Tag: lake living

Family-Friendly Traditions to Start This Summer

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Child in swim trunks holding father's hand at the lake

Visiting the family lake house is a classic summer pastime, and to some, it’s a long-running tradition.

Some traditions, however, can lose their shine over time. Mix things up with these fun, family-friendly ideas that everyone will love.

DIY Slip n’ Slide

A larger-than-life-sized water slide is foolproof fun the entire family can enjoy. The tools you need to make one yourself are minimal.

Materials:

  • One box of marine boat wrap
    • (For an example, click here)
      • Note: It’s important to use a thick, puncture-proof, tarp like product to prevent injury or malfunction
  • Tent pegs
  • Dish soap
  • A water sprinkler or water hose

Directions:

First, roll out the tarp/boat wrap to its maximum size. Slip n’ Slides can be fun anywhere, but for maximum excitement, we suggest setting up on a hill!

Once you have your tarp or wrap laid out, secure the corners and edges of your slide with tent pegs. Think about pulling the material tightly to ensure a smooth surface.

After that, take your dish soap and cover your base material with it. One helpful trick is to remember the heavier or thicker the soap, the more extreme the slip!

All that’s left from there is to turn on the water and get sliding!

Rainbow Fish Cupcakes

Once you’ve had your fill of the slip n’ slide, bring the fun indoors with this delicious recipe by Two Sisters!

These lake-themed sweet treats are sure to go over swimmingly.

Ingredients:

  • Cake mix
    • Be sure to check the box’s list of ingredients for additional supplies.
  • Buttercream frosting
    • For your frosting, you can either buy pre-made icing at your local grocery store, or make your own with the recipe found here. 
  • Food coloring
  • M&Ms
  • Tiny marshmallows or candy eyes

Directions:

First, bake a batch of your favorite flavor cupcakes. This will take between 10 and 20 minutes.

While your cupcakes bake, prepare your frosting. If you have chosen to make your own, you can expect the process to only take a few minutes. Next, use the food coloring to make batches of yellow, blue, green and pink frosting.

Once your cupcakes have finished baking, set them aside to cool.

As they cool, take your M&Ms and separate them by color. You’ll need approximately 15 candies for each fish’s scales and two red candies for each fish’s lips.

Once cooled and frosted, it’s time to add “scales” to your rainbow fish cupcakes!

Start with one row of scales in the center of the cupcake and continue adding rows until half the cupcake is filled with M&M scales.

Next add your candy eyes or tiny marshmallows, and finish off your treat with two red M&M lips!

Backyard Bowling

You know those sodas you enjoyed by the water earlier? Well don’t throw away those old 2-liter bottles just yet! It’s super easy to re-purpose them for some healthy family competition.

Materials:

  • 10 plastic, 2-liter bottles with the labels removed for bowling pins
  • A bag of pebbles or sand
  • A kickball

Directions:

To start, just add a few ounces of pebbles or sand to the bottom of each bottle for weight.

Then just set them up and play ball. Be sure to pick your teams wisely!

For an even more unique experience, you could add some glow sticks to each bottle for a little bowling after dark.

Memories of long days spent at the lake are some of our most cherished. These simple ideas offer just a few ways to keep those memories coming for many years into the future.

For more family fun at the lake, check out these other LakeHomes.com articles: “Unique Boats for Family Fun” and “Fun Outdoor Games for the Family”!

Weekend Fun: Charity Poker Runs Across the U.S.

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If you’re looking for a unique way to spend your weekend at the lake, try your hand at one of the nation’s many powerboat poker runs. These family-friendly events not only provide lake lovers a chance to win some great prizes, but proceeds are often donated to local charities and lake organizations.

Lake Lanier, Georgia

For the last decade, the Pirates of Lanier Charity Poker Run has raised millions of dollars in support of North Georgia’s children’s charities.

Since 2008, the event has contributed to those with serious illnesses and mental and physical disabilities through Camp Sunshine and Camp Twin Lakes, as well as supported the members of the Boys and Girls Club of Hall County.

Lake Lanier Pirate Poker Run

Held in July, the three-day Poker Run kicks off with a pre-run meet and on greet Thursday night, followed by a beach bash, captains’ meeting and auction on Friday.

