Cruisin’ Smith Mountain Lake

It is that time of year! April 7th, you can start enjoying the wildlife of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare! On the first Wednesday of each month, you can learn about the local wildlife while enjoying a cruise on the Lake! You can learn about the flora and fauna of the area and even learn a little more about Smith Mountain Lake State Park!


On the Wildlife Wednesdays, a Smith Mountain Lake State Park nature interpreter will be on board to help narrate the noon cruise! Cruises leave the dock at noon on Wednesday and boarding starts at 11:30am. You can choose to cruise for lunch or just as a sightseeing tour.

The Virginia Dare will also be hosting an Easter Cruise this year. Spend the afternoon with the Easter Bunny out on the water! A meal is included in the ticket. Bring your camera and your little ones and they can have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny!

Cruising on the Lake is a great way to enjoy spring in Franklin County! Don’t forget the annual fishing tournament coming up in a few weeks! If it is hot waterfront property you are looking for, call Vicki Millehan! She is your local real estate expert at Smith Mountain Lake. Come for a visit and if you like it, then move here!

Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Home: Ready to GO!

One of the nice things about owning a vacation home on Smith Mountain Lake is that the mild climate normally allows for year round use. Unfortunately, not everyone can take advantage of that and some are only able to use their home during the warmer months. If you fall into the last category, the time has come to get your lakefront home ready for the summer season!


Packing for the first trip

If you winterized your vacation home at the end of summer last year, you may have taken your linens home with you. When you are rounding everything up to bring back to the lake, don’t forget extra towels and linens for guests. If you are going to be using your home frequently over the summer, you may want to restock all toiletries and cleaning supplies you will need. Luckily, Smith Mountain Lake is not just a resort town but a year round community, so you can pick up everything you need right here in town!

Turn It On!

First thing to do once you arrive is turn the water back on if needed. If you have no leaks, go ahead and turn on the hot water heater. It may seem pretty elementary, but in the excitement this can get missed. Cold showers are never fun! Don’t forget to flush the pipes if you winterized them. Last, plug the major appliances back in and you should be back in business!

Even if you don’t own a vacation home on Smith Mountain Lake; come for a visit, if you like it then move here! Call Vicki Millehan! She can help you find a waterfront property to call your own!

Jefferson’s Retreat Opens for the Season in Forest, VA

April 1st marks the season’s opening day at Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s villa retreat. Located a little over 30 miles from Smith Mountain Lake, this historical landmark is a look into the person who was Thomas Jefferson versus the President Thomas Jefferson. You can see the artifacts and hear the history of what happened after he left Washington.


Designed by Jefferson himself, Poplar Forest is said to be one of his greatest architectural accomplishments. Meticulous restorations have pulled this beautiful treasure back from the edge of ruin. It isn’t just the home being restored; the landscaping is being brought back to its original glory as well.

Using today’s science and technology, landscape archeologists are piecing together what the lawns may have looked like when Jefferson resided here. There are only a few drawings of the farm during that time period. By using soil samples, lab analysis, and excavation they soon hope they will be able to restore the landscape and lawns to their original design!

So whether you are a fan of history, architecture or gardens; Poplar Forest is the place to explore! Come and join the fun of Virginia Garden Week or the April Conversations program. Of course you don’t want to miss Mr. Jefferson’s birthday party on April 14th either.

There is so much to see and do in Bedford County Virginia! Come for a visit and if you like it, then move here! Call Vicki Millehan, she is your local real estate expert for Smith Mountain Lake and the surrounding area! Her team can help find your own personal retreat!

Spring Clean and Seeing Green on Smith Mountain Lake

Just take one look outside and you can see that spring is making its debut in Smith Mountain Lake! This weekend the weather will be sunny and warm with temperatures in the 70’s forecasted. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and spend some time outside spring cleaning! With the unusually heavy snowfall this year, you may find a few more things on your spring to do list, especially if you have your home for sale!


Step One: Clean up debris! Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains can pretty much guarantee you have some leaves and sticks to clean up from the yard. While this may seem like a small thing, having a neat yard free of clutter and debris can make a big difference in your home’s curb appeal. Don’t forget to clean out from under ornamental bushes or hedgerows to give your lawn a well manicured look!

Step Two: Check your plants! Heavy snow can damage your shrubs and bushes. Now is a great time to see how they really fared over the winter. Check for any breaks or splits in the trunk or main branches. You may be able to save any damages shrubs with some creative trimming, but you may just need to replace it. Do your best to match the new plant by size and shape to the one you are removing! It may cost a little more, but it will keep the mature landscaping look you are trying to maintain.

Lastly, make any repairs needed to the exterior of your home. From sidewalks to a new coat of paint, keeping the outside of your home in tip top shape will make your home stand out above the rest. Check the caulking around windows and door ways and refresh if needed. Besides looking great, it can help to keep your heating and cooling costs down.

