Tag: lake activities

Tastes of the Lake: A Spotlight on Your Favorite Lakeside Restaurants

Posted on Staff

The only thing more fun than playing at the lake is eating at the lake! We’ve done the hard work of choosing the best of the best lakeside restaurants. Hey, somebody’s got to do it! Savor local lakeside flavors at these must-try boat-up restaurants.

The BoatYard Grill

On the sparkling shores of Cayuga Lake in Ithica, New York, The BoatYard Grill specializes in ” serving up a warm welcome and unforgettable experience” for all lake-loving guests.

Featuring American favorites like burgers, sweet potato fries and juicy, wood fire-grilled steaks alongside creative dishes like lobster lollipops and eggplant arrabiata, this restaurant has plenty of mouthwatering options for hungry boaters to choose from.

Patrons are invited to relax on the waterfront in the Grill’s Adirondack chairs, sip on Frozen Boatyard Thrill cocktails and enjoy live music every Friday night during the summer.

And better still, The BoatYard Grill offers watercraft docking at its on-site marina for convenient fishing to feasting.

The restaurant is also part of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, a 5.5 mile paved route connecting the lake’s most iconic lakeside attractions.

Tim’s at Lake Anna

Satisfy your seafood cravings this summer without the sharks and stingrays at the Tim’s at Lake Anna Restaurant and Crabhouse!

One of five Tim’s Rivershore restaurants and venues, Tim’s at Lake Anna has been an Old Dominion favorite since first opening its doors (and shores) in 2012.

Located in Mineral, Virginia, on the lake’s northwestern region, the restaurant offers fresh seafood year-round, its menu featuring scallops, oysters, crab and cod prepared in every way imaginable.

Renowned for its home-cooked cuisine, Tim’s at Lake Anna is also known for its idyllic lake views and family-friendly, community atmosphere.

Each year, in addition live entertainment, Tim’s at Lake Anna hosts a variety of lake-wide events, including a Memorial Day Pig Roast, Halloween Bash, Crawdad Festival and poker runs for charity.

The Gnarly Gar

Never leave the water for lunch or dinner again at Lake Travis’ famous floating eatery The Gnarly Gar.

An all-in-one restaurant, bar, filling station and entertainment venue, The Gnarly Gar provides a one-of-a-kind experience for lake lubbers of all ages.

With plenty of boat parking, lake lovers flock to this Texas novelty’s decks and docks to enjoy watching sports on the restaurant’s big screens, listen to live music, feed the area’s giant catfish, and indulge in the tastes of Lake Travis.

Menu items range from classic fish and chips to burgers to shrimp stuffed with Serrano peppers, wrapped in bacon and deep fried, paired with a kickin’ strawberry lime habanero sauce.

The Gnarly Gar also proudly serves Maine Root handcrafted, organic fountain drinks. 

Fish Tales Lakeside Grill

Dubbed the “Best Dining Experience on Lake Lanier” Fish Tales Lakeside Grill has been serving up good times and fish tales (fried grouper fingers) since 2010.

Located within Hideaway Bay Marina in Flowery Branch, Georgia, this Lake Lanier landmark welcomes lakers by boat, car and even the occasional aircraft, year-round.

The restaurant caters to their loyal lake guests at every turn, offering a courtesy dock for those traveling by water, allergy-friendly menus at every table and unwavering service with a smile.

Fish Tales Lakeside Grill also features a giant kids’ sandbox and live music.

Mouthwatering menu favorites beyond the restaurant’s famous Fish Tales include the fish tacos, grouper sandwiches and signature items like the Aloha Chicken and Gulf Mix Platter.

And did we mention Fish Tales’ bar menu features NINE taste bud-tickling, shareable cocktails?

Enjoying the lake goes beyond boating and swimming. Take our advice and enjoy these great restaurants, remember lakes across the U. S. have great local restaurants with lots of local color. Be on the lookout and let us know what you find!

Smith Mountain Lake: The Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Posted on Staff

In Virginia, Smith Mountain Lake is a big deal.

