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Smith Mountain Lake

Water sports have never known such a home. Nestled in the protective embrace of the mountains, this picturesque lake offers over 20,000 acres of playground for boaters, fishermen, swimmers, skiers, sailors, and water enthusiasts of all ages. The rolling shores are a haven for wildlife and are home to hiking, horseback riding trails, tennis and some of the most beautiful golf courses and resorts in the state.

Visit Smith Mountain Lake State Park, where a boat ramp and beach offer access to one of the Commonwealth's most beautiful bodies of water. The boat ramp, fishing pier, hiking trails and restroom facilities are open year round. Campsites and cabins are available. The park is open for day use from 8:00 a.m. to dusk daily. Interior gates to the hiking trails and picnic area close at dusk daily. Pets are permitted but must be kept in an enclosed area or on a leash. A fee is charged per pet/night for overnight guests. Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 1235 State Park Road, Huddleston, VA 24104, 540-297-6066. For reservations or more information on any of Virginia State Parks, call 1-800-933-PARK or visit www.dcr.state.va.us.

The Booker T. Washington National Monument
This monument honors the life and legacy of African-American leader Booker T. Washington. Born into slavery on this restored Burroughs tobacco farm in 1856, Washington rose to prominence as an educator, orator and founder of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. This historic site interprets Washington's life through exhibits, film, a living history farm, guided tours and special events. The park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the park is free. The Monument is located at 12130 Booker T. Washington Highway (Virginia 122), approximately 32 miles from Bedford and is a part of the National Park Service. E-mail connie_mays@nps.gov or www.nps.gov/bowa for more information.

For additional information on properties, businesses, vacation rentals, dining and shopping opportunities at the Lake, contact the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber and Visitor Center located at Bridgewater Plaza, Highway 122 just west of the Hale's Ford Bridge, 1-800-676-8203, visit www.smlchamber.com.

Visit www.discoversml.com for a fun, entertaining and informative way to get to know what Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia has to offer.

Upcoming Events

• May 17 - Restoration Talk and Tour - 3:00pm to 4:00pm - In honor of National Historic Preservation month, Director of Restoration Travis McDonald will present a slide talk and tour explaining why Jefferson's design of his retreat, Poplar Forest, was a radically modern work of architecture in America for its time. Jefferson's work was a "melting pot" of architectural prototypes but also very personal. The current restoration work on the wing of service rooms is one of the most Jeffersonian parts of the architecture and one that was innovative and unusual in American architecture. Standard admission charge, which also includes a separate tour of the house either before or after the restoration tour. - Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, 1548 Bateman Bridge Road, Route 661, Forest - 434-525-1806 - www.poplarforest.org

• May 24 - Moonlight Serenade - 7:00pm - See the Memorial at dusk on this special Memorial Day weekend. The Jefferson Choral Society will perform an evening concert of 1940s music from 8:00pm to 9:00pm. Performer Keith Campbell will kick off the concert at 7pm. The Memorial will remain open until 10:00pm. - National D-Day Memorial, Bedford - 540-586-3329 - www.dday.org

• May 31 - 3rd Annual BBQ at Sedalia - Barbeque connoisseurs will gather at the 3rd annual BBQ festival to celebrate the art and secrets of slow-cooked pork barbeque. Tastin' starts at High noon! BBQ Teams will likely begin cooking Friday night and continue into the early hours of Saturday morning. The 4-person teams typically have playful names, but are serious about tasty and tender pork barbeque. - The Sedalia Center, 1108 Sedalia School Road, Big Island - $ - 434-299-5080 - www.sedaliacenter.org

These events and more can be found in our event calendar.

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