You don’t have to leave Smith Mountain Lake to take a cruise in beautiful waters! The Virginia Dare is one of two marvelous cruise ships that tour the 500 miles of Smith Mountain Lake shoreline regularly from April through December. She can accommodate up to 135 passengers and you can even purchase boarding passes for regular cruising. Below is a short history of the Virginia Dare.
The Virginia Dare is a 19th-century replica side-wheeler that is 63’ long, 20 ‘ wide, and 26.6 ‘ tall. The Virginia Dare was built in the spring of 1989 and made the long trip partially by water and partially by land from La Crosse, Wisconsin to Moneta, Virginia. On its long journey through many states, it encountered no problems until it reached a bridge on US Rt 220 just outside of Roanoke where it got stuck for several Days. The boat and the flatbed carrier were too heavy to cross the Bridge together, so the 50-ton boat had to be removed from the Flatbed so that the two could cross separately. Finally, in May of 1989, the Virginia Dare completed her maiden voyage.
You can join any of their charter cruises (perfect for individuals, couples, or groups), which normally last for about two hours. Or you can purchase additional time including a Private Charter, by contacting the reservation department.
The Virginia Dare Cruise would be a fabulous day trip for the family or a great alternative for the next big party you want to throw. You can check prices for various lengths of time on board at their website. But regardless of your desire or occasion, with 23,000 acres of water and a summer day, how could you go wrong?
