Some of us are already thinking and planning for this summers vacation and may not realize that Smith Mountain Lake offers all we could imagine. Smith Mountain Lake is a showcase for a variety of uninhabited islands. These old mountaintops spring up all over the place, and most are not privately owned.

Imagine tying off your boat and wandering ashore on a private sandy beach. Don’t forget your picnic basket! Your kids can disperse into the woods to play hide-n-seek or search for buried treasure, while you enjoy the warm summer sun and the sound of waves lapping against your boat. You will swim, fish and dream that it’s yours for awhile.

Stay till evening, watch the sun go down together and start a fire on the beach. Roast hot dogs, make s’mores, and tell stories. You may even decide to pitch a tent and stay overnight. You’re allowed to… and it’s a lot of fun!

Give us a call today if you want to see these islands in person. We’ll send you a map and other information to get you started. (Yes, your kids can mark it up as a treasure map. It has served many families well in this capacity!) Here’s to Island Dreaming! Contact Paul Moore at Smith Mountain Homes at (866) 879-0211 or email Paul today.

PS: If you would really like to own an island in Smith Mountain Lake, there are a few of them which are privately owned. One is for sale. It has two lovely homes, a lighthouse and boathouses…

Now is an especially good time to visit the Claiborne House, as they are offering a wonderful 2010 special package, in honor of the Blue Ridge Parkways 75th Anniversary.

Picnic on The Parkway Package includes:

+One night stay (any room of your choice)
+Fresh Fragrant Flowers in your room upon arrival
+Sparkling Cider set up elegantly awaiting your check in
+Inn-credible Breakfast in the morning
+Stealing a kiss near the pond – FREE
+A Gourmet Picnic Lunch for Two (includes drinks and dessert)
+A personalized list of the best picnic spots and leisurely hikes within an hour of The Claiborne House B&B

You can book this special package directly from our website. (Rates from $173/Couple – depending on the room of your choice). Claiborne House Picnic on the Parkway Package
Offer Valid Jan. 2010 to Dec. 2010 and cannot be combined with other offers.

If you love to go camping, RV-ing, or what ever you do, check out one of these beautiful, nearby camp-grounds for the week-end. You will be glad you did.

Eagles Roost Campground
RV Dump Station Available, RV sites with water and electric; RV Pull Through for 40′ Available! Call for availability before coming.
Eagle’s Roost Campground: boat slips; boat launching ramp; bath houses with hot showers; all tent & RV sites wooded; swimming on private beach, camp store, canoe, paddleboat, rowboat rentals, more!
Call (540) 297-7381 for more info.

Smith Mountain Lake State Park                                                                              Hot Showers, RV Hook-ups, Snack Bar, Fishing Pier, Beautiful camp sites, seasonal activities and entertainment.
For more info. or reservations call (800) 933-7275

Blue Ridge Campground and Marina
Come enjoy boating, swimming, canoeing and jet skiing. Hook-ups for motor homes as well as pop-ups and tents. Reservations requested. Open April 1 to October 31. For more info. call 540-721-3866.

Peaks of Otter Campground                                                                 132 sites for tents or self-contained RV’s. There are no electrical, water, or sewer hookups to individual sites, although dump stations are available. Hiking trails, nearby fishing and seasonal ranger talks are available.
Ranger Office: 540-586-4357
Peaks of Otter Campground: 540-586-7321

But speaking of missing a treat, somehow I had missed seeing the Mariner’s Landing website. If I had run onto it just surfing the web, or searching out Smith Mountain Lake vacation spots, I would think it one of the most lovely and impressive areas in the Eastern United States.

If you have not visited the Mariner’s Landing website, take a look. I think you will like what you see. It does Smith Mountain Lake proud.

You might be amazed at how many wonderful rental properties there are close by that you may have never seen. There are cabins, cottages, fully furnished homes, privately owned rentals and commercial ones, and of course hotels and inns in lovely locations.

If you are hoping for one more weekend jaunt and have not found what you are looking for, don’t give up. Check out the resources below and take the family for a fun getaway. Some of these wonderful rentals are even fantastic in the wintertime, if you don’t have time or money right now.

Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals Inc.

CB Rentals and Sales

Smith Mountain Homes

Home Away SML Vacation Rentals

Lake Retreat.com

Vacation Rentals.com

If you don’t like the idea of being near home for your vacation then you might want to share the possibility of rental with family members for reunions or as an option for their summer vacation. There is a great site for finding vacation home rentals called Home Away From Home. It shows some 66 rental homes  on Smith Mountain Lake and their prices per week and so forth.

Whatever your choice, keep in mind that there are some fabulous vacation rentals right here at home.

One very beautiful location which has 4 different possibilities, is Silver Bay View Cottages. They offer a large house and 3 charming cedar log cabins with all the modern conveniences of home. As their name suggests the views from these 4 lovely rentals is spectacular. If you love mountains and woods and water, you will adore the property at Silver Bay.

Silver Bay View Cottages are several hundred yards apart and situated on 2 fairly private acres  offering 500 feet of waterfront. There are two deep-water docks for boating, fishing access, swimming and sunbathing. The houses on the Point can comfortably hold up to 16 people, making it the ideal location for family reunions, church retreats, etc. The Bay View cabins are only a few minutes walk away, so 8 more people can be added to the group. Or you can pick your favorite spot and just take the family out of the city for a week.

You can see some great pictures of Silver Bay View Cottages on their website and you can call them for more information at 434-953-6747. It’s not too soon to make plans for your next vacation.

Established in 1996, during a time when Moneta was developing rapidly, the Lake Inn Motel was situated in the heart of all the activity. Today, if you stay there, you are within walking distance of a great shopping area and the lake itself. You would also be within a few miles of many other fun things to do such as Mini-golf, go-cart tracks, bumper boats, arcades, ice cream parlors, the D-Day Memorial and the Booker T. National Monument.

All their rooms come with coffee makers, table and chairs and HBO. They also provide an outside electrical outlet to charge troll motors. Most rooms are on ground level and Handicapped rooms available upon request. And unlike many motels, the Lake Inn Motel allows pets in designated rooms for an additional $10.00 charge per night.

Call for reservations at 888-466-LAKE or visit their website at http://www.lakeinnmotel.com/.

This lovely 1895 Victorian Home has been renovated and restored to it’s original glory by the owners, Shellie and Tony Leete. The guest rooms retain their historical decor while also providing all the modern comforts such as private baths, comfortable beds, cable tv, ceiling fans, etc. Or there is a romantic one room cottage that has a fireplace and marvelous antique furniture which would be perfect for an anniversary or weekend getaway.

The grounds are as beautifully kept as they would have been a hundred years ago, with stone paths and manicured borders and incredible English Gardens complete with fountain, ponds and inviting seating where you can rest or take your tea for a chat.

One of my favorite features of this wonderful Queen Anne B & B is the wrap around porch, which seems to nearly go all the way around this marvelous old home. The rocking chairs and pretty views make you feel as if you could curl up there all day with a good friend or a book and not remember a care in the world.

If you would like to know more about the Claiborne House rates, reservations, etc. you can visit their website at http://www.claibornehouse.net/ or call them at 540-483-4616. Better yet stop by for a visit and meet Shellie and Tony, the friendly proprietors at 185 Claiborne Ave. in Rocky Mount, Va.