Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate

Category — virginia dare

Virginia Dare Sightseeing at its best!

by nextgen

The “Virginia Dare” is a 19th Century replica side wheeler that was built in 1989. Located at Virginia Dare Marina in Moneta, it offers two hour sightseeing cruises along beautiful Smith Mountain Lake April through December.  For ONLY $20 per person or $18 per person for groups of 30 or more, you can come see what makes Smith Mountain Lake such a wonderful place to vacation and live. You will cruise by Goat, Turtle, and Bride Islands, Smith Mountain Lake Dam, and Smith Mountain Lake State Park with its famous Osprey Nest. You can also go all out and make it a truly memorable experience by adding a lunch or dinner on a narrated or specialty themed cruise.

For More Information call Virginia Dare Cruises & Marina at 540-297-7100 or visit www.vadarecruises.com.

Smith Mountain Lake – A Boater’s Dream

Whether you are an amateur or professional boater, Smith Mountain Lake is the perfect place to go with over 500 miles of beautiful shoreline.  You can bring your motor, fishing, pontoon, house, and/or sail boat and spend the whole day enjoying the lake. No boat, well that’s not a problem, just go to one of 10 different rental locations around the lake to rent a boat or jet ski for an hour, day, weekend, or even week.

Don’t want to leave the water to go out and eat? Well, that’s not a problem either. Smith Mountain Lake currently has to offer several different restaurants with lake access so that you can get there by boat including The Landing, Portside Bar and Grill, Mango’s, and Moosies. With many more restaurants planning to open this summer, you will always have a variety of places to go without leaving the lake!

Virginia has passed legislation requiring all Virginia boaters to complete a boater’s education class, so sign up to take your course at the lake. You can also learn how to sail or become a more experienced sailor by taking one of three different courses at the Smith Mountain Lake Sailing School.

April 13, 2011   Comments Off

Dare to Get Wild on Smith Mountain Lake

by GO Agency

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 great place to live!

The Wildlife Wednesday Cruise leaves the dock at noon on the first Wednesday of the month. Boarding begins at 11:30am. From May through October, lunch and a cruise costs $42 a person. The group rate is $38. The off-season rate is $38 a person. Sightseers without a meal pay $20. The Virginia Dare also offers Hawaiian Cruises and Mystery cruises as well! If you want to know the times for the cruises, check out the Virginia Dare calendar!

If you like to embrace your wild side, don’t forget to check out the Portside Grill and Bar located at the Virginia Dare Marina! If you need warmed up as the weather turns cooler, just try their hot sauce!! If it is hot waterfront property you are looking for, call Vicki Millehan! She is your local real estate expert at Smith Mountain Lake. Come for a visit and if you like it, then move here!

September 2, 2009   Comments Off

House Hunt from the Deck of the Virginia Dare

by GO Agency


What is the first thing you think of when you think about Smith Mountain Lake? The lake, of course! Shopping for a new home in Smith Mountain Lake can be a spectacular experience if you check out lake front homes from the deck of the Virginia Dare.

The Virginia Dare is a 19th century side paddle wheeler. It will take you on a 2-hour cruise along the lake, starting near the State Park along 10 miles of shoreline in Smith Mountain Lake.

It is named after Virginia Dare who has become a legendary literary figure. The first white child born in the Americas to English parents, she was a resident of the lost Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island, now part of North Carolina. The fate of Virginia Dare has been the subject of many literary, film, and television adaptations. Her name graces many tourist attractions in Virginia and North Carolina, as well as many products.

The Virginia Dare cruise offers a festive atmosphere that is open all year round for sightseeing cruises, charters, and special events such as weddings. Built in 1989, the boat offers a panoramic view from its enclosed decks so you can see every detail from the beautiful scenery to the amazing houses along the water front.

There is no better way to really get up close and check out a range of homes in Smith Mountain Lake than by sightseeing on the Virginia Dare. You can check out the homes and then speak with Vicki Millehan about what you liked and what you didn’t like. This can help you and Vicki to figure out what type of home you want. It is a fun way to shop for your Smith Mountain Lake home.

May 17, 2009   Comments Off