These Southeast lake destinations are perfect for a laidback, outdoorsy summer vacation.
By Melissa Peterson
Lounging on your boat dock, splashing in the cool mountain lake, days spent exploring the coves on your pontoon boat, nights chasing fireflies and roasting marshmallows—these are the idyllic scenes from a summertime lake getaway. Whether you’re looking to spend your time kayaking and fishing or shopping and exploring the area’s history, these four destinations—all located in the Southeast and within a day’s drive of home—offer the perfect blend of outdoor adventure and small-town charm.
Photo courtesy of Rabun County Tourism
Lake Rabun, Georgia
Located in the northeastern corner of Georgia in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Rabun and Rabun County in general are the perfect vacation destinations to get away from the hustle and bustle of home life. The small villages of Lakemont and Tallulah Falls directly surround Lake Rabun and offer just a few shops and dining establishments but plenty of rental homes, campgrounds and even the noteworthy Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant, operating since 1922. If you want more options, Clayton is just minutes north and offers a quaint downtown area, and Dillard, home to the famous Dillard House restaurant and lodge, offers plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities for the entire family, including hiking, horseback riding, fishing and a farm zoo.
“Lake Rabun and the area is very quiet and secluded,” says CJ Thompson, manager of marketing and tourism with Rabun County. “It remains cool there throughout the summer and is a great place to access all the other activities available throughout the county. It’s centrally located in the Southeast, not far from a number of major cities but feels like it’s a world away.”
Stay: There are many lodging options available, from inns and bed and breakfasts to many short-term rental homes and cabins, plus a few resort hotels and chain hotels. Camping is available at three nearby state parks and a few privately run campgrounds. The Lake Rabun Hotel, a 100-year-old historic inn just across the street from Lake Rabun, is a nature-inspired boutique hotel rooted in a love for the environment. While The Dillard House is best known for its family-style restaurant that serves Southern cuisine, accommodations include everything from luxurious rooms at the Dillard House Inn, quaint cottages, secluded chalets and the authentic Rock House Inn.
Play: While the majority of property on Lake Rabun is privately owned, there are a few public access areas for getting out onto the lake. Pontoon boats, kayaks, canoes and paddle boards can be rented and launched at either Hall’s Boat House and Bear Gap Outfitters. The Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area offers a public beach and boat launch, hiking and an 80-site campground. Bass fishing is big on Lake Rabun, teaming with bream, perch and catfish, while trout fishing in nearby rivers and streams is also available. Hiking is one of the main draws of the area, with the Bartram Trail and the Appalachian Trail running through Rabun County, along with many other small trails—many that include a waterfall (or two). Near Lake Rabun, make sure to check out the Minnehaha Falls Trail.
Do: From winery and distillery tours to golfing and boutique shopping, there are plenty of other ways to spend your time while visiting Rabun County. For wineries, check out Terra Incognita, Stonewall Creek Vineyards, 12 Spies Vineyards and Tiger Mountain Vineyards. To visit a distillery, Moonrise Distillery and RM Rose Company are great options. Visit the Sky Valley Country Club and Kingwood Resort for golfing in the area. If you want to learn more about the area’s history, the Foxfire Museum is a noteworthy historical attraction near Black Rock Mountain State Park. The family-friendly outdoor village features over 20 historic log buildings, each filled with artifacts representative of life in the mountains from 1820 to 1940. The nearby Chattooga River is without a doubt the Southeast’s premier whitewater rafting adventure. Check out the Nantahala Outdoor Center for options suitable for all ages and experience levels.
Learn More explorerabun.com
Photo courtesy of METTC dab as 9 Lakes of East TN
Douglas Lake, Tennessee
Nestled in Great Valley of the Appalachians, the 9 Lakes Region of East Tennessee is an area rich with natural scenic beauty, miles of lake shorelines and steeped in history. The lakes in the region (Douglas, Cherokee, Fort Loudoun, Norris, Watts Bar, Melton Hill, Tellico, Chilhowie and Calderwood) are all Tennessee Valley Authority lakes that were created by damming portions of the surrounding rivers. Each lake is popular for different outdoor pursuits. Norris is known for its houseboat rentals, Melton Hill is home to an NCAA rowing course, while Loudoun goes directly through downtown Knoxville.
