CityView Magazine

18 July 2022 "Desmond loves the water, and this is perfect for our oldest with the inflatable park," she says. "It's a great place, especially for families with young children. You don't have to worry about rip currents like you do at the beach." e Houleses plan to visit again when they return to the area to visit family. Friends Tonya Cody and LaVika Shull rented a pavilion and spent the day at the lake. "It's close to home, and these water sports can't be beat," Cody says. Shull's 14-year-old son, Blake, says his favorite activity was paddleboarding. "He's so adventurous," Shull says of her son, adding that he had stayed in the water the entire day without a break. Shull appreciates how organized the recreation area is with timed activities that visitors can sign up for to avoid crowding. She says she was pleasantly surprised by how much the area offers families. "It's well-kept and unlimited,'' she says. "We've been out here for five hours, and the children have been on the go all day." Cody says her daughters love the water sports as well. "Everything is family-friendly, and the lifeguards are a peace of mind," Cody says. Her 10-year-old daughter, Kristina, says the lake felt as safe as a community pool. "I've made new friends out here today, and it's just great,'' she says. Her 17-year-old sister, Olivia, agreed, saying her favorite activities are kayaking and the aqua park. "It's like 'Wipeout'," she says with a laugh. The 67-acre, man-made lake features a full beach, an inflatable in-water obstacle course, kayaking, stand-up paddleboards and pedal boats. Top to bottom: Cynthia Vanegas goes down the slide at Fort Bragg's Smith Lake Recreation Area; A soldier navigates the floating obstacle course; Nathan Grassie, Cynthia Vanegas and Merrisa Summers prepare to slide into the water at Smith Lake.

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