The run itself takes place on Saturday and consists of five checkpoints at which each boat receives a card for their poker hand. Unlike some poker runs, each card must remained sealed until the full hand has been collected.

Full hands are then taken to the “casino” where they can be evaluated and scored.

Following the day’s main event, participants can enjoy food and entertainment at the after party and awards ceremony where the winning hand is announced and trophies are awarded to best dressed pirates.

The weekend concludes with a festive fireworks display Saturday evening.

Tickets go on sale in March for $50 per person. Participants should note this entry fee does not cover the cost of a boat slip for the weekend’s festivities; however, a discount code will be provided for use at the Sunset Cover Marina on Lake Lanier Islands.

For more information, FAQ or to register online, visit the Pirates of Lanier website here.

Lake Erie, Pennsylvania

The fourth annual Erie Poker Run, hosted by the performance boating events company Elite Poker Runs, will take place in June at the Wolverine Park Marina.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will go towards The Bradley H. Faolk Children’s Advocacy Center of Erie County. Last year, more than $10,000 was donated to the organization, which works to support children of abuse.

Festivities begin Friday night with a welcome dinner for captains and crew members. The Run commences the following morning and will consist of  several stops along 110 miles of Lake Erie‘s coastline.

Lunch will be provided to participants along the course as well as dinner at the evening’s award ceremony.

Registration for the Erie Poker Run closes on June 10, and space is limited to 60 boats. To participate, boaters must provide proof of at least $300,000 in liability insurance coverage.

Captain and vessel registration costs $300 to $500 and crew members’ tickets are $120 to $150 per person.

Prices include Friday night dinner, an event tee shirt, Saturday morning coffee before the run, one poker hand and Saturday lunch and dinner.

Extra poker hands can be purchased for $50 per hand. One hundred percent of the proceeds generated by extra hand sales goes to benefit the Advocacy Center.

Additional details and a list of other Elite Poker Runs events can be found at elitepokerruns.com.

Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

The Smith Mountain Lake Boating Association has hosted their annual “unofficial start to summer” poker run each May for 21 years.

Participants start at Mariners Landing and make seven stops along the run’s course, where they will receive seven cards from which to choose their best hand of five.

Players compete for thousands of dollars in cash prizes, including $5,000 for the first person with four aces.

The best hand wins $1,500 with additional winnings awarded to the second and third best hands. Prizes are also awarded for best appearing crew and for the most players on a boat.

To take part in the Smith Mountain Lake Poker Run, participants can purchase tickets and register their boats online for $175per person and $350 per vessel.

This event does have a 75-boat limit, and teams must consist of at least two players.

Guest tickets are also available for $90 for lake lovers who wish to participate in the rest of the weekend’s activities apart from the run itself.

Festivities will conclude at Mariners Landing Saturday afternoon where players will be treated to dinner, a beer garden and music.

Proceeds from this event benefit various organizations around Smith Mountain Lake, including the SML Marine Volunteer Fire Department.

Bull Shoals, Arkansas

To help fund their annual Fourth of July fireworks show, the Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock and Marina has hosted a “barefoot open, boat poker run” for eight years running.

The one-day event in May kicks off at 11 a.m. with last minute registration for players.

At noon, boaters depart from the marina on a five-stop-minimum run, depending on the type of hand they want to play. At each stop, players’ “hand cards” will be stamped. Additional stops will also provide players with tickets for bonus drawings to be given away at the awards ceremony.

After at least five stamps are received, players may return to the marina where they may redeem their cards for their actual poker hands. No hand cards will be dealt after the 5:15 p.m. cut-off time.

Poker Run participants compete for a number of prizes and giveaways including a $1,000 cash prize for the winning hand. Other past prizes have included free passes to Bull Shoals Caverns, restaurant gift cards and free canoe rentals.

The registration fee is $50 per boat. This price includes one poker hand and two free Bull Shoals Poker Run tee-shirts, while supplies last.

Additional shirts can be purchased for $10. Extra hands can be purchased for $15 each, and there is no limit to the number of hands a boat can play.

