The top tourist attractions are the International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center. Butler. Daniel has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota, with a concentration in Housing and Community . Lake Burton. * The average of monthly, median list prices for all homes in the city (not just lake houses) from January 2022 through May 2022, using Realtor.com data. Lakeway Resort & Spa is the place to be in the area - not just for those looking for a lovely lakeside hotel, but for those renting in the area who want to book a spa day or dinner at the resort. As one of the best beach vacations in Texas, Port Aransas has everything you need for a family or solo getaway. She writes about food, travel, and real estate for Zagat, FoodNetwork.com, BBC Travel, and more. Just 85 miles outside of Atlanta sits one of the most charming lake destinations in the South: Lake Oconee. At B-52 Brewery, you'll find them serving up a new brew release every Friday alongside live music performances. Those lucky enough to see a sunset at Lake Kampeska could understand how wildlife artist Terry Redlin was inspired by his surroundings in Watertown. The beauty of Aurora, apart from the gorgeous sunsets on Cayuga Lake, is that you have culture, incredible food and wine, and water activities at your fingertips. Visitors can easily hop on a ferry for a day of island-hopping, or spend the day at Cedar Point Amusement Park, which bills itself as the Roller Coaster Capital of the World. They can also take a trip to the Merry-Go-Round Museum. There are less costly options, such as this two-bedroom with views of the lake and Crystal River listed for $410,000. But of course, those who want to go all out on their lake home can find secluded properties that cost much more, like this two-bedroom cottage on 180 feet of deep-water shoreline, for $699,500. #13. Known as a major vacation destination, Lake Ariel is surrounded by the gently rolling hills of the Poconos Mountains. Watch the sun set over the town while grabbing a pint at Oconee Brewing Company, or beat the early bird crowd and catch the sunrise with a side of coffee and buttermilk pancakes at Caf 44. Each year, with the arrival of the dog days of summer, the desire to find a place by the water becomes nothing less than a national obsession. His company sells lake homes in 33 states. Find a warm welcome in LaGrange, a cozy West Georgia town located on West Point Lake. South Lake Tahoe: If North Lake Tahoe is a pristine and relaxed winter wonderland, South Lake Tahoe is more of a year-round affair. Then we calculated affordability by analyzing median home list prices year to date through May 2022 for these communities. Halfway between Minneapolis and Chicago, the area has become a popular year-round destination for urbanites seeking an escape from city life. However, those who want a waterfront view should expect to spend $400,000 and up, such as this lakefront two-bedroom with a rooftop deck listed for $499,999. This three-bedroom, single-family house asking $205,000 offers down payment assistance for buyers who earn under a certain income. Cheboygan, Michigan. These are the United States' most affordable lake towns in 2021. Those interested in a vacation getaway can snag this four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house located about 1.4 miles from the Guy Sandy boat ramp on Arbuckle Lake for $275,000. Marquette, Michigan. Those looking for history and a well-preserved downtown will enjoy the heart of this city, while those keen on a lake vacation can head straight to Basin Harbor, a resort on Lake Champlain celebrating its 135th season. Its possible to get a house in this area for just over $100,000, such as this cute three-bedroomasking $115,000. And yes, they can be terrific investments, too. Even though it has dropped a couple of spots, Sandusky remains a popular vacation spot for Midwesterners looking for lake living at affordable prices. Homes: $165K - $1.5M Lots: $10K - $300K. While it's near the big central Florida tourist attractions, it has its own charm, with greenspaces like Central Park and museums like The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, and Cornell Fine Arts Museum. Sandpoint, Idaho, is the most expensive of the affordable lake towns, with a median list price of $429,000 and a variety of lakefront houses that . With the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the Lake of the Arbuckles, and the Artesian Hotel, Casino, and Spa, the small town has a lot to offer. Residential lots on Lake Monticello 8. #21 in Best Mountain Towns to Visit in the USA. Visitors will find endless entertainment within the village of Big Bear, from