Lake-Inspired Gift Guide for Mother’s Day

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Mother’s Day is finally here! As the day is quickly approaching, many are doing some last-minute shopping for a mom in their life who loves the lake. But just because you procrastinated your shopping doesn’t mean you can’t find a special gift! Whether she loves sitting by the lake with a book, fishing, or hiking, we’ve got you covered with these lake-inspired gifts for Mother’s Day.

For the Mom Who Likes to Lounge

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Throughout the year, many moms are always on the go. The lake is their sacred spot to relax and get away from all the hustle and bustle. For those who simply enjoy lounging around at the lake and taking some me-time, get them some cute casual clothes. This “Lake Mom” shirt pairs perfectly with jeans, sneakers, or a pair of sweatpants.

For the Mom Who’s Always Up for an Adventure

Photo courtesy of Suunto via Forbes

If the mom in your life loves exploring nature and is always up for a hiking adventure, get her a gift that’s perfect for the outdoorsy-life. This heat mapping watch from Suunto is a wilderness must-have. It pairs with Google’s WearOS to show you the most popular routes on your hiking path. That way, if she’s ever unsure of what trail to take, this watch will be her guide. Plus, its sleek high-tech look will complement her hiking ensemble. While this gift is on the pricier side, it’s definitely worth it.

For the Mom Who Drinks Wine on the Boat

Photo courtesy of Sailing Chance

Cue up the song “Boat Drinks” by Jimmy Buffett! For the mom in your life who’s always got a beverage in hand while going boating, invest in one of these drink tumblers. The Avex sundowner rocks glass is excellent for any wine, cocktail, or small beer. With double-walled insulation, your drinks will stay cooler for longer. Perfect for long, summer days lounging on a boat!

For the Mom Who Loves Fishing

Photo courtesy of Lucky Tackle Box

Summer and fishing season is coming up very soon! If the mom in your life is happiest in a canoe waiting to reel in a fish, get her a gift she can actually use on the water. However, baits, hooks, and other fishing gear will fade with time. Instead, get her the gift that keeps on giving — a subscription. Lucky Tackle Box delivers baits and hooks monthly to your door. Each box comes with 7-14 baits, lures, and an educational magazine!

For the Mom Who Embraces Hygge

Photo courtesy of homesick.com

Nothing says hygge — the Danish concept of cozy comfort — quite like a candle at the lake. A scented candle can enhance the peaceful ambiance that a lake home already embodies. Plus, a natural scent specifically is in keeping with the indoor decorating trend of bringing the outdoors in. For moms who are all about making their lake home as comfy, stress-free, and welcoming as possible, these candles are perfect. You can also personalize this gift with a handwritten note on the packaging! 

From our lake home to yours, we wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day! 

Showcase Your Lake Pride With Custom Lake Gifts

Photo courtesy of Well Told Design

On our blog, we’ve previously written about lake-inspired gifts. Whether it’s a last minute gift, a thoughtful gift basket, or a closing gift, a present that reminds the recipient of the lake is always a good idea. However, most lake-related paraphernalia broadly alludes to the lake lifestyle, such as fish themed wall decor, or a clock with scattered numbers indicating “lake time.” But what if you’re looking for lake-inspired gifts that are specific to your own lake? With products from the following companies, you can showcase pride for your lake region. Pretty and personalized, you can’t go wrong with these custom lake gifts.

Lake Map Mugs

Photo courtesy of Well Told Design

Anybody have a map? Well Told Design does. This company’s specialty is creating distinctive, high-quality products that aim to inspire. One of their collections, Lake Map Mugs, offers a wide assortment of ceramic mugs decorated with maps of specific lakes across the U.S. These intricate designs highlight the topography, shorelines, and roadways of several of the country’s popular lakes. Personally, I have the Lake Champlain mug. I love the detailed drawings and the pop of Cerulean color, and the size is perfect for a generous serving of coffee in the morning. If your lake area is listed, this custom lake gift is a winner.