Contact and registration information can be found on the Bull Shoals Poker Run website.

President’s Day Special: Lakes Named for the Nation’s Leaders

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Originally observed in honor of George Washington’s February 22 birthday, President’s Day, was first celebrated, following his death, in 1799.

Appropriately dubbed “Washington’s Birthday,” the day was declared a federal holiday in the Washington D.C. area in the late 1970s.

The holiday gained national recognition in 1885, and in 1971 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act renamed the celebration President’s Day.President's Day Drawing

Now observed on the third Monday of February, President’s Day recognizes former presidents Washington, Lincoln, Reagan and William Henry Harrison’s birthdays.

But what about the former leaders of our nation who don’t have a national holiday celebrating them?

For many, there are streets, counties and state capitals named after them; but a select few will continue to give back to Americans for decades to come through the memories made on the bodies of water which bear their names.

Theodore Roosevelt Lake

Formed by Roosevelt Dam, Theodore Roosevelt Lake encompasses 21,493 surface area-acres in Gila County, Arizona.

Legislation to provide irrigation to settlements in the dry western United States prompted the dam’s construction in 1906.

Since it’s completion in 1911, Roosevelt Dam, and the lake it produced, has served as water storage, flood control and produced hydroelectric power to the surrounding areas.

In its original state, the completed structure reached 280 feet tall and 723 feet long; however, after extensive safety repairs made from 1989 to 1996, Roosevelt Dam stands today at 357 feet tall and 1,210 feet long, making it the highest masonry dam in the world.

Theodore Roosevelt Lake, also referred to as Roosevelt Lake and Lake Roosevelt reaches maximum depths of 349 feet and runs along 128 miles of shoreline.

In it’s rich history, Roosevelt Dam has received (and lost) a National Historic Landmarks designation and the lake was, for a time, the world’s largest man-made body of water, containing more than million acre-feet of water.

Today, the reservoir is a popular fishing spot offering anglers populations of carp, sunfish, channel and flathead catfish, and large and smallmouth bass.

Lake Lyndon B. Johnson

Formerly Lake Granite Shoals, Lake LBJ is located near Austin, Texas and serves as a hydroelectric power producer and coolant for the Thomas Ferguson Power Plant.

Construction began on what was once the Granite Shoals Dam in 1949.

It was completed in 1951, and in 1952 the structure was renamed Wirtz Dam after Alvin J. Wirtz, the man largely responsible for creation the LCRA, the organization that runs the power plant the lake now cools.

Thirteen years later, Lake Granite Shoals was renamed Lake Lyndon B. Johnson for the former president’s advocacy of the LCRA.

Lake LBJ welcomes a number of lake activities, including boating, fishing and jet skiing. The lake also hosts an annual 4th of July festival, complete with fireworks, parades and a poker run!

The reservoir covers more than 6,000 acres and reaches 90 feet at its deepest point.

Lady Bird Lake

Though she wasn’t a president, Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson, is an icon in American history.

Lady Bird Lake, which more closely resembles a river, spans more than 400 acres in downtown Austin, Texas.

Lady Bird Lake with Skyline

The reservoir, formed by Longhorn Dam, was named Town Lake until the former First Lady’s death in 2007, at which time it was renamed for her service on the Town Lake Beautification Committee.

Popular activities enjoyed on Lady Bird Lake include sailing, biking, paddleboarding and canoeing.

Hoover Dam

Lastly, we cannot have a President’s Day Special without at least mentioning Hoover Dam.

Named for the 31st president, Herbert Hoover, Hoover Dam is located near Las Vegas, Nevada and attracts more than seven million visitors from around the world each year.

Ground broke on the massive structure in 1931, and over the course of the next four years, more than 20,000 people worked on the project.

The Dam’s construction cost $49 million by its completion in 1935, an amount that would exceed $800 million today.

Hoover Dam primarily serves as a hydroelectric power producer, generating approximately four billion kilowatts of energy annually and providing power to more than 1.3 million homes across the Southwest.

The Dam is also responsible for the creation of Lake Mead, one of the world’s largest man-made lakes and the largest reservoir in the U.S.

