1. Smith Mountain Lake
With 500 miles of shoreline in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Smith Mountain Lake is one of Virginia’s largest inland bodies of water. Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Bedford County is where you’ll find one of the lake’s two public beaches; the other is in Smith Mountain Lake Community Park in Franklin County. Anglers appreciate the opportunities to fish for striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and catfish. If you want to wake up close to the lakeshore, consider a cabin rental, tent site or RV site in Smith Mountain State Park, which is about 35 miles southeast of Roanoke. A cozy bed-and-breakfast not too far from the lake is Frazier 102, named for its street address on 102 Frazier Road in Alta Vista.
2. Lake Anna
Stretching 17 miles across Louisa and Spotsylvania counties, as well as a small slice of Orange County in the northeastern part of the state, Lake Anna is located about 80 miles south of Washington, D.C. This inland reservoir boasts 200 miles of shoreline. Interestingly, Lake Anna has a public and a private side. The public side offers many boat launches, gas pumps, marinas and restaurants, while the private area of the lake can be accessed only by local property owners. The public section of the lake borders Lake Anna State Park, where visitors flock for swimming, boating, fishing and hiking. The state park’s sandy beach area is family-friendly, with lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. You can stay overnight in a cabin, lodge or even a yurt at the state park; campsites are also available. Further afield, Stevenson Ridge in Spotsylvania offers lodging in 19th-century cabins and cottages on a rural 87-acre property.