Wood Carved Lake Maps

Image courtesy of Lakehouse Lifestyle

Need a new serving tray, clock, or photo journal? Lakehouse Lifestyle, a store full of custom handcrafted lake gifts, can help. Originated by lake dwellers of 30 years, this company’s creators know the value of seeing your own lake area represented in your home. Their 3D lake maps are made from stunning birch wood with laser carved maps of your lake’s topography. To add more personalization, you can include your own lake house or favorite lake spots on the map. Each product is made with high-quality craftsmanship that will last as long as your house itself.

NeighborWoods

Image courtesy of Awesome Stuff to Buy

Do you live on a lake near an urban area? If so, showcase your city pride with products from NeighborWoods. These intricately carved posters feature a myriad of cities across the U.S. and abroad, many of which include lake areas such as Salt Lake City, Austin, and Chicago. Don’t see your city listed? You can fill out a custom order to personalize this product however you’d like. Besides the city pride aspect, the light wood material with simple etchings is a perfect match for a lake house aesthetic.

Framed Lake Maps

Image courtesy of Seibels

If your lake home is in the southeastern U.S., particularly in Alabama, consider buying a custom lake gift from Siebels, a camp and cottage furniture store located in Homewood, Alabama. Available in small or large sizes, their lake maps are meant to showcase pride for your particular lake. They feature detailed outlines of several popular lake areas in the state such as Smith Lake, Lake Martin, Lake Wilson, Lake Wedowee, and more. The rustic brown, angler aesthetic of these lake maps make them perfect for any lake home.

With the holidays coming up, these custom lake gifts are also perfect for any lake-loving friends and family!

Last Minute Lake-Inspired Gifts

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

The holidays are fast approaching and — let’s be honest — we’re still scrambling to find gifts for friends and family. However, just because a gift is last minute doesn’t mean it has to be impersonal and dull. Especially if you’re shopping for someone who loves the lake, there’s plenty of fun, celebratory presents that they’ll love. So, if you’re shopping in a pinch and aren’t sure what to do, check out this list of lake-inspired gifts!

Big Mouth Billy Bass

Photo courtesy of Amazon.

Over its many years of popularity, now in 2020, a Big Mouth Billy Bass mounted on the wall is a lake-house staple. And no, we’re not talking about a regular taxidermy fish. This entertaining vacation home accessory sings and moves his head when you press a red button at the bottom of the wall mount. Traditionally, Billy sings Bob Marley’s iconic hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Newer versions have added other songs to the repertoire, such as “I Will Survive” and “Take Me to the River.” As you introduce each lake house guest to this singing sensation, the fun doesn’t end!

“It’s Lake Time” Clock

Photo courtesy of Etsy.

In our daily lives, we’re continually keeping an eye on the time, trying to meet deadlines, and generally attempting to be productive. But being on the lake presents a rare opportunity to throw time out the window and relax. These “It’s Lake Time” clocks reflect this laid-back lifestyle through home decor. Instead of the traditional analog clock, the numbers are tossed aside, reminding everyone at home to take a step back and enjoy the lake. With this lake-inspired gift, charm takes precedence over functionality. 

Lake Themed Ornaments

Photo courtesy of Amazon.

If your gift recipient typically puts up a Holiday tree every year, they’ll love a lake themed ornament. The best part about this gift is that you can customize it to fit their personality. Does your lake-dwelling friend have a sense of humor and enjoy fun, slightly cheesy decor? If so, they’d love this ornament featuring Santa and his reindeer enjoying drinks on a pontoon boat. Or rather, if your gift recipient prefers a simplistic style, try something like this rustic wooden ornament with a hand-painted duck swimming in a lake.

Lake Coordinates Flag

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Your lake-dwelling friends will love this adorable gift from Zazzle to hang on their front porch. If your gift-planning isn’t too last minute, you can even customize the flag with their lake house’s coordinates to add a personal flare. The striped design features with a paddle insignia evoke a classic, nautical look that’s perfect for the lake. You can also print this same design onto a pillowkeychain, or koozie. Whichever gift you think will suit your lake-loving friend best! 