Even if you aren’t selling your home, taking care of your investment is always a great idea! Spring cleaning both the inside and the outside of your home can help you see more green! When you are ready to buy or sell a Smith Mountain Lake home, call Vicki Millehan. She is your local real estate expert!

Everyone is Irish in Smith Mountain Lake!

Ok, maybe not everyone one is Irish, but anyone CAN BE Irish for the day as Smith Mountain Lake celebrates St Patrick’s Day. From family fun to great food, you can take your pick on how to celebrate! Here are just a few of the things going on at the lake!


Take the whole family to the Hot Shots Family Fun center on Saturday, March 13th for a St Patty’s Day themed day of fun. There will even be live music by the band Dragonfly! If you are looking for something a little more adult, head over to The Landing for their St Patrick’s Day party! They will have drink specials and live entertainment!

On March 17th you will find green galore throughout Smith Mountain Lake! You can start out the morning at the Bluebird Bakery and Grill for some green eggs and fried green tomatoes for breakfast. If you are more in the mood for lunch several are restaurants are offering up the traditional corned beef and cabbage in honor of the day!

The Blackwater Café will be serving special Irish beers on March 17th. They will also have Irish fare on the menu; Shepherd’s Pie, corned beef, and a seafood medley! Over at Bruno’s you can even try some Guinness Stew and fish-n-chips.

Over at Finz Bar and Grill, you can dance the evening away with Irish music, Irish food and drink specials! No matter how you want to spend St Patrick’s Day or even the weekend before, there is just too much to choose from! If you haven’t had a chance to visit the area, now’s your chance! Come for a visit and if you like it, then move here.

When you are ready to move to Smith Mountain Lake or the surrounding area, call Vicki Millehan! She is your local real estate expert. She will help you find the right home for the right amount of “green”…and that’s no blarney!!

Jefferson Center in Roanoke

If you haven’t swung by the Jefferson Center in Roanoke for awhile, you have a great excuse to do that on March 12th! Blue Highway will be celebrating their 15th anniversary with a night of music at the Jefferson’s Shaftman Performance Hall. It will be quite a show!


Blue Highway has a big following in bluegrass and other music genres. Beyond bluegrass, they will also be performing some Gospel music favorites and original work as well. But don’t expect just music! There is usually a good bit of humor thrown in to the mix as well. You can even purchase a VIP pass for a meet and greet with the band!

If humor is what you want then laughs is what you’ll get at the Big Lick Conspiracy show on March 13th at 8pm. Roanoke’s only improve group operates without a net! No script, no set and no costumes! Just hilarious skits they put together on the spot from the audience’s suggestions! Where they will end up, no one knows!

You can stop by the Corned Beef & Co. for a bite to eat on your way to the show. You can enjoy their ½ pound corned beef sandwich (yes...half a pound!!) Or try a “What-cha-ma-call-it” sandwiched piled with hot pastrami, coleslaw, melted Swiss cheese and topped with mustard and Russian dressing! And don’t forget their famous spiral fries! Whether it is St. Patrick’s Day or just any day in the week, you will find something great on the menu!

There is a reason we say come for a visit, and if you like it then move here! Great food and great music is just another night in here in Roanoke! When you are ready to make Franklin or Bedford County your home, call Vicki Millehan, your local real estate expert.

What Do You Need from Your Smith Mountain Lake Home?

Smith Mountain Lake is a wonderful place to live! Granted, I may be a bit prejudiced having been a resident for decades! But many people have come for a visit and found themselves moving to this little piece of heaven in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some purchase a vacation home and others become permanent residents in our community. Determining how and when you are going to be using your home is the first step to happiness on buying in Smith Mountain Lake!


The first thing to ask yourself is what you are going to be using your home for. Is this going to be the place for a weekend getaway or is it a permanent residence? Or will it be both? Your vacation home can easily become your retirement lake home. Once you decide what you are going to use your home for, you can look at what you need from it.

What do you want from your lake home? Is private water access a must or is a community boat ramp located nearby all you really need? In Smith Mountain Lake you have a view almost anywhere you buy a home, but you can choose from mountain vistas or sparkling waterscapes! Wooded lots make for excellent privacy!

Are there activities you want to enjoy without ever leaving home? Swimming, boating and fishing are all favorite water sports people like to enjoy from their own docks. If you prefer golf to fishing, a home next to one of the award winning courses may be a better fit for you.

Sometimes it is hard to know what you want if you haven’t had the chance to live in a waterfront property before. Working with a real estate agent who knows the area is a real plus! They can help you figure out what will work best for your lifestyle! If you have questions about life on the lake, call me, Vicki Millehan! Over 18 years experience in selling waterfront properties!