brunch at Teddy Bear Restaurant to midday microbrews at Big Bear Lake Brewing Company. The New York Finger Lakes region is a pristine part of the state with 11 glistening bodies of water, each lined by towns with character. But this year looks a bit different. Traveling with kids or an inner child at heart? Fun fact: hundreds of Bigfoot sightings have been reported on the Texas side of Caddo Lake since 1965. But beyond this, Abingdon has great outdoor recreation because it is so close to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Legend has it that seven mineral springs in Springs Park have healing powers. For the price-conscious, there is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo on Shoreline Drive that is listed for $260,000. $376,111. If the skys the limit, buyers can check out a four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom mansion on Cedar Point Road listed for roughly $2.4 million. When you're wiped from a day spent on the water and under the sun at Lake Conroe, there's nothing like kicking back at a local brewery and enjoying some tunes. Located at the southern edge of Lake Keowee and just a short drive from Lake Hartwell, Seneca is a great small town for retirement. If they already had one home by the lake and they had another home in an expensive city and you had to consolidate, which are you going to choose? she says. Covington is an excellent one, with state parks, biking trails, easy access to the lake, a great brewery in Abita Springs, coffee shops, restaurants, and waterways streaming through. Located near some of the highest mountain peaks in the region, Flagstaff is a stunning location year round: Think snow-capped mountains, fall . There is a wide variety in a very small town.. Even though only 120 people live here full-time, in the summer the Canadian border town attracts hundreds to the resorts and campsites near the shores of the 3,088-acre lake. Plan a visit. 8. Then we ensured these were the kind of places buyers want to be, by searching for the towns with the most water-based businesses, like marinas, restaurants, and activities, using U.S. Census Bureau data. 2019 Best Retirement Lakes This northern Wisconsin resort town (165 miles northwest of Green Bay) has all the ingredients of a great family vacation , including more than 3,000 lakes in Vilas and Oneida counties. Condos on Lake Delton start in the low $100,000s, like this sweet two-bedroom asking $154,900. Condos start as low as $40,000. The town center of Wolfeboro is actually positioned directly on Lake Winnipesaukee, which offers an expansive 72 square miles of water. Lake homes have always been a popular, aspirational home. - Port Isabel, TX - Port Isabel is a beach town and a popular resort, as well as being a retirement destination. Sara Ventiera is a journalist based in New York City and Los Angeles. People are moving back to the area, either after retirement or because they can work from their lake cottage, she says. Situated on nearly a half-acre, this house features a screened porch and is within walking distance of Roamingwood Lake. Visitors flock to Harbour Town for a New England-style getaway without stepping foot out of the Midwest. Homes can vary widely in price: A single-family fixer-upper on the water can go for around $250,000 or into the millions.. This lake town is brimming with charming accommodations, too, from the more modern Hotel Earl to the historic Bridge Street Inn and the waterfront Edgewater Inn & Suites. In the summer, families wakeboard, tube and fish on the lakes and rivers. Estes Park, CO. 3.8%. For outdoor enthusiasts, Chickasaw National Recreation Area (Oklahomas oldest national park) offers nearly 10,000 acres of camping, hiking, horseback riding, and biking. Fishing, beach going, and relaxing are popular activities. LindaZ74 / Shutterstock. Thats where the data team at Realtor.com comes in. Prices include all homes in these towns, including those on a lake. Situated approximately 40 miles southwest of Knoxville, this gated lakefront community offers space to grow and explore the iconic wilderness of the region. Rocky River, Ohio. Bayview is right on the water (literally), giving it a northwestern island feel, and it is home to the 4,000-acre Farragut State Park. If you're looking for the perfect vacation town on Lake of the Ozarks, look no further than Osage Beach. With a name like Sulphur, its no surprise that the area is famous for its mineral springs. Greenwood, South Carolina. 