The Blog

By: Beatrice Iceman I saw the Canada Geese today, Flying in a splendid vee Over the Lake. I couldn’t tell for sure, But I suspect Their raucous honking meant “In 200 feet Make a left Over Burnt Chimney Road.” Beatrice Iceman is a life-long writer, editor, and teacher of writing on both the corporate and university levels. She has enjoyed the beauty, culture, and history of life at Smith Mountain Lake for 20 years.

If you're looking for some good old-fashioned analog connection, screenshot or print out this list of dueling fall favorites below and have fun getting to know the-ones-you're-with a little bit better as you ask, “Would you rather...?” These prompts are perfect for all ages and are great to take along in the car, on the boat, or even when you're sitting around the campfire.

As you may know, Rotary has been around for quite a long time - over 100 years in fact. What started as a place for professionals of diverse backgrounds to come together and form meaningful connections, is still going strong all these decades later. More recently, this global organization has added a humanitarian focus to their set of goals and encourages their members to engage, with boots on the ground, in their communities.   The SML branch of Rotary International was foun

Are you looking for a salon that really listens to your individual hair needs and concerns? As someone with bi-racial hair that doesn't fit into any typical classification, I have been on a longtime search for a stylist who understands that my hair is…well…different. AND accepts the fact that I don't love investing a lot of time or product in getting my mane presentable each day.    When I first met Tracey Lozeau, owner of Bliss Salon in Westlake (their second location), I fe

Parrot Cove Houseboat Rentals took to the waters of Smith Mountain Lake in 1996 with the Oliver family and their dedicated staff at the helm. The Hannah Lee launched in 1997, and all subsequent floating “boatels” in the Parrot Cove fleet have been named after fabulous family women. Each boat was hand-constructed from the frame up by David Oliver, his brother Ron, and a talented crew of two. During the off-season every year, three or four boats get pulled from the water to un

Last summer, we partnered with four local establishments to create signature drinks and dishes. Far and away, the most popular was “The...

BY: BEATRICE ICEMAN While driving around our area, did you ever think about how places got their names?  Many origins are obvious....

These services are wonderful additions to any lake vacation, stay-cation, celebration, or even just because you need a little boost! THE...

Wondering how to entertain the kiddos (of all ages) once they've had their fill of being out on the water? Here are a few ideas to get...

A list of 100 things we love about life at the lake. Compiled as a creative exercise by: Kristin Dunker and Mary Kate Glime The many...

Jessica, Dewayne, and son with their catch of the day! What do you get when two people who love to fish get married and operate a local...

I’m sure by now you have heard the news that the Smith Mountain Lake Center signed a letter of intent to purchase the Westlake Cinema and...

Meet Barbara Filleau, Mary, and Pat Layton (L-R): lake residents, neighbors, and friends for over 6 decades. These ladies recently sat...

I've already shared our updated list of local Farmer's Markets  for 2025, but I thought the rich (and growing!) contingency of local...

*Sadly, Wilkes Store has now closed. Perched on the corner of routes 24 and 43 in the Huddleston area of Bedford County, VA sits a...