fourth of july Archives

Stars, Stripes, and Sips: Recipes for 4th of July Cocktails

Posted on June 29, 2020June 25, 2020 Camille Smith

What’s your favorite July 4th tradition? Maybe it’s grilling burgers and taking your family on the boat. Or tasting the first bite of homemade apple pie and admiring the fireworks’ reflection in the water. Whatever your routine may be, a lake home is an unbeatable setting for this holiday. To top off the celebration, you can create 4th of July cocktails for you and your guests. After all, there are few excuses throughout the year to serve whimsical, colorful cocktails. Plus, you can skip the alcohol with most of these drinks, so they’re appropriate for kids. This holiday, pick your patriotic poison and enjoy the lake!

Red, White, and Blue Spritzer

If you’re looking for something light and refreshing, this spritzer is a perfect choice. Add some fresh strawberries and blueberries for the full red, white, and blue effect.

Ingredients:

1 cup simple syrup (1 part sugar + 1 part water, boiled until dissolved and cooled)
½ cup fresh strawberries, sliced in halves
½ cup fresh blueberries
1 bottle dry white wine
Club soda or tonic water
Ice
Fresh mint for garnish

Directions: Add ice to pitcher until full and top with berries (save some for individual glasses). Pour in simple syrup and wine until the pitcher is ¾ full, then add soda or tonic water. Stir, serve and garnish with mint and extra fruit.

Courtesy of: Pretty Plain Janes

Sugar Cookie Pudding Shots

Photo courtesy of Jelly Shot Test Kitchen.

Confectionery sweetness meets alcohol with these celebratory shots. The bright colors and thick, pudding consistency make for a fun, festive treat.

Ingredients:

1 box white chocolate flavored instant pudding
1 cup cold milk (any kind)
¾ cup vanilla vodka
2 tbsp amaretto liquor
½ cup whipped topping (or whipped cream)
Red and blue liquid food coloring
Cookies or sprinkles for garnish

Directions: In a medium bowl, pour pudding mix and add cold milk. Beat for two minutes. Add the vodka, ¼ cup at a time (combine thoroughly before each new ¼ cup addition). Stir in amaretto and whip. Evenly divide the pudding mixture into 3 bowls. Tint the first bowl with red food coloring, the second bowl blue. Leave the last one white. Layer the puddings in shot glasses and top with chosen garnish.

Courtesy of: Jelly Shot Test Kitchen

Firecracker

This cocktail’s spicy flavors are just as sizzling as the fireworks. For those who enjoy a relatively simple cocktail with a few fun flavors, this is for you.

Ingredients:

4 watermelon chunks
3 oz Flor de Caña Grand Reserve seven-year-old rum
1 oz Triple sec
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
½ tsp cayenne pepper
Lime wedge for garnish

Directions: Muddle the watermelon in a mixing glass. Add all other remaining ingredients and ice and stir. Unstrained, pour into a cocktail or margarita glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Courtesy of: Liquor.com

Red, White, and Blue Sangria

Photo courtesy of Certified Pastry Aficionado.

Sangria is a summer staple (alliteration, anyone?). But this time, you don’t have to decide between red and white wine as the base. As long as you add blue, it’s patriotic.

Ingredients:

¼ cup of sugar
¼ cup brandy liquor
1 750 mL bottle of dry white wine
12 ounces lemon-lime soda
1 pound strawberries (sliced)
1 dry pint blueberries
Ice (for serving)

Directions: In a pitcher, mix sugar and brandy and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add a bottle of chardonnay and lemon-lime soda. Stir, then add strawberries and blueberries. You can let it sit for a few hours ahead of time to absorb all the flavors. When ready to serve, fill glasses halfway with ice, then pour sangria and serve immediately.

Courtesy of: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Red, White, and Boozy Margarita

Nothing says “summertime” like a frozen margarita. But this time, try it with a 4th of July flare. After a day of grilling and relaxing in the sun, cool down with this colorful recipe.

Ingredients:

9 cups ice
6 oz. silver tequila
3 oz. triple sec
2 oz. grenadine (for the red layer)
2 oz. blue curaçao (for the blue layer)
2 oz. lime juice (for the white layer)

Directions: Divide ingredients for ice, tequila, and triple sec into thirds, and use ⅓ of each amount for each layer. Make the red layer by blending all ingredients, dividing evenly into glasses, and then repeating them with blue and white layers. Serve immediately.