Douglas Lake, however, is one of the top bass lakes in the Southeast. The catch includes bass, striper bass, crappie and all types of panfish. Douglas Lake and its two primary towns—Dandridge and Newport—offer big outdoor adventures. Newport is located on the river that is dammed to create the lake, while Dandridge is located directly on the lake.
“Douglas’s proximity to the Smokies makes it a popular lake for visitors who can’t decide between lakes and mountains,” says Julie Graham, executive director of the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council. “Douglas sits in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Indian wars, the Civil War and the American Revolution all are part of our story. History is everywhere.”
Stay: In historic Dandridge—the second oldest town in Tennessee—and Newport—lodging options are all encompassing, from inns and bed and breakfasts to cabins, hotels and camping, both resort-style and primitive. Anchor Down RV Resort and the TVA Douglas Dam campgrounds are both located directly on the lake. You can find home and cabin rentals on the Visit My Smokies website. If you’re looking for a little luxury, the Mountain Harbor Inn has been designated as a Diamond Bed and Breakfast Resort, located near historic Dandridge right on Douglas Lake. Every stay includes a romantic sunset cruise, an intimate candlelight dessert and a bountiful breakfast buffet.
Play: Visitors come to the 9 Lakes Region for fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking and hiking. The Appalachian Trail crosses near Newport for those who want to brag that they hiked the AT. Douglas Lake has become the premier crappie lake in East Tennessee and is rated one of the top five crappie fishing lakes in the nation. It is also one of the top 10 in the nation for largemouth bass, and the nearby French Broad River and Nolichucky River offer great fly fishing. Smoky Mountain H2O Sports offers daily and overnight kayak, paddleboard and paddleboat rentals, as well as pontoon and waverunner rentals. There are multiple public boat launches on the lake. One popular spot is at the Douglas Headwater Campground, which also has a public swimming beach for a quick dip without the need for a boat.
Do: If you’re ready for an adventure, the Pigeon River offers Class III and IV whitewater rapids and is home to a dozen rafting outfitters, most just 30 minutes from Douglas Lake. Big Creek Expeditions offers two outstanding rafting trips on the Pigeon River, giving you options for bigger whitewater or a more relaxing float. It would be a shame to visit the region and not visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Coming to the park from the north, you can enter through Gatlinburg and tour one of the many visitor centers, hike to a waterfall or visit the famous Clingmans Dome.
Learn More easttnvacations.com
Photo courtesy of VisitNC.com
Lake Norman, North Carolina
The largest man-made lake in North Carolina, Lake Norman and its 520 miles of shoreline is located along the four counties of Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln and Catawba, just northwest of Charlotte.
There are several small towns that surround Lake Norman. Davidson is a charming, Southern college town. Established in 1837, Davidson College is a vital part of the town’s identity today. The main street offers a variety of shops and restaurants, more than 12 miles of greenways and bike lanes, parks and a national arboretum. Cornelius has a vast amount of shoreline at 54 miles and is the ultimate destination for some lake fun. Visitors can rent boats, jet skis or paddle boards or explore the unique attractions, waterfront restaurants, lakeside parks and shops that Cornelius has to offer. Huntersville’s sites include the historic homesteads Rural Hill and Historic Latta Plantation & Nature Preserve.
“There is a reason Lake Norman is one of the best lake towns in the Southeast,” says Cyndi Bartley, operations and marketing director with the Lake Norman Convention & Visitors Bureau, “and its simply because there is a wonderful balance of outdoor beauty and amenities of things to do surrounded by our quaint towns. Many people [who] visit this area even decide to relocate here because they love it so much.”
Stay: The Lake Norman area has a variety of household name hotels as well as vacation rentals on the lake. The Davidson Village Inn is a unique boutique inn located in the heart of downtown Davidson. The 18-room, European-style inn serves a deluxe continental breakfast buffet and afternoon tea daily and is a short walk from the many restaurants and shops in the downtown area. Lake Norman State Park has campsites with both electric and water hookups as well as cabins for rent.
Play: If you’re looking to get out on the water and are not staying in a lake-front rental home, there are several waterfront parks that offer boat launches and swimming. Jetton Park in Cornelius has a 1.5-mile paved loop and sunning beach, while Ramsey Creek Park is Mecklenburg County’s only public swimming beach and includes Patriot’s Pier, which is great for fishing, a dog park and boat launch area. A variety of self-captained or captained boat rentals are available. Ride LKN Wake & Surf Co offers watersports lessons and private charters and specializes in wake surfing, wakeboarding and foiling. Ride LKN also offers tubing and cruising charters. Carolina Boat Rentals offers pontoons, sailboats, fishing boats, kayaks and jet ski rentals. Parasailing and tube rentals are also available.
