Is a "Staycation" Still In Vogue?
A couple of years ago, my family and I decided to do the "staycation" for a change. It was all the rage - since airline and gas prices were so high (some things just don't ever change.) We also decided to stay close to home because my youngest child was just born and there was something comforting about being so close to the familiar in case of some type of emergency.
We decided to go to Huddleston, Virginia - which is about an hour from Roanoke - and book a place right on the water overlooking Smith Mountain Lake. For me, it isn't a summer vacation if you're not right by a body of water. I can't relax without it. I know, weird. But call me a water rat (as my dad did when I was a kid, my nickname was nat, fat the water rat - and yes, I'll never recover from it) because my summers as a kid were spent swimming either at a pool, lake or in the ocean.
My father was the one who suggested Smith Mountain Lake. He had heard of it and wanted to check it out. So he and mom, along with my brother and his wife, have been joining me and my family for a week's vacation.
To be honest with you, I was a little nervous about changing my summer vacation plans. We usually book a place overlooking the ocean on a secluded beach somewhere in North Carolina. But like I said, my kids were real young, and a 6 and a half hour car ride to the beach was out of the question.
I will also tell you that I miss the sound of the ocean terribly. Nothing compares to an ocean breeze and a long walk on the beach. However, I have to admit, these vacations have been amazing - amazingly exhausting, and many times trying - but a true blessing that I look forward to each year.
If you aren't familiar, this lake is man-made. And when you go, take in the enormity of that. This is a 41 mile long lake with 500 miles of shoreline. It was originally built to generate electricity and to manage water flows. It was created by flooding the area between the Roanoke and Blackwater Rivers and was once an area that was fully inhabited. Seriously! It is no joke. There is a whole. entire. town under the lake. People have actually scuba dived and witnessed it themselves. Read more about it here. There is even a brewery that just opened last year in honor of the flooded city called "Sunken City" - I highly recommend checking it out when you're visiting as well.
We've been coming to the lake for about 4 years now and I have never regretted it once. (Alright, maybe once when my parents were extra needy, the kids were out of control and my husband was a raging lunatic. I made a promise to God that year that if he would help me survive the trip I would run off to some convent and become a nun. ) Well, I survived. I'm not a nun and after every single draining year I look back at these times fondly. I do so because I realize how lucky I am to get these times with my parents and my kids- since neither is getting any younger.
If you're wondering where we stay, there are a ton of rental properties right on the water to choose from at the lake. A simple google search will bring up a ton of options, but I typically use HomeAway. My girlfriend turned me onto this site a couple of years ago and I use it religiously when planning a getaway. We have so many parameters we need to "check" so it's a great tool. We typically need more than 3 bedrooms, a basement with a full bedroom, bath and walkout (nice but not necessary) and we want a view. A view is the most important. My dad wants a place without a lot of steps (which is pretty close to impossible when every house on the lake has to be a certain distance from the water.) Still, with all these "needs" we always find something. It's also important to make sure you rent from a reputable company. My favorite travel reporter blogged about that here.
This year I found an absolute gem right on the water and we all agreed it was our favorite rental yet. The home sat in a quiet cove (not the best view) but was so secluded that we were able to watch a family of deer grazing in our yard each morning and night before bed.
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This was our view from the top deck of our rental home. There was another smaller deck with a table and chairs and look - no steps for dad - going down to the dock to the lake.
If you are coming to Smith Mountain Lake to vacation I highly recommend a boat rental. This is the way to travel at the lake. I've often wondered why this area hasn't been developed more than it has, but that's a good thing. This is a rural area, and to get anywhere by car is at least a 15 minute drive so be prepared for that. But by traveling by boat - while it may not necessarily be faster - it's a lot more enjoyable.
We rented our boat from Bridgewater Marina. My husband wanted a speed boat but I told him a pontoon was fine enough since I wanted to live through the experience. Bridgewater Marina is a great family-friendly area that is easy to find and has everything you need for your boat rental and more. It's also one of the more popular places to go, so remember that as you wait in the long lines to get your boat. But I'll tell you what - when we were there (and everyone got there at once) the employees were great. They never lost their cool - even when there was a lot of confusion- and kept a pleasant disposition. (I can't say the same for me and my husband.) But I'm making up for it now - as I highly recommend them now.
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My husband in the distance returning out pontoon boat.
For fun each day, we went to the state park. This is a great state park because it has a great little beach (perfect for the little ones) complete with concession stand, clean bathrooms and so much more. My family would cruise on up to the docks, park the boat and spend much of the day here on this beach.
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I recently did a special story on this state park. You can see it here:
When you're hungry - and I think the best part of being on vacation is NOT having to cook - hit the water in your boat and head to Jake's Place. This is my absolute fav. Yes, you can get there from the road, but it's MUCH more fun to get there by boat. You pull up into their dock, step on out onto their outside patio and dine by the water. Order one of their great sandwiches or burgers and something cool to drink and you are now truly on vacay!!
