Smith Mountain Laker

Smith Mountain Laker The lifestyle magazine for Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia and surrounding areas

🐾 The Top Dog of the Lake Contest Is Back!Does your pup have what it takes to be the Top Dog of the Lake? We’re now acce...
03/06/2026

🐾 The Top Dog of the Lake Contest Is Back!

Does your pup have what it takes to be the Top Dog of the Lake? We’re now accepting photo submissions for our Second Annual Top Dog of the Lake Photo Contest!

📸 Submit your dog’s photo on our website by March 15 for a chance to compete.
🗳 Public voting runs March 16–29.
🏆 The winning pup will be featured on the cover of our May/June issue!

Ready to show off your lake-loving companion? Submit your dog’s photo at smithmountainlake.com (link in bio). 🐕✨

Where have your travels taken you lately? 🌎Ken and Kathi Britske of Wirtz recently cruised Alaska’s breathtaking Inside ...
02/23/2026

Where have your travels taken you lately? 🌎

Ken and Kathi Britske of Wirtz recently cruised Alaska’s breathtaking Inside Passage — spotting whales, exploring the rich legends behind towering totem poles, and touring unforgettable ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Icy Strait Point. They also visited several awe-inspiring glaciers, including Mendenhall Glacier, recently in the news as climate change accelerates melting and flooding in the area.

We’d love to feature your adventures next!

📸 Send your high-resolution travel photos to [email protected]
✈️ Include your trip destination and the names of any individuals pictured.

Your journey could inspire fellow Laker readers to plan their next great escape.

🍷 Cheers to National Drink Wine Day! Looking for the perfect pour at the Lake? Raise a glass to . From crisp sauvignon b...
02/18/2026

🍷 Cheers to National Drink Wine Day! Looking for the perfect pour at the Lake? Raise a glass to .

From crisp sauvignon blanc and refreshing rosé to bold cabernet franc and malbec, their robust selection offers something for every palate. And it’s not just about the wines. The space attracts a diverse mix of guests who come for the events, which entail hot air balloons, live music, rodeos, and even monster truck rallies (Wind Vineyards even has their own truck, fittingly named the Grape Crusher 🍇).

With a new 68-acre Bedford County home and a stunning timber-frame tasting room on the way, Wind Vineyards is blending agritourism, family fun, and award-winning wine in a way that’s uniquely their own.

📷
👉Learn more about Wind Vineyards at SmithMountainLake.com

High above the shoreline, hard at work 🌳Mary Ellen Davenport captured this moment of a climber carefully helping take do...
02/13/2026

High above the shoreline, hard at work 🌳

Mary Ellen Davenport captured this moment of a climber carefully helping take down a tree — a reminder that life at Smith Mountain Lake is as much about stewardship as it is about scenery.

Have a stunning Lake view of your own? Whether it’s a sweeping landscape, wildlife sighting, or a unique slice of life at Smith Mountain Lake, we’d love to feature it in a future issue of Laker.

📸 Email your photo to [email protected]
Include your name, location, and a short description.

Show us your Lake views — your shot could be next!

Voted #1 Mexican restaurant in the 25th Annual Best of Smith Mountain Lake Awards, Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Grill co...
02/06/2026

Voted #1 Mexican restaurant in the 25th Annual Best of Smith Mountain Lake Awards, Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Grill continues to win hearts (and cravings) with incredible food, genuine hospitality, and a true family spirit.

Founded by brothers Elias and Honorio Zaragoza, Cancun opened its original Westlake location in 2007 and expanded to Bridgewater in 2023. Fan favorites include the famous ACP (arroz con pollo) and the wildly popular Quesabirria Tacos, made with their own birria recipe and celebrated for its rich flavor and tender meat. Insider tip? Don’t overlook the Queso Fundido Cancun, a sizzling, fajita-style dish with homemade chorizo, shrimp, mushrooms, and onions that regulars swear by.

And for margarita lovers: the jalapeño cucumber fresh juice margarita is a standout, especially when paired with their thoughtfully curated tequila selection—where añejo reigns supreme for sipping and savoring.

👉 Read the full story at SmithMountainLake.com
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We don’t know about you, but we’re dreaming of warmer climates right about now ☀️🌴 and loving the travel inspiration our...
02/04/2026

We don’t know about you, but we’re dreaming of warmer climates right about now ☀️🌴 and loving the travel inspiration our readers are sending in.

Recently, the Jalbert, Sharp, and Cullather families enjoyed a sunny getaway to Marsh Harbour in the Abaco Islands, Bahamas. Pictured from left: Dan, Davis, Mary Fowler, Adam, Lynn, Brian, Tavin, Mattox, Livi, and Vicki — making memories and soaking up island time together.

