Took a Saturday afternoon drive out to Plum Orchard Lake with the fam in our Jeep. It's about 1.5…read morehours from us -- a mix of interstate, toll roads, winding turns, and peaceful backroads that made the ride feel like part of the adventure. When we arrived, the lake did *not* disappoint -- calm water, gorgeous scenery, and just a relaxed, welcoming energy. We didn't even try to explore the whole place (it's huge). We stopped at the first dock we saw, hopped out with our gear, and got straight to fishing. Mealworms on the hook, lines in the water, and good vibes all around. We saw fish swimming past and had a few nibbles, but no actual catches this time. Still, the whole experience was a win. It wasn't crowded at all -- just a few groups scattered around, everyone spaced out enough that it still felt peaceful. No loud music, no chaos, just people enjoying nature. **Pro Tips:** * Bring your own bait, drinks, and plenty of snacks (trust me, you'll get hungry). * There's a port-o-potty nearby *or*, you know\... nature works in a pinch (ask the boys ). * Sunscreen is a must and a hat, perhaps. We're already planning a return trip -- maybe with kayaks or to check out another part of the lake. If you're looking for a quiet, scenic spot to fish, chill, or just unwind without a crowd, Plum Orchard is a solid pick.

I was in the area and on a lark decided to check out the lake. It is truly a hidden gem in these…read morelovely hills! The southern part of the lake had a large layer of lily pads and the water caught the fall colors of the hills perfectly. I wish I had a boat there so I could go out on the water, it was a perfectly tranquil day.

The camp site was really nice for tent campin. Restrooms were clean and stocked. The staff were…read moregreat. The lake was a terrible disappointment, it smelled bad and is no longer properly taken care of.

Located within the Blue Ridge Mountains, this area is great spot within reach of a number of hiking…read moretrails, a lake for swimming, and a wonderful camping ground suitable for casual campers/families. The lake was perfect for swimming in: great temperature, clean, and a lot of grassy shore space along the side. There was large grass areas where one could play frisbee or do other outdoor games. The campground is well-maintained, clean, and has a number of amenities that make camping convenient. Campers have access to flush toilets as well as showers. The facilities aren't particularly fancy but it's camping -- if you wanted fancy, you should stay indoors :) Prices were reasonable as well. $15 a night for a single site. Single site campsites come with a large parking space, a picnic table, and a firepit. Most of the spots are well shaded, and there is easily enough space for a large family tent or a few smaller tents. The campground has access to a number of trail heads and within a short driving distance, even more trails are available. Some trails are short and suitable for beginning hikers, others more challenging with steep inclines and a number of switchbacks up the mountain. Some are also perfect for day hikes as well. Located nearby is the Appalachian Trail as well as the James River (one can rent kayaks, canoes, etc.). The campground is nearby to Natural Bridge, VA -- which has a large natural bridge one can pay to see -- and Lexington, VA -- which has a cute downtown area to walk through and some nice restaurants to eat at.

Tony Vanoy and I stopped at Stephens Lake in Beckley WV area. It's free to go to park no admission…read morefees and the Swing is free to Enjoy! It's located near the Frisbee Course! Lisa Diane Boyce-Vanoy #wvswings #2025endofsummerroadtrip #AlmostHeaven

Very clean and well run again this year. Snack bar surprisingly had good food and reasonable in…read morethere prices

Great place to trout fish, owners are great people very knowledgeable. Hospitality is great, fish…read moreis great grilled or smoked. Lodgings are wonderful. A must see if in the area

From the owner: Lodging and Fishingread more

Exceptional service.. lovely houseboat - the one we stayed on for 3 days was called the Millie…read more"T".. we rented jet skiis and a motor speed boat for one of the days.. we had such a blast! The houseboat had a slide on the rooftop deck that was so fun to use. We had packed food for ourselves so that we did not need to leave the houseboat for those 3 days. That way we maximized our time in the water! Would love to do this trip again!

The pricing here for a pontoon boat is one of the best you'll find in Smith Mountain. The trade off…read morefor that price is boat speed. Our boat was SLOW. Ever other boat was passing us in the lake, including every other pontoon boat. The boat itself was clean and worked well but was a bit torn up and dented in places. Only other complaint was the horn and radio not working - supposed to be used to signal danger, etc. They said we had to use the whistle instead of the horn. We asked if we could just get a different boat and the woman replied "I think none of our boats have horns that work."

Great customer service. The boats were well maintained, even this late into the season. Thanks do…read moremuch for a wonderful weekend on the water!

Had a great experience renting from here. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.read more

If you are interested in learning more about Smith Mountain Lake and how it generates power for…read moreVirginia and surrounding states, the visitor center at the dam is definitely a cool spot to stop. They have a small exhibit inside that highlights the dam's functionality, and there are also outdoor paths to walk that offer great views of the dam and lake. All together, you may spend 45 minutes to an hour or so exploring. I like to do this kind of thing first thing in the morning so I can get out on the water if it's looking like it's going to be a nice day!

We noticed signs for this on our way way to something else and figured since we were in the area we…read morewould check it out. What you need to know: -It's FREE -There is a parking lot -There is a ramp up to the overlook so if someone is in a wheelchair they can also take advantage of the views -No pets allowed inside the information/interactive display area or on the ramp/overlook area -It's pretty interesting

Cute waterfront lodge. Nice clean rooms. Our room was a king room on second floor with balcony. I…read morereally liked the fact that there were 2 doors for our room. 1 in the back by the parking area for easy unloading luggage and another door in the front that takes you to the balcony overlooking the lake. This place is pretty laid back. Great place for a fishing trip or boating weekend. There is a boat dock right in front, along with some picnic tables and lounge chairs to enjoy the view. Rooms are cute and comfortably decorated. Mini frig and microwave. Bathroom was quite large, but vanity was way too small for any useful purpose than simply a sink. Also, beware of floor and shower area, as it can be quite slippery when wet. No hair dryers, so bring one if needed. The price was reasonable, but the view was priceless. Relaxing and cozy. We would stay here again if in the area.

Stopped here on our way home from South Carolina to do a quick look at Smith Mountain Lake. This…read moreplace has great views of the lake and lake access for boats. Seems to be a popular spot for fishermen. The room was a little small but looks like it had had a fairly recent update. It was clean except for one thing - an overly pervasive smell of cat pee in the room. There are feral cats everywhere (which wasn't a problem because I love cats) but how that smell got in the room I can only guess. The smell seemed to get stronger as the night went on. Not sure if other rooms have the same issue or we were just the lucky ones...

Tony Vanoy and I went hiking today at Cascade Falls in Pembroke, VA. Started out really great, we…read morethought it was 1.5 or 2 mile loop hike but OMG it turned out to be 5.57 miles roundtrip!! It cost a $3 per car to park and if you have America the Beautiful Card its free!! It was a beautiful day, but it was so long and so many stairs!! Over 1,000 stairs!!

The provenance of this site is somewhat unclear, but I think it falls under the federal government…read moreand putting up my national parks pass was successful in getting me through a visit without paying any additional parking fee. The main falls are two miles uphill from the parking lot, but the entire journey is a series of eminently worthwhile sights and sounds. Signs warned of challenging currents for anyone taking a dip in the water, which some people did. I would note that when I arrived a rescue operation was underway and emergency services did drive someone by me with what thankfully appeared okay. There are trails on one elevated bank and one closer to the water, as well as some offshoots and extensions. It's a great stretch of forest where you could easily spend more time than the couple of hours I did.