Nestled in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, “The Jewel of the Blue Ridge” stretches across three rural counties in southwestern Virginia, including Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania.

With 20,800 acres and 580 miles of shoreline, the 40-mile long reservoir easily dwarfs every other lake in the state. In fact, its total market value is $470.3 million, more than twice the size of the second biggest lake, Lake Gaston.

Homes for sale on Smith Mountain Lake range from around $180,000 to more than $10 million, totaling out to $302.6 million in home market value. So, for those seeking a new home on or near the water, there are more than enough options by way of inventory.

However, when it comes to living at the lake, it’s about so much more than just real estate. It’s all about the lake lifestyle.

Ways to Play

Smith Mountain Lake is Virginia’s most popular recreational lake.

From spring to fall, lake goers can be seen waterskiing, canoeing, boating and kayaking. But that’s just a few ways to play. There’s also parasailing, golfing, camping at the Smith Mountain Lake State Park, and above all else, fishing.

The Jewel of the Blue Ridge is every angler’s dream.

The Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament is just one of many ESPN-featured national professional fishing tournaments.

Photo courtesy of LT Burnette via The Bass Cast

Bassmaster has even ranked Smith Mountain Lake in the USA’s 25 best bass fishing lakes. The favorite sport fish among anglers include largemouth bass, catfish, yellow perch and striped bass to name a few.

Because the community surrounding the lake is so heavily populated–there are 22,000 permanent residents–there’s no shortage of super fun annual events to keep residents busy.

All throughout the spring and summer, there’s everything from classic boat shows and photography contests to beer festivals and triathlons.

Every September for 30 years and counting, the SML Wine Festival features 27 Virginia wineries, 85 artisans, craft and food vendors and live music. There are also chili festivals, art shows and the ever-popular Oktoberfest.

Visitors even have the chance to be airborne. Smith Mountain Lake Aviation offers scenic 40-minute flights, giving participants a bird’s eye view of the sprawling lake and all the gorgeous wooded scenery surrounding it.

Around Town

You can only stay in the water for so long. After a long day of swimming and fishing, you might be in the mood to see what the neighboring towns have to offer by way of a good time.

Is a vacation really a vacation if there isn’t delicious food to choose from every single day? Even permanent residents make it a point to know all the yummy hotspots around town.

Are you craving a good ole’ fashioned, home-cooked meal? Or maybe you have a taste for sushi or hibachi. All around the lake there are tons of cafes, diners and grills. You should probably just try them all.

Smith Mountain Lake is filled with top notch cuisine to satiate any appetite.

It also has a refreshingly convenient location despite the fact that it’s safely tucked away in the Virginia countryside.

Just between Roanoke and Lynchburg, the lake is only two hours from Raleigh, North Carolina and a four hour drive from Washington D.C. So don’t worry, you won’t be too far from civilization.

Roanoke’s very own New York-inspired Broadway offers a variety of shows for theater lovers to enjoy. In fact, their arts and culture scene is teeming with excitement.

Check out some live music, gallery and museum exhibitions and all kinds of performing arts like ballet and opera.

The nightlife is alive and well too, with endless selections of breweries, comedy clubs, musical acts and even food trucks.

And this is just in Roanoke! The recreational opportunities in the other nearby cities could be another blog post entirely.

The point is, Smith Mountain Lake is more than just a body of water. It promises a good time for all. More than likely, you’ll run out of vacation time before you run out of things to do.

So plan a visit today, or better yet, browse some of our Smith Mountain Lake homes for sale and build a life here. You definitely won’t regret it.

 

Lake Home Parties – Tips for Creating an Unforgettable Experience

Posted on Staff

A fun lake home party is not stressful when you organize, plan and prepare properly. Parties at the lake can create unforgettable memories for family and friend when you plan appropriately.

Prior to Party Prep

Pick a party theme that correlates with the special occasion or time of year. Set a date and time for your guests.

To ensure optimal attendance send out a ‘Save the Date’ message via text, Facebook, and/or email as soon as the date is set.

