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Offering plenty of local amenities, you can easily make your trip to Lake Lure a weekend visit. After spending several hours in the water, you can take to your feet and explore the stunning Lake Water State Park before catching a sunset. For the wild at heart, you can camp at Norwood Campground which is ideally located on the lake's shore, or Lake Tillery Family Campground. Both make the most of being surrounded by beautiful hardwood trees and offer private access to Lake Tillery. Swimming is a popular activity at Fontana Lake and there are several places you can stop to swim which are well signposted.
Further afield: Best lakes within 6 hours of Charlotte, NC
Given the great facilities and activities to be enjoyed, you can expect Lake Lure to be busy, especially during summer vacation. But there are plenty of peaceful spots to discover too especially around Chimney Rock State Park where you can enjoy incredible hiking trails and great views. There are also great hiking trails here, including a family-friendly Holly Discovery Trail and for the more adventurous, the Overmountain Victory Trail which offers incredible views.
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The water is constantly being tested between March and September, though it's definitely worth checking ahead of visiting that levels remain safe before swimming. After exploring Lake Hartwell, there are endless opportunities for outdoor activities thanks to the close proximity of Nantahala National Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Despite being in a beautiful, remote location, the site has plenty of amenities, which is handy if you're looking to camp for the night.
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Despite being remote, you can still enjoy plenty of great outdoor activities including swimming, boating, fishing, skiing, canoeing, kayaking and hiking. Despite being less than an hour from Charlotte, this lake is an oasis with lots to explore including Lake Norman State Park. Ideal for outdoor fans, the park has miles of mountain bike trails and beaches that are ideal for swimming, making this a destination you can spend the whole day at. Mountain Island Lake is a fun, recreational destination for water sports fans including jet skiing, fishing and boating. Explore the upper section of the lake and you'll discover secluded parks and natural areas with stunning views.
As shown on their most recent full-length album, 2021’s critically acclaimed Obviously, the Boston-bred band also possesses a keen talent for combining sociopolitical commentary with immediately catchy pop gems. All throughout Good Together, Lake Street Dive reveal the immense expanse of their musicality and expressive imagination. There are even camper cabins which are ideal if you've travelled without a tent but want to enjoy a night stargazing. Roan Creek Campgrounds are also nearby, where you can pitch a tent and enjoy evening views of Watauga Lake and Cherokee National Forest.
On the southern edge and near the town of Moneta, you'll find marinas, boat rentals and beautiful lakeside resorts, ideal if you'd like a more luxurious overnight stop. The vast number of amenities, including several restaurants, means that this really is a destination that you can enjoy over several days. There's also Pitcairn Park if you'd prefer to stay on land, which offers pretty walking trails where you can spot nature and wildlife, or nearby Copperhead Island which has 14 acres of parks and direct boat access back to the lake. The states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee are packed full of scenic lakes and reservoirs that are all within a short drive of the city of Charlotte. Whether you love watersports, fishing or swimming, there's a lake nearby for you.
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As well as Norris Lake, Norris Dam and Norris Dam State Park are well worth a visit. The park itself has several hiking trails, playgrounds, camping sites and a visitor center where you can learn more about the area. Fontana Lake itself is simply beautiful with tree-covered hills and mountains in the distance. The ideal spot for a sunset, the waters also provide recreational activities whether you're into boating or fishing. If you're spending a day or so here, you could make a visit to the nearby South Mountains State Park - a rugged area with waterfalls, and mountain views.
Photo Gallery: Snoop Dogg and Petey Pablo - CLTure
Photo Gallery: Snoop Dogg and Petey Pablo.
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There are several park areas including Stumpy Creek Park and Rock Springs Nature Preserve where you can enjoy walking trails, hiking and biking, plus it's a great place to explore if you love nature and wildlife. After exploring the lake by boat, why not take to the surrounding hills and follow the Mountain Island Park Trail? Taking you around Catawba River as well as the lake, this 1.6-mile hike is great for all abilities and gives you the chance to see the Mountain Island Lake Dam close up where you might even spot some local wildlife including herons, turtles and deer.
Divided into northern and southern sections by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee National Forest offers picturesque trails and stunning waterfalls, making it an ideal place to visit for an adventurous hike or a family adventure. Despite being surrounded by stunning forests and mountains, both lakes are close to several towns including Newport and Pigeon Forge, as well as the beautiful city of Knoxville, where you can enjoy southern food and a popular downtown. As well as being incredibly popular with fishing enthusiasts, there are plenty of water sports activities you can enjoy on the lake, including white water rapids at the nearby Pigeon River.
