New York & the Mid-Atlantic Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

8 Smith Mountain

Lake

This enormous, 32-sq-mile

reservoir is one of the

most popular recreation

spots in Southwestern

Virginia and the largest

lake contained entirely

within the borders of

the commonwealth.

Vacation rentals and

water activities abound,

as does development, and

there are portions of this

picturesque dollop that

have been overwhelmed

with rental units. Most

lake access is via private

property only.

This isn’t the case at

Smith Mountain State

Park (%540-297-6066;

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/

state_parks/smi.shtml; 1235

State Park Rd, Huddleston;

weekdays/weekends $2/3),

located on the north

shore of the lake. Don’t

get us wrong – there’s

lots of facilities here

if you need them,

including a boat ramp,

picnic tables, fishing

piers, an amphitheater,

camping sites and cabin

rentals, but in general,

the area within the

state park preserves the

natural beauty of this

area. Thirteen hiking

trails wind through the

surrounding forests.

TRIP HIGHLIGHT

The nearby Hickory

Hill Winery (%540-296-

1393; http://www.smlwine.com; 1722

Hickory Cove Lane, Moneta;

hnoon-6pm Apr-Oct, to

5pm Nov-Mar), anchored

by a charming 1923

farmhouse, is a lovely

spot to lounge about

sipping Merlot either

before or after your

adventures on the lake.

The Drive » Head back

toward Bedford on VA-122 and

go left on State Route 801/Stony

Fork Rd. Follow this to VA-24/

Stewartsville Rd; take that road

west about 20 miles to Roanoke.

9 Roanoke

Roanoke is the largest

city and commercial hub

of Southwest Virginia.

MICHAEL RUNKEL APPALACHEANS/ALAMY ©

VIRGINIA.TRIPS

25

(^) BLUE RIDGE P
ARKWAY