting room is open Thursday through Monday from March to December; call for hours the rest of the year.
Roanoke natives Roger and Judy Furrow started in the early 1980s with an experimental vineyard on Smith Mountain Lake. Later, they purchased a nearby farm and started Hickory Hill Vineyards in 2001.
Hickory Hill wines are made in a light and fruity style and began earning medals with the very first vintage. The more classic wines, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Franc, and Merlot have hints of French oak. The Smith Mountain Lake series (Mist, Country Red, Sunset, and Redbud) are 100 percent stainless steel. The Vidal Blanc, a consistent award winner, is fermented out dry and aged in stainless steel.
Hickory Hill offers complimentary vineyard and winery tours, wine tastings, has a scenic picnic area, and is home to the summer music series Sunset Saturday. The tasting room and gift shops are open Wednesday though Sunday from April through October and on Saturdays and holiday Mondays in the winter.
Ramulose Ridge Vineyards is located minutes from Smith Mountain Lake with a spanning view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The family vineyard was started in 2004 and is run by the Ramakers.
The winery offers a selection of white and red wines and offers wine and cigar pairings on site.
The tasting room is open daily.
Bernard’s Boat Rental will help you make the most of your cruising adventure. Located at beautiful Bernard’s Landing below the check-in center, the facility offers pontoon boat, ski boat, waverunner, kayak, and paddleboard rentals.
Bridgewater Marina Rentals is located at Bridgewater Marina, the most popular spot on the lake, with a service dock with 24 hour pay-at-the pump gas and marina store. Rentals include pontoon boats, waverunners, deckboats, wakeboards, and paddleboards.
Located on Smith Mountain Lake, Bridgewater Marina rents canoes and kayaks from Smith Mountain Lake State Park. State Park Rentals is conveniently located right on the beach in the park and features some of the most beautiful scenery on the lake. Rent a paddleboat, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, pontoon boat, runabout, waverunner, or tube, kneeboard, wakeboard, or skis.
Located on Smith Mountain Lake, Halesford Harbour Boat Rentals rents pontoons, ski boats, stand up paddleboards, wakeboard boats, wave runners, and all the necessary toys.
Located on Smith Mountain Lake, Parkway Marina rents pontoons and run-abouts and sells boats.
Located on Smith Mountain Lake, Parrot Cove rents tandem kayaks, as well as ski boats, house boats, and pontoons.
Smith Mountain Archery is a full-service archery shop located in Moneta, for recreational and serious tournament shooters.
Smith Mountain Wake Company has a huge inventory of wake boards, wake skates, wake surfers, tubes, skis, apparel, and more. They rent stand up paddleboards and offer wake and surf boarding instruction.
Located on Smith Mountain Lake, this family-owed marine center has specialized in motor boat and ski doo sales and service since 1977; they also feature stand up paddleboards as well.
Located on Smith Mountain Lake, Wet Connection rents pontoons, ski boats, jet skis, and skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, and tubes.
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