Just picked up my new Benny and was trying to get some ideas about locations to take the family to stay in a lake house or river house. I live in Florida so preferably somewhere in the southeast. I would like to be able to go to breakfast lunch and dinner in the boat and maybe somewhere that has a raft up on the weekends. Thanks in advance for your help.
Suggestions for lake house or river vacation
- Thread starter JCDC
- Start date
cwag911
Moderator
I can only speak for Lake Norman because we live here. There are plenty of places for lunch and dinner, but only one for breakfast that I'm aware of. Our neighbor up the road rents her home out sometimes but I don't know the cost. It would be quite a haul from Florida.
Nautical
Well-Known Member
Awww, C'mon Carl. You can talk us up better than THAT!!
We have roughly 9 restaurants on the lake and enough coves and shoreline to keep you busy for months. There are several tie up islands as well but there are a couple that are off limits so check first. There are TONS of lakefront homes for rent on VRBO. I have 3 on my street alone. We're a 1 day drive from anywhere in FL (but you'll be on the road for 10 to 12 hours). If you want a shorter hop there are a couple of large lakes in SC: Hartwell Lake and Lake Murray. I've never been to either but I've heard good things.
However, I'm surprised someone in FL would come this way for water and cool places to visit. Don't you have the intercostal? I want to tow my boat down THERE!
Enjoy!
We have roughly 9 restaurants on the lake and enough coves and shoreline to keep you busy for months. There are several tie up islands as well but there are a couple that are off limits so check first. There are TONS of lakefront homes for rent on VRBO. I have 3 on my street alone. We're a 1 day drive from anywhere in FL (but you'll be on the road for 10 to 12 hours). If you want a shorter hop there are a couple of large lakes in SC: Hartwell Lake and Lake Murray. I've never been to either but I've heard good things.
However, I'm surprised someone in FL would come this way for water and cool places to visit. Don't you have the intercostal? I want to tow my boat down THERE!
Enjoy!
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I'm in Jacksonville so I think I'm only about 6 hours from Norman. There are great places on the ICW to hang out and eat, just nowhere really to stay on the water besides hotels. We do those for the weekend some and there are some lakes down south where we also go for the weekend. It's nice to get away from the salt water, plus the places on the ICW are very spaced out. Fernandina is 35 miles, St Augustine is 45 miles, even the south side of Jacksonville is a 40 mile boat ride.
How big is Norman and how far are the restaurants from these lake houses that you mentioned?
How big is Norman and how far are the restaurants from these lake houses that you mentioned?
cwag911
Moderator
Lake Norman is 35,000 acres and the places to eat are all over but no more than 30 mins away at the most and some are closer. There is 520 miles of shoreline also.
spinzone
Well-Known Member
I'm originally from Jax and we go down every other month to visit my family. It's an easy drive up to Norman (6.5 hours with stops).
If you're not too set on boating to all places you'd like to eat, there are some great areas around the lake to be reached by vehicle. Birkdale Village is the lake's version of the Town Center.
If you're not too set on boating to all places you'd like to eat, there are some great areas around the lake to be reached by vehicle. Birkdale Village is the lake's version of the Town Center.
highpond
Well-Known Member
The wife and I just stayed ay Dreher Island State Park at Lake Murray. They have Villas (5) on the Lake, some for 4 people some for 6. The lake has several restaurants around it and as far as being large. I understand it to be over 23k acres. BIG. We love it there. Contact Reserve America for prices and info. The Villa for 4 we stayed in will cost $116.00 per day after Labor Day. We've been there 4 times so far and can't wait to get back. Did I mention there is a dock to tie up the Benny? NC. From Jacksonville Route I-95 to I-26 to exit 91. Chapin just north west of Columbia SC. Take about 1 1/2 hours off the trip to Norman to get to Lake Murray
Good Luck
Good Luck