The Roanoker - May/June 2014 - 88

KATIE LARRINGTON

Above: Downtown Moneta
has seen a rebirth in recent
years.
Right: Paddle boats are big
at Smith Mountain Lake
State Park.

88 MAY/JUNE 2014

* Parrot Cove Boat Rentals, 540-721-5363,
parrotcove.com.
* Smith Mountain Lake Boat Rentals,
540-484-3980, smlboatrentals.com.
* Parkway Marina, 540-297-4412,
parkwaymarina.com.
Lunch:
Have lunch at one of Bridgewater Plaza's restaurants.
bridgewaterplaza.com.They include Moosie's (540-7215255), Chopsticks Chinese Restaurant, serving a lunch
buffet (540-721-8839), and Pizza Pub (540-721-1234).
Afternoon fun:
Tour a winery: There are several wineries in the Smith
Mountain Lake area where visitors can taste locallymade wines and see the countryside.
Try Hickory Hill Vineyards & Winery, a longtime
commercial winery in Moneta. Its wines include vintage, estate grown Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc and award
winning Cabernet Sauvignon. The owners host tours and
complimentary wine tastings in the vineyard's renovated
1923 farmhouse. 540-296-1393, smlwine.com.
Or head to Brooks Mill Winery in Wirtz. This family owned and operated fruit farm and winery specializes in fruit wines, including dry blackberry, blueberry
and pear. Its wines also are sold at numerous shops and
restaurants. The winery offers complimentary tastings.
540-721-5215, brooksmillwine.com.
You can't leave Smith Mountain Lake without visiting
a new addition, Sunken City Brewing Co. This microbrewery opened last year inside an 8,800-square-foot

facility beside the Westlake Towne Center in Hardy. It
features a canning room, tap room, outdoor beer garden,
a brewhouse and a fermentation area. Year-round offerings include a dam lager (amber lager), brown porter
and Red Clay IPA (India Pale Ale). Check the brewery's
schedule for summertime live entertainment and other
events. 540-420-0476, sunkencitybeer.com.
Hit the beach:
Smith Mountain Lake State Park's public beach is the
perfect way to enjoy a sunny Saturday afternoon. This
500-foot beach in Huddleston has lifeguards on duty
during operating hours, and swimming is free for
overnight guests staying in the park's campsites and
cabins. The beach includes a picnic area and a snack
bar. 540-297-6066, dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/smithmountain-lake.shtml.
Smith Mountain Lake Community Park offers another public beach, located in Franklin County. The
37-acre park also features a fishing pier, picnic areas
and hiking trails. Lifeguards are on duty during the
beach's seasonal hours, which are May through September. 540-483-9293, franklincountyva.gov/index.
php/swimming.
Dinner:
When dining at Smith Mountain Lake, you can't beat a
table with a view. Here are some suggestions.
For casual lakefront dining with a Caribbeanthemed twist, head to Jake's Place in Moneta, where
dinner entrees include a variety of seafood dishes, such
as angry tuna pasta and spicy shrimp and grits, chicken,
THE

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http://www.parrotcove.com http://www.smlboatrentals.com http://www.parkwaymarina.com http://www.sunkencitybeer.com http://www.bridgewaterplaza.com http://dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/smith-mountain-lake.shtml http://dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/smith-mountain-lake.shtml http://www.smlwine.com http://www.franklincountyva.gov/index.php/swimming http://www.franklincountyva.gov/index.php/swimming http://www.brooksmillwine.com http://www.THEROANOKER.COM

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