Gifts Ahoy

Gifts Ahoy is a combination fudge and gift shop, located in the Smith Mountain Lake region. The store is listed as one of the top ten gift shops, and for good reason. They carry a very unique selection of gifts that you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. One thing that is somewhat surprising is how big the shop is. It looks deceptively small from the front, but once you enter through the glass door, you’ll notice that it goes really far back. Be prepared to spend some time browsing around and savoring the heavenly scent of fudge.

The store has been a top attraction for over 25 years. During that time, they’ve managed to find their way into the hearts of all who visit. While it's been voted as the #1 place to buy a souvenir, it’s more than just a souvenir shop. They sell a vast assortment of home items and the best fudge in Virginia!

Gifts Ahoy is on the far right-hand side of the building complex, next to the Bridgewater Marina & Boat Rental. It has an earthy, homey feel, with a wooden floor and lots of small areas filled with goodies. It’s not dissimilar to an antique mall, where different vendors have their own little area to fill with merchandise.

The staff are always friendly and eager to help people find what they’re looking for. They always have someone behind the fudge counter, but they also make sure someone’s on the floor to help answer questions about anything.

Gifts Ahoy: Fun Facts & Cool Features

If you came in looking for a gift for a friend, you’ll find something special. As far as price points, they’ve got something for everyone. Whether you want to spend a little or a lot, you’ll be able to get a nice selection here.

They carry a ton of cute items to decorate a lake house, plus functional and cute items like journals, walking shoes and boat shoes, socks and similar items. They carry brand names, too. Some ones that stood out to me are Vera Bradley, Simply Southern and Lilly Pulitzer.

I can’t forget to mention the toys and kids’ plush animals. They have a nice range of educational toys, plus the more adorable little baby clothes and soft plush animals. If you have a child or a niece or nephew, this is the place to shop for a little something special. Gosh, I haven’t even gotten to the fudge yet!

First of all, they ship their fudge, so you could actually stop on in, sample some fudge and then have the store ship it to your loved ones. That’s very convenient, especially if you don’t want to spend your vacation at Smith Mountain Lake standing in line at the post office. They’ll even gift wrap it for you. As far as fudge flavors, you’ll find things like German Chocolate, peanut butter fudge, white chocolate fudge, cookie dough fudge and more. They also have really exotic fudge flavors like cotton candy, cookies and cream, caramel fudge and more. They typically have over a dozen fudge varieties on hand at any given time!