20 Best Mountain Towns to Visit in the U.S. 11 Best Lake Tahoe Beaches With Sandy Shores and Mountain Views, The Best Small Towns in the U.S. to See Fall Foliage. Heres a $55,000 one-bedroom unit. Located just an hour from Austin, the town and its surrounding lakeswhich are actually dams in the Colorado Riverhave become an increasingly popular second-home destination. The community is home to several private bodies of water: Roamingwood Lake, Deerfield Lake, Brooks Lake, Windermere Lake, Hidden Lake, and Big Springs Pond. When on dry land, you might hit a casino (Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania) or theme park (Branson, Missouri), tubing or go-karting (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin), or enjoy strolling through the shops and restaurants of a historic district (Vermilion, Ohio).. Retirees interested in exploring the outdoors . California, Omaha, and Minnesota are among the most popular transplant states. The light turquoise waters attract vacationers from all over the country. 23. Caddo Lake - Karnack. The area also has lots to do, from shopping and dining to mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and canoeing on its rivers and lakes. The 0.67-acre lot is one of the last waterfront building sites in the village of Lake Placid and comes with 295 feet of sandy waterfront. Alabama's Lake Town lives up to its moniker by offering plenty of activities on and off the water. three-bedroom, two-bathroom lakeside abode, The 10 Most Affordable Places To Buy A Vacation Home, How to Buy a Second Home (Hint: It Wont Be Like Your First), Thinking of Buying a Lakeside Home? The lakes crystal-clear waters are the ideal spot for fishing, water-skiing, and swimming. Next: 25. "The City of Opportunity" offers plenty of rest-and-relaxation opportunities to its visitors. Other towns in the area include Lakeland, Lakeview, Lakeside, Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, and others. We set out on our annual hot-season quest to find the best affordable lake towns in the United Statesplaces with lots of well-priced homes, lovely and fun water scenes, and no shortage of things to do on dry land. The Pacific Northwest is filled with pine tree-lined bodies of water, but in terms of lake towns that offer both water activities and mainland charms, Chelan is one of the best waterfront enclaves in the PNW. Buyers can find single-family homes just blocks from the water starting in the $400,000s, like this $419,000, three-bedroom house just outside town. Even in todays expensive real estate market, there are still a few places left where homebuyers can find great, affordable lake homes that can serve as Zen-inducing or pulse-pounding retreats (your choice!) In town, you'll find its historic district and long-loved restaurants. They can play on the lake, ride horses, or follow off-road Jeep trails without losing access to high-speed internet and other city amenities. Midwesterners travel from near and far to relax in the gorgeous bodies of water that dot the tourist towns of Okoboji and Spirit Lake. The International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center are probably the most happening spots in town. The 55-mile-long body of water is ideal for sailing or paddling past historic cabins and sprawling vineyards. Supported by natural spring and rain water, White Lake is a 1,200-acre body of water in North Carolina, and the town welcomes 200,000 tourists each summer. In 2012, 70% of registered voters supported former President Barack Obama. RETIRE NEAR THE WATER. Covington is an excellent one, with state parks, biking trails, easy access to the lake, a great brewery in Abita Springs, coffee shops, restaurants, and waterways streaming through. The lake is named after the town of Burton which is now situated at the bottom of the lake. If Queen Dolly Partons Stampede and live country music shows arent your thing, check out the Titanic Museum, with 400 pre-Discovery artifacts spread across 20 gallerieswhich can be enjoyed in the blissful A/C. You're sure to catch your fix of small-town charm and slow country living in this Alabama town. Those looking to move to Cheboygan are finding plenty of affordable homes . Watch: Home Buying Update: Where to Aim Highand Bid Higher. Alaska might not be the first place most folks think of when they envision summer lake towns. A majority of the population is seasonal. There are many reasons why Lake Tahoe stands out as a lake vacation. The small community of Georgetown on the Carolina coast is what Charleston used to be - 200-year-old homes (more than Charleston, in fact), lots of Southern . In fact, for $250,000, homebuyers can buy their own patch of Lake Placid and build their dream home. But that doesnt mean the rest of the 99% cant get in on the waterfront action. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at twilight. Located at the mouth of the Cheboygan River on Lake Huron, the town offers clear waters and a gorgeous shoreline. Ogden, Utah. Kick up your feet at the Inn on the Square between grub sessions at Good Times Brewing at The Mill House and the Cheeseburger House. 24. It is so beautiful that the locals of the Texas Hill Country have given it the nickname of "The Jewel". Clear Lake, South Dakota, is proud of its strong, traditional values. Bryson City, North Carolina, is a small town with big views. The bucolic town, tucked between Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska, offers a plethora of water sports like canoeing and water skiing. The family-friendly area boasts water sports and a drive-in movie theater in the summer months with plenty of hockey, ice fishing and other outdoor winter sports during the colder parts of the year. Connected to Marion through a water bridge called the Diversion Canal, Lake Moultrie is a smaller lake but is still the third largest lake in South Carolina. There's a stretch of great small towns north of Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana. Greensboro is situated right on the 19,000-acre lake and is home to a posh golf community (there are six courses within Reynolds Lake Oconee). But those who want access to the water from their backdoors need IPO-level cash; they should expect to fork over six figures for places like this brand-new three-bedroom listed at $1.25 million. Entry-level lake homes start in the $100,000s such as this $155,000 four-bedroom with a giant deck. And while it is possible to find a single-family home on the water that needs a bit of love for under $200,000, the pickings at that price point are slim. You get larger lots for the same amount of money, but you still have access to everything you need.. Summer and fall in the South Lake Tahoe area is synonymous with boat rentals, hiking Rubicon Trail for views of the lake, dining al fresco at Boathouse on the Pier, and sunsets savored with a bottle of wine. Family-friendly activities abound at our number one Best Place to Buy a Lake House. However, its ghost town status seems to be changing with a larger number of people moving here after . Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. The charming red-brick downtown is filled with fun shops and restaurants. . While Charlevoix offers both waterfront attractions and inland charms, beach-going visitors will love the five miles of shore at Fisherman's Island State Park and Beach. The presence of water-based activities and attractions was one of the main ranking factors for this list. Buyers willing to spend a bit more can find huge spreads like this three-bedroom on more than an acre of property right on the edge of Lake Desoto listed for $454,900. These lake towns might not be ones with the highest name recognition or bragging rights, but they do offer a host of fun water activitiesand the privacy and small-town feel missing from bigger, more populated vacation spots. The outdoor offeringswhich often include boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking, golfing, and lounging on the shoresare great ways to spend newly free hours during the weekdays and weekends. And with inflation rising, stock and cryptocurrency markets taking a beating, and fears of another recession mounting, plenty of well-off Americans are holding off on buying yet another home. That makes it appealing for investors as well as folks who stay there part of the time and rent out for the rest, to help pay off their mortgages. Beaufort, North Carolina. Vergennes and the area bordering Lake Champlain have an old-world New England feel - which stands to reason, as Vergennes was founded in 1788. There are 6 public boat accesses, 2 nuclear power plants, and it is popular to both nearby North Carolina and its . Weve become a year-round vacation destination now because of the resorts, indoor water parks, and other amenities in the area, he adds. 2 . The unique 1.88-acre, lake-to-bay lot offers views from every window in the 8,800-square-foot home. Wallethub's Best Beach Towns to Live in (Ocean or Lake) 15 Sparkling Seaside Towns In The USA The Best Small Beach Towns in the United States America's 25 Favorite Beach Towns America's Most Affordable Beach Towns in 2019 The 21 Most Popular Active and 55+ Communities in the Southeast. With serene scenes, mountain-framed horizons, and breathtaking stretches of river and lake valleys, lake life looks different in every state, and we're here to celebrate them all. The lakes in the region include Osceola, Maitland (pictured), Minnehaha, Virginia, and Mizell, and those who visit and live in Winter Park can enjoy them all. Explore the Seneca Historic District where wraparound porches are a staple on every home and Southern charm is a way of life, then grab a bite to eat at Dimas Brothers Caf before renting a kayak at Lake Keowee Marina to take in the views on the water. The pinnacle of Montana lake culture is spending the summer months on Flathead Lake. Lake Wylie is in both Carolinas and the variety of activities in this area is great. Paducah and the small towns that surround it offer up fun on the area's many lakes and rivers. 