Is there any particular part of the view that you want to sit, and to enjoy? that can be considered.

The view of the lake is best, but at night it may not be all that important.

I would look around at what your neighbors use as a base for patios and walk ways. That black rock looks like it may be there as a sea wall for high water to keep the ground from washing away. Plus the ground the house sits on looks like it might of been artificially elevated. You might need a material that is resistant to washing away. Your neighbors would know better if the lake swells during heavy rains and what materials you need to use.

The rocks were installed by the previous owner to address the hill on the property and create a basement walkout for the house. There is no real danger of flooding but unfortunately the black rocks cannot be addressed at this time. I think you raise several good points, especially about wind and blowing smoke.I do want a patio for a raised firepit similar to the picture below. What about locating the patio in front of the beach area as you look at it from the house? Half a full moon shape or stay with a rectangular shape? A path way from dock (yes there is a boat) to the stairs would be helpful, but should it be made of the same or similar material as the patio? There is also a spot to the right of the beach that may serve as a location for fire pit..... thanks in advance for the thoughts and ideas!

Very pretty. I would run stone steps from your staircase down to the water. Similar to the example pic you added I would install a half circle of stone to form a patio. Build up a walk or rock around it and drop in a table and some adirondacks. Back but the house id wrap a square/rectangle stone patio of the side of your staircase in front of the black rocks. Put in a couch or you could build out a bench something with some height. Can drop some potted plants on top of the bench. Would look beautiful and hide some of the rocks. On this patio you can have your fire pit. There’s some grass on top of the black rocks I’d add some plants up there to spruce it up. You could even add a trellis of some sort down by the patio and grow flowers up it. Tons of options here with a beautiful view.

You could also add some evergreen shrubs with height in front of the black rocks to section off a built patio

Lovely house. This might be a dumb question but you didn't say... is this house new to you? If so, you might want to live there through a summer to see what happens that might impact plans. Like if you get hordes of skeeters, or which ways the winds usually blow for smoke/fire considerations, where you most often walk paths before laying some more permanant ones down, those sorts of things.