There are plenty of hiking trails, nature paths and a playground ideal for families. If you're lucky, you might even catch some of the local wildlife like the Purple Martins (who migrate here in their tens of thousands over summer), deer, ospreys and wood ducks. Nestled in the mountains of North Carolina, the town of Lake Lure is a beautiful location to explore the surrounding area, including forests, mountains and unique attractions, like the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge which runs over the Rocky Broad River. If you don't mind traveling a little further and have the time for a full-day excursion, then the lakes below are all within three hours' drive from Charlotte and make an ideal day spent by the water.
With over 100 miles of stunning shoreline against the backdrop of the Uwharrie National Forest, this nature haven is the perfect retreat if you want to get away from the bustling city. The local marinas offer jet ski rentals, pontoon boat hire, scuba diving and much more. The water itself is only fed by two major rivers making it an exceptionally clean lake which maintains a steady temperature. If you're looking to spend a couple of days on this trip, you'll find plenty of nearby attractions in the beautiful city of Atlanta.
For those looking for a quiet spot, you can head to Dreher Island State Park, where you can swim or relax on a sandy beach, rent kayaks or fish. The two main areas of the park are Paddy's Creek, where you'll find a sandy beach perfect for swimming and a pavilion offering great views; and Catawba River which is perfect for fishing, boating and picnicking. If you're looking for something more adventurous, one of the best hiking trails in Lake Wateree State Park is Desportes Island Nature Trail. Here you can enjoy walking through beautiful forests and enjoy stunning lake views. Within easy reach of Charlotte just over an hour away, Badin Lake is surrounded by beautiful forests in a stunning area of natural beauty. Get lost in nature overnight, or simply enjoy a day spent by the water, there are plenty of opportunities for a great day out here.
Here you can even camp for the night or for a touch of luxury, there are cabins at Lake Wylie which offer a waterside view. Born from a mindset they refer to as “joyful rebellion,” Good Together arrives as a body of work both gloriously defiant and primed to inspire unbridled dancing and ecstatic singing-along. The famous Appalachian Trail also runs through the lake area and Fontana Dam, which you can always pick up after a morning spent by the water. The city itself is packed full of great restaurants, and interesting museums including the North Carolina Museum of Art and the iconic North Carolina State Capital. There are 11 amazing boat ramp locations, though you will need a fishing licence to fish here. If hiking isn't your thing, you can try your hand at fishing and see if you can catch some local bass, catfish, crappie or perch.
Many of which feature kitchen facilities, restrooms and fire pits, ideal for cooking a barbecue. The bordering towns of Moorseville, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and Denver all offer great amenities, shops and restaurants where you can enjoy a bite to eat before driving back to Charlotte. We've included more details about these in our article, plus you can find 13 other scenic lakes to choose from below. Scuba Charlotte is a full service dive center; we offer dive training, dive travel, scuba and snorkeling gear sales, equipment repairs, rentals, and air fills. Since forming in 2004, Lake Street Dive have matched their sophisticated musicianship with a fearless refusal to limit their sound.
Situated at the crossroads of the Appalachian Mountains, it's a stunning area popular with hikers, bikers and horse riding. Nearby Fontana Village Resort is a small mountain town located in the Nantahala National Forest providing cabins, camping, restaurants, and an outdoor swimming pool. It's a great place to base yourself before exploring this stunning part of North Carolina. While there aren't any by the lake area itself, you'll find several near Fontana Village Resort, plus of course the nearby forests. Though smaller than Douglas Lake, Cherokee Reservoir still offers 400 miles of shoreline and is viewed by many as the most beautiful lake in Tennessee thanks to its clear, blue water. Just a little further north and within easy reach of Douglas Lake is Cherokee Reservoir, also known as Cherokee Lake.
The spacious kitchen, featuring a large center island, seamlessly connects to the living and dining areas, making entertaining a breeze. Unwind on the two-story composite deck and enjoy the fenced yard and cocktail pool, perfect for relaxation and doubling as a hot tub. Enjoy neighborhood amenities and an optional membership at the Palisades Country Club with its championship golf course. Experience the best of lakeside living with easy access to the CLT airport and Uptown Charlotte. If you're looking to camp nearby, you could easily tie in exploring Cherokee National Forest en route.