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As usual, the week went by way too fast. I'm missing my family terribly once again, but I am so glad I come here with them each year. Who says a "staycation" is no fun? It's finding the gems right in your own backyard that is so exciting - and who knows, maybe you too can make great memories that will last you a lifetime as well.
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I'll never get tired of this view.
We decided to go to Huddleston, Virginia - which is about an hour from Roanoke - and book a place right on the water overlooking Smith Mountain Lake. For me, it isn't a summer vacation if you're not right by a body of water. I can't relax without it. I know, weird. But call me a water rat (as my dad did when I was a kid, my nickname was nat, fat the water rat - and yes, I'll never recover from it) because my summers as a kid were spent swimming either at a pool, lake or in the ocean.
My father was the one who suggested Smith Mountain Lake. He had heard of it and wanted to check it out. So he and mom, along with my brother and his wife, have been joining me and my family for a week's vacation.
To be honest with you, I was a little nervous about changing my summer vacation plans. We usually book a place overlooking the ocean on a secluded beach somewhere in North Carolina. But like I said, my kids were real young, and a 6 and a half hour car ride to the beach was out of the question.
I will also tell you that I miss the sound of the ocean terribly. Nothing compares to an ocean breeze and a long walk on the beach. However, I have to admit, these vacations have been amazing - amazingly exhausting, and many times trying - but a true blessing that I look forward to each year.
If you aren't familiar, this lake is man-made. And when you go, take in the enormity of that. This is a 41 mile long lake with 500 miles of shoreline. It was originally built to generate electricity and to manage water flows. It was created by flooding the area between the Roanoke and Blackwater Rivers and was once an area that was fully inhabited. Seriously! It is no joke. There is a whole. entire. town under the lake. People have actually scuba dived and witnessed it themselves. Read more about it here. There is even a brewery that just opened last year in honor of the flooded city called "Sunken City" - I highly recommend checking it out when you're visiting as well.
We've been coming to the lake for about 4 years now and I have never regretted it once. (Alright, maybe once when my parents were extra needy, the kids were out of control and my husband was a raging lunatic. I made a promise to God that year that if he would help me survive the trip I would run off to some convent and become a nun. ) Well, I survived. I'm not a nun and after every single draining year I look back at these times fondly. I do so because I realize how lucky I am to get these times with my parents and my kids- since neither is getting any younger.
If you're wondering where we stay, there are a ton of rental properties right on the water to choose from at the lake. A simple google search will bring up a ton of options, but I typically use HomeAway. My girlfriend turned me onto this site a couple of years ago and I use it religiously when planning a getaway. We have so many parameters we need to "check" so it's a great tool. We typically need more than 3 bedrooms, a basement with a full bedroom, bath and walkout (nice but not necessary) and we want a view. A view is the most important. My dad wants a place without a lot of steps (which is pretty close to impossible when every house on the lake has to be a certain distance from the water.) Still, with all these "needs" we always find something. It's also important to make sure you rent from a reputable company. My favorite travel reporter blogged about that here.
This year I found an absolute gem right on the water and we all agreed it was our favorite rental yet. The home sat in a quiet cove (not the best view) but was so secluded that we were able to watch a family of deer grazing in our yard each morning and night before bed.
If you are coming to Smith Mountain Lake to vacation I highly recommend a boat rental. This is the way to travel at the lake. I've often wondered why this area hasn't been developed more than it has, but that's a good thing. This is a rural area, and to get anywhere by car is at least a 15 minute drive so be prepared for that. But by traveling by boat - while it may not necessarily be faster - it's a lot more enjoyable.
We rented our boat from Bridgewater Marina. My husband wanted a speed boat but I told him a pontoon was fine enough since I wanted to live through the experience. Bridgewater Marina is a great family-friendly area that is easy to find and has everything you need for your boat rental and more. It's also one of the more popular places to go, so remember that as you wait in the long lines to get your boat. But I'll tell you what - when we were there (and everyone got there at once) the employees were great. They never lost their cool - even when there was a lot of confusion- and kept a pleasant disposition. (I can't say the same for me and my husband.) But I'm making up for it now - as I highly recommend them now.
For fun each day, we went to the state park. This is a great state park because it has a great little beach (perfect for the little ones) complete with concession stand, clean bathrooms and so much more. My family would cruise on up to the docks, park the boat and spend much of the day here on this beach.
I recently did a special story on this state park. You can see it here:
When you're hungry - and I think the best part of being on vacation is NOT having to cook - hit the water in your boat and head to Jake's Place. This is my absolute fav. Yes, you can get there from the road, but it's MUCH more fun to get there by boat. You pull up into their dock, step on out onto their outside patio and dine by the water. Order one of their great sandwiches or burgers and something cool to drink and you are now truly on vacay!!
I'll never get tired of this view.
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