Tag: lake life

Lake Clean-up Events Near You!

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July is the official “Lakes Appreciation Month,” but you can play your part in keeping America’s favorite freshwater bodies clean and healthy year-round with these lake clean-up events near you.

Lake Jordan, Alabama

The Lake Jordan Homeowners & Boat Owners Association, better known as the Lake Jordan HOBO, is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the reservoir’s recreational opportunities, water quality, and cleanliness.

Each April, community members and volunteers from the surrounding area take to Bonner’s Landing Boat Ramp to participate in the HOBO’s annual lake clean-up day.

Complete with a catered lunch and free t-shirts provided by Alabama Power, the event is one of the largest on the lake all year.

Since its inaugural run in 1991, the Lake Jordan HOBO’s clean-up day has contributed to the collection of more than 15 million pounds of debris across Alabama’s lakes.

To learn more about the Lake Jordan community, or to get involved in the next HOBO clean-up event, please visit https://www.lakejordanhobo.org/.

Lake Gaston, Virginia

Lake Gaston spans an impressive 20,300 acres across both Virginia and North Carolina. The Lake Gaston Association serves as a voice for business and property owners across state lines and throughout the five counties the lake touches.

In addition to keeping members up to date with Lake Gaston happenings, the Association also advocates for the lake’s protection and preservation through its Lake Clean-Up Committee.

In June, Association members, waterfront property owners, and lake-area shops and businesses participate in a lake-wide clean-up event by removing trash along Lake Gaston’s shoreline and taking to the water in kayaks and canoes to remove trash and other debris.

For more information, contact the LGA at LakeCleanup@LakeGastonAssoc.com or 888-586-6577.

Lake Hamilton, Arkansas

The Trash Bash Council has one mission: keep Arkansas’ lakes beautiful.

The Council organizes two annual events appropriately named “Trash Bash for Cash” and the “Trash Bash.”

“Trash Bash for Cash”, held each spring, is a four-hour fundraising event during which teams work together to clean specific areas across Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine.

After the four hours are up, teams drop off their bags of trash and trash-bag-sized items — like busted coolers and fishing nets – in a designated area to be counted by members of the Trash Bash Council.

For each bag or item collected, the Council pays $5 to put toward additional events throughout the year.

Each team can raise up to $200 through Council contributions alone, but members can increase their fundraising potential by pledging donations of their own.

In the fall, the Trash Bash Council hosts THE “Trash Bash,” a day-long clean-up effort on the shores and roads surrounding Lake Hamilton, Lake Catherine, and the Ouachita River.

Named the largest clean-up effort in Arkansas by Keep Arkansas Beautiful, the “Trash Bash” also includes a catered BBQ lunch, prize drawings, free t-shirts, and live entertainment.

Visit arkansastrashbash.org for more on how you can get involved.

Prevent Invasive Species on Your Lake

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Imagine the most beautiful summer day: The sun is shining, the fish are biting and a cool breeze is blowing in. You enter a promising cove and notice patches of bright green vegetation floating on the water.

After a few casts, you feel weight on your line. You eagerly reel in your catch only to find a string of those bright green weeds dangling from your hook.

Moments later, they’re wrapped around your propeller.

Invasive species: Hydrilla on Boat Motor

These pesky plants, known as hydrilla, aren’t just annoying water vegetation. They are one of the worst invasive aquatic species in the United States.

Such species, and others like it, pose serious threats to freshwater ecosystems, human safety and the economy.

As a lake lover, it is important that you familiarize yourself with these “aquatic hitchhikers” and learn how you can prevent an infestation on your favorite body of water.

Common Species

Hydrilla – These plants are characterized by bright green, often serrated, leaves on tubular stems that extend into the water as deep as 30 feet.

Tendrils of leaves often grow together, forming patches across the water’s surface. These patches prevent sunlight from reaching underwater vegetation and restrict water flow.

Patches of hydrilla also serve as perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Water Hyacinth – This species is known for its thick, waxy, oval-shaped leaves and lavender flowers that sit atop spongy, air-filled stems.

These plants are notorious for rapid growth: a single population can double in size in just one week.

Water hyacinth’s ability to multiply quickly, combined with its seed-viability of up to 30 years, makes the species extremely dangerous to the surrounding environment.

