Tag: lake life

Lake Home Essentials – Make Your Stay Convenient

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Moving to your summer vacation lake home is easy if you have the essentials you need.

Be prepared and get organized to live conveniently at your lake home.

Kitchen

Spending quality time at your lake home means cooking utensils and supplies are necessities. Here are some things you will need in the kitchen to prepare food:

  • A can opener/bottle opener
  • Silverware, cooking knives, cutting board, wooden spoon, spatula and tongs
  • Oven mitts
  • Coffee and coffee maker
  • Measuring spoons and cups
  • Sponge and scrub brush
  • Dishes: bowls, plates, cups, pots, pans
  • Dish soap and detergent
  • Trashcan and kitchen bags
  • Corkscrew

Baking Items

If you enjoy baking, bring these items along for the pantry to save you a trip to the grocery store. You can cook quite a bit of food if you are well stocked with these items:

  • Recipe book
  • Glass cooking dishes and cookie sheetspie resting on chocolate decorated plate
  • Large mixing bowls, blender
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Flour
  • Butter
  • Shortening
  • Vegetable oil, olive oil
  • Chocolate bits

Bathroom

It is important to keep a clean and orderly bathroom at your lake home. Here is a list of the things you will need:

  • Plunger
  • Soap, shampoo/conditioner
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, comb and brush
  • Bath mat
  • Towels, washcloths and hand towels
  • Scale
  • Small trashcan
  • Shower curtain, liner, rings (if applicable)

Living room

Your personal taste will determine some of the things you will want to bring to your lake home. A few essentials for the living room are:

  • Coasters
  • Board games
  • Table lamps
  • TV, DVD player, DVDs
  • Furniture and preferred décorwood-paneled bedroom with large window

Bedroom

It is always important to get a good night’s rest. Here are things you will want to remember for lake home comfort:

  • Bed, bed sheets, pillows and pillow cases
  • Hamper
  • Hangers for the bedroom closet
  • Side table and lamp
  • Dresser and clothes. Don’t forget the bathing suits and beach towels.
  • Full length mirror

Laundry room

Where ever you spend time doing laundry, you will need these items:

  • Laundry detergent, bleach and dryer sheets
  • Laundry baskets
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Small trash can

Cleaning Closet

To keep your lake home clean, you will want to store these supplies in a closet or cabinet somewhere:

  • Toilet brush and bowl cleaner
  • Rubber gloves
  • All purpose cleaner for glass, tile and wood
  • Stove cleaner
  • Mop and bucket, broom and dustpan

General Items for Around the House and Garage

Here are some essential items you’ll also want:

  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Extra batteries (different sizes)
  • Duct tape, scotch tape, electrical tapetools resting on wood
  • Wood glue
  • First aid kit
  • Tool set which includes: hammer, phillips and flat head screwdrivers, mix of nails, screws, and hooks, wrenches. A saw and sawhorses would be ideal.
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Hose
  • Rakes and outdoor leaf bags
  • Shovel
  • Large trash barrel
  • Sweatshirt, light jacket/rain jacket for cool and wet days
  • Bug spray and Sun block

 

Swimming Safety Tips for Lake Home Owners

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Every lake home owner should know about swimming safety. As long as you remember these swimming safety tips ,the lake is your best resource for staying cool and relaxing on hot day.

Be Prepared for Swimming Safety

Before swimming in a lake, be sure to find out the depth and terrain of the area you in which you will be swimming so you can prepare accordingly. Some bodies of water my be three feet deep then drop sharply to 20 feet in depth.

swimming safety

Be sure to have enough coast guard- approved life vest for everyone who may need assistance to safely swim. Additionally, when choosing a a life jacket, consider the other water activities you may participate in while wearing it to make sure its the right one for you.

The Personal Flotation Device Manufacturers Association has a full listing and description of approved personal flotation devices (PFD). Additionally, when choosing a a life jacket, consider the other water activities you may participate in while wearing it to make sure its the right one for you.

Aside from floating in water, one must also be prepared for walking around in the shallow areas. To avoid  stepping on unseen items, such as a rock or glass, it is wise to wear swim shoes in the lake.

Learn to Swim

Everyone who lives by the lake should learn how to swim properly. Finding a trained professional for age appropriate swim lessons is crucial to swimming safety.

Enrolling your child in a swim course also allows them to interact with other lake-loving children around their age! But, if classes don’t seem like the best fit, you can always teach them yourself.

