The town center of Wolfeboro is actually positioned directly on Lake Winnipesaukee, which offers an expansive 72 square miles of water. Caddo Lake - Karnack. Venture into Ithaca, New York for dinner at Maxie's Supper Club, visit Heart & Hands Wine Company in nearby Union Springs, and of course, stay at Inns of Aurora for a luxurious lakeside escape at one of their five beautifully curated inns. Residential lots on Lake Monticello 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. There are many reasons why Lake Tahoe stands out as a lake vacation. Plan a visit. The 43,000 acres of Table Rock Lake are perfect for paddleboarding, kayaking or boating. Prices generally range from $400,000 to . Located approximately 35 miles south of the Kennedy Space Center, Melbourne residents average $853 on monthly housing costs, ranking 12 th for this metric. This five-bedroom, two-bedroom house is listed for $325,000. Check out Margaritaville Lake Resort for a family-friendly vacation in Osage Beach. Clermont Chain of Lakes is a system of 11 lakes in Florida, but the historic village of Clermont is specifically nestled on Lake Minneola. Meera Pal is a Northern California-based writer with a background in journalism and books. But that doesnt mean the rest of the 99% cant get in on the waterfront action. 10. But in todays overheated housing market, is the concept of owning your own waterfront home a punishing fantasy or an achievable reality? The median listing price in 2020 was a very affordable $107,792. Neighboring Muscle Shoals has a deep music history. 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. Each place had to have at least 25 listings. The lakes crystal-clear waters are the ideal spot for fishing, water-skiing, and swimming. And those who get seasick can avoid the water altogether with local wine tastings. Emmie Martin , Melissa Stanger, and Andy Kiersz. 2019 Best Retirement Lakes Entry-level lake homes start in the $100,000s such as this $155,000 four-bedroom with a giant deck. Buyers can find three-season cottages on the water that need some fixing up starting in the $100,000 range, like this two-bedroom ranch with river access listed for $125,000. Take a stroll through this town, and you'll understand why it's a popular destination. The community is nestled between the southern shores of the lake and the foothills of the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. It is a college town home to Ithaca College, an internationally known private college that has the Center LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services. This is a country chock-full of picturesque lakes, from the northeastern shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and Rangeley Lake in Maine, all the way to the southern California shores of Big Bear Lake. 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. We are right between Minneapolis and Chicago, and its a relatively quick trip on the interstate for people from those regions to come and vacation, says one real estate agent, Kirkland Kettleson of Century 21 Affiliated. To keep the list geographically diverse, we limited the list to one lake town per state. 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. Aurora, New York sits . With world-class skiing nearby, Lake Placid hosted both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. She covers tech, real estate, and everything in between. Lake Wylie is in both Carolinas and the variety of activities in this area is great. While the area boasts hundreds of hiking trails for all levels of ability, it also offers motorboating, fishing, and, for those seeking some summer adrenaline, whitewater rafting. 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. #13. From a time-capsule-worthy main drag in Greensboro, Georgia, to a sun-soaked chain of lakes in Winter Haven, Florida, these are the South's best lake towns of 2022. 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. 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).. Located on the sandy shores of Lake Erie, Sandusky was named one of Americas best coastal towns by U.S. Today, and topped the Realtor.com 2021 list of the Most Affordable Lake Towns. 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. 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. The actual town of Bigfork has a growing arts scene - between their impressive array of galleries, notable theatre presence, and annual Festival of the Arts - and it is known for great hiking, with many trails offering views of the lake. Why Southern Lake Lovers Will Always Choose the Lake Over the Beach, The Best Places for a Dreamy Retirement in the South, Our Favorite Small Towns in North Carolina, 32 Charming Mountain Towns To Visit This Fall, The Prettiest Beach Town in Every Beachy State, 8 Things to Do in the Charming Town of Anderson, South Carolina, Our Guide to the Best Fall Color in Every Southern State, The Best Trips to Take with Your Girlfriends, The Best Vacation Spots In Every Southern State, Tell Grandma To Get Out Her Good Luggage, We've Got 18 Trip Ideas for the Whole Family. Prices include all homes in these towns, including those on a lake. 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 . There are no theme parks or big music shows. Callawassie Island, located in the heart of the Lowcountry, is a private, gated island community offering world-class Tom Fazio golf and a full complement of amenities including a tennis center, clubhouse, pools, fitness center, and River Club. If you're looking to have the time of your life, this quiet lake town is meant for you. 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. 