Category — events in Smith Mountain Lake

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 owners and employees dress the part as downtown Roanoke is transformed into Victorian England for the holidays. They would offer cookies and cocoa to ease the stress of the holiday shopper. That tradition continues but as its popularity grew, so did the events!

Families can enjoy carriage rides, carolers in the street and vendors selling their wares! On December 18th you can even bring your four legged family members down for a pet costume contest! If that weren’t enough, St Nick can be found taking a stroll through the streets telling Christmas stories! Rumor has it that he may even have a few treats for children who have found their way onto the Nice List! Everyone can enjoy roasted chestnuts, hot apple cider, and cocoa!

If you are ready to live in a place rich with tradition, call Vicki Millehan! She can help you find a home to call your own in Franklin or Bedford County! Come for a visit, and if you like it, then move here!

Coffee houses are becoming America’s front porch as neighbors and friends gather to share a cup of coffee or exotic teas while they catch up on the local news. At Smith Mountain Lake you can also enjoy some local art with that cup of joe! Just head over to the Westlake Towne Center and stop in at Solid Ground Coffee and Tea! They have begun displaying the work of local artists in their shop.

You can find the works of new artists as well as professional art work adorning the walls of the coffee shop. They will be rotating the art every 6 weeks or so and some piece are definitely for sale! The owners; Robert Carkin and Christopher Spoon, wanted to give Smith Mountain Lake’s local talent a place to display their work. But they are not stopping with art work. Live music is in the works as well!

They are planning open mike nights for Friday and Saturday nights. If you play an instrument or sing, the stage can be yours! You can even play your own original music! Overall they just want to celebrate the diversity of Smith Mountain Lake! Speaking of diverse, you have to try the different flavors of tea and coffee they have! Snow Plum Monkey and Khan’s delight are just a few of the flavors to be had! You can enjoy a heavenly pastry made by Chef Carkin too!

You can find a real sense of community here on the Lake. Virginia is definitely a place where art, community and history all come together! Come for a visit, if you like it then move here! Just give Vicki Millehan a call and she will help you find a place to call your own!

It may sound strange to talk about weddings in November, but when it comes to booking you want to make sure you have your venue in plenty of time. If you are considering a summer or fall wedding at Smith Mountain Lake, now is the time to consider what you want to do for your wedding by the water!

Just about every weekend from Spring through late fall, there is someone getting married somewhere at Smith Mountain Lake! With the variety of places to get married, it is no wonder. How about tying a “sailor’s knot” and getting married on the Lake!! The Virginia Dare side wheeler offers full blown wedding packages to exchange vows. Their wedding packages vary from rehearsal dinner to the wedding ceremony. The menu choices are fantastic! You can have anything from hors d’oeuvres to a full meal chosen from the menu, from open bar to cash bar, pretty much anything you need for a wedding or reception can be created in a package for you!

If you prefer a wedding overlooking the water, rather than on it, the Mariner’s Landing may be what you are looking for! Their wedding packages can be simple and intimate starting at around $1500 or you can go all the way up to Elegant and Extravagant at around $24,000. They even offer a wedding coordinator to help you plan all the details! Whether it is a weekday wedding or a weekend long celebration, they can help you create your dream wedding!

There are many breath taking places in Franklin and Bedford County to help you celebrate your Big Day! From the wineries to the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are many ways to relax before you walk down the aisle! From beginning to end you won’t find a better place to tie the knot!

If you are still wondering why Smith Mountain Lake is such a popular place for these big events, then you need to plan at trip to the area! Come for a visit and if you like it, then move here! There are many places to enjoy whether it is for your Big Day or just a family vacation! If you are ready to make a commitment to a new home on Smith Mountain Lake, call Vicki Millehan! She is your local real estate expert!

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 Cranberry, there is something for everyone’s tastes!

Of course the most sent Christmas gift from Bedford and Franklin Counties in Virginia is wine! Whether your loved one prefers the classic taste of a Hickory Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, or something bold and hot like Peaks of Otter’s Chili Dawg, there is a wine for every palette! You can check out most of the area’s top wineries on the Bedford Wine Trail. Many of the wineries, like the Savoy-Lee, have online ordering to make Christmas Shopping easy! Watch for information on where shipping wine may be prohibited!

Of course, the best way to shop is to come for a visit! If you like it, then move here! But even if you can’t make it for a visit, you can have some of Smith Mountain Lake delivered right to your door for Christmas. Don’t forget to check out the jellies and jams available in the area too, as well as the heirloom quality quilts. (Here’s a list of fine stores in the area.)

There is no place like the Blue Ridge Mountains for Christmas! Snow covered mountains reflected on a beautiful lake can be the view out of your front door. If you are looking for a waterfront home where you can celebrate Christmas, call Vicki Millehan! Her team can help you find a Home for the Holidays!!