Populations of hyacinth are often large, and as the vegetation dies off and starts to decay, the amount of oxygen in the water is reduced. This reduction ultimately ends up suffocating the fish who live there.

The larger the population, the quicker the lake’s water is de-oxygenated.

Zebra Mussels – These animals are identified by their “D”-shaped, creamy shells and their brown/black zig-zag stripes.

Zebra mussels are one of the most devastating species to be introduced to America’s fresh water bodies as population densities can reach more than 100,000 zebra mussels per square meter.

A single female zebra mussel is capable of producing as many as one million eggs in a summer, each of which has an average lifespan of two to five years after fertilization.

This species costs communities thousands of dollars in maintenance each year. Dense mussel populations clog intake pipes and filters and affect effectiveness of water treatment plants.

Zebra mussels also pose a threat to human safety with their sharp, broken shells blanketing beaches and lake beds.

Prevention Methods

Though many lakes are already infected by these and other common invasive species, there are still plenty of bodies of water left to protect.

Whether your lake is free of such species or already home to one of these aquatic hitchhikers, it is important that you take the necessary precautions to avoid introducing new species to its waters.

There are a multitude of ways to ensure such species are not introduced in your lake.

Stopaquatichitchhikers.org, a site dedicated to keeping the country’s freshwater bodies safe, is currently promoting a “Clean. Drain. Dry.” campaign, which emphasizes that prevention starts with you.

The website encourages lake goers to remove all mud, vegetation and visible organisms from lake equipment upon leaving the water and before transporting this equipment back home.

Equipment exteriors should be rinsed with hot, high-pressurized water and interiors with warm, low-pressurized water. Boat and jet ski motors should also be flushed with hot water for at least two minutes after exiting the water.

Before leaving the boat ramp or water access area, all devices that may retain water, including the bilge and livewells, should be drained.

All equipment should be dried off with a towel and allowed to dry out for at least five days before reuse.

Though these steps may seem optional or unnecessary, each is vital to keeping your lake protected from potentially harmful invasive species.

For more information on the hitchhikers in your area, and additional prevention tactics, visit the the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers website.

Smith Mountain Lake: The Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains

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In Virginia, Smith Mountain Lake is a big deal.

Nestled in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, “The Jewel of the Blue Ridge” stretches across three rural counties in southwestern Virginia, including Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania.

With 20,800 acres and 580 miles of shoreline, the 40-mile long reservoir easily dwarfs every other lake in the state. In fact, its total market value is $470.3 million, more than twice the size of the second biggest lake, Lake Gaston.

Homes for sale on Smith Mountain Lake range from around $180,000 to more than $10 million, totaling out to $302.6 million in home market value. So, for those seeking a new home on or near the water, there are more than enough options by way of inventory.

However, when it comes to living at the lake, it’s about so much more than just real estate. It’s all about the lake lifestyle.

Ways to Play

Smith Mountain Lake is Virginia’s most popular recreational lake.

From spring to fall, lake goers can be seen waterskiing, canoeing, boating and kayaking. But that’s just a few ways to play. There’s also parasailing, golfing, camping at the Smith Mountain Lake State Park, and above all else, fishing.

The Jewel of the Blue Ridge is every angler’s dream.

The Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament is just one of many ESPN-featured national professional fishing tournaments.

man with fish trophy in boatBassmaster has even ranked Smith Mountain Lake in the USA’s 25 best bass fishing lakes. The favorite sport fish among anglers include largemouth bass, catfish, yellow perch and striped bass to name a few.

Because the community surrounding the lake is so heavily populated–there are 22,000 permanent residents–there’s no shortage of super fun annual events to keep residents busy.

All throughout the spring and summer, there’s everything from classic boat shows and photography contests to beer festivals and triathlons.

Every September for 30 years and counting, the SML Wine Festival features 27 Virginia wineries, 85 artisans, craft and food vendors and live music. There are also chili festivals, art shows and the ever-popular Oktoberfest.

Visitors even have the chance to be airborne. Smith Mountain Lake Aviation offers scenic 40-minute flights, giving participants a bird’s eye view of the sprawling lake and all the gorgeous wooded scenery surrounding it.

Around Town

You can only stay in the water for so long. After a long day of swimming and fishing, you might be in the mood to see what the neighboring towns have to offer by way of a good time.

