Photo by: Joseph Cecil of Launch Production and Design for Justin Dyar of Lake Homes Realty. Please check out our incredible participating local photographers - see the photographer section of our Business Directory.
Established in 2016A long held dream born from a deep love of Lewis Smith Lake. From a first trip that began to heal a broken heart, this lake has been a place of refuge for our founding family, and has been a godsend through many family and health tragedies they've had to endure through the years. Lake therapy is a kind of magical healing balm, something hard to describe and best experienced to understand.
We now have a passion to show the world our love, admiration, and gratitude for the joy experienced here on this special emerald green watery gem, Smith Lake. The Lakeside Life Team is here for the Smith Lake community. Get ready to help us showcase Smith Lake like never before! |
Our GoalOur Mission Statement is about unity!
We aim to bring together all who "lake" in every way we can, collectively bringing forth an appreciation for the myriad ways people enjoy lake life, and offer suggestions for experiencing lake life in every possible way. Get out on the water, or near the water, just take it in, breathe deeply, unwind, and simply enjoy! 
|
Our Logo and Colors
Choosing our logo was a lot of fun, we put some serious thought and ideas into the mix and it finally shook out to be what it is now, a teal green upside down triangle with various complementary colors like silvery grey, charcoal, black, navy blue, creamy white, and sometimes a splash of golds and browns.
It has slowly become a symbol and the official colors of Smith Lake! Read more about our logo and colors on our BLOG. |
Our Facebook Group
Our Facebook group "Smith Lake Community" was created to concentrate on the theme of our goal - unity. We have established a space for the community to connect, and it has grown to over 15.8k+ in a short time.
One thing before joining, we are adamantly against commentary in the group that has any toxicity or drama-inducing intent. We want our community free of cyber-abuse, cyber-bullying, drama and toxic commentary, so basic rules have been established to help make that possible. The group members report posts to help keep the community a positive and safe zone. We do have group sponsor slots available for monthly AD posts, but otherwise, we keep ADs to a tolerable level. Please join us! |
Our Founders
An older picture, but with sentimental meaning.
Tylar is now 16!
Scott Hanna
CFO/Founder/Partner/Marketing Director/Photography
&
Syndi Hanna
CEO/Founder/Partner/Editor in Chief/Photography
&
Tylar Hanna
Founder/Copy Editor/Executive Assistant/Photography
The Hanna Family has lived on Smith Lake for over 25 years. Scott, Syndi, and their son, Tylar, are avid watersports enthusiasts with a passion for life on the lake and a particular deep love for Lewis Smith Lake. They enjoy hydrofoiling, wakefoiling, efoiling, wakeboarding, wakeskating, wakesurfing, slalom, barefoot, kayaking, SUP, and so many more watersports–-every kind you can imagine. You may even have seen them "back in the day" in their blue and cream 1987 MasterCraft ProStar 190, or their red and white 2000 MasterCraft X9 with a flat kite in tow, Scott as the flyer, Syndi as the boat driver and watchful safety latch operator.
They now have a MasterCraft X46, and love the versatility of the hull design that lends itself not just to wakesurfing or wakeboarding but to all the watersports disciplines they are interested in. They enjoy watching others participate in watersports as much as they enjoy participating. You might see them snapping photos of others from a distance to post on the magazine's social media. There is nothing better than watching and hearing the joy of others enjoying lake life.
They own a watersports pro shop Lakeside Gear (now a part of The Lakeside Life team), which offers tons of watersports equipment from brands like WayDoo efoils, Ronix, Radar Skis, Slingshot Sports, Phase5 Boards, Walker Surfboards "The Walker Project" and much more - check out their Amazon Store too! They have a professional audio design/build/install business in Cullman, AL, MasterPro Audio, with a focus on professional grade marine audio (Boat/RZR/OHV/ATV), but they also design/build/install systems for home theater, commercial, educational, worship & sports venues while offering only the best products in the industry.
During lake season, about 8 months of the year, you will most often find them out on the lake enjoying an active water life to the fullest. They usually fly a trademark USA flag on their boat, and they have an incredible professional marine audio system (thanks to MasterPro Audio) playing their favorite tunes - they are avid music lovers and audiophiles. You won't find them hanging out on a dock often, or sitting still too much during the day, they'd rather be out moving, boating and skiing! They spend down-time hanging out with lake friends, cooking, reading, hiking (Bankhead National Forest and Sipsey Wilderness are favorites and are connected to the northwest end of the lake), or just love to watch and video fun lake activity from their deck which offers treasured views of Rock Creek.
Off season, they are still out and about on the lake. They ski early in spring and late into the fall or winter seasons, often with wetsuits on, or just enjoy some sightseeing bundled up when the water is simply too cold, which is only about 3-4 months out of the year. Off time is spent dreaming of more boating days, or traveling, or just spending time with friends and family through the holidays. AND, they work a LOT, probably too much (OK it's a problem being workaholics) but when they have nights off, the family enjoys binge watching shows, movies, and music concerts (mostly rock, pop and blues) in their professional home movie theater built by MasterPro Audio. Neighbors might often hear the rumbling of the bass system, and visitors who come to see a movie say they feel like they are literally "IN" the movie the whole time. It's an experience!
The rest of the time, it's full on boating season for the Hannas. They enjoy traveling everywhere on the lake, never knowing where the weekend will take them, and they truly prefer it that way. They often take off early in the day and wind up 20 miles or more away from home on the lake, having to take a slow but enjoyable night ride home observing the night sky. Even after 25 years on Smith Lake, the family has yet to see everything they want to see on Smith Lake - every nook and cranny - but it is a goal for sure. Weekends are best experienced unplanned and but prepared to just let the water and sunshine take them where it will. Stop and say HELLO––they'd love to meet you and hang out. Also, they'd love to have you jump on board and "ride with lakeside" for a day tour and/or watersports instruction - just ask!