If you are having a birthday party pick an age appropriate theme that the guests of honor chooses.

If you are having a party for another occasion, do your best to pick a fun, colorful theme that correlates well with the dreamy lifestyle of lake home living.

Lake Home Party

Some parties require games and expensive rental equipment for guests entertainment.

A great lake home party will allow guests to enjoy swimming, boating, skiing, floating, paddling, sunning and any other sports the hosts already own equipment for.

Decoration Preparation

At lake home parties the main goals are spending time together and making memories while soaking in the sun and enjoying aquatic sports.

Keep decorations simple ~ the lake is picturesque enough. Take advantage of the view and let your lake home create the dream party.

Allow the scenery to naturally relax your guests and promote lake life conversations on the wonders of the lake.

Food Preparation

Unless you plan to spend your time maintaining food and refreshment areas be sure to prepare foods that take little to no attention after preparation.

One easy idea is a crock pot full of hot dogs. Simply add water, heat the dogs then turn the slow cooker to the keep warm setting when they are hot. Keep a cooler nearby with condiments for the dogs.

Single serving bags of chips and other easy single serving snacks will not consume your time during the party.

Have a few coolers with a variety of can drinks and make sure there is plenty of bottled water.

Be sure to have paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils and trash cans in a few places to decrease clean up time later.

On the Eve of the Party

Make sure to have everything you need so that you can start preparing for your guest arrival. If you have decorations, start hanging them the night before.

If you are making specialty drinks or foods make them the night before the party so you do not feel rushed the day of.

Do everything you can the night before so that you can spend time being a host to your guests rather than their cook or waitress.

Lake Home Parties Safety

To be sure everyone stays safe while having fun always have enough life vest and other required safety equipment. Lake Homes Realty has numerous safety articles you can read for more information on keeping your guests safe.

And if there’s a chance the party might last through the night, check out our “Lake Home Guests – Invite the Family for Extended Stays and Be Prepared” story for more advice!

Relax, have fun and take a lot of pictures to remember your lake home party fun!

 

Make the Lake Your Personal Gym

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

The wonderful thing about taking a trip to the lake is that you can do anything you want to do as long as it fits into your vacation. Many people have a strict fitness regimen that they follow every single day, even when they take a trip to the lake.

If this is the case for you, then you are very much in luck. There are a number of things that you can do to make the lake your personal gym. Most are a lot of fun and still fit that vacation mindset.

There may not be a gym or an aerobics studio nearby, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to exercising in nature.

Rent a Paddle Boat

A paddle boat is a boat that is propelled by a paddle and can be a great source for exercise while you are on vacation at the lake. Many people do this for a fun recreational activity, but it can also be a good workout.

It works your legs as if you are riding a bicycle, so you get a great leg and cardio workout. You can also burn quite a few calories taking a trip on your paddle boat.

Take a swim

Swimming is another fun activity you can enjoy while at the lake. Not only is this fun, but you can really work your muscles and burn some calories when you go for a swim.

It is not only a good workout for your arms and legs, but for your entire body because it utilizes many different muscles. It is also a good way to keep your joints healthy.

Canoeing

Taking a canoe ride can be a great way to keep in shape while you are having fun at the lake. There are many cardiovascular as well as aerobic benefits to canoeing.

It is also a great way for you to strengthen your upper body. The paddling that you do when your canoeing will workout your arms and upper back, and is extremely fun to do with friends. It can be a big part of your vacation without you ever realizing how good it is for your health.

Trail running

Everyone is already aware of the health benefits of going for a daily run, but just because you are on vacation does not mean you shouldn’t continue your routine. Wake up early and take a nice run on the trail near the lake and enjoy the natural beauty.

This is good for your heart and also great for the rest of your body. All of these activities are fun things to do while you are visiting the lake. However, there are also great opportunities to get the exercise that you need even when you are away from home.

Don’t let your escape to the lake keep you from your exercise routine, make the lake your personal gym!