Finding the right venue

It isn't easy to find a private place in a beautiful setting with great activities for all ages that can also accommodate up to 24 people. So, when we found a private waterfront point with two houses and spectacular views, the idea of renovating the properties for reunions was born. The fact that Cabin 1 and 2 are only a short walk away, offering overflow accommodations, clinched the deal. Several hundred reunions and a decade later, we are still finding ways to improve the experience for our guests.

Choosing right cottages

The Comparison Chart on this page is an important tool for figuring out which properties you will need. We suggest that you assign people to beds/bedrooms to make sure that people can fit in comfortably. In some cases we have more places for people to sleep than are allowed in the property. This is done to provide you with more flexibility. Also, keep in mind that very young children needn’t be counted in the number of guests.

Too many people for the properties available?

If your reunion exceeds 24 people, or if some of the properties are already booked and you need more space, we can help. While the Main House is unique in our area, there are other nearby properties that may be available. These properties are not owned by Silver Bay View Cottages, but we often coordinate with the owners to accommodate larger groups. Please ask, we are happy to help.

Making plans

Other than finding the best venue, the most challenging part of planning a reunion is picking a date that works for everyone. If you are planning a reunion in the peak season, mid-June to mid-August, you will need to book well in advance. We typically get a few bookings one year in advance, but it really picks up in January and February.

The Availability Calendar, found on the Rates & Reservations page, allows you to see all the availability of all the properties at once. While we make every effort to keep the calendar up to date, during peak booking days we can fall behind, so please call us! For those who wonder, peak booking days are one of the great mysteries of this business. Anything from a snowstorm in the northeast, to the first warm day of spring, or possibly a new moon seem to trigger a flood of booking inquiries.

Choosing the best property for your family

Families of two to four people have lots of choices! Cabins 1 and 2 are ideal for families of four or fewer. However, some families prefer the Cedar Cabin or the Main House for the hot tubs, fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, larger rooms and private docks. We suggest that you review the pages on each property, check the availability calendar and choose the one that you like best!

Plan ahead to have a great vacation

If you have never been to Smith Mountain Lake before, you will have a better vacation if you plan your visit around the ages and interest of all the members of your family. When you call us, we will ask you about your family and help you figure out the best activities to consider. The Activities page lists all kinds of activities, but we thought it might be helpful to list a few of the activities that we recommend for different age groups.

Families with young children

As parents of twin boys, we first visited the lake when they were only 3 years old. We wish we knew then what we know now! For the best and safest boating experience, we recommend pontoon boats. Their flat deck and “fence” around the boat make it the safest option as well as the most comfortable. To allow young children to safely enter the water, we recommend visiting the sandy beach at the State Park. Be sure and bring the classic pail and shovel, as well as a shade umbrella if you plan to be out for long. It is about 15 minutes away and also includes a playground area.

Families with children over ~age 7

There is nothing that can beat the joy of tubing! Either bring your own tube, or rent one from Mitchell’s Marina. When not being pulled behind a boat, tubes make great water toys when swimming off of the dock.

Don’t forget fishing! There are lots of pan fish under the docks that can easily be caught with a No. 16 hook and a worm. Consider having your children dig worms out of your garden at home as a way to prepare them for the vacation. Children naturally love to connect with nature by exploring the shoreline.

All ages will enjoy hiking at the State Park or at the Peaks of Otter in the Blue Ridge. However, a change in pace can be nice after a little too much sun. Consider a visit to Bridgewater Plaza with its arcade games and ice cream parlor.

Families with pre-teens, teens and older children

Water sports, such as skiing and wakeboarding, are loved by youngsters and adults alike. Many of our guests enjoy physical challenges of hiking to the top of Sharp Top at the Peaks of Otter to see the 360 degree views of the spine of the Blue Ridge, the Roanoke valley and Smith Mountain Lake in the distance. The visitor center at the Smith Mountain Lake Dam offers a fascinating look at how energy is stored in this unique two-lake system.

A change is setting can be a powerful tool to stimulate creative strategic thinking for executive teams. Over the years, several major corporations have chosen Silver Bay View Cottages as the best place to hold their retreats. They found the setting effective and have visited several times. The Main House is usually used as the central location for meetings with the other locations used for resting or sidebars. To reinforce relationships, some groups have hired fishing guides or booked dinner cruises. Use the Compare Features page to figure out accommodations and the Availability Calendar to see if the properties you need are available.

Looking for a way to get away from it all for a couple months? In January and February the lake is particularly quiet and we make the Main House and Cedar Cabin available at attractive monthly rates. Cabins 1 and 2 are not available for long-term rentals, as they are winterized in these months. Give us a call and we can discuss your particular needs.