Is a vacation really a vacation if there isn’t delicious food to choose from every single day? Even permanent residents make it a point to know all the yummy hotspots around town.

Are you craving a good ole’ fashioned, home-cooked meal? Or maybe you have a taste for sushi or hibachi. All around the lake there are tons of cafes, diners and grills. You should probably just try them all.

Smith Mountain Lake is filled with top notch cuisine to satiate any appetite.

It also has a refreshingly convenient location despite the fact that it’s safely tucked away in the Virginia countryside.

Just between Roanoke and Lynchburg, the lake is only two hours from Raleigh, North Carolina and a four hour drive from Washington D.C. So don’t worry, you won’t be too far from civilization.

Roanoke’s very own New York-inspired Broadway offers a variety of shows for theater lovers to enjoy. In fact, their arts and culture scene is teeming with excitement.

Check out some live music, gallery and museum exhibitions and all kinds of performing arts like ballet and opera.

The nightlife is alive and well too, with endless selections of breweries, comedy clubs, musical acts and even food trucks.

And this is just in Roanoke! The recreational opportunities in the other nearby cities could be another blog post entirely.

The point is, Smith Mountain Lake is more than just a body of water. It promises a good time for all. More than likely, you’ll run out of vacation time before you run out of things to do.

So plan a visit today, or better yet, browse some of our Smith Mountain Lake homes for sale and build a life here. You definitely won’t regret it.

 

Finally Fall: The Perfect Lake Activities for Autumn

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It’s the greatest time of the year! Yes, lake lovers, as the oppressive heat of late summer gives way to lower humidity and the changing of the season, fall is finally upon us.

Fall at the lake means more activity, not less. Comfortable temperate days give way to marshmallow fueled evenings with good fishing and colorful foliage in between.  

The lake in autumn is an experience all its own. While traffic to the beach begins to wane, the lake is just getting warmed up as the destination of choice. 

 So, what are the perfect activities for autumn at the lake?

Go Campingtent on the lake's shore

Crisp, cool weather, stark blue skies, and a beautiful, scenic backdrop: that sounds like the perfect recipe for a weekend camping trip on the lakeshore. How awesome would it be to cook up the catch of the day over an open fire, or swing in a hammock under millions of stars in the night sky? Just thinking about it is exciting!

dad hiking with baby on his backTake a Hike

Most lakes are surrounded by plenty of hills, mountains, trees, and valleys. Some even feature caves, cliffs, and waterfalls. Take advantage of all that Mother Nature has to offer and go for a hike! Unlike in the summertime, hikes in the fall don’t usually include heavy perspiration, dehydration, and pesky insects. It’s a relaxing yet healthy activity the whole family can enjoy.

little boy playing in leaves

Enjoy the Foliage

One of the best parts about fall is the way the face of the earth changes right before our eyes. This autumn, get out and appreciate the array of red, green, gold, and orange that surround you. Go on a bike ride around the lake with your sweetheart, or take a long drive down some picturesque, winding country roads.

woman drinking wineGo Wine Tasting

Now, this one is only family-friendly if your kids are 21 or older. Lakes all around the country boast gorgeous vineyards and wineries close by for visitors to enjoy. Wine tasting is a popular and delicious fall activity that makes impressing your friends at fine restaurants a breeze.

 

Build a Bonfire

There’s nothing like a fire pit or outdoor fireplace for fall! This cultural staple of fall is perfect for lake lovers of all ages. These gatherings are where memories are made, scary stories are told, and great conversations are had. This fall, round up a group of friends and partake in s’mores, hot dogs and good times.

Go Canoeing

You can still have fun on the lake during the fall!

Just because the weather is cooler than summer doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the water. Canoeing and kayaking in the fall are wonderful past times. Also, autumn’s mild conditions are great for exercising outdoors, when the backdrop of fall on the lake is especially scenic.

Fun at the lake doesn’t end when the temperature drops; if anything, it can get better. Embrace fall at the lake and give lake life a new dimension. Happy autumn, lake lovers.

Lake Home Tips: Kitchen Upgrades to Make Your Space Feel Bigger

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To be honest, most of the time spent at your lake home is spent outdoors – as it should be. But the second-most popular place at your lake home is inside: It’s your kitchen, and when you’re entertaining your family and friends, a cramped space just won’t do.

