Reunion Planning at LakeAway Vacation Rentals on Smith Mountain Lake

Finding the right venue

It isn't easy to find a private place in a beautiful setting with great activities for all ages that can also accommodate a reunion. The first challenge is to find a home where everyone can meet. The county sets strict overnight occupancy limits on houses, based on the capacity of the septic system. However, some larger LakeAway properties are excellent reunion headquarters where everyone may gather during the day and evening. Guests not able to stay at the reunion home may stay in nearby LakeAway properties.

Choosing right properties

At the moment, the only LakeAway "reunion" home is the Main House. As more "reunion" homes become available, they will be added to this page. The Property Locations map and the Compare Features chart (both on this page) are an important tools for working out which properties you will need. We suggest that you assign people to beds/bedrooms to make sure that everyone can fit in comfortably. In some cases we have more places for people to sleep than are allowed in the property. This is done to provide you with more flexibility. Also, keep in mind that very young children needn’t be counted in the number of guests.

Too many people for the properties available?

If some of the properties are already booked or you need more space, we can help. There are other nearby properties that may be available. These properties are not managed by LakeAway, but we often coordinate with the owners to accommodate larger groups. Please ask, we are happy to help.

Making plans

Other than finding the best venue, the most challenging part of planning a reunion is picking a date that works for everyone. If you are planning a reunion in the peak season, mid-June to mid-August, you will need to book well in advance. We typically get a few bookings one year in advance, but it really picks up in December and January.

The Availability Calendar, found on the Reservations page, allows you to see all the availability of all the properties at once. While we make every effort to keep the calendar up to date, during peak booking days we can fall behind, so please call us! For those who wonder, peak booking days are one of the great mysteries of this business. Anything from a snowstorm in the northeast, to the first warm day of spring, or possibly a new moon seem to trigger a flood of booking inquiries.

What to Bring

• Sheets and pillow cases* (See Compare Features for the correct bed sizes)
• Towels and wash cloths*
• Bath soap and shampoo
• Laundry Soap (Main House and Cedar Cabin only)
• Flashlight
• Paper towels
• Extra toilet paper (we do provide it, but just in case!)
• Charcoal, lighter fluid (not required at Viewtiful or LaSota Cottage since they have gas grills)
• Condiments
• Fishing Gear (For children, a simple rod, #16 hooks and worms dug from your own garden will catch lots of fish under the dock!)
• Don't forget your camera, DVDs, water toys and peace of mind!

*Bed linens and towels are available for an additional Linen fee. (See Rates)

 

Items we provide

• Pots, pans, utensils, plates, glasses, coffee makers (bring basket type filters).
• The larger kitchens in the Main House and Cedar Cabin are equiped for cooking for larger groups. Please call for details or to confirm a particular item is available.
• Condiments: Salt, pepper, and sugar are normally available, but it is always a good idea to bring some just in case.
• Microwave oven
• Television, DVD player, satellite receiver
• Washer and Dryer (not available in Cabins 1 and 2)
• Dishwasher (not available in Cabins 1 and 2)
• Weber kettle barbecue on deck at Main House, Cedar Cabin, Cabin1 and Cabin 2
• Gas grill at Viewtiful and LaSota Cottage
• Wireless High Speed Internet

Telephones, Cell Phone Coverage and Internet

There are no land lines in the properties, so plan to use your cell phone. Most cell phones have excellent reception at our properties. Visitors using the following cell phone companies have had good reception in the past: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cingular, and Nextel. Please advise us of other systems that work well, or those that do not.

WiFi is provided in all properties. For those with Verizon, 4G is available. Internet access is through a line-of-sight high speed microwave link with an antenna on Smith Mountain or via satellite. However, it is not designed for streaming video ( e.g. Netflix, YouTube or other video services). Our ISP charges us excessive fees for bandwidth overages, so please do not stream audio or video!

Plan Ahead

Reserve a ski boat, pontoon boat or kayak (see Activities On the Lake - Boating)

Book a cruise (see Activities Around the Lake - Sighteeing Cruise)

Book a fishing guide (see Activities On the Lake - Fishing)

Book a caterer or dinner cruise (see While You are Here - Catering)

Plan to visit historic points of interest on your way to the lake (See Activities Beyond the Lake)

 

Suggestions

Here for only a few days? Plan to bring all the food you need. Convenience stores are nearby (see Maps & Directions), but major grocery stores are 20 to 30 minutes away.

Visiting Silver Bay as part of a longer vacation in Virginia? Call us! We are happy to help you plan a wonderful visit to Virginia.

Visiting from outside the United States? Send us your Skype or Google Hangout (Gmail) address and we can set a time to talk and help you plan your visit.

Grocery Stores

Grocery and convenience stores are listed below, starting with the closest. The best grocery store on the lake is Kroger.

White House Store: convenience store located at the gas station at White House. ~10 minutes

Food Lion at Hendricks Store Road and Rt. 122: Full service grocery store. Limited selection of vegtables and organic food. ~20 minutes

Kroger: Full service grocery store with large beer and wine selection, as well as wide selection of vegtables and organics. ~35 minutes

Pharmacies

CVS and Kroger in Westlake Corner are the only full service pharmacies on the lake. Some over-the-counter remedies are available at the grocery and convenience stores listed above. ~35 minutes

Restaurants

There are a number of restaurants on and around Smith Mountain Lake. Some are accessible by both water and road (these are also listed in the “On the Lake” page), while others are only available by road. While this is not a complete list, these are establishments that we have visited and can recommend. They are presented in the order of our personal preference.