Use a Buddy System

Swimming is a sport that is best enjoyed with a friend.

swimming safety

Even the most skilled swimmers can run into unexpected difficulties, such as cramps or sudden fatigue, when swimming in lakes.

As a general guideline, children under 12 should never be around the water alone. Also, be sure to have a sober adult watching children at all times.

Teach Swimming Safety 

Make sure to set specific swimming safety rules around your lake home that apply to all family members and guest. It is a good idea to write these rules out and post them where they can be seen easily.

Teach everyone your rules, and be sure they understand breaking the rules violates their personal safety.

To get started, check out The America Red Cross’ detailed listing of useful tips and rules for safely swimming in lakes during the summer.

Lake Toys for Family Fun in 2016

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Lake lovers can find summer fun in numerous ways with lake toys. Modern technology allows for a variety of lake toys ranging in price, style and size.

From boating, fishing, and skiing to inflatable water parks there are lake toys for everyone on the water.

Inflatable Pontoon Slide 

lake toys

Kids and adults of all ages can enjoy the fun of sliding into the lake from their boat.

These inflatable slides come with turbo air pumps and are easily attached to the side of your pontoon for hours of floating fun.

For more information and pricing click here.

Giant Water Mats

Whether you are interesting in jumping, playing, working out or being towed behind a boat you will love these mats.

These foam pads are safe, durable and do not require air to float.

Ranging in size from 150 feet long to 6 feet wide they can hold up to 3000 pounds.

To order and customize your water mat click here.

Sea-Doo Sea Scooter

lake toys

These scooters are perfect for little ones wanting to have some fun with lake toys.

They are also useful to scuba divers and those needing a quick float back to the dock.

Below are four of the scooters Sea-Doo offers:

  • The Explorer X has a battery that last up to two hours, can go 130 feet deep and 3.3 MPH.
  • The Auqua Ranger’s battery last an hour and will reach depths of 30 feet at 2.5 MPH.
  • The VS can reach a depth of 100 feet going 3 MPH and has a battery life of an hour and a half.
  • The Dolphin can reach a depth of 15 feet at 2 MPH and also has a battery life of an hour and a half.

For more information and pricing click here.

Inflatable Water Parks

Inflatable water parks are completely customizable. Lake lovers can choose from floating trampolines, rock climbing walls, bridges, cliffs, swings, slides and more.

For more information and pricing click here.

5 Reasons You Might Be From Lake Norman

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Lake Norman, often referred to as “North Carolina’s Inland Sea,” is located only 20 miles north of Charlotte.

This body of water boasts more than 32,000 acres and 520 miles of shoreline, making it a regional marvel, one you are lucky to call home.

As a native, these Lake Norman-life facts will are sure to hit home.

Culture is easy to come by.

Aside from typical lake activities like boating, swimming and skiing, you love that you can feed your cultural side without driving to the city (although it’s only a quick trip by car.)

To admire local art, head down to the Cornelius Arts Center or take a stroll down the streets of downtown Davidson to see the work of the area’s numerous local vendors.

On the weekends, festivals and farmers’ markets set up shop in the areas around the lake. Local produce and specialty products are abundant.

The best part: You can only get them on the beautiful Lake Norman shores.

NASCAR. Fishing. Golf.

golf bag in foreground, golfer teeing off in back ground at sunset

Of course, these three things are listed in order of importance.

When you’re at the lake, you love the potential of running into your favorite NASCAR driver.

Many of the best drivers live around the lake because of it’s easy convenient distance from Charlotte, Mooresville and the Speedway.

You also love that living on Lake Norman gives you the best seat in the house for enjoying one of your favorite sports.

After a day at the race, there is plenty opportunity to relax, grab your fishing pole or even play a round of golf on one of Norman’s many championship courses.

Night Life.

The best way to wrap up a day at the lake is with live music, cold drinks and loved ones.

You, and the other locals, love frequenting the many pubs, diners and restaurants in the towns around the lake.

For a more upscale night, you love treating yourself to the North Harbor Club or Lake Norman Cottage Gourmet Food for a stunning waterfront view and some of the best food North Carolina can offer.

Did we mention fishing?

The lake is also known for some of the best fishing in North Carolina.

You love trying your hand at catching the various fish species like catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, striped bass, and yellow and white perch.

And who knows? You may even reel in a record-breaking catch!

And if you’re not a skilled angler, you’ll enjoy learning from the exceptional fishing guides over at Lake Norman Ventures or Huffy’s.