Construction crews aside, there are many simple ways to make your kitchen feel bigger. Take a look at the few examples below to see how you can update your space this lake season!

White and Wood

Lightening up the color of your kitchen may sound simple, but it’s effective.

Lighter colors, such as creams and whites, are better at reflecting light, which helps create the illusion of a larger room.

kitchen with white walls, stainless appliances

To take your upgrade a step further, interior designers suggest putting up trim around the top of your space, painted an even lighter color than the walls.

Add texture to your kitchen by paneling your walls with whitewashed wooden planks, commonly known as shiplap.

Popularized by the HGTV show “Fixer Upper,” shiplap can not only help make your kitchen feel bigger, but it can also make your space feel warm and cozy, like a comfy lake cabin.

Or, when accented appropriately, can give your kitchen a coastal vibe.

Let the Light in

Another technique to making your space feel bigger, is increasing the amount of natural light that flows into it.

Do away with your dark colored window shams and thick, heat-blocking curtains, and spring for a set of indoor shutters that can be opened and closed at your leisure while still inviting in ample sunlight.

You can also incorporate reflective surfaces in your kitchen. Similar to how lighter colors can make a space feel roomier, so can reflective surfaces like stainless steel appliances and metallic backsplashes.

Eliminating low-hanging chandeliers and frosted light fixtures can also open up a room.

Redo Your Floors

Installing patterned flooring is another option to consider when attempting to make your space feel bigger.

One way to achieve this is to use over-sized tiles in your kitchen. The size of these will help to create a sense of wideness to the area.

In selecting these tiles, choose similar colors that are slightly different, such as a slate and a lighter grey. Dark floors will contrast well with your light walls.

If you want hardwood floors, install planks of alternating colors. As with your tile, be sure not to very the color drastically. Slight variations will achieve the look you desire without being visually jarring.

Another tip is to install your hardwood floors vertically, rather than horizontally. This will help make your space look as it longer.

Incorporate Open Shelving

Ditch your boxy ceiling-to-counter shelves and opt for several open shelving units.

This will help add depth to your kitchen by optimizing the amount of light in your space and help make better use of your wall space.

Often thick and dark, closed cabinetry can also have an oppressive effect on a space.

Open storage aides in functionality of your kitchen by eliminating the time you take hunting down that pot or pan, as well as makes the room more inviting.

So before you call the contractor, try out one of these simple upgrade suggestions for making your space feel bigger, and be sure to check out our other home improvement articles here and here!

5 Beginner Yoga Poses for Lake Lovers

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Yoga’s origins date back to more than 5,000 years ago in Northern India. Derived from the internalization of ritual sacrifice, yoga teaches practitioners to sacrifice not their bodies, but their egos through wisdom, action and self-knowledge.

Today, modern yoga provides a path to enlightenment, helping those who practice it to cleanse their minds and bodies of negative energy and to disconnect from their physical existence.

Few places provide more opportunity for such enlightenment than the lake, with its natural beauty, picturesque sunsets and hum of wildlife activity.

So take a look at these 5 beginner yoga poses and start enjoying the peace and rejuvenation of this age-old practice.

Beginner Yoga Pose - Childs Pose

1. Sukhasana

We start our beginner yoga poses with Sukhasana, also known as the easy pose, which requires practitioners to take a seated position with their legs crossed and folded in front of them.

In this pose, the pelvis should be in a neutral position, in line with the spine.

Palms can be positioned on top of one another in your lap, in a praying position at your chest, or resting on your knees, palms up.

Still seated, find your breath by taking several long, deep breaths in and exhaling them slowly.

After a few moments, you can also start to stretch the neck by slowly bringing chin to chest and as far back as you can comfortably go. Stretch the sides of your neck by bringing your ear to your shoulder, calmly alternating between your left and right sides.

Sukhasana is a good position with which to begin your practice as it helps you find your breath, relaxes the mind, softly stretches your muscles and strengthens your back.

2. Cat/Cow

From the Sukhasana pose, come to all fours with your head hanging loosely and your back in a tabletop position, with your hands in line with your shoulders and your knees in line with your hips.

Next, you will alternately transition in and out of cat/cow, which stretches your torso and neck and brings awareness to your spinal movements.

Cat pose requires practitioners to take a deep breath in, rounding your spine up towards the sky and bringing your chin to your chests. Be mindful that your knees and arms stay firmly in place as your execute your move.