Lake Mead encompasses nearly 250 square miles of surface area and reaches depths of 590 feet, according to one USA Today article.

Each year, more than 10 million visitors flock to Lake Mead to fish, ski, swim and boat along the body of water’s more than 500 miles of shoreline.

Fresh Fish Recipes You’ve Got to Try

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Sure, a lot of burgers and hot dogs get grilled at the lake, but what about the fish?!

Perhaps the most popular way to prepare fresh fish is to fry it. After all, fish fries are as iconic as a good, old-fashion cookout when it comes to lake living, but aside from deep fried, there are plenty of other ways to cook up a delicious fish meal.

Next time you’re lakeside with a boat load of the day’s catch, try your hand at one of these fin-tastic recipes to enjoy with your family and friends.

fried catfish

Barbecue Smoked Lake Trout Fillets

Ingredients:

  • 8 boneless trout fillets with skin on
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
  • lemon juice, about 3 Tbsp
  • 1/2 tsp. fennel seed
  • 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp. freshly chopped cilantro
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 cups wood chips (apple, cherry, mesquite) for cooking

Directions:

Begin by soaking your wood chips in a bowl of warm water for about 30 minutes. This will allow enough time for the wood to absorb the appropriate amount of moisture.

While your chips are soaking, rinse your trout fillets, and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Combine all the spices and other ingredients and season the fish on both sides. You can do this with your bare hands or brush the mixture on with a basting brush.

Preheat your grill on high for about five minutes.

Once your grill has preheated, remove the wood chips from the water and spread out across the bottom of the grill. Close the lid once more, and allow the wood chips to smoke well.

After the smoke has built up, place the prepared fish in a grill basket, or directly on top of the top shelf. Be sure to place the fillets skin side down.

Turn the heat down to low and close the lid. Allow for the fish to smoke for about 20 minutes without opening the lid, then serve.

Courtesy of: From Lake to Plate

Southern Seafood Gumbo

Ingredients: 

  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks with leaves, chopped
  • 1 medium green pepper, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 46 oz spicy V8 tomato juice
  • 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 16 oz frozen okra, sliced and thawed
  • 1 lb catfish fillets, cubed
  • 3/4 lbs uncooked medium shrimp, deveined and peeled
  • 3 cups cooked long grain rice

Directions:

Using your olive oil, saute your onion, pepper and celery in a Dutch oven until the vegetables are tender. Next add your minced garlic and continue cooking for an additional minute.

Stir in the tomato juice, tomatoes and cayenne pepper and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, and cover for 10 minutes.

After the 10 minutes is up, add in your catfish cubes and okra. Cook this for eight minutes before adding in your shrimp.

While your shrimp cooks, which should take about seven minutes, place your rice into individual bowls.

Ladle gumbo into rice bowls and serve.

Courtesy of: Taste of Home

Beer Battered Walleye

Ingredients:

  • 2 quarts vegetable oil
  • 8 (4 oz) fish fillets
  • 2 Tbsp. garlic powder
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 Tbsp. paprika
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1 (12 oz) bottle of beer

Directions:

Heat your oil in a deep fryer until it reaches 365 degrees Fahrenheit, or 185 degrees Celcius.

While it’s heating, rise your walleye fillets, and pat them dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper.

Next, combine your flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix your egg into the dry ingredients mixture to create the base of your batter.

Slowly mix in the beer until a thin batter is produced. If you can see the fish through the batter once you have dipped it, the batter is the correct consistency.

Dip the fillets into your beer batter, and then drop them into the hot oil, one at a time. Be careful not to splash yourself with oil as you are doing so.

Fry the fish, turning once, until both sides of the fillet are golden.

Drain excess oil, and allow to cool on a paper towel before serving.

Courtesy of: Genius Kitchen 

Parmesan Crusted Baked Fish

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
  • 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated finely
  • 3 green onions, green tops only, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire  sauce
  • 3 Tbsp butter, unsalted at room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp hot sauce, Tabasco works
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 4 (6 oz) fish fillets
  • 2 Tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. While the oven is preheating, lightly butter a baking dish to prevent fish from sticking.

In a medium-sized bowl, mix cheese, breadcrumbs, mayo, onions and sauces together. Add in lemon juice, butter and salt and pepper.

Rinse and pat fillets dry, and season heavily with salt and pepper. Place fish in the lightly buttered baking dish.

Spread three tablespoons of cheese mixture over each fillet, and bake for eight to 10 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly.

Finish off the fish by broiling them for two to three minutes. Allow for a few minutes to cool, then top with parsley and serve.

Courtesy of: MyRecipes.com

Finding the Perfect Fishing Spot

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big fish on fishing line coming out of the water

You have the rod and reel packed. The morning sun is shining across the water. Bait is in the bucket, drinks are in the cooler and the boat is officially in the water. Your cell phone is set to “do not disturb,” and it is Time. To. Fish.

You’re only missing one thing: the perfect fishing spot.

Once you get on the river or lake, finding the perfect fishing spot by yourself isn’t easy. It might take years of experience, both in fishing and getting the lay of the land (or the water.)

Here are some tips on finding that perfect spot to drop your line.

The Easy Way: Ask around

A little research can go a long way. If you have time beforehand, check out the local bait shops and ask around. The smaller and older the bait shop, the better! These are great resources for local expertise, whether you get it from the employees or the fellow patrons.

Getting to know your fellow anglers is always a great plan, too. They may help you out more than you know.

If that’s not an option, you can always look around online. Most lakes of moderate size have a forum, website or other online resource where you can talk to other fishing enthusiasts. Anglers are often very leery of giving away their secrets, so be polite and respectful.

And remember they are prone to tell “big fish” stories, so don’t get offended if someone brags about a great catch and refuses to say where!

Do it yourself

Even if you don’t have a native guide, you can probably find a few areas on the lake that are prime targets for a fishing spot. Make sure you know what kind of fish are in your lake, too. Bass, perch, trout and other fish all gravitate toward different areas, depths and temperatures.

Vegetation: Like all of us, fish need to eat! Water-dwelling weeds, plants and other plants are often teeming with smaller fish and insects that big fish feed on. The edge of weeds are typically a buffet for fish.

Overhangs: Take a careful look at fallen trees, overhangs and other shady areas. Algae often attracts food for our finny friends. Predatory fish also like to hide under overhangs and fallen trees to wait for prey to pass by.

Drop-offs: Fish are drawn to the edges of different parts of the lake. Areas where shallow water drops off into deep water are great spots to cast for deep water fish. They often come to the edges here to hunt, before returning to deeper waters.

If you want a simple depth gauge, just drop anchor and see how far it goes until it stops!

Fishing sonar

When fishing sonar for recreational fishing was introduced more than 10 years ago, it was a game changer. Today, a dozen brands of technology offer ways to look down into the water and find your next catch.

Here’s how fishing sonar works:

A device called a “transducer,” mounted in or through the hull, emits sound waves down into the water. These sound waves travel in a cone– think of a flashlight beam – from the hull to the lake (or ocean) floor, picking up any objects in their path. This includes the terrain, sunken boats, trees – and fish!

These objects are then displayed onscreen on a device in the boat, in varying degrees of resolution. Most come out as blobs or grainy shapes. It takes some skill to interpret these. But you would be amazed to see just how much aquatic life is right below your boat!

Expert mode: Trial and Error

When all else fails, there’s good, old-fashioned trial and error. Fish the lake! Getting to know every inlet and stretch of your lake can make for years of fun. If you want to track your success, try to find a topographical map of your lake. Mark any big catches, and see where the “hot spots” are.

Remember, a bad day of fishing is always better than a good day at work!

Before long, you just might realize that you’re the seasoned angler, and find yourself looking across the bait shop at someone asking for a few tips on the perfect fishing spot to cast their line!

 

Winning the Fight Against Allergies at the Lake

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woman outside sneezing into a tissue More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Most of these are from harmless outdoor plants. But good luck trying to tell your sinuses that!

If your allergies are keeping you indoors at your lake house, they can all but ruin your summer. Here are some helpful tips on making a battle plan to beat lake allergies.

 

Know your Enemy

The most common culprits for lake allergies are pollen, dust, mold, animal dander and chemicals, such as tobacco smoke. If you suffer from regular allergy attacks, consider talking to your doctor. You may be allergic to something you never even considered! Getting tested can do away with the guessing game, and help you get relief.

If you know what allergy medication works for you, start taking the medication at the start of the season. This way, the medication can build up in your system.

Treat severe allergy attacks as soon as they come on. You may want to tough it out, but a severe allergy attack can quickly turn into a full-blown sinus infection.

 

Have a Battle Plan

A little forethought will save you and your nose a great deal of heartache, or worse, nose-ache in your battle against lake allergies.

If you are planning a trip to the lake, and are sensitive to pollen or mold, check your local news to see the pollen and mold count. Be sure to pack your medication if the count is high, and limit your physical activity outdoors.

Here’s a little-known fact: synthetic fibers have a static charge that actually attracts pollen! Wearing natural fibers, such as cotton or wool, will actually give you a head start in beating pollen.

If your allergies are severe enough to require an epipen, be sure to pack it! Make sure you aren’t the only one who knows where it is and how to use it, too.

 

On the Homefront

Allergens can build up in a home, especially on the lake. A little cleaning can make your lake home a safe haven from pesky allergens.

Experts recommend changing out an air conditioner filter every six to 12 months for a vacation home, and every 90 days for a standard dwelling. Add a dog or cat into the mix, and you should change it every 60 days.

If you have water equipment, such as life preservers, try not to store them in the house, such as in a closet. Even if kept clean, these can be a source of mildew and mold. Keep water equipment in the garage or shed, and make sure they dry out completely before storing. Doing this can cut down on your lake allergies much more than you might think.

After you come inside, leave your shoes at the door to avoid tracking pollen and dust everywhere.

Wash and dry your linens, blankets and towels regularly. Curtains and other upholstery should be washed at least once a year, as well.

If you use a humidifier, be sure to clean it regularly so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for mold or bacteria.

More deep cleaning advice can be found here.

 

“We shall fight on the beaches…”

Allergies related to lake water itself are typically mild. Children, or those with sensitive skin, may be especially susceptible. These usually stem from an allergic reaction to algae or mold, and can often be avoided by quickly showering after a dip in the lake.

If someone experiences tingling, itching or burning of the skin after a swim, “swimmer’s itch” may be to blame. This is caused by contact with certain seasonal, microscopic parasites that can infest lake-dwelling wildlife, primarily snails.

Contact with these parasites irritates the skin, and can cause a rash, or even blisters. The rash typically pops up within hours or days of contact with the water.

Fortunately, there are no further health effects. Swimmer’s itch typically goes away on its own after roughly a week. Corticosteroid cream, cool compresses and other anti-itch creams can soothe the outbreak.

To reduce the risk of swimmer’s itch, avoid swimming in areas of the lake where it is a known problem, or where signs have been posted warning the water is unsafe. Avoid wading in areas with large numbers of snails, as well. Areas of the lake where swimmer’s itch occurs are not “off limits” forever, but should be avoided for at least a few weeks.

For more information on swimmer’s itch, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/swimmersitch/faqs.html.

 

 

Ten Signs You’ve Spent Time at Smith Mountain Lake

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Tree line and open sky over Smith Mountain Lake

Smith Mountain Lake, known locally as “SML,” is the largest lake contained entirely in the state of Virginia.

With beautiful waters and more than 500 miles of shoreline, the lake is more widely known as “The Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”

Smith Mountain Lake is host to just 17,000 visitors each year, a fraction of other large Virginia lakes, but if you’ve visited, chances are you’ve been there more than once!

Here are ten signs you’ve spent some serious time there.

You know you’ve spent time at Smith Mountain Lake…

…If you’ve watched the sun set over the mountains from the shoreline.

Most vacationers have to choose between a view of the lake and a view of the mountains. Not here!

You can sit back at the shoreline, or on your boat, and watch the sunset’s reflections on the clear waters as it dips down behind the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains.

 

…If you’ve had a cheeseburger in paradise at Portside Grill & Bar.

For a laid back meal right on the water’s edge, head over to the Portside Grill & Bar.

The staff there will make any visitor feel right at home, and the hot wings are to die for. Especially on a sunny summer day, this local attraction is popular for a reason!

 

…If you haven’t gotten lost (but wish you could) at SML State Park.

Smith Mountain Lake State Park contains more than 1,200 acres of wildlife.

More than just water activities, the park offers miles of hiking trails, primitive camping, a visitors’ center and picnicking locations. Families can also enjoy a wide range of kids’ activities and a children’s playground.

 

…If you’ve visited the Smith Mountain Dam, and can’t decide if those tubes look like caterpillars or slinkys.

Smith Mountain Dam coils and mountain sideSmith Mountain Dam was completed in 1963, damming the Roanoke River to create what is now Smith Mountain Lake.

The dam itself stands 235 feet tall, 816 feet long, and 30 feet thick at the base.

Water flows down to the turbines through the dam’s distinctive, 26-foot-wide tubes. The turbines have a combined capacity of 560 megawatts (that’s more than 750,000 horsepower!).

Visitors can tour the dam at the Smith Mountain Visitor’s Center.

…If you’ve dipped your toes in the cleanest body of water on the East Coast.

Smith Mountain Lake is known for its clean water, as any visitor can attest.

The three counties surrounding the lake all work to preserve the natural beauty and wildlife of Smith Mountain Lake. As a result, the lake is a pristine haven for fishing, boating, swimming and wakeboarding, with excellent visibility.

…If you’ve taken your boat to the car wash before putting it in the water.

Much of the lake’s cleanliness is because it has remained free of most regional invasive species, such as zebra mussels.

Boaters visiting from other bodies of water are encouraged to give their boat a wash at one of the off-water car washes near the lake (but well away from the shoreline.)

This will remove any unwanted hitchhikers.

…If you’ve reeled in half a dozen kinds of fish in a single day.

One of Smith Mountain Lake’s biggest draws lies just below the surface of the lake.

On any given day, anglers can pull in black bass, striped bass, catfish, perch, crappie, sunfish and carp. Multiple Bassmaster events have been held at Smith Mountain Lake, including the Bassmaster Elite Series’ Blue Ridge Brawl, televised by ESPN.

…If “going out on a Dare” means something entirely different to you!

Built in 1989, the Virginia Dare is a 19th Century replica side wheeler paddle boat that is 63 feet long, 20 feet wide and 26.6 feet tall!rear view of Virginia Dare river boat

The Virginia Dare takes guests on two-hour tours across Smith Mountain Lake, complete with fine dining for lunch and dinner.

Visit www.vadarecruises.com to find out more about this unique attraction.

…If you’ve had to tell your kids they can’t take an alpaca home.

The Smith Mountain Lake Farm is a bona fide alpaca ranch! The farm offers tours and petting zoo days, where your kids can meet real live alpacas.

These furry friends are much more friendly than llamas, and the farm has special events for kids with games, tours, a gift shop and more!

Visit their website at www.smithmountainlakefarm.com.

…If you’ve spent a day on the lake AND a day golfing – in the same day.

The lake has five golf courses situated around it, three of which are actually situated on the waterfront.

If you plan on spending the day golfing, be sure to plan ahead – two of the five golf courses at Smith Mountain Lake are private golf clubs.

 

Whatever your tastes, odds are if you’ve visited Smith Mountain Lake once, you’ll be back again before long!

Looking to make your stay a little longer? Take a look at homes for sale on Smith Mountain Lake, or contact one of the Lake Homes Realty agents who specialize in this beautiful location.

 

5 Ways Lakes Make the World a Better Place

Posted on Staff

We all love the pristine beauty and endless fun that our favorite lake brings, but have you ever stopped to consider what it was intended to be used for in the first place?

Most significantly sized in the US are man-made, and while recreation is one reason some are created, it’s definitely not the most common.

Here are 5 reasons lakes are beneficial for everyone:

Drinking Water

Many lakes are created to maintain a supply of drinking water for the local population.

Couple Drinking Water

One big example? Lake Lanier, which provides drinking water for nearly 3 million people in the metro Atlanta area. Built by the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers in the 1950s, Lake Lanier encompasses approximately 38,000 acres in Northern Georgia.

Other examples include Lake Lanier’s sister reservoir, Lake Allatoona, and Lake Rhodiss in North Carolina.

Flood Control

Flood control is almost always a factor in creating man-made lakes, particularly those on river systems with multiple dams.

These reservoirs can hold in or release extra water depending on the needs of the downstream environment.

Such lakes that factor in downstream flood control include Lake Texoma in Texas and Oklahoma and Logan Martin Lake in Alabama.

These water bodies protect countless communities along their shores from devastating floods caused by area rivers and streams.

Hydroelectricity

Almost all dams on major rivers and lakes are now outfitted with turbines that produce hydroelectricity.

As water is released and flows through the dam, it spins these turbines, generating “green” energy.

While it is a growing, important, clean source of energy, hydroelectricity only generates about 7 percent of the country’s total energy production.

Lakes with hydroelectricity plants include Lake Oconee in Georgia, Lake Hamilton in Arkansas and Lake Murray in South Carolina.

Natural Coolant

Some lakes are created to keep nuclear power plants cool.

Like hydroelectricity, nuclear power is also a much cleaner energy source than coal or natural gas burning facilities.

Such reservoirs include Lake Anna in Virginia and Lake Keowee in South Carolina.

Efficient and clean energy — it’s a win/win.

Recreation

While recreation may not be the primary reason many lakes were created, it is what draws most people to the area.

At first glance, recreational activities may not seem as important as accessible drinking water, flood control or hydroelectricity, but they play a major part in driving tourism in the area, which brings in significant revenue to help boost local economies.

Not only are these bodies of water wonderful places to live, they also provide many unseen benefits to everyone in the region.

What is your favorite lake and how does it impact your community? Comment below and let us know!

 

Strategies for Using Compost

Posted on Staff

hands holding potting soilNo matter if a compost pile is hot and quick or cool and slow, when it is finished it is a completely new material.

The volume of the original pile will have been reduced due to biochemical breakdown and the water respiration will be approximately 30-50 percent of what it was during the process.

The finished product however, will offer you numerous benefits for different reasons:

Nutrient Rich Soil

Using compost in a garden will improve the quality of the soil, this is why compost is often referred to as a soil conditioner.

Compost will also improve the structure and the texture of the soil which will enable it to better retain the nutrients, moisture and the air that your plants need to grow.

Soil Structure

Mixing the compost into your soil will dramatically improve its structure. The structure of the soil refers to how the inorganic particles combines with the decaying organic particles.

The inorganic particles include silt, sand and clay. Soil that has good structure will be crumbly, drain well and will retain its moisture. You will find that it is very easy to till and turn over for planting.

Water Retention

Sandy soil does not have much water and it is difficult for it to retain nutrients. Soil that has a lot of sand in its composition will feel loose and coarse. Also, it will not hold its shape when you squeeze it in your hand.

Water and soil nutrients will pass through it very quickly since there isn’t anything to hold it together. Using compost will help the soil to bind with the particles and increase nutrients and moisture retention.

Additional Air

Clay soil will feel heavier and be more dense. The particles are smaller and are bound together tightly. When this soil is wet, the clay in it will be sticky and, when squeezed, will hold together.

When you mix in the compost, it will bind the clay into bigger particles that will offer more air space. This will offer your plants more air and better drainage.

Nutrients for Plants

Using compost adds nutrients to the soil. It contains many different basic nutrients that plants needs in order to grow.

In addition to the three main nutrients, which are nitrogen, potassiu, and phosphorous, there are other micro-nutrients that are found in the compost. These micro-nutrients include copper, zinc, iron and manganese.

Fertilizer

Compost is made using different ingredients.

Some end up decaying more quickly than others. Because of this, nutrients are released over a period of time. Compost is deemed a slow releasing type of fertilizer.

If everything decayed at the same rate, the resulting material would not be as useful. Putting the compost in your garden will offer you bigger vegetables, faster growing plants and amazing soil.

There are many people use compost out of convenience. It is something that can be made at home and is natural.

This is a better choice over store-bought fertilizer, which can contain high levels of chemicals.