Lake House Guest Book

Photo courtesy of Etsy.

Whether you have time to personalize it or not, your friend will appreciate a guest book for their lake house. It’s much more than just a coffee table book — it’s a chronicle of notes from anyone who’s enjoyed the home. Your friend will enjoy looking back on everyone’s messages (including yours) for years to come. Depending on your friend’s style, you can choose a sleek book with a textbook cover or a more casual spiral notebook. To make the gift more complete, include a nice pen or a set of fun, colorful pens like Muji. This way, guests will have their designated writing utensils to showcase their personal style. 

We hope these lake-inspired gifts help your holiday shopping process this year! 

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Lake Dwellers

With the holiday season fast approaching, you’re probably thinking about gifts for your friends and family. And if you’re visiting our website, there’s a good chance you live on the lake or know someone who does. These odds are significantly higher during the pandemic when those with vacation homes on the lake live there full time. To help you decide on a gift for your lake-loving friends (or help you create a wish list if you live on the lake), we’ve created this ultimate gift guide. Check out our top 10 picks of gifts that lake dwellers will love!

A High-Quality Thermos

Photo courtesy of Popular Mechanics.

Although the lake lifestyle is typically relaxed, those with lake homes are often on-the-go. Excursions like boating, hiking, and fishing, can easily draw us off our property for an entire afternoon. To fit with this active life, any lake lover will appreciate a high-quality thermos like this Mountain Vacuum Coffee SystemNothing’s better than enjoying a cozy beverage while enjoying fun activities on the lake.

A Durable Cheese Board

Because a lake house is a second home, its kitchen is not always as well-stocked as a primary residence. As such, useful kitchen items could be part of this ultimate gift guide. In particular, a cheese board is perfect for hosting a holiday event like Thanksgiving or simply enjoying an afternoon treat for yourself. 

A Personalized Towel Set

Personalized Towel Set by CanaryRoadHome via Etsy.

Most often, lake homeowners invest in quality towels for their primary residence and skimp on their lake house’s towels. Help them spruce up their kitchen or bath with this ultimate gift. Whether for the bath or kitchen, a personalized towel will make everyone feel right at home at the lake.

Nature-Scented Candles

Photo courtesy of Cool Material.

Bringing the outdoors in is a popular trend in lake house designs. One way to accomplish this is through smell. Even when bad weather forces you inside, it’s great to be immersed in the scents of the outdoors. Candles also add an element of hygge to a lake house, evoking a sense of coziness for residents and guests. 

A Pair of Binoculars

Photo courtesy of National Park Service.

According to the U.S. Fishing and Wildlife Service, over 45 million Americans engage in bird watching as a hobby. Many of these aviation enthusiasts are also lake homeowners. These bird-loving friends will appreciate a high-quality set of binoculars to view and identify different bird species up close. 

A Watercolor Set

Photo courtesy of Jerry’s Artarama.

During the pandemic, many people are taking up new hobbies like painting and drawing. If you know a lake-lover with artistic potential, a watercolor set is an ultimate gift. Especially for new painters, watercolor is perfect for easing into the craft. Plus, who wouldn’t want to paint a gorgeous lake scene outside their back door? 

A Magazine Subscription

Photo courtesy of Lakelifemagazine.com.

If your lake-dwelling friends aren’t already receiving relevant magazines like Lake Living, consider getting them a subscription. This way, they can stay up-to-date with the latest trends, advice, and articles about the lake lifestyle. Check out these top subscriptions

Polarized Sunglasses

Photo courtesy of smartbuyglasses.com.

If your friends enjoy fishing or boating, they’ll jump for joy when unwrapping a nice pair of polarized sunglasses. Often, these manufacturers design polarized lenses for outdoor sports. Brands like Rheos and Unsinkable Polarized are created to float in the water. What could be more tailored to lake living? 

A Comfortable Beanie

Photo courtesy of Tentree.com.