Transition into cow pose by slowly exhaling while pressing your stomach towards the earth and stretching your your chest towards the sky. Direct your gaze forward, so that your head is in line with your shoulders.

Slide in and out of these positions for several deep breaths before coming back to neutral spine.

3. Child’s Pose

Balasana, or child’s pose as it is most-commonly called, is a resting pose that stretches the hips and thighs and helps in relieving fatigue and stress.

To go into child’s pose from cat/cow, bring your big toes together so that your knees press out from your hips. Rock back with your arms extended out in front of you until your bottom rests on the heels of your feet.

Press your chest into the ground so that it rests between your legs. Keep your arms extended, applying slight pressure to your palms.

Take deep, conscious breaths in and out, paying close attention to breathing fully into your chest, stretching your upper spine skyward.

Rest here for as long as you would like, but be sure you are not putting too much strain on your knees or ankles.

4. Downward-Facing Dog

This beginner yoga pose is known by many names: downward dog, downward-facing dog, and (less commonly) Adho Mukha Svanasana.

Downward-facing dog helps improve digestion, relieve mild depression, energizes the body and helps stretch the hands, calves, hamstrings and arches.

To take this position from child’s pose, walk your hands forward, and roll your feet under you. Press into your feet, and extend your legs as you continue walking your hands out until your body creates a triangle with the earth.

Keep your feet hip-width apart and your hands slightly past your shoulders with your fingers spread out to distribute energy evenly between both hands.

In downward dog, you can alternate lifting your heels, press back into your calves, or rock forward gently onto your palms and then back.

5. Mountain Pose

Tadasana, or mountain pose improves posture, strengthens your legs and feet and helps to firm your core and bottom. You can use this pose as a starting or ending position during your practice as it a good resting position for refocusing your breathing.

From downward dog, walk your feet slowly toward your hands until they are directly under your hips. Slowly roll to standing position, paying careful attention to each vertebrae.

When you are fully upright, bring your feet together with your heels slightly apart, softly shifting your weight from foot to foot to gain your balance.

Tighten your core and legs and elongate your spine, keeping sure to align the crown of your head and spine. Bring your awareness to your chest, back and shoulders, so that your energy radiates from the earth through the length of your body.

Open your chest and shoulders bringing your hands, palms facing out, slightly from your sides while pushing your shoulder blades down. Your facial muscles and jaw should be relaxed.

To take your mountain pose to the next level, try closing your eyes.

Hold here while you take deep breaths in and out for about a minute before concluding your practice.

For more tips on beginner yoga poses check out The Yoga Journal, and be sure to check out what other activities you can enjoy around the lake in our article “6 Exercises That Are Better At The Lake.”

Namaste, lake lovers. 

The Golden Years: 5 Reasons to Retire at the Lake

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Work a job you love for about 40 years, cash in on a healthy 401K and retire. It’s the final step of the American dream.

Social security, budgeting, health insurance: there’s a lot that goes into it. Ultimately, though, the goal is to comfortably spend one’s golden years in pure, labor-less bliss.

That means relaxation and peace, so what better place to spend it than at the lake?

We’ve come up with five solid reasons to consider making a lake home your permanent residence for life after retirement.

The “Blue Mind” Effect

silhouette of woman doing yoga by the lakeIt’s the reason so many people think of their lake home as an “escape” from normal life. The blue mind effect is responsible for the almost immediate feeling of zen people experience when near the lake or ocean.

Marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols describes it as “a mildly meditative, relaxed state that we find ourselves in when we are in, on or under water.”

Physiologically, our brains and bodies undergo a shift when we step away from high-stress, fast-paced environments and step into nature.

The blue mind effect is known to lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.

Not only does it help us relax, but the very quality of our thoughts changes, producing more “introspective and self-referential” thought processes.

Stress is one of the biggest enemies to any immune system. However, being surrounded by nature such as the lake greatly reduces the chances you’ll fall victim to any number of the health problems stress causes.

Entertainment for the Whole Family

For many, the grandparents’ house is the go-to place for family gatherings. Put that house on a lake, and the kids and grandkids have just one more reason to come visit.

Whether it be for some summertime fun in the sun, or sipping warm drinks around the fireplace at Christmas, entertainment opportunities are endless.