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 New York Finger Lakes region is a pristine part of the state with 11 glistening bodies of water, each lined by towns with character. Legend has it that seven mineral springs in Springs Park have healing powers. "The City of Opportunity" offers plenty of rest-and-relaxation opportunities to its visitors. Weve become a year-round vacation destination now because of the resorts, indoor water parks, and other amenities in the area, he adds. You can find traces of all of them in Florence, Alabama. To come up with our list of the nations most affordable lake towns, we looked at more than 11,000 towns with or on lakes. One perennial rule of summer: Branson, MO, is always one of the highest-ranking lake towns in the nationeven if it did move down a couple of spots, from No. Scout a rental property to live out your Southern lake dream sequence, or stay at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Greensboro for waterfront five-star accommodations. Lake Wylie covers over 13,000 acres, with a shoreline of 325 miles. With pandemic restrictions easing upand American life returning to something akin to normallocking in a home on the water is feeling like less of an imperative to some would-be buyers. Rangeley Lake State Park boasts 850 acres of mountainous terrain, making the area a perfect hiking destination as well. Gigabit ISP: C Spire ($80/month) Zillow Home Value Index: $165,574. Its basically the complete opposite of Bransonaside from, you know, the lakes. Striking views, a gorgeous landscape, stunning lakes, and affordable housing? Lake Burton. Coos Bay, Oregon. Animal lovers will gladly pay roughly $7 ($4 for kids) to spend a couple . Jordan Lake is about 25 miles north of Montgomery in Elmore County with almost a dozen homes between $300,000 and $400,000. Just a three-hour drive east of Seattle, this high desert town is the sunny escape from the rain and clouds of the coastal Pacific Northwest. 11. Buyers who want to get in on the monthly drum circles in Basin Springs Park can find great deals on homes close to downtown, such as this renovated three-bedroom asking $279,000. Aurora, New York sits on Cayuga Lake, one of the largest of the 11 Finger Lakes. They say a rainy day on the lake is better than a sunny day in the city. What do Frank Lloyd Wright, shellfish, and the Tennessee River all have in common? 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. 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. The trooper had successful surgery Thursday and is in "great spirits," Attorney General Matt . The roughly 2,000-square-foot house sits on a third of an acre and has a fenced backyard. Sights include the Palace Hotel and Bath House, listed on the National Historic Register, as well as the Basin Park Hotel and the supposedly haunted Crescent Hotel. If you're looking for the perfect vacation town on Lake of the Ozarks, look no further than Osage Beach. The events of the past year drove additional interest, says Glenn S. Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty. At B-52 Brewery, you'll find them serving up a new brew release every Friday alongside live music performances. 9 Things Youd Better Consider First. Editor's Note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure. Lake Wylie- South Carolina/North Carolina. In the past, many people have viewed buying a vacation home as a combination of a family amenity and a revenue opportunity, said Wedgeworth. The dog days of summer 2021 are upon us at last. Covington, Louisiana. 10 of the Best Small Towns on the East Coast, 11 Most Beautiful Lakes in the United States, This Is the Largest Alpine Lake in North America and It's Perfect for Visiting Year-round, 8 Amazing California Road Trips That Take You From Big Sur to the Sierras, These Are the Best Small Towns in the South, 50 Best Romantic Getaways for a Couples Trip, 34 Last-minute Beach Trips to Extend Your Summer, 12 Best Washington State Parks for Camping. Hot Springs Village is the largest gated community in the United States. At Rarity Bay . 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. 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. There are few things more relaxing than the quintessentially American lake vacation. The red-brick sidewalks and friendly locals in this town are sure to make you nostalgic for childhood days on the water. At a time when many Americans are trying to manage life under lockdown, a home where you can enjoy the outdoors is looking more and more appealingnot just as a weekend-only getaway, but potentially for year-round living, if you have the ability to work remotely, said realtor.com housing expert Cicely Wedgeworth. Crestline, California. Retire to Davidson and you'll find all the small-town charm you crave near North Carolina's Lake Norman, plus proximity to the bustling Charlotte metropolitan area. 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. 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!) Situated near Columbia, South Carolina's capital city, and just a short drive from Lake Murraya 50,000-acre reservoir with more than 600 miles of shorelineLexington is a great place to live. However, the Adirondack region is also a destination for folks who just want to sunbathe and roast marshmallows over a fire pit. During the summer months, visitors and locals cruise along the shores of the 55-mile-long body of Lake Chelan, sailing, wakeboarding or paddling past historic cabins and vineyards. It's the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi - boasting 200 square miles of water. Marshals in South Carolina Friday afternoon. This Charming Small Town in Upstate New York Was Just Named the Best Place to Buy a Lake House in 2023 8 Best Small Towns to Buy a Vacation Home in the U.S. Where to Buy a Vacation Home in Colorado 3: Georgetown, South Carolina. Buyers on a budget, who dont mind roughing it a bit, can check out this small cabin on Pennock Island for just $79,000. 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. The gateway to Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Nordic Valley, this hidden gem, just 35 minutes north of Salt Lake City, sits at 4,280 feet and is adjacent to 170,000 acres of national forest. 