Posted March 07, 2012 l Updated July 11, 2017

By Dianne Mills

If you are heading out to your favorite Virginia State Park for a week-long vacation this summer, here are some important things to do before you go. 

These are the things to be done at home to make sure you have a relaxing getaway.

It's exciting to head off for a week of camping, but we may forget what to do before we go

Make a checklist of what to do at the house before you head out

Don't let the anticipation of your family vacation to a cabin or campsite get in the way of securing the homefront

Campers turn right here

Suitcases packed…check! Car packed…check! But wait…before we go to Smith Mountain Lake State Park and soak up the scenery and the time away from the hustle and bustle of our busy life, we need to tie up the loose ends at home. We spend a lot of time thinking about the things we need to pack for our vacation, but equally important are the things we need to do before we leave for the lake.

Preparing to go on a week-long vacation can be stressful, so hopefully, this checklist will help you stay calm and organized.

1.  Hold all of your mail and newspapers or arrange for a friend or neighbor to collect these for you.

2.  Tell a neighbor or someone that you trust that you are out of town. Have them keep an eye on your house. 

3.  Create an itinerary and emergency contact list for relatives, friends, or caretakers. Keep a copy for yourself for easy reference.

4.  Arrange for pet care and/or plant and yard care.

        Edited to add: Dogs welcome at Virginia State Park cabins and campgrounds, so bring Fido along.

5. Check your prescriptions and refill any that need it.

6. Check and pay any bills that may come due while you are away.

7. Set interior timers so that a lamp or two turns on at night.

8. Check your calendar for any appointments that may have accidentally been scheduled during your vacation. Also check for any special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries that you normally acknowledge with a gift or a card.

9. Clear out the fridge, chucking anything that may spoil in your absence.

10. Take out the garbage – no one wants to come back to a smelly home.

11. Charge your mobile phones, iPods, iPads, laptops, etc. Don’t forget to bring the chargers with you. Does your cabin have Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi is not readily available at all locations around the lake. Perhaps you need to get a smartcard to take with you.

        Edited to add: Check with the park to see if they have WI-FI, typically the cabins and campgrounds will not, but you may find it near the visitor center/swimming beaches.

12. Print out the directions and confirmation for your cabin or campsite. If you have a GPS, take it along. 

13. Make copies of credit cards or other important documents in your wallet (just in case you leave your wallet at the bottom of the lake).  Notify your credit card company if you are traveling a great distance.

14. Make sure there are no wet clothes in your washer or dryer.

15. Set your thermometer to a more economical temperature. Unplug your toaster, computer, TV, coffee maker, and any other small appliance. There is no need to waste or pay for energy while you are away.

16. Pick up reading material for those lazy afternoons in a hammock by the lake.

17. Make sure all doors and windows are locked.

18. Finalize your packing.

        Edited to add: Also make a checklist of what not to forget packing, like lots of sunscreen and bug repellent.

Summer vacation is the best 

CAMPING AND CABINS

Virginia State Parks provide comfortable and economical overnight lodging choices with more than 300 cabins to choose from of various sizes throughout the state. Many of these cabins are available year round, consider an off season getaway. In addition to cabins we also offer family lodges, bunkhouse and yurts. Learn more about these offerings at Virginia State Parks here.

Click here to check on availability and to reserve online, or call 800-933-7275 during business hours.

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Editor's note: We are sharing this blog again as it has some great information and reminders for all of us before we leave home and head out for a week in the wild, er state park. I would like to add one bonus item to Dianne's list:

I.C.E. - In your cell phone add an I.C.E. "In Case of Emergency" phone number to your contacts list. First responders will check this to see who they need to contact should an emergency arise. Also, if your phone is locked, consider putting this I.C.E. number on your locked screen. 

Visit Dianne's SML Show Facebook page here for more information on Smith Mountain Lake events, sights of interest and cool things to do during your visit to Smith Mountain Lake State Park.