The Landing
773 Ashmeade Road | Moneta, VA 24121 | Phone: 540.721.3028 | Web
Driving time from the Mountain Preserve: ~20 minutes by water, ~45 minutes by road

The Landing is generally recognized as the best restaurant on the lake, and we agree with this assessment. The quality of the food and its presentation is outstanding, with an excellent beer and wine list. In our opinion, it is as good as the best restaurants in a major city, with prices that are only slightly less than similar establishments in major cities. For those of you who have a passion for food and cooking, The Landing offers special event meals and cooking classes. There is outdoor and indoor seating. While they are on the lake, views of the water are obscured by boat lifts in front of the restaurant.

Mexico Viejo
404 Crazy Horse Dr | Moneta, VA 24121 | (540) 719-1000
Driving time from the Mountain Preserve: ~20 minutes by water, ~45 minutes by road

Mexico Viejo has the best lake views of any restaurant on the water, with the exception of those to be had while dining at Silver Bay View Cottages! The New Mexico style food is good. We always enjoy our meals here. Prices are quite reasonable, and the Dos Equis beer on tap is excellent. It is also a very pleasant boat ride from Silver Bay, and one of our most frequent destinations.

Portside Grill & Bar
3619 Airport Road at Virginia Dare Marina | Moneta, VA | 540-297-7100 x3 | Web
Driving time from the Mountain Preserve: ~20 minutes by water, ~15 minutes by road

A tiki bar with outdoor seating over the water. This is a fun place to enjoy a drink and a sandwich. Enjoy live entertainment, D.J.’s, steel drums, dancing, limbo and sunset views over the water. They also have TVs so you can watch your favorite game or race. It is open only in the warmer months.

Marina Café at Mitchell’s Point Marina
3553 Trading Post Road | Huddleston, VA | 540-297-4829
Driving time from the Mountain Preserve: 5 to 10 minutes by water, 5 to 10 minutes by road

The Marina Café is the closest restaurant to Silver Bay. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and offer a limited menu of burgers and sandwiches. A great place to catch a bite with the locals.

Kings Point Pub
15844 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway | Huddleston, VA | 540-297-7347 | Web
Driving time from the Mountain Preserve: ~10 minutes by water, ~15 minutes by road

A fun Irish pub with indoor and outdoor seating. While we usually stop by for one of their great beers on tap, they also serve a variety of Irish dishes (Steak and Guinness Pie!) and sandwiches. They are only open in the warmer months, and only Wednesday through Sunday. Call before you head out!

Smokehouse Restaurant
1123 Celebration Ave. | Downtown Moneta | 540.297.4646
Driving time from the Mountain Preserve: ~20 minutes by road

In the recently built Downtown Moneta (intersection of Routes 608 and 122), Smokehouse offers a variety of home cooked barbecue along with southern sides such as hushpuppies and sweet potato fries.

Mayberry Drive-In & Diner
1696 Whitehouse Road | Moneta, VA | 540-296-1480 | Web
Driving time from the Mountain Preserve: ~15 minutes by road

Home-style cooking in a classic silver diner that is located at the local drive-in theater quickly brings us back to the 50’s and early 60’s. It is also a popular place for breakfast.

Catering and Private Dinner Cruises

Catering is a great option for reunions. Private dinner cruises are also included in this category, since they are able to pick you up at your private dock at Silver Bay.

The Landing Restaurant
540.721.3028 | Web

In addition to being our favorite restaurant on the lake, The Landing also offers catering.

Blue Ridge Catering
540-982-7700 | Web

While we haven’t tasted their food, we have heard good things about Blue Ridge.

Barnyard Catering
540.297.4646

Barnyard is the catering half of Smokehouse Restaurant (see above), and are a local favorite for catered barbeque at very reasonable prices. You can either pick up the food at Smokehouse, or have it delivered.

Virginia Dare
Sightseeing and Dinner Cruises on Smith Mountain Lake
3619 Airport Road | Moneta, VA 24121 | (540) 297-7100 | Web

The Virginia Dare has been cruising Smith Mountain Lake as long as we can remember, and is one of the more popular attractions on the lake. Beyond offering sightseen and dinner cruises to the general public, they also offer private charters. We have not taken a dinner cruise, so we can’t comment on the food. We did attend a private dockside party there, and the food was excellent. It is normally moored next to the Portside Bar & Grill (see above).

cruises

 

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rates >

Occupancy	4	10	6	4	4	Occupancy is strictly enforced. See Policies
2017 Rates
January 1st to	150	435	300	150	150	Daily - 2 night minimum
May 25th	900	2,600	1,800	900	900	Weekly
May 26th to	230	575	390	230	230	Daily - 2 night minimum
June 23th	1,380	3,450	2,340	1,380	1,380	Weekly
June 24th to	235*	650*	430*	235*	235*	*Daily available 2 weeks in advance
August 18th	1,410	3,900	2,580	1,410	1,410	Weekly Minimum - Saturday to Saturday
August 19th to	230	575	390	230	230	Daily - 2 night minimum
September 3th	1,380	3,450	2,340	1,380	1,380	Weekly
September 4th to	150	435	300	150	150	Daily -2 night minimum
December 31st	900	2,600	1,800	900	900	Weekly
Housekeeping	95	150	125	65	56
Damage Deposit	250	350	250	200	200	See Policies Page for details
Optional Linen Fee	110	150	100	65	65	Linens include: Sheets, Pillow Cases and Towels
Taxes (State + Local)	12.3%	12.3%	12.3%	12.3%	12.3%	5.3% Virginia Sales tax + 7% county occupancy tax

Internet at LaSota Cottage: WiFi Internet is provided at the LaSota Cottage via a satellite connection. Please limit your usage to e-mail and web searches. Please do NOT stream video/audio or use the system for Internet gaming as it will swamp the system and incur excessive fees. 5GB per week/750 MB per day (x the number of days) is provided at no charge. If you exceed these figures, you will be charged $10 per extra Gigabyte or part thereof.

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