Smith Mountain Lake — Lock & Key Photography

Hey everyone! Today I'm sharing a bit about our trip to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia! My family usually plans a vacation every summer, but SML is by far one of my top choices. Don't get me wrong... I love the beach, but there is just something about a lake that is so comforting to me. Maybe it's the lack of sand (and sharks!) or the water activities (hello jet skis and tubing!) or maybe it's just the opportunity to walk out the back door and enjoy some coffee with a view. Either way, any sort of mountain/lake area is my happy place.

I didn't take my camera out too much during the week so my photo choices are a bit limited, but I did want to highlight a few of my favorite parts!

Highlights of our trip to Smith Mountain Lake!

1. To point out the obvious... THIS VIEW.

Doesn't get much better than that

2. Time with family & friends

It's always great to have some quality time with loved ones. These summer trips are the one time a year that family meets up with our extended family from Georgia (Virginia is a good half way point!). And it just so happens that my best friend has friends with a house on the same lake. So we were able to spend a few days with them too! It was also nice just to hang out with Josh. We were in the midst of home buying (we had settlement the day after we returned to PA) and getting ready for a long month of fixing up the house... So it was great to have some downtime with him before all of the chaos. It was also his birthday, so we got to celebrate in an awesome place!

3. The Dock

Josh and I lucked out because it was our turn to share the small cottage down by the dock. This was great not only because it was cute, but also because this put us just a few feet from the dock where we spent a majority of our time. I can't express how much I loved hanging out by the water with a cup of coffee, a book, or just watching the water. My definition of relaxing.

4. Water fun!

I didn't get too many photos of water activities for obvious reasons, but we had a lot of fun out on the boat! Whether at our own house or visiting with friends across the lake there was tubing, fishing, waterskiing, rope swings, anddd just hanging out on food shaped rafts (: Josh even got to drive the boat a few times.

5. And last but not least... MY BEST FRIEND GOT ENGAGED.

Devin proposed to Jena when we were hanging out on their friends dock. Jena and Devin were along for our engagement, so I was so excited to have the opportunity to witness theirs. Oh, and she said yes! I'm so happy that my best friend and I get to experience this part of our lives together!

Of course there were other awesome parts of this trip that I didn't physically document, but we will always remember! Josh and I were supposed to head to the mountains in central PA this upcoming weekend, but just found out that we won't be able to go :( I guess we will just have to reminisce!