I know what you are thinking, but no, we do not have a lot of “riff raff” at Smith Mountain Lake! What we do have is “Rip Rap” shorelines. Rip Rap is a way to combat erosion along the banks of the lake. Rocks are put into place to help keep soil erosion down to a minimum. So, how can you tell if you need to control erosion, and if so what is the best way to go about that and safeguard your property’s value?

What is Rip Rap?

Rip Rap is rock or other material used to protect shorelines, streambeds, bridge abutments, pilings and other shoreline structures against scour, water or ice erosion. It works by deflecting the force or energy of the water from soft soil or sandy banks. Rip Rap rock can be seen in sea walls and even under overpasses along the highways to prevent erosion.

The first thing you need to do to determine if you property qualifies for erosion control on Smith Mountain Lake is check out the Shoreline Management guide. Not all lots on the lake qualify or need erosion control. If you have a beach or a very gentle slope from the land into the water, you probably don’t need to even worry about it. If you are lucky enough to have a beautiful beach, the last thing you want to do is put a pile of rocks on it! But if you are having an erosion problem, this simple and inexpensive protection can be invaluable! Some property owners have reported losing 10%-20% of their lots to erosion if they don’t take this precaution!

Do You Think You May Have Active Erosion?

It doesn’t matter if you have a flat lot or a steep lot. The problem can stem from currents to how much boat traffic you have in your part of the Lake. If you think you may have an erosion problem, you can contact a local landscape expert to come and take a look for you. They can let you know if you have active erosion on your lot. If you do, then contact American Electric Power (AEP). AEP can issue permits to deal with structures for erosion control. For additional information or applications you can contact them at; aepsmp@aep.com or call at 1-540-489-2556.

Working together to protect our shorelines helps keep Smith Mountain Lake the beautiful Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains! If you haven’t had a chance to visit us, come on over, and if you like, it then move here! If you want your own beach on Lake, call Vicki Millehan! She is your local real estate expert for Franklin County and Bedford County VA!!

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 than just buying organic? The more shipping involved, the more damage you can have to the environment. Roanoke Natural Food Co-Op has the Gold Standard when it comes to produce; locally grown organic food. If you don’t have this available in your area, buying at the local Farmer’s Market is the next best thing!

Show Me the MONEY!

One of the top reasons for shopping at a local Farmers Market is economic. Normally, you can get fresher produce at a lower price than what you will find at a supermarket. By eliminating the costs of shipping and handling you get to keep more money in your pocket! Even better, by buying produce at the local market, you are helping keep your money in the community. This will help keep the economy healthy in your area!

Closer = Healthy

Did you know if you buy from a community market, you may be buying foods that pack a more nutritional punch than food that has been shipped across the country? Locally grown food can be picked when it is ripe, farmers do not have to allow for shipping time. Fruits and vegetables increase in nutritional value the closer they get to ripening, so the closer=the healthier!! Not to mention it tastes so GOOD!!

Other Local Farmer’s Markets

In Franklin County and Bedford County VA, we have several local markets! The Westlake Farmer’s Market (next to Lake Inn Motel) is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 10.The Bedford Farmer’s Market in Centertown Bedford is open Tuesdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.The Farmer’s Market in downtown Rocky Mount is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

So come on out this Saturday and enjoy the fall bounty of our local markets! Come for a visit and if you like it, then move here! If you are ready to live healthy and happy at Smith Mountain Lake, call Vicki Millehan! She can help you find the pick of the crop when it comes to Lakefront properties!

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 present to make sure everyone stays safe. Secondly, bring your ID! You would hate to miss out on sampling award winning wines. This may sound simple, but they are very important tips!

When it comes to sampling, you may want to check out the different vendors BEFORE you start. Taking a stroll around the Festival will give you an idea of what wines are available to try. With such a large variety of wines, some people even have a little notebook to make notes in so they know which wines they want to go back and sample. They can also make note of what they liked the best! This may sound serious, but with such diverse wines to choose from, it really helps!

Just as an example, let’s take a look at a Peaks of Otter Wine; Chili Dawg. This is an apple wine with chili pepper wine blended in. This is one HOT DAWG! Of course it isn’t as hot as their Kiss the Devil wine. That one is made from 30 varieties of peppers! The name says it all! Then if you take a look at some of the Hickory Hill wines, you will see how broad the difference in wines can be! Smith Mountain Lake Redbud is a sweet dark rose wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Vidal Blanc. There is also a wonderful “breakfast wine”, Smith Mountain Lake Sunset, it is a great dessert or brunch wine (and the 2007 Virginia Governor’s Cup Winner).

There is almost no better time to visit Smith Mountain Lake than during the SML Wine Festival! With over 20 wineries participating, you can truly see and taste the best of Virginia! So come for a visit, if you like it, then move here! Vicki Millehan can help you find the perfect waterfront home! She can even tell you more about the Savoy Lee. An award winning winery for sale now in the Smith Mountain Lake area! Who knows, maybe next year YOU could be a vendor at the wine festival!!