Especially during the winter, your lake-dwelling friends will appreciate this ultimate gift — a comfortable hat. In particular, a beanie is multipurpose. You can dress it up when seeing friends, pair it with hiking gear for outdoor activities, or wear it with pajamas on your front porch. For inspiration, check out some of the top beanies for 2020.

An All-Inclusive Picnic Basket

Photo courtesy of Foodal.com.

As lake lovers, we enjoy having a meal outdoors, whether it’s a park, backyard, or hiking trail. Consider giving them an all-inclusive picnic basket to bring a little luxury to your friend’s next picnic. It doesn’t have to be from Williams-Sonoma, although they have an excellent option. There are plenty of picnic basket sets from which to choose! 

A Cocktail Shaker Set

Photo courtesy of Westelm.com.

At the end of a long day exploring the great outdoors, we love to wind down with a homemade beverage. If your lake-dwelling friends enjoy a whiskey sour or gin and tonic as their drink of choice, they’ll appreciate a cocktail shaker set. Who says you can’t be your own bartender at the lake?

8 Amazing Lake Toys You Didn’t Know You Needed

The 2015 Atlanta Boat show has once again come and gone, and this year, it was bigger than ever! The Lake Homes Realty booth stayed busy with interested home buyers and sellers all weekend and was manned by corporate staff and a rotating list of lake expert agents from across five states.

While our primary goal at the show was to provide value to potential clients, I also took the opportunity to meet other exhibitors and learn about their lake focused companies.

Here is my list of the 8 unique lake toys that lake homeowners didn’t know they needed:

amphibious vehicle on the lake1. Quadski – Sports Amphibian

Located right across from our booth was the Gibbs Quadski, an ATV that transforms into a jetski in only 4 seconds! With this high end lake toy, you can go anywhere. It can reach speeds of 45MPH, both on land, and on the water. It is even rated for operation in salt water, so bring it with you on your next beach trip!

If you’re interested in checking out one of these bad boys, visit Hide Away Harbor in Tuscaloosa, AL, the regional vendor for Quadskis!

2. Bum Float

For a more affordable lake toy geared at relaxing in the lake, take a look at the bum float. It is a floatation device design to be worn where else? Your bum! While it may look like a big diaper out of the water, the bum float is the best way to relax in the lake with a cold beverage.

3. Floating Bar

Speaking of cold beverages, a great way to store and enjoy them while on the lake is the floating bar and cooler combo. This setup holds a 33 quart Coleman cooler, has 4 connectable table sections with cup holders, and is covered by a pop up canopy. Who wouldn’t enjoy having their own swim up bar at the lake?

4. Aqua Stairs

When it finally comes time to get out of the lake, nothing makes it easier than Aqua-Stairs. Instead of climbing a ladder to get back on the dock, the Aqua Stairs allows you to simply walk out of the water. It even allows pets a way to easily return to the dock; your canine pals will thank you.

5. Deluxe Patio Umbrellas

If you want to add some shade to an area, you may want to consider a patio umbrella from Vrienden. These monsters are up to 10’x10′. They are built to withstand winds up to 35 MPH, are quick and easy to reposition or take down, and come standard with LED lights built in.

6. Bob Light

For the fisherman, the Bob Light is a new type of bobber for night fishing. The LED on the float is pointed down into the water and illuminates the angler’s bait, helping to attract fish.

7. Ryan-O Dock Roller

Looking for a way to protect both your boat and your dock when entering or leaving your slip? The Ryan-O Dock Roller system prevents damage to both by placing a padded roller between your boat and your dock.

softub outdoors8. Softub

If you’ve thought about a hot tub for your lake home, you may want to consider a Softub. With 3 step installation you simply roll the spa where you want it, connect it to the Hydromate with a screw driver, and fill it up. It even operates off of a standard 120V outlet so you can set it up virtually anywhere.

Did you attend the Atlanta Boat Show this year? If so let us know what your favorite part of the show was, or if you have an item at the lake that you just can’t live without, send me an email and tell me about it!


Portrait of Eli Kirkley

Eli Kirkley is Director of Communications at Lake Homes Realty