Fun Facts: Scott says if he had not been an audiophile, he might have loved to have been in a rock band, even just as a sound engineer. Syndi's dream might have been to become an engineer or astrophysicist or at least assist a team of them, anything to do with her love of space and the universe - all things astronomy. But a close tie was the magazine dream which is ongoing, and there are still dreams left untapped. Tylar is still undecided about his career choice, but he is leaning towards something in engineering. The future is wide open!
CFO/Founder/Partner/Marketing Director/Photography
&
Syndi Hanna
CEO/Founder/Partner/Editor in Chief/Photography
&
Tylar Hanna
Founder/Copy Editor/Executive Assistant/Photography
The Hanna Family has lived on Smith Lake for over 25 years. Scott, Syndi, and their son, Tylar, are avid watersports enthusiasts with a passion for life on the lake and a particular deep love for Lewis Smith Lake. They enjoy hydrofoiling, wakefoiling, efoiling, wakeboarding, wakeskating, wakesurfing, slalom, barefoot, kayaking, SUP, and so many more watersports–-every kind you can imagine. You may even have seen them "back in the day" in their blue and cream 1987 MasterCraft ProStar 190, or their red and white 2000 MasterCraft X9 with a flat kite in tow, Scott as the flyer, Syndi as the boat driver and watchful safety latch operator.
They now have a MasterCraft X46, and love the versatility of the hull design that lends itself not just to wakesurfing or wakeboarding but to all the watersports disciplines they are interested in. They enjoy watching others participate in watersports as much as they enjoy participating. You might see them snapping photos of others from a distance to post on the magazine's social media. There is nothing better than watching and hearing the joy of others enjoying lake life.
They own a watersports pro shop Lakeside Gear (now a part of The Lakeside Life team), which offers tons of watersports equipment from brands like WayDoo efoils, Ronix, Radar Skis, Slingshot Sports, Phase5 Boards, Walker Surfboards "The Walker Project" and much more - check out their Amazon Store too! They have a professional audio design/build/install business in Cullman, AL, MasterPro Audio, with a focus on professional grade marine audio (Boat/RZR/OHV/ATV), but they also design/build/install systems for home theater, commercial, educational, worship & sports venues while offering only the best products in the industry.
During lake season, about 8 months of the year, you will most often find them out on the lake enjoying an active water life to the fullest. They usually fly a trademark USA flag on their boat, and they have an incredible professional marine audio system (thanks to MasterPro Audio) playing their favorite tunes - they are avid music lovers and audiophiles. You won't find them hanging out on a dock often, or sitting still too much during the day, they'd rather be out moving, boating and skiing! They spend down-time hanging out with lake friends, cooking, reading, hiking (Bankhead National Forest and Sipsey Wilderness are favorites and are connected to the northwest end of the lake), or just love to watch and video fun lake activity from their deck which offers treasured views of Rock Creek.
Off season, they are still out and about on the lake. They ski early in spring and late into the fall or winter seasons, often with wetsuits on, or just enjoy some sightseeing bundled up when the water is simply too cold, which is only about 3-4 months out of the year. Off time is spent dreaming of more boating days, or traveling, or just spending time with friends and family through the holidays. AND, they work a LOT, probably too much (OK it's a problem being workaholics) but when they have nights off, the family enjoys binge watching shows, movies, and music concerts (mostly rock, pop and blues) in their professional home movie theater built by MasterPro Audio. Neighbors might often hear the rumbling of the bass system, and visitors who come to see a movie say they feel like they are literally "IN" the movie the whole time. It's an experience!
The rest of the time, it's full on boating season for the Hannas. They enjoy traveling everywhere on the lake, never knowing where the weekend will take them, and they truly prefer it that way. They often take off early in the day and wind up 20 miles or more away from home on the lake, having to take a slow but enjoyable night ride home observing the night sky. Even after 25 years on Smith Lake, the family has yet to see everything they want to see on Smith Lake - every nook and cranny - but it is a goal for sure. Weekends are best experienced unplanned and but prepared to just let the water and sunshine take them where it will. Stop and say HELLO––they'd love to meet you and hang out. Also, they'd love to have you jump on board and "ride with lakeside" for a day tour and/or watersports instruction - just ask!
Fun Facts: Scott says if he had not been an audiophile, he might have loved to have been in a rock band, even just as a sound engineer. Syndi's dream might have been to become an engineer or astrophysicist or at least assist a team of them, anything to do with her love of space and the universe - all things astronomy. But a close tie was the magazine dream which is ongoing, and there are still dreams left untapped. Tylar is still undecided about his career choice, but he is leaning towards something in engineering. The future is wide open!
We're Here for You
We feel strong about our community––the people, the businesses, the environment, nature, tourism and recreation––everything that makes our resort area desirable. Our hope is that as we connect with all of you, share your experiences, and promote your way of life on the lake, that we begin to pull together as a community on a beautiful lake that we all share as a backyard, and show the world why we have such deep affection and respect for this magical place we call home.
We're ready to hear from YOU! Tell us YOUR Smith Lake story!
Contact us by email: thelakesidelife@gmail.com
Visit us here on our website or on social media: Facebook or Instagram
We're ready to hear from YOU! Tell us YOUR Smith Lake story!
Contact us by email: thelakesidelife@gmail.com
Visit us here on our website or on social media: Facebook or Instagram