Courtesy of: Delish.com

Red, White, and Blueberry Mule

If Moscow Mules are your cocktail of choice, try this festive twist on your favorite beverage. It has the same classic mix of vodka and ginger beer, with a unique fruity flavor. Don’t let your copper mugs go to waste this holiday!

Ingredients:

2 oz. berry vodka (blueberry or raspberry)
6 oz. ginger beer
Blueberries
Blackberries

Directions: Muddle blueberries and blackberries in a shaker. Add vodka and shake. In a Moscow Mule mug, fill with ice and pour vodka and berries mixture. Fill with ginger beer and garnish with extra blueberries and blackberries.

Courtesy of: Brooklyn Crafted

From all of us at Lake Homes Realty, happy 4th of July!

Songs of Summer – A Lake Day Playlist

Posted on June 28, 2019November 17, 2020 Staff

Whether you’re riding the waves or firing up the grill, every lake day could use a soundtrack.

The lake lifestyle doesn’t discriminate, so why should we? Our musical tastes are as diverse as the lakes we love, so let’s get the party started with these eclectic songs of summer.

1. Fourth of July – Shooter Jennings	26. Waves – Mr. Probz
2. Where the Boat Leaves From – Zac Brown Band	27. Good Feeling – Flo Rida
3. Reality (Radio Edit) – Lost Frequencies	28. Black Water – The Doobie Brothers
4. Island in the Sun – Wheezer	29. Sailing – Christopher Cross
5. Vacation – Sam Hunt	30. Up on Cripple Creek – The Band
6. Cool for the Summer – Demi Lovato	31. American Pie – Don McLean
7. Wannabe – Dylan Schneider	32. The River – Garth Brooks
8. Easy – Faith No More	33. Chattahoochee – Alan Jackson
9. Beautiful Day – U2	34. Sea of Love – The Honeydrippers
10. Ants Marching – Dave Matthews Band	35. Purple Rain – Prince
11. Some Beach – Blake Shelton	36. Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
12. Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae	37. Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon
13. Breeze off the Pond – Justin Timberlake	38. Whiskey River – Willie Nelson
14. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys	39. If I had a Boat – Lyle Lovett
15. Castaway – Zac Brown Band	40. Have a Nice Day – Bon Jovi
16. Cheeseburger in Paradise – Jimmy Buffet	41. Island Song – Zac Brown Band
17. Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees	42. Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
18. Africa – Toto	43. Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes – Jimmy Buffet
19. We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel	44. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
20. The Only Place – Best Coast	45. Summer Breeze – Seals and Crofts
21. All Star – Smash Mouth	46. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
22. Sun Daze – Florida Georgia Line	47. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
23. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini – Bryan Hyland	48. Best Day of My Life – American Authors
24. Float Your Boat – Ryan Follese	49. Dance With Me – Lost Frequencies
25. Be the Lake – Brad Paisley	50. Just Another Day in Paradise – Phil Vassar

Keep the good times coming for another 40 tracks with our Ultimate Top 40 Boating Playlist.

If you’re looking to chill and relax, check out our Lakeside Chill – A Lake House Relaxation Playlist.

Fourth of July Festivals for Your Family

Posted on June 26, 2019June 27, 2019 Staff

Flashy fireworks, hot dogs, boat parades and live music — the makings of the best Fourth of July festival around.

father and son on dock holding American flag

As far west as Idaho or in the most north-eastern corner of the U.S. in Maine, you’re sure to find an Independence Day celebration worth shouting about.

But in case you don’t know where to start your search, we recommend you look to your lakes for family-friendly July Fourth festivities you won’t forget.

Coeur d’Alene Lake, Idaho

Spanning 33,000 acres in Idaho’s Spokane County, Coeur d’Alene Lake is no stranger to fantastic Fourth of July fun, and neither is its nearby namesake city.

Each year, the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce kicks off the festivities at 10 a.m. with the Coeur d’Alene Fourth of July Parade.

After its conclusion at 1 p.m., nearly 40,000 parade participants and spectators take to the city park to enjoy a variety of food vendors, craft booths and live music.

Others enjoy hiking and biking through Coeur d’Alene National Forest, participating in 5Ks and Fun-Runs, and cruising along the lake’s 135 miles of shoreline.

Lake lovers also take the opportunity to fish Lake Coeur d’Alene’s healthy populations of sport fish, including salmon, bass, trout and crappie.

As the sun sets, the Coeur d’Alene Resort offers an exclusive “Steak and Sparklers” dinner and private concert on the property’s front lawn where attendees can get a front-row seat to the evening’s grand finale.

Finally, the day’s events culminate at dusk as the Chamber of Commerce commences with its 22-minute, spectacular fireworks display over the water.

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Larger-than-life lakes often usher in larger-than-life celebrations. Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks is no exception.

Across its 54,000 acres, Fourth of July festivities range from pirate-themed-fireworks cruises, live concerts from Missouri’s favorite cover band “Contagious” and trips to the Dickerson Park Zoo for their annual “Red, White and Zoo: Military Appreciation Day.”

On the water, Tan-Tar-A Resort, a Margaritaville property, invites guests to take a ride on their Tropic Islands Cruises yacht for July 4th fireworks over the main channel at dusk.

Captain Ron’s Bar and Grill also offers a fantastic fireworks show for guests to enjoy while they groove to live music, dine, drink and play beach volleyball.

Of course, the Lake of the Ozarks sees plenty of boating and fishing on the Fourth of July, too. And with average temperatures of 84 degrees Fahrenheit, swimming is another fun way to spend Independence Day.

Other popular Fourth of July activities include camping, biking, and horseback riding in Lake of the Ozarks State Park and exploring nearby Bridal Cave.

Lake Barkley, Kentucky

Featuring 1,000 miles of shoreline in five counties across two states, Lake Barkley is another July 4th force to be reckoned with.

In addition to entertaining hundreds of people on its 58,000 acres, Lake Barkley also hosts a number of fireworks displays including the Lake Barkley State Resort Park show.

Held on the beach, this fireworks extravaganza is free to the public and features vendors selling a variety of foods and glow in the dark memorabilia.

Also hosted during the first weekend of July is the Cadiz “Cruise Cruz-In!,” a vintage car show and community event that takes place in historic downtown Cadiz on Main Street.

Celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with free cornhole, live music, door prizes and BBQ. Satisfy your need for speed with cars, trucks, and motorcycles from “the good ‘ole days.”

And don’t forget to pack your fishing poles and gear for some of the best crappie and bass fishing in the state!

Moosehead Lake, Maine

Located in southeastern Maine, Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in the state at nearly 75,000 acres in Piscataquis and Somerset counties.

A hot spot for eco-tourists, die-hard sportsmen and urbanites seeking haven from the hustle and bustle of the big city, the lake is also popular among America’s most patriotic.

boy and girl feet hanging of the end of boat with American flag

Start your celebrating with the Town of Greenville and Destination Moosehead Lake by taking part in their annual Fourth of July spectacular! This all-day event is free to the public and includes a parade, craft fairs and the biggest fireworks show in Piscataquis County.

For a more personalized celebration, spend the day whitewater rafting on one of Moosehead Lake’s nearby rivers; fishing for salmon, brook trout, and lake trout; or enjoying a scenic 40-minute flight over the lake’s majestic waters.

Finally, top off the day’s events with an evening cruise on the Katahdin, a 1914 steamboat that tours Moosehead Lake’s southern end.

From its decks, Katahdin riders experience the lake’s best views of Fourth of July fireworks over the water and an assortment of beverages, sandwiches, and snacks.

And the best part? The fun doesn’t stop after the fireworks have faded and the smoke has all cleared. In fact, these lakes continue to offer countless opportunities for making family memories year-round.

For more ideas on family-friendly activities at the lake, be sure to read our article “Weekend Fun: Charity Poker Runs Across the U.S.”!

5 Things Only Lake Murray Natives Would Know

Posted on May 23, 2016February 27, 2020 Staff

person kaying on lake murray, south carolina

Lake Murray is a reservoir stretching across 50,000 acres in upstate South Carolina.

Since its creation in 1930, Lake Murray has become the epicenter of the region, with four counties and several communities all possessing ties to the lake, including the state capitol, Columbia, only 25 miles away.

In addition to providing hydroelectric power for the region, Lake Murray has quickly grown into one of the region’s premier recreational destinations, one you know to be among your favorite places: you also refer to it as home.