Lake Anna Bucket List Challenge: Adventures Worth Checking Off 

There’s more to Lake Anna than pontoons and party coves. This 13,000‑acre reservoir is the beating heart of Central Virginia—equal parts playground, history lesson and community hub. To prove it, I’ve put together the Lake Anna Bucket List Challenge, a printable checklist of activities that let you experience the lake like a local. Save it to your phone or stick it on the fridge, then start checking boxes and sharing your progress with friends. Consider it your unofficial passport to everything fun around the lake. 

1. Saddle Up at Colchester Equines 

When was the last time you saw a lake from a saddle? Colchester Equines offers guided trail rides on their farm and inside Lake Anna State Park. The horses are calm, the routes are shaded, and the guides know their stuff. They’ll fit you with a helmet, pair you with a horse that matches your skill level and lead you through pine forests and along quiet shoreline stretches. Kids are welcome, too, so bring the whole crew and snap a few photos when you hit a scenic overlook. 

Pro tip 

Book ahead during busy weekends and wear sturdy, closed‑toe shoes. This is still a working barn, not a tourist pony ride. 

2. Pick Your Own at a Local Farm 

Nothing says “summer” like berry stains on your fingers. Miller Farms Market in Locust Grove lets you do the picking yourself. Depending on the month, you’ll find strawberries, blueberries or pumpkins ready for harvest. In between, stock up on pastured eggs, grass‑fed meats and whatever vegetables are in season. 

It’s an easy way to entertain kids, teach them where food comes from and come home with a basket full of sunshine. 

Pro tip 

Check the farm’s social feed or call before you go. The picking schedule changes quickly, and the crowds do, too. 

3. Sip Your Way Around the Lake 

Lake Anna’s beverage scene is more than a single tasting room. Start at Lake Anna Winery, where the same family has been crafting wines for decades in a renovated dairy barn. Grab a flight and wander out into the vineyard with a blanket. Then head down the road to Lake Anna Taphouse to sample Virginia beers, followed by a stop at Coyote Hole Ciderworks for tart cider made from Blue Ridge apples. Round out the 

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tour with a visit to Southern Revere Cellars and 53rd Winery, two countryside spots where yard games and picnic tables invite you to linger. Each stop puts its own spin on “drink local,” so collect a stamp—real or imaginary—at every venue. 

Pro tip 

Assign a designated driver or hire a shuttle. Lake Anna’s winding back roads make for scenic drives, not impromptu tastings behind the wheel. 

4. Walk Through Civil War History 

Central Virginia is dotted with battlefields, and one of the most approachable is North Anna. In late May 1864, Union and Confederate troops clashed here along the river, leaving behind trenches and earthworks that you can still see today. A self‑guided tour starts at Mt. Carmel Church and winds through the woods, showing you how General Lee tried to split Grant’s army with a V‑shaped line. It’s a haunting, humbling walk. Bring your kids and let them imagine soldiers hunkered down along the ridge; it’s far more vivid than anything they’ll read in school. 

Pro tip 

Pair this stop with visits to the Spotsylvania Courthouse and Wilderness battlefields. They’re close by and together tell a fuller story of Grant’s Overland Campaign. 

5. Explore Lake Anna State Park 

With more than a dozen trails, Lake Anna State Park is perfect for anyone who needs a break from the boat. The 5.4‑mile Sawtooth–Big Woods loop meanders through old forests and past historic homesteads, including the brick remains of a 19th‑century smokehouse. If you’re short on time, the 2‑mile Railroad Ford Trail starts near the visitor center and crosses bridges with quiet lake views. There’s no Niagara‑style cascade here, but rumor has it a small waterfall hides up one of the creeks, reachable only by kayak or paddleboard. Finding it is half the adventure. 

Pro tip 

Start early in the day to beat the heat and bring bug spray. Trail maps are available at the park office, and there are plenty of picnic tables if you want to make a day of it. 

Make It Your Own 

This checklist is a starting point, not a rulebook. Swap berry picking for lavender cutting. Trade a battlefield walk for a fishing trip. Add sunset paddleboarding, live music nights at the Taphouse or a guided yoga session on the beach. The point is to experience more than just the lake’s surface. Each box you check opens a door to a community that embraces both its history and its present. 

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Why It Matters 

People don’t just buy houses; they buy a way of living. Lake Anna, with its 200 miles of shoreline and thousands of acres of water, was built to cool a power plant but has become a place where families grow roots and memories. This bucket list challenge is about tapping into that sense of place. Whether you’re a longtime local or thinking about making this your home, taking on these adventures will help you connect to the water, the land and the people who make this area special. And when you decide you want your own dock or farmhouse, you know who to call. 

Printable Checklist 

Print or screenshot this section and stick it somewhere you’ll see it. The more boxes you tick, the deeper your connection to Lake Anna will be. 

Activity Notes

☐ Trail ride at Colchester Equines Helmet provided; open to all ages

☐ U‑pick berries at a local farm Seasonal; call ahead for availability

☐ Beverage tour around the lake Start at Lake Anna Winery and collect stamps

☐ Walk the North Anna battlefield Self‑guided tour begins at Mt. Carmel Church

☐ Hike Lake Anna State Park Try Sawtooth–Big Woods or Railroad Ford

☐ Paddle to a hidden waterfall Explore coves by kayak or paddleboard

Feel free to add your own challenges—eat at five different lakefront restaurants, attend a winter “Soup & Song” concert, host a shoreline picnic. The more you explore, the more reasons you’ll have to fall in love with Lake Anna.