The lake house is great for hosting bonfires, birthday parties and cookouts. And don’t forget fishing, swimming, sailing, kayaking and water skiing.

The Great Outdoors

Retirement is a great time to discover a new hobby. Consider trying your hand at hiking, canoeing or golfing.

If you’re an angler at heart, there’s more than enough game to go around. Bass, crappie and perch thrive in freshwater environments all around the country.

Many lake communities are surrounded by breathtaking wilderness like mountains, waterfalls and a variety of wildlife. So if you’d rather hold a camera than a fishing pole, photography is a great choice.

Take advantage of those scenic views, and your portfolio and Facebook wall will be filled in no time.

In a Land Far, Far Away

Privacy. Seclusion. Sanity.

Whatever you want to call it, being far enough away from the chaos of the outside world can serve you in more ways than one.

Unlike living within city limits, you don’t have to worry about falling asleep to the sound of car horns, and five o’clock traffic is non-existent.

There’s nothing more relaxing than waking up to the sound of birds chirping in the morning, or watching the sun set over the water. Rest easy under a night sky full of stars and feel confident that you’re a good distance away from big city mayhem.

You Deserve It

elderly couple hugging next to lake-sm

Last but not least, the final reason to retire at the lake is simple: you just…can.

The thousands of hours you’ve clocked, the kids you’ve raised, the bosses you’ve endured and the millions of times you’ve been stuck in traffic all say you’ve earned it.

Now is a great time to kick your feet up and just enjoy life.

Lake living is easy.

Its calming effect is priceless, there’s tons to do, and the privacy of it all is too good an opportunity to pass up.

At the end of the day, the number one reason to retire at the lake is you simply owe it to yourself to enjoy this part of your life.

Weatherproof Your Decks and Docks for Longer Life

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Building a deck or dock costs thousands of dollars, why not build it to last?

Though the process of weatherproofing can be costly and time consuming, it can save you in semi-frequent repairs and even reconstruction in the future.

Benefits of weatherproofing

Aside from perhaps an open flame, water is the most dangerous element your wooden structures can be exposed to.

By weatherproofing your deck or boat dock, you can ensure that building materials are protected from the elements as well as organic matter that can weaken the stability of your structure.

applying wood sealant

Rain water and other moisture can sink into the wood if not sealed properly, causing the material to rot away over time.

Additionally, moisture rich wood tends to mold, which is dangerous to both the integrity of the material and yours and your guests’ health.

Unsealed or non-weatherproof structures are also vulnerable to dry rot  caused by certain fungi. These organisms cause wood to become spongey in composition and therefore, unstable.

Weatherproofing also helps to maintained the aesthetic of your dock or backyard deck by preserving its color and polish.

Disadvantages of weatherproofing

The biggest drawback to weatherproofing your wooden structures is that the process is not a one-time investment.

Most experts recommend resealing decks and docks annually, which means homeowners are looking at a reoccurring maintenance cost.

According to Home Advisor,  higher-end structures can cost upwards of $1800 a year to maintain; however, the article also sites the average person spends around $831 sealing or weatherproofing a deck.

In areas where there is frequent rain or high humidity, homeowners may be looking at repeating this process multiple times a year.  This is especially true in areas such at the lake where structures are regularly subjected to large amounts of water.

Additionally, homeowners should note that clear sealants may need to be reapplied more often than colored ones.

Weatherproofing materials

When it comes to the materials recommended for weatherproofing your boat dock or deck, determine whether you want to use a waterproof stain or sealant, or if you want to bypass normal wood for a synthetic building material.

As previously stated, if buyers chose the first option, a sealant or stain of some kind, they run the risk of costly, annual reapplication. However, this is the more affordable option, especially for smaller or preexisting structures.

A single quart of sealant can cost anywhere from about $8 to more than $50, depending on the brand. For the higher-end material, an amount this size can cover about 240 square feet.

The average deck is approximately 300 to 400 square feet.

The second option would be to build your structure with a non-wood material, such as composite decking.

These boards are made of both plastic and wood fibers, mixed with a number of other additives such as pigments and UV inhibitors. This mixture is then heated to form a sturdy building material that is flame resistance, easier to maintain and fades less easily.

Low-end composite board costs about $4 per square foot, but can exceed $7 per square foot for higher end, more aesthetically pleasing material.