Has your Laker been on a fabulous trip lately? We’d love to see it!

📸 Send your high-resolution travel photos to [email protected], and be sure to include your destination and the names of everyone pictured. Captions may be edited for clarity or space.

Clay season is calling 🏺This February, the invites adults to slow down, get grounded, and create with their hands. From...
02/02/2026

Clay season is calling 🏺

This February, the invites adults to slow down, get grounded, and create with their hands. From therapeutic clay-making to intuitive handbuilding and wheel throwing, these upcoming classes offer space for both reflection and skill-building, no matter where you’re starting from.

Upcoming classes in Bedford:
• Adult Clay Handbuilding with Tomas Kilian — Feb. 3, 4–6 p.m.
• Adult Beginner & Intermediate Wheel Throwing — Feb. 3, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Come for the clay. Stay for the process.
Learn more at bowercenter.org

Opening a restaurant had long been a dream for Jose and Irma Perez, and when they discovered Smith Mountain Lake in 2017...
01/30/2026

Opening a restaurant had long been a dream for Jose and Irma Perez, and when they discovered Smith Mountain Lake in 2017, they knew they’d found more than just the perfect location. They found home.

Today, that dream is thriving. Cilantro Mexican Grill has been named the #2 Mexican Restaurant in the Best of Smith Mountain Lake Awards, a well-earned honor that reflects the warmth, authenticity, and family spirit poured into every dish.

From guest favorites like arroz con pollo, fajita nachos, piña rellena, and the Burrito California, to crave-worthy house margaritas (black raspberry and jalapeño are local legends), Cilantro is about more than great food. As Irma puts it, “It’s about giving the community a place where they feel welcome and can share special moments.”

Run by the Perez family alongside a close-knit staff they proudly call their “mini-family,” Cilantro Mexican Grill has become a gathering place where comfort food, honest hospitality, and community come together.

📍 Cilantro Mexican Grill
1035 Mercantile St., Suite 102
Moneta

Read more at SmithMountainLake.com
Story by
Photos by

🎨 Happening Tonight! 🎨Looking for a fresh way to kick off the new year? Tonight is the perfect chance to spark a new hob...
01/28/2026

🎨 Happening Tonight! 🎨
Looking for a fresh way to kick off the new year? Tonight is the perfect chance to spark a new hobby or rediscover a creative passion.

Mosaics Basics with Dotti Stone
📅 Jan. 28 | ⏰ 6–8:30 p.m.
📍 Bower Center for the Arts, Bedford

Learn the fundamentals of mosaic design, work with glass and porcelain tiles, and explore techniques you can use for future projects. Whether you’re brand new or just creatively curious, this hands-on class is a great place to start.

🔗 Learn more at bowercenter.org

Jose’s Mexican Grill has been voted #3 Best Mexican Restaurant in the 25th Annual Best of Smith Mountain Lake Awards, a...
01/24/2026

Jose’s Mexican Grill has been voted #3 Best Mexican Restaurant in the 25th Annual Best of Smith Mountain Lake Awards, and it’s easy to see why.

From standout favorites like ACP, fajitas, and their wildly popular birria to a tequila and bourbon selection that rivals the best in the region, Jose’s delivers quality, flavor, and a warm, family-friendly atmosphere across its Rocky Mount, Union Hall, and Ferrum locations.

Perhaps what stands out the most though, is the way Owner Ceasar Macias cares for his community. The restaurant provides free meals to those in need — no questions asked — especially around the holidays. They run toy drives with local businesses, raise funds for area schools, and offer student discounts at Ferrum College. As Manager Koby Padgett puts it, “Whenever the community asks, Ceasar is always there to do it.”

👉 Read our full feature on the best Mexican restaurants around Smith Mountain Lake at smithmountainlake.com (link in bio).

Story by
Photos by

As part of Raising the Shade, the Franklin County Public Library will host two engaging discussions led by Dr. Sarah Plu...
01/22/2026

As part of Raising the Shade, the Franklin County Public Library will host two engaging discussions led by Dr. Sarah Plummer, alongside community researchers, exploring the lives and legacies of Franklin County–born United States Colored Troops (USCT).

🗓 Saturday, January 24 | 11 a.m.
A powerful discussion on USCT members who were enslaved and sold as children — and the lives they went on to lead.

🗓 Wednesday, January 28 | 2 p.m.
A continuation of the story, focusing on Franklin County–born soldiers, including those who returned to Virginia and those who did not.

📍 Franklin County Public Library
355 Franklin Street, Rocky Mount

These events are free, but registration is required.

Learn more about Raising the Shade and read the full story at smithmountainlake.com.

Pictured: Raising the Shade monument unveiled on Jan. 18. Courtesy of

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15772 Moneta Road
Moneta, VA
24121

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