Down-home luxury.

Is there really such a thing?

At Lake Norman, gourmet food, southern hospitality and luxury amenities meet to create the ultimate lakeside experience.

The areas surrounding the lake range from multi-million-dollar estates to pastoral farmland, with everything in between.

You love that you can shop in a large, chain department store, and then visit the historic districts in the surrounding towns of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville.

 

Interested in living on one of the most desirable lakes in the Southeast?

With more than 900 listings, ranging in price from $145,000 to $7 million there is sure to be a home that fits your needs and budget.

To find your dream Lake Norman home, contact our lake experts Erica Vaughan and Trish Greer.

 

You May Be From Smith Mountain Lake If…

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Smith Mountain Lake, referred to by locals as “SML,” is a reservoir boasting more than 500 miles of shoreline in the Roanoke Region of Virginia.

The lake, which encompasses more than 20,000 acres, is nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in the rural southern part of the state.

You may be from Smith Mountain if you love the lake for its character, stunning scenery, and ability to make any day extraordinary.

Tree line and open sky over Smith Mountain Lake

And if the following list seems all too familiar, you are definitely from Smith Mountain Lake.

The area is rural but still connected to civilization.

Perhaps the best part about living on SML is being able to detach from the world among the mountains but still getting to enjoy world-class amenities.

The area surrounding Smith Mountain Lake has everything you could ever need: supermarkets, plenty of restaurants, banks, marinas, fitness centers, and libraries. There are also doctors, dentists, attorneys, and independent retail stores nearby.

What more could you ask for? And with large metropolitan cities close by, like Raleigh or Washington D.C., you know that SML is the best place to be.

Boating, Golf, Fishing…Oh My!

You know that the beauty of living on the lake is that there is an opportunity to both relax AND participate in any outdoor activity of your choosing.

Whether you want to spend the day boating, skiing, swimming, or fishing, Smith Mountain Lake always provides.

In fact, Bassmaster has rated SML in the top 25 best bass fishing lakes in the United States.

If you want to spend your day golfing with your buddies, try your hand on one of the lake’s five championship courses. You know that a day on the lake is whatever you make of it!

You eat your fill of America’s best ice cream.

Who would’ve thought that the best ice cream in America is located in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia? Well, while this is not a verified fact, you know that locals rave about Homestead Creamery’s ice cream.

The specialty frozen treat, as well as local dairy and meat products, are sold in a stand-alone store, a food truck, and also by the carton in local general stores and supermarkets.

As an SML resident, you love taking visiting friends and family to Homestead to give them a taste of what living in Roanoke is really like!

Boats are used more often than cars.

One of your favorite parts about living on the lake is that most restaurants can be accessed by boat.

What better way to cap off a day at the lake than piling into the boat and docking at Bay Roc Marina Cafe, Blackwater, Heath’s, or King’s Point?

Live music, lakefront view, and amazing food – where you live has it all!

Tours on tours on tours.

You’ll be the first to admit there are a great many touristy attractions around the lake…but you secretly love them. You even consider them to be a rite of passage to getting to know the area!

Aside from traditional lake activities, including great dinner cruises and fishing expeditions, popular off-water options include winery tours, visiting the local alpaca farm, and touring the birthplace of Booker T. Washington.

Catching a movie, playing miniature golf, and spending an evening at Hot Shots or Bridgewater Plaza are also some options you’ll want to consider when making your plans.

Interested in living on the “Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains?” With 1,295 current listings on Smith Mountain Lake, there is sure to be a home that fits everyone’s needs.

Homes on the lake range anywhere from $60,000 to $25 million, so why not find your dream home on one of the most coveted lakes in the region?

To talk to one of our many lake experts about living your lake dream, visit the Smith Mountain Lake page on lakehomes.com.

5 Things Only Lake Murray Natives Would Know

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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.

Continue reading “5 Things Only Lake Murray Natives Would Know”

You Might Be a Lake LBJ Local When

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Lake LBJ colorful during sunset

Lake Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) is a 6,200-acre, constant-level reservoir located on the Colorado River in the famous Texas Hill Country.

Originally named Lake Granite Shoals, Lake LBJ is just an hour’s drive from Austin, Texas, and is the perfect combination of rural, relaxed lake living and big-city accessibility.

Whether you grew up visiting the lake during the summers, or grew up on the water, you’ll recognize Lake LBJ by these amazing qualities:

At Lