SML Insiders’ Guide Magazine Fall 2026
Our Fall 2026 issue celebrates the very best of Smith Mountain Lake in all its autumn glory.
Photo by Javon Enoch, Rapid Imagery
Fall 2026 Issue
Volume 3 | Issue 2
Experience the best of fall at Smith Mountain Lake with colorful foliage, cooler weather and must-attend events. From the SML Wine Festival to the Charity Home Tour, fall weekends are packed with things to do in the bustling season of autumn. This issue also introduces our inaugural Education Guide with an easy-to-use reference to public and private schools, higher education, career training and lifelong learning opportunities. Read individual stories or flip through the digital issue!
Explore the Fall 2026 Issue
SML Chili Festival: An Insider's Guide (2026)
Spice up a fall afternoon with chili tastings, lakeside shopping, live music and friendly competition…
Inside the Bourbon Barn on the 2026 SML Charity Home Tour
With a soaring bourbon lounge above and a hidden speakeasy below, Jeannie and Rob LaBella’s…
Moving to Smith Mountain Lake: Family Guide (2026)
Schools, recreation and a strong sense of community are making year-round living at Smith Mountain…
2026 Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour: Insider's Guide
The Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour returns for its 36th year, offering a rare…
Community Spotlight: Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County
Building homes, hope and long-term stability for Franklin County families Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity…
Join Dine Out to Lift Up SML Walk to End Poverty (2026)
SML Insiders is proud to be partnering with Lake Christian Ministries on two community-wide events…
Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival: Insider's Guide (2026)
Sip, savor and celebrate at one of the lake’s largest, oldest and most popular annual…
18 Essential Smith Mountain Lake Fall Events (2026)
Cool mornings, uncrowded coves and a calendar packed with festivals, concerts and long-running traditions make…
Rocky Mount Fest: An Insider's Guide (2026)
Enjoy live music from more than a dozen bands, browse local artisan goods and savor…
Smith Mountain Lake Schools: An Insider's Guide (2026)
Your complete resource for finding educational opportunities around Smith Mountain Lake for every age and…
Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944: A Traveling Exhibit at the National D-Day Memorial
A limited-time exhibit explores the courage and sacrifice of the troops who landed at Omaha…
SML Watershed 101: Where Smith Mountain Lake's Water Comes From
Understanding the watershed that feeds and protects Smith Mountain Lake. Heather Snyder The ongoing drought…
We’d love your feedback and story ideas. Send them to info@smith-mountain-lake.com.
Cover photo by Javon Enoch, Rapid Imagery
Fall 2026 Advertisers
- Aspire
- Bedford Tourism
- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices –
Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
SML – Dana Montgomery - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
SML – Jada Turner - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
SML – Jane Sullivan Horne - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
SML – Kimberly Willard - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
SML – Steven Jones - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
SML – Vicki Millehan & Debbie Shelton - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
SML – Vicki Millehan & Debbie Shelton - Bridgewater Boat Company
- Bridgewater Marina and Boat Rentals
- Bruno’s Clubhouse Bistro
- Capps Home Building Center
- Construction Marketing
- Cooper Contractors
- CTS&I
- Deb Beran Properties
- Elegant Exteriors by TBS
- F&S Building Innovations
- Ferrum College
- Gilbert Law PC
- Grand Home Furnishings
- Jo & Co. Jewelers
- Lake Retreat Properties
- Little Ponderosa Pet Resort & Spa
- Long & Foster Real Estate –
Glenda & Steven McDaniel - Mariners Marketplace
- Minerva Aesthetics
- ML Realty – Carmela Adams and Mary Lou McDonald
- Mountain View Orthodontics and Dental Sleep Center
- Phil Hager Insurance Agency
- RE/MAX Lakefront Realty – Charlene Jones
- Seven Oaks Landscape-Hardscape
- Smith Mountain Lake Association
- Smith Mountain Lake Dental Practice
- Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival
- Sole Source Solution
- Southern Heritage Homes
- Southern Lights Outdoor Lighting & Audio Systems
- TBS Construction
- The Cottage Gate
- The Plyler Group
- The Smith Mountain Lake Center
- Tiff’s Lakefront
- Town of Rocky Mount
- Turner’s Dock Building
- Virginia Furniture Market
- Wilson Premier Properties
Print Magazine Distribution Locations
BEDFORD AREA
- Bedford Welcome Center
- Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce
- Huddleston Sunoco
- Liberty Station Restaurant
DOWNTOWN MONETA AREA
- Diamond Hill General Store
- Food Lion
- Lyons Team Realtors
- Mayberry Diner
- ML Realty
- Moneta/SML Library
EASTLAKE
- Bedford Landings Bed & Breakfast
- Bruno’s Clubhouse Bistro
- Drifter’s / Goodhue Boat Company, Eastlake
- Lake Retreat Properties
- Mitchell’s Point Marina
- Parkway Marina
- SML State Park – Main Office
- Sweetwater RV Park
- The Pointe at Mariners Landing
- Tiff’s Lakefront
- Virginia Dare Marina / Beacon Pub / Portside Grill & Bar
HALESFORD BRIDGE
- Bridgewater Marina
- Cancun Bar & Grill
- CB Sales & Rentals
- Fun-N-Games Arcade
- Gilbert Law Firm
- Gifts Ahoy
- Halesford Harbour Inn
- La Casa Toscana
- Long & Foster Realtors
- Mango’s Bar & Grill
- Marina 66
- MKB Realtors
- Parrot Cove Boat Rentals
- Pizza Pub
- Red Rock Store
- RE/MAX Lakefront Realty
- Smith Mountain Lake Visitor Center
- SML Coffee House
- SML Vacation Rentals
- Vinny’s Italian Restaurant
- Wainwright Realty
- Webster Marine Center
LAKEWATCH PLANTATION
- The Copper Kettle
- Farmhouse Catering
WESTLAKE
- Atlantic Union Bank
- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
- Booker T. Washington National Monument
- Cancun Bar & Grill
- Capps Home Building Center
- Casago
- Crosswhite Athletic Club
- Hager Insurance
- Hot Shots Bar & Grill
- Joe’s Pizza
- Mama Ann’s Gifts & Goodies
- Old Oak Café
- Ridge View Bank
- The Bagel & I
- The Discovery Shop
- The Willard Companies
- Truist Bank
- VitaZen
- Westlake Cinema
- Westlake Library
ROCKY MOUNT
- Billiards & More
- crafted by Virginia Furniture Market
SCRUGGS AREA
- Bernard’s Landing Rental Office
- Coasters / Goodhue Boat Company, Blackwater
- Deb Beran Properties
- Gills Creek Marina
- Magnum Point Marina
- Napoli by the Lake
- Napoli Cowboy
BURNT CHIMNEY
- Envisions Flooring & Interiors
- Franklin Glass
- Homestead Creamery
SOUTHLAKE
- Nick’s Penhook General Store
- Read Between the Wines
- Penhook Minute Market
- The Little Mule Café
- The Dock at SML
- The Water’s Edge Country Club (Real Estate Sales Office)
- Turner’s Dock Building
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Explore Our Seasonal Magazine for All Things SML!
SML Insiders is the definitive publication for living, playing and exploring at Smith Mountain Lake. Packed with stunning photography, local stories, expert tips and seasonal guides, it’s a must-read for residents and visitors alike. Find it in print at 75-plus key locations around the lake and online for year-round inspiration and insider access.
