A Day at the Lake

July 25, 2017

The lake at Southshore is one of the community’s finest assets. When we think of a day at the lake, (and by lake we mean the 880-acres of water in the Aurora Reservoir!) images of sunbathers and swimmers come to mind, soaking up rays, paddling and floating around. But there are lots of other things to do at the beach — from team and individual sports to picnics and parties – that should be on your summer bucket list!

Beach Volleyball

If you’re bored just basking in the sun and are up for a little exercise with a few other land-lubbers, a friendly game of beach volleyball is steps away from the lake. Two of the four sand volleyball courts can be reserved and if you’re really playing and not standing around working on your tan, you’ll burn 585 calories per hour!

Sand volleyball can improve balance and coordination, helps with agility and muscle strength, improves eye-hand coordination and flexibility in your feet and hands, plus, it boosts your mood and your self-esteem! And volleyball coaches agree that if you play indoor volleyball, playing sand volleyball will be great for your game!

If you care about the rules, this tutorial on the NBC Olympics website can help you get a handle on keeping score, hitting and things like time outs.

Picnics and Parties

Packing a picnic lunch for you and the kids? You can eat on your picnic blanket, or if you’ve invited a couple dozen of your friends, check out the Plaza Gazebo at the lake. It’s the shelter closest to the sand volleyball areas and overlooks the swim beach. All the shelters are available to rent for small events and large gatherings (like family reunions!) and you can set up your reservation online, or call the park office at 303-326-8425.

There are two large shelters with a capacity for 300 people; the gazebo and one picnic shelter that can accommodate 30 people, and three smaller shelters for 20 people.

And for some quick grab-and-go picnic ideas for lakeside lunching, Country Living has 90 summer recipes that are simple, quick and delish.

Sand Play Pays!

The beach at the lake is perfect for sand castles and sculptures and just playing with the gritty stuff is good for kids. Sand activities foster creativity and socialization in children, whether they’re playing “stomp and smash”, burying toys to find, digging holes, sculpting faces or building castles.

Walk, Jog and Bike

If you’re a recreational jogger or regularly like to pound the pavement, you’ll find  a surface to love on the 8-mile perimeter hard trail that rims the lake. There’s also a certified 5K soft trail. If you like rolling instead of strolling, head over from Southshore on your bicycle, or you can rent one at the lake from the Park Office for $10, which includes the bike and helmet.

It’s not right by the lake, but you’ll find an archery range open during regular park hours that is free to use with a valid park pass. The range has target bales from 15 to 65 yards away from the shooting lines, just bring your own archery equipment and targets.

The Aurora Reservoir is at 5800 S. Powhaton Road and open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in July, and 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in August. A day pass is $10 (per vehicle) and there are annual passes available for $55 (resident) and $65 (non-resident).

Enjoy Life at the Lake

If you’re looking for a lakeside master-planned community, Southshore is a short walk away from an 880-acre lake — the Aurora Reservoir! Check out the brand-new ranch and two-story designs priced from the upper $300s to the $700s. Tour the brand new modes from Richmond American Homes and Century Communities at The Hills in Southshore!