Archive: Author: Dougn

For those who are new or unfamiliar to the Smith Mountain Lake area, or for lake veterans in search of the best, this guide shows off five of Smith Mountain Lake’s Best Restaurants and their cuisine.

The Landing

Providing cuisine with French influence and American sensibility, The Landing is a Smith Mountain Lake hot spot that never disappoints.  The Landing also has gorgeous outdoor, waterfront dining options, including a smoke free patio and outdoor bar. Owner Bruno Silva is dedicated to working with the freshest, most local ingredients possible to create the dishes on his menu. This is one of Smith Mountain Lake’s Best Restaurants.

Photo by The Landing

“My goal is to do everything local, not with big distributors,” Silva says, “I’d rather do business with locals, even if it means paying more. Because, at the end of the day, the quality products that our local growers have make amazing dishes!”

The Landing also operates its own food truck, Bruno’s Gastro Truck, which can be found roaming Roanoke, Salem, and other surrounding areas. For more information about The Landing, visit their website.

The Blackwater Café

The Blackwater Café has long been a fine dining fixture in Smith Mountain Lake. Joining French and Italian cuisine, The Blackwater Café serves a variety of steak, seafood, and pasta dishes. And for those with gluten sensitivity, there are ample gluten-free options.

Photo by Robert Donovan

The café’s monthly wine themed dinners are a major local attraction. Fine wines, paired with a five-course menu, are served on the second Tuesday of each month. Be sure to book your spot early, because they go fast! More information about The Blackwater Café and their monthly wine dinners can be found here.

Casa D’Amici

Smith Mountain Lake’s own authentic Italian eatery, Casa D’Amici serves up beloved classics, such as Chicken Parmesan, Manicotti, and Veal Sorrentino. And with its fine ambiance, Casa D’Amici is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or dessert.

Photo by Artizone

For a full listing of Casa D’Amici’s menu, visit their website at this link: Casa D’Amici.

Downtown Pizzeria

For those times when only a pizza will satisfy, Downtown Pizzeria is by far Smith Mountain Lake’s best spot for pizza.  There’s no shortage of toppings either; from pineapple to pepperoni, Downtown has you covered.

Photo by Dennis Wilkinson

Aside from pizza, Downtown also serves several subs, pasta dinners, and salads to accommodate any taste or craving. To see all available toppings and dishes, check out Downtown Pizzeria’s full menu here: Downtown Pizzeria.

Edo Grill and Sushi

Finding quality sushi can be a challenge, especially when supermarket California rolls and subpar sushi are so common. For authentic, fresh, and premium sushi in the Smith Mountain Lake area, Edo Grill is the place to go. With a diverse selection of Maki, Nigiri, and Sahimi, Edo Grill can satisfy even the most discerning sushi fan.

Photo by Linh Nguyen

For the less adventurous, cooked entrees featuring chicken, seafood, and steak are also available. Edo Grill’s menu can be seen here: Edo Grill and Sushi.

We have had a gorgeous fall season at Smith Mountain Lake this year! We have been fortunate that it has been so long and mild, but the seasons are changing again and winter is coming as we knew it would. The sometimes freezing temperatures necessitates doing a number of things to batten down the hatches for colder weather.

One of the most important things needing cared for is your boat. It has been a wonderful water-craft for you through the warmer days and it now needs your care so she can safely harbor over winter. The following article has some great tips and a fun Info-graphic as well as a number of other options and ideas for boat storage, tune-ups, etc. https://www.sparefoot.com/self-storage/blog/1377-how-to-prepare-your-boat-for-winter-storage/

You’ve found your dream home among the beautiful properties built along the 500 miles of shoreline of Smith Mountain Lake. Now you want to keep it looking gorgeous. However, a well-manicured look comes with careful attention to outdoor maintenance so you’ll need to be prepared to put in a little work to keep it looking great. There shouldn’t be any big surprises or repairs if you’ve employed a professional, experienced home inspector, but you’ll still need to stay on top of basic maintenance to retain your home’s value and protect your investment.

Spring Cleaning

Fortunately, the temperate climate of SMH provides beautiful season changes without terribly great extremes so the impact on your property is minimized. It is still important to protect any exterior wood or outdoor furniture with paint or varnish, and a light cleaning or touching up after the winter. Metal furniture may have spots of rust which you can sand down and apply a coat of metal paint if necessary. Ensure that windows and doors are watertight and cut back any shrubs or trees that might damage your roof or foundations if left to overgrow. By keeping outside areas clear of leaves, clutter and standing water it will improve the curb appeal of your home and help you to avoid damaging pest infestations.

Testing the Water

If you have a pool, you’ll want to make sure that it is ready for use as soon as it’s warm. If you take the time to keep your pool clean and do light maintenance all year long, this task becomes much easier.  Regular jobs should include cleaning the filter and skimming the surface for debris. It’s also important to be sure the water level doesn’t fall below the center of the skimmer in order to avoid damaging the pump and filter. To prevent the build up of products and contaminants, the floor of the pool should be vacuumed once a week when empty, and the walls brushed and cleaned with a gentle surface cleanser. Once clean and full of water again in warm weather, be sure to keep balancing the pool water chemicals. This is essential, not only to have crystal clear water with no unsightly algae, but also to ensure it is free of bad bacteria and safe for swimming.

Security Check

Outdoor lighting can provide an inviting atmosphere for the exterior of your home, expanding your outdoor space at night and highlighting trees or architectural features. For your safety and convenience, timed or automated lighting can be installed to illuminate paths and doorways and provide added security to the premises. For a more complete security system, motion sensor lighting can be combined with a camera and alarm.

Preparing for Winter

Fall is a great time to undertake the small but essential jobs that will keep your house secure during the winter months. Clear leaves from gutters to prevent them overflowing and inspect the roof for any needed repairs. Also make sure foundation vents and drainage pipes are clear of debris to avoid problems when it rains. Spotting small fixes like this early can prevent serious damage at a later date. This is also a good time to service your heat pump by cleaning or replacing any filters and checking fluid levels and lubrication to ensure it runs smoothly throughout the winter.

Last but not least do not forget to oil the drawbridge and feed the alligators in the moat. 😉

If you take the time to keep up with these simple chores, your home will make many great lasting impressions and you’ll have the peace of mind when it’s time to relax and enjoy all the pleasures Smith Mountain Lake has to offer.

Living in a waterfront home at Smith Mountain Lake offers many advantages.

There are so many beautiful sights and sounds; a variety of birds and birdsong, gorgeous sunsets, beautiful mountains, wind whispering through the trees, moonlight reflecting on the lake, waves gently hitting the shore and cool breezes. You won’t have to turn on a white noise machine to drown out traffic and city noise to get to sleep here.

Waterfront homes also offer more privacy. There is far less traffic in private neighborhoods and the mature trees and greenery can provide a natural barrier to neighboring homes.

Lakes are a natural draw for many types of wildlife. Living on the lake can enable you to enjoy a variety of creatures such as geese, ducks, and other birds as well as deer and others animals who come to drink.

There are all types of fun activities for the whole family at the lake without having to travel far. Sailing, boating, shopping, fishing, kayaking, wakeboarding, skiing, and golfing are all easily accessed practically at your back door.

Lake living can also offer a great sense of community for individuals and families alike. Most lake residents enjoy meeting new people and it is not hard to make new friends in the area. It’s a friendly, casual atmosphere where most of the people living there love many of the same things you and your family do.

At Smith Mountain Lake there is no shortage of fun and exciting things to do on the water. Here are just a few of them that rate on the thrills scale.

Boating

SML has several Marinas where you can put your own boat in the water or rent a boat if don’t have one. Bayside Marina and Yacht Club, Crazy Horse Marina, Gills Creek Marina, Bridgewater Marina has a whole fleet of late model boats to rent, Parkway Marina, Craddock Creek Marina, Mitchell’s Point Marina, Smith Mountain Lake Sailing School and Charters, and Westlake Boat Rentals.

Jet Skiing

Riding a Jet Ski on SML can definitely be a thrilling experience. They are not that expensive to rent, depending on the model you try, and they are easy to learn how to operate. Several places at the lake rent them so you won’t have a problem getting one.

Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding was invented by a surfer in California in 1985. A wakeboard is kind of a cross between a water ski and a surfboard. They are pulled behind a speedboat on a lake and the waves are produced by the boat. So it’s a way to experience some of the thrills of surfing at the lake instead of the ocean. Wakeboarding is a popular sport at Smith Mountain Lake.

Kayaking and Canoeing

Kayaks and Canoes offer a great way to exercise and see the awesome scenery around SML. If you don’t have your own Kayak or Canoe they can be rented by the day at the lake for a reasonable fee.

Fishing

Smith Mountain Lake is home to a number of fish species including striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and even Walleye can be found here. You can fish year round and the area has a number of fishing charters if you want to go that route.  SML is such a popular fishing spot that it has been  host to a number of professional fishing tournaments over the years.

Whether you come to Smith Mountain Lake for a weekend getaway, a family vacation, or if you decide to buy a home on the lake, you are sure to make memories and have some wonderful times.