Do: If you’re looking for activities away from the lake, consider starting with a stroll through Davidson College. Enjoy an audio tour available on your mobile device that explains the history behind the 20 sculptures located around campus, or take in one of the rotating art exhibits at the Belk Visual Arts Center. Another point of interest is the Latta Nature Preserve with its 16 miles of trails. The Carolina Raptor Center, also on the Latta Nature Preserve, is an education and rehabilitation facility for the conservation of birds of prey and home to the Southeast’s largest eagle aviary. The center offers a self-guided walking tour to view 38 species of raptors in a zoo-like setting.
Learn More visitlakenorman.org
Photo courtesy of Cathedral Caverns State Park
Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Lake Guntersville in Marshall County, Alabama, is just 30 minutes south of the state’s largest city, Huntsville. The lake is 69,000 acres and spans 75 miles, making it Alabama’s largest lake. The lake was flooded in 1939 by the Tennessee Valley Authority upon completion of the Guntersville Dam. Lake Guntersville is home to championship bass fishing, the only boat racing event of its kind in the South and stellar ATV and mountain biking trails.
Guntersville is a small, quaint town that offers the epitome of the hometown feel. The downtown area offers shops that include boutiques, antiques, home decor and fun tchotchkes to bring home for friends.
“Our area is the perfect destination to relax and escape from reality,” says Haley Rutland, communications director for Marshall County Tourism and Sports. “Our community offers tons of things to do to keep you busy but not feeling rushed and overwhelmed. Even if you are not big on the outdoors, there is still plenty to see and do while you are here. The sunsets are always stunning and photo worthy, and the locals are welcoming to all visitors.”
Stay: Guntersville has numerous lodging options available for visitors. The area is home to over a thousand campsites, and that number is constantly growing. Hotels include names such as the Hilton, Marriot and Wyndham brands, and there are a variety of vacation rentals located on and off the water as well. Lake Guntersville State Park sits on 6,000 acres on the water’s edge and is an outdoor lover’s dream, offering a lodge, campground and cabins. The park also offers over 40 miles of hiking and biking trails, zipline and horseback riding. Built in 1910, the Lake Guntersville Bed and Breakfast is just two blocks from Guntersville’s quaint downtown. Enjoy sangria on the wrap-around porch in the evenings and a delicious breakfast each morning.
Play: Whether bringing your own boat or utilizing one of the rental companies located around Lake Guntersville, there are unlimited options when it comes to enjoying and basking in the beauty of Lake Guntersville. If you’re looking for rentals, check out Town Creek Fishing Center and Islands Boat Rental. Town Creek Fishing Center is located in Lake Guntersville State Park and offers two boat ramps, a fishing pier and canoe, pontoon and bass boat rentals. Islands Boat Rental also offers kayak, pontoon boat and fishing boat rentals. Swimming in Lake Guntersville is definitely welcome from your rental home’s boat house, off boats or at the two public beach areas—one on Sunset Drive in the city park and the other at Lake Guntersville State Park. When on the lake, you’ll see plenty of people enjoying tubing, wakeboarding and skiing. Lake Guntersville is also regularly ranked by national publications and anglers as a bucket list lake. While 8- and 9-pound bass are not out of the ordinary for pros and amateurs alike, a variety of other fish including bream, crappie and catfish can also be found in Guntersville’s water.
Do: Cathedral Caverns State Park is located about 20 minutes from downtown Guntersville and offers stunning formations of stalagmites and stalactites deep underground. Cathedral Caverns offers 90-minute tours daily where you can learn about the history of the cave, see specific formations and learn how it got its name. The local brewery, Main Channel Brewing, offers some of the best hops and malts and more, and Jules J. Berta Vineyards & Winery in nearby Albertville has won Alabama Winery of the Year for several years in a row. Alabama Horseback Adventures offers an hour ride or all day rides and Screaming Eagle Ziplines at Lake Guntersville State Park offers two levels of courses—both offer some of the best views of Lake Guntersville.
Learn More explorelakeguntersville.com