Fun for All Ages: Kid-Friendly Adventures Around Smith Mountain Lake
- stillwaterretreat2
- Oct 2
- 3 min read
Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, elementary-aged kids, or teens, the Smith Mountain Lake region offers a wide variety of family-friendly activities. From splashy beaches and playgrounds to mini-golf and arcades, you’ll find something for every energy level. Here’s a breakdown by age group, plus bonus ideas everyone can enjoy.
For Toddlers & Young Children
Soft, safe, and sweet — these are the kinds of activities perfect for little ones.
Smith Mountain Lake Community Park
What it offers: A 37-acre park with a playground, picnic areas, beach access, fishing, and walking paths. playfranklincounty.com
Why it’s great for toddlers: The shallow, supervised beach zone is ideal for splashing. The playground gives them space to climb and explore.
Smith Mountain Lake State Park
What it offers: Hiking, swimming, boat rentals, and children’s nature programs (e.g. ranger-led walks, Junior Naturalists)
the hidden box
Why it works for toddlers: The park has calmer trails (like Turtle Island, 1.4 mi loop) that are manageable for small legs, plus a sandy beach and safe swim zones.
Bonus: The park’s Discovery Center offers interactive environmental displays.
Moneta Park (Rucker Road)
What it offers: A local community park with picnic shelter, ball fields, a playground, and disc golf/course walkways.
Why it’s a good option: Close to Moneta, this is a low-stress spot for toddlers to burn energy before nap time.
Bridgewater Plaza — Fish Feeding
What it is: At Bridgewater Marina, kids can purchase popcorn ($1 or so) to feed large carp that gather at the docks.
Why it’s fun: It’s simple, interactive, and usually surprisingly thrilling for little ones to see hungry fish rise for snacks.
The Ice Cream Boat
What it is: A floating vendor that cruses the lake delivering ice cream to boaters and lakeside homes.
Why it works: A whimsical treat that kids will remember — “ice cream delivered by a boat!”
For Kids (Elementary Age)
Livelier activities that get them moving, exploring, and having fun.
Harbortown Mini Golf
What it offers: A lake-front miniature golf course in the Bridgewater Plaza area.
Why it’s good: Easygoing but fun competition for 6–12 year olds, with water views and kid appeal.
Fun-N-Games Family Entertainment Center
What it offers: Arcade games, kid-friendly amusements (video games, redemption machines) located at 16430 Booker T Washington Hwy, Moneta.
Yelp
Why it’s good: Rainy-day backup, indoor fun, variety of game options.
Bridgewater Plaza (Arcade, Rentals, Shops)
What it offers: In addition to mini golf and marina services, you’ll find arcade and games, ice cream, boat rentals, restaurants, and shops.
Why it’s a hit: One location where kids can choose their own adventure: play games, grab a treat, or rent a paddleboard.
Alpacas of Smith Mountain Lake Farm
What it offers: Educational farm tours, feeding and interacting with alpacas, petting farm elements.
Why it appeals: A hands-on animal experience that’s exciting and gentle — perfect for kids with curiosity about farm life.
Virginia Dare Cruises
What it offers: Sightseeing cruises on the lake.
Why it’s fun: Kids get a different perspective of the lake from the water, relaxing, scenic, and includes narration.
For Tweens & Teens
Adventures with a little more edge, autonomy, and fun competition.
Fun-N-Games / Arcade
Revisit this spot — teens often love arcade games, VR, or redemption games for prizes.
Yelp
Mini Golf (Harbortown)
Still fun at older ages — making par with tricky water shots and competition is engaging.
Water Sports & Boat Rentals
What it offers: Kayaks, paddleboards, wakeboarding, water skiing, jet skis, tubing.
Smith Mountain Lake Insiders' Guide 2025
Why it’s great for teens: Active, social, adventurous — teens love speed and challenge on the water.
Hiking & Trail Challenges
Smith Mountain Lake State Park Trails: The park has ~13 miles of trails of varied difficulty.
Smith Mountain Cooperative Wildlife Management Area: Offers hiking, horseback riding, and rugged terrain.
Wikipedia
Bourassa State Forest: Adjacent to the WMA, open to hiking and non-motorized use.
Wikipedia
Why teens enjoy it: Challenging hikes, scenic views, off-the-beaten-track exploration.
Splash Valley (Roanoke County)
What it offers: Outdoor aquatic facility with slides, spraygrounds, children’s water features.
Roanoke County Parks
Why it’s worth the drive: On a hot day, teens enjoy more dynamic water play and slides.