Though the start up cost can be expensive, this product’s longevity paired with reduced maintenance obligations make it an increasingly appealing alternative.

Lake Dates Your Valentine Will Love

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Love is in the air and lovers are on the water. If you’re hooked on someone special this year, make their Valentine’s Day one to remember with these great lake date ideas.

Set Sail

There’s just something romantic about a sail boat.

Fortunately, you don’t have own one, or be a master sailor, to make this date a reality. In fact, you may not need any experience at all!

sailboat on the water

Many lakes, particularly larger bodies of water, offer sailing classes through their marinas and sailing clubs.

Spend the day enjoying the sun on your face while you bond with your loved one through hands-on training with a veteran instructor.

Or, enjoy sailing as a passenger on a more intimate, private excursion.

Windsong Sailing Academy near Lake Lanier in Georgia is one such academy that offers a variety of sailing cruises for you and your significant other to enjoy.

Passengers can take a peaceful, moonlit cruise with a group, or opt to schedule a private charter for an evening alone on the water.

Couples also enjoy the Academy’s Sail-N-Dine package which takes passengers on a sunset sail to a secluded anchoring point where couples can picnic as the sun goes down.

To start planning your perfect day, visit the American Sailing Association website for a list of sailing schools near you.

Go Fish

Forget the cards, and grab a pole for a leisurely day of fishing with your sweetheart.

Whether on the boat or at the docks, fishing can be a romantic bonding experience with the proper preparation.

Begin by selecting the perfect location. Choose a spot that offers natural beauty like a secluded cove or a bank just off the tree line.

An ambient setting will not only provide a pretty backdrop for pictures but set the tone for a playful, carefree day.

As you settle in, it is important that you’re mindful of your partner’s level of fishing experience. For first-time anglers, the environment might be captivating, but the activity itself may sound uneventful and boring.

One way to ensure the date is enjoyable is to come armed with a handful of lighthearted stories to share about your fondness for the lake or that particular spot. Sharing memories is great for bringing two hearts even closer together.

You can also bring along an assortment of finger foods and snacks to enjoy, picnic-style, while you are there. When packing your picnic, remember to package any sandwich items in their own separate baggies or containers to avoid cross contamination and soggy bread.

Also pack paper plates, napkins and disposable cups for any sparkling juices or champagne you might bring.

Trail mix, cheeses and fruit are all good foods to consider bringing; just make sure you are able to keep cold-food items cool while you are out.

Lastly, before you head out, be sure your tackle box is fully stocked with the following:

  • extra fishing line
  • plastic worms
  • a handful of lures
  • needle nose pliers
  • extra hooks
  • bobbers and sinkers
  • nail clippers or a pocket knife
  • sunscreen

And remember, the day is not about how many fish you can catch; it’s about spending time with someone you love.

Dockside Dinner

This romantic lake date is sure to warm any loved one’s heart, and can be relatively easy on your wallet.

What you will need:

  • large votive candles or battery operated paper lanterns
  • a small table
  • 2 linen napkins
  • a linen table cloth
  • satin ribbon
  • a medium-sized glass bowl
  • 2 long stemmed candlesticks
  • flowers
  • 2 entree plates
  • a wireless speaker
  • 2 side plates
  • 2 drinking glasses

Start by lining your dock with the votive candles or paper lanterns, spaced out every few feet. The soft light from these will create a sense of warmth to your evening as well as guide your guest to the dinner table awaiting them at the end of the dock.

Drape your linen cloth over the table so that the edges of the material brush the floor.

For added elegance, wrap your silverware in the linen napkins and tie them up with your satin ribbon.

Set the table by placing your side plate atop the entree plate, resting the silverware bundle vertically across the dinner dishes.

Complete your table arrangement by filling your medium-sized glass bowl halfway with water.

Floating a few, stemless flowers atop the water in the bowl will create your centerpiece. Your long stemmed candle sticks should go on either side of the bowl so as to not block you and your date’s view of one another.

For what to cook, look to our “Fresh Fish Recipes You’ve Got to Try” article for a few lake-friendly recipe suggestions. Our parmesan baked fish dish is a perfect dinner for two.

As the two of you enjoy your candlelit meal, have an instrumental music playlist playing softly through your wireless speaker, and once you have both finished, end the night with a romantic dance under the moonlight.