25. Butler is located on the northern shore of Watauga Lake, and is actually the reconstruction of the "old" Butler. Big Bear is less of a hotel town - the name of the game here is renting a house on the water and spending your days fishing, hiking, swimming, and mountain biking. This Texas coastal city is known for its soft sand and its profound birding and fishing culture. For anyone who wants some waterfront privacy, this certainly is the place. Flagstaff, Arizona. (Fun fact: Big Spirit Lake is home to 40 different species of fish.). Stacker used 2020 data from WalletHub to determine the 46 best U.S. lake towns to live in, evaluating each on six factors: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of . Waterfront condos start in the mid 300s like this two-bedroom listed at $349,000. Trout fishing is popular on Lake Taneycomo. Winter Olympics. Caddo Lake is a 25,000-acre lake and bayou on the border of Texas and Louisiana. Ithaca is considered the most liberal of all towns in New York City and is ranked the 7th most liberal city in America. It just depends on what youre looking for, Schaben says. With the campsites, the natural spring water, the scenic views around the park, and the lake, its just so calming and relaxing, says Misty Treptow, executive director of the Sulphur Chamber of Commerce. Buyers might want to check out the Hideout, a planned residential community with 3,200 single-family homes nestled into the Poconos. As for housing, there is something for any price range. Next: 10. (Sorry.). And we specifically wanted to hone in on the best lake towns in America as a way to help travelers pinpoint exactly where to book a week-long rental or a charming inn for their next lake vacation. Coos Bay, Oregon. It is also renowned as the most hippie town in the state, offering drum circles, natural food options, and plenty of community art scattered across town. However, the Adirondack region is also a destination for folks who just want to sunbathe and roast marshmallows over a fire pit. The small lakes around Chestertown have been booming with second home buyers this year, who make up about 80% of the real estate market. Many places with lake houses have activities. Closer to town, those similar units near the large body of water go for at least an extra $100,000if not moresuch as this three-bedroom asking $539,000. Chelan offers housing options at a wide range of price points. Conroe. This Georgia city is set on the shores of Lake Lanier, which is a busy spot in summertime and a lovely place to live year-round. Charlevoix is the perfect getaway to Lake Michigan. Just a three-hour drive, the idyllic glacial valley, located across the Cascade Range in the high desert, centers on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Chelan. Bryson City. Located in Pennsylvanias Poconos Mountain range, Gouldsboro is a close weekend trip for New Yorkers and New Jerseyians. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Its possible to get a single-family home right on one of the smaller lakes in the $100,000 range, like this three-bedroom on Center Lake for $119,800. Nestled into the scenic foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, this picturesque community is home to Highland Lake, one of the largest lakes in Connecticut and a popular spot for residents to beat the summer heat. Families love heading to the rides and entertainment at Cedar Point Amusement Parkthe self-proclaimed roller coaster capital of the world., We have a lot of second-home buyers that come here for their getaway homes, says real estate agent Jenny Craig of Russell Realty Company. A suburb of Lafayette, Scott is the third most affordable city in Louisiana. Known as Alabamas Lake City, its surrounded by older trees, rugged mountains, and has cultural amenities like a regional theater company. for much of the year. Reality check: Most of us are no more likely find ourselves in ostentatious ocean estates in Malibu, the Hamptons, or Bal Harbour than we are to enjoy an eight-minute joyride to the edge of space. In . Lake Ozark is a small town of less than 2,000 people in the Lake of the Ozarks region of Missouri. After a full day of work, many residents find themselves on the water or hitting the trails for a hike. Just an hour-and-a-half by car from Birmingham, Guntersville boasts nearly 1,000 miles of shoreline on more than 69,000 acres of water. Stay at Lakeside Inn, Florida's oldest continuously operating hotel, and get your fill of delicious Florida cuisine, offered by chef Norman Van Aken at his restaurant 1921. Right near the Canadian border, way up north in Minnesota, secluded Ely offers acres upon acres of pristine lakes and unspoiled forests set on a stunning, glacier-carved landscape. Those who want to be on one of the larger bodies of water like East Okoboji Lake should expect to pay more, such as this five-bedroom on the market for $289,000. Spanning 2,600 acres, the lake of the Woods master-planned lake paradise offers residents exclusive access to its on-site equestrian center, 18-hole PGA golf . That provides plenty of opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, and even hiking. A vacation in a lake town is a guaranteed dose of old-fashioned family fun. 5. Neighboring Muscle Shoals has a deep music history. Average Home Cost: $338,035. The city sits about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. There's something for every travel palette in this town, from the boutique shops and locally-owned restaurants, to the 9,000-foot-plus peaks boasting hiking and mountain biking trails, to the seemingly unlimited boating and water sport opportunities on the clear blue water of Lake Chelan. Buyers can get a home and land, such as this $225,000 one-bedroom log cabin overlooking Shagawa Lake. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 10: Jordan Lake, average home listing $340,734. 10. The roughly 2,000-square-foot house sits on a third of an acre and has a fenced backyard. 1. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. We also factored in the number of restaurants, bars, and entertainment establishments per capita to ensure there was more to do in these places than just lounge by the water. The community is well-known for its abundance of vacation rentals and homes for sale. Rangeley Lake is known for terrific fishing (it's a trout and salmon hub), swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Check out five lake areas with lake homes listings that have been included in the top 10 most affordable lake areas in the country. Canyon Lake. Aurora, New York sits on Cayuga Lake, one of the largest of the 11 Finger Lakes. The Corpus Christi Bay area sits behind the Padre and Mustang islands. No. Single-family homes on the water start in the high $300,000s to low $400,000 range, such as this four-bedroom on 2.31 acres listed at $410,000 or this three-bedroom on the market for $399,000. 10 . This makes it and the nearby town of Effingham a beloved getaway for families from nearby St. Louis, a drive of about an hour-and-a-half away. Pronounced "Bowfort" (not "Bewfert" like its South Carolina namesake), this colonial-era village embraces its pirate history. From Turnip Greens Country Market, where you'll find a farmer's market as well a range of boutique stores, to Vernon Square, with historic sites and trails, Darien is an ideal destination for a low key family getaway. The word is getting out. Nothing says summertime bliss like hanging out in a lake town, watching the glowing sun set in the company of friends and family, sightseeing, visiting the local farmers market for fresh veggies and kicking back in a cozy cabin. But family members who arent into waiting hours (or what can feel like hours) for fish to bite have plenty of other entertainment options throughout the year as well, from wakeboarding and tubing on the water to minigolf and go-karts off it. Surprisingly, they're not talking about the lake wateralthough there's plenty of enjoyment to be had there. Consider a visit to the LEGOLAND Theme Park. From big lakes to small ones, natural ones to human-made, there are plenty of bodies of water calling out for you to explore themand maybe even make your new home in one of the lovely towns on their shores. Sean Pavone/Getty. The first is its sheer size. On the southeast shore of Lake Chelan, Chelan is a resort town nestled between the water and the Cascade Mountains. 9 Things Youd Better Consider First, Surf and Save? Lake Wylie- South Carolina/North Carolina. Buyers can find lakeview condos starting in the $200,000 range, such as this three-bedroom listed at $298,000 a bit farther from town. The famously human-made lake is known for speed boating and waterfront resorts, but Osage Beach claims 420 acres of shorefront that's particularly inviting for families keen on a beach vacation. Bayview, Idaho is a floating village - yes, that's a real thing - on Lake Pend Oreille.