When you stay in a cabin at a Virginia State Park there is typically a binder that shares more things to see and do surrounding the park or within a short drive. Today I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you from Smith Mountain Lake State Park. 

Sharp Top is a hike with a view - Abbott Lake below and the Blue Ridge Mountains

360 degree view from the pinnacle at Sharp Top at Peaks of Otter

Peaks of Otter hiking to Sharp Top - Sharp Top is a classic 3.0 mile round trip (out and back) hike at the Peaks of Otter. Sharp Top elevation is 3,875 feet and located near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. 

From hiking, the elevation total gain is 1289 ft. And you have to climb a lot of rocks to achieve this gain! The summit offers an impressive 360-degree view of the Peaks of Otter area (Parking is at Mile Post 86 on the Blue Ridge Parkway). Flat top is another popular hike at Peaks of Otter.

                  Here is the inside scoop: There is a shuttle that can take you up and back (or one way) close to the top. Getting from there to the 360 degree view still requires a climb up 1500 feet over a rocky trail. The shuttle charges $8 per adult and $6 for kids 12 and under round trip and is seasonal, learn more here.

For dining at the Peaks of Otter Lodge and more information click here.

Feel the tug on your heart strings at the National D-day Memorial in Bedford - The National D-Day Memorial is located in Bedford, Virginia — the community suffering the highest per capita D-Day losses in the nation. The Memorial honors the Allied forces that participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 during World War II. With its stylized English Garden, haunting invasion tableau, and striking Victory Plaza, the Memorial stands as a powerful permanent tribute to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of D-Day participants.  The Memorial is encompassed by the names of the 4,413 Allied soldiers who died in the invasion, the most complete list of its kind anywhere in the world. 

Click here for directions and hours of operation.

Travel America's Most Favorite Drive The Blue Ridge Parkway - a Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other, a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. Protecting a diversity of plants and animals, the Parkway meanders for 469 miles, providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special. 

Click here for more information.

More great ideas to explore the area when you visit

Smith Mountain Lake State Park:

From top left to bottom right:

1. Johnson's Orchard - Apple orchards, winery, animal farm, special events, the 200+ acres have around 7500 apple trees with almost 200 different varieties planted. Cost: FREE 
2. Booker T Washington National Monument - On April 5, 1856, Booker T. Washington was born a slave on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Cost: FREE 
3. Homestead Creamery - Stop in for a sweet treat and the best ice cream around, tour the plant, pet the animals. All the milk at Homestead Creamery comes from two local farms, both in their third and fourth generations of family ownership. Cost: Ice cream by the scoop, tours FREE
4. Virginia Dare Cruises - Experience the fresh air and scenery while cruising one of the most beautiful lakes in the East, Smith Mountain Lake. Narrated Wildlife cruises, theme cruises, dinner sunset cruises. Cost: Varies

Learn more about Smith Mountain Lake State Park

With over 500 miles of shoreline, this is the second largest freshwater lake in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the scenic Smith Mountain Lake State Park is the water enthusiast's paradise. There are numerous recreational water activities, including swimming, boat rentals, a boat ramp and a fishing pier. You can enjoy a picnic, go to the visitor center, enjoy a nature program, camp, tread miles of hiking and biking trails, stay in rustic cabins with adjacent boat docks. 

1235 State Park Road, Huddleston, VA 24104 (540) 297-6066 in Bedford County Virginia. Click here to learn more about overnight accommodations. Call 800-933-PARK or click here to check availability online.

There is no shortage of things to see and do when you

Visit Smith Mountain Lake State Park