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. Even in the gated community, affordable homes can still be found. Port Aransas is a town close to Corpus Christi making it an easy day trip from the bigger city. From this $400,000 one-bedroom cabin on a wooded, waterfront acre right near the Trezona Trail to this $599,000 one-bedroom cabin on a 1.25-acre island in Shagawa Lake, Ely is the ideal lake town for folks who want to get away from it all.. Canyon Lake. Although Lake Placid boasts some impressive multimillion-dollar homes on the water, like this $11 million seven-bedroom estate, folks without trust funds can get into the housing market, too. Swimming is unlikely because the lake contains alligators, but it's a great spot for boating. The city sits in a strategic position at the southern tip of the Inside Passage, connecting the Gulf of Alaska to the Puget Sound. Located just south of the Iowa-Minnesota border, Spirit Lake sits on the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region. Wisconsin Dells, named for the mighty Wisconsin River Dells, is a lakefront vacation destination that truly has something for everyone. Set on the banks of Lake Erie, the popular vacation destination offers a revitalized downtown with good shopping and dining. Asheville, North Carolina. In the summer, families wakeboard, tube and fish on the lakes and rivers. 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. Minocqua, Wisconsin. His company sells lake homes in 33 states. The lake is named after the town of Burton which is now situated at the bottom of the lake. 10 . 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. That provides plenty of opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, and even hiking. Test your muscles and head downriver to Wilson Lake, where there are plenty of spots to stay and enjoy fresh shellfish by the water. Here are the 25 most affordable places for renters currently, according to Zillow. * 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. But this year looks a bit different. This fast-growing city of nearly 90,000 is 40 miles north of Houston and abuts Lake Conroe, a 33-square-mile lake, and is close to Sam Houston National Forest. Ithaca is considered the most liberal of all towns in New York City and is ranked the 7th most liberal city in America. Florence is a fun small town with great downtown shops and restaurants as well as outdoor adventure in Shoal Creek Preserve and Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve. The quaint village offers restaurants, hotels, resorts, and fun and unique shops along its cute downtown corridor. The Tennessee River runs between the two, and the stretch between Wilson Dam and Wheeler Dam is known as Wilson Lake, a popular reservoir for fishing. Traveling with kids or an inner child at heart? Its charming downtown, great restaurants, and fun shops are sure to keep you busy. 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. Conroe. Abingdon, Virginia. Its easy to spend an entire day outdoors in Ashland, either fishing in the deep waters of Chequamegon Bay, hiking to one of the many nearby waterfalls, or simply counting the different species of birds flying over the bay. Charlevoix is the perfect getaway to Lake Michigan. Clearlake is one the more affordable lake towns in California, with average home prices just under $200,000. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. 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. And last year was already nuts! for much of the year. Catering to guests from around the world, this working dude ranch offers guided trail rides, horseback riding lessons, stocked fishing ponds, and an all-inclusive resort experience. Located in the Adirondack Mountains and surrounded by rivers famous for fly-fishing, cliffs made for climbing (and jumping), and lakes ideal for a host of water sports, Lake Placid is one of the most sought-after vacation spots in New York. The small lakes around Chestertown have been booming with second home buyers this year, who make up about 80% of the real estate market. 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. 10: Jordan Lake, average home listing $340,734. RETIRE NEAR THE WATER. More than 125 homes and a projected fifty businesses moved to higher ground, the . Located at the mouth of the Cheboygan River on Lake Huron, the town offers clear waters and a gorgeous shoreline. 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. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. On the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain is Mandeville, Louisiana, a locale with lots of natural beauty and places to explore in the outdoors. They were all built around the citys natural springshence the name. Maguire says there has been an increase in interest in the area, especially from out-of-state buyers given the areas lakeside location and tranquil and safe community. With a name like Sulphur, its no surprise that the area is famous for its mineral springs. Treptow notes that the town has seen an uptick in the number of visitors to the area, as well as folks who have decided to turn their lake homes into their permanent homes. She writes about food, travel, and real estate for Zagat, FoodNetwork.com, BBC Travel, and more. The 26,000-acre census-designated place boasts nine golf courses, dozens of restaurants, 14,000 residents and 11 lakes with plenty of single-family houses and townhomes on the shores. 01 of 10. 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. Sandusky has been getting a lot of press over the past few years. Residents can enjoy leisurely days boating on the lake, or go fishing in two of the nearby lakes, Lake Henry and Lake Wallenpaupack. Its very close to pricier Lake George as well as Gore Mountain Ski Resort. The top tourist attractions are the International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center. The cold winters allow for hockey and ice fishing, and the warmer months . Norris Lake dominates the area to the south. 1. The community is home to several private bodies of water: Roamingwood Lake, Deerfield Lake, Brooks Lake, Windermere Lake, Hidden Lake, and Big Springs Pond. Take a tour of Wright's Rosenbaum House, the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in Alabama. Head to Greenhorn Ranch first for an authentic ranch experience in the Lost Sierra. The region boasts seven lakes, with the three largest natural bodies of water located in the town proper: Big Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake, and East Okoboji Lake. Theres also this quirky three-bedroom within walking distance to Main Street for $350,000. Sandusky, OH, was ranked the most affordable lake town in 2021 by Realtor.com . The village of Winsted offers a downtown filled with antiques stores, restaurants, and small boutiques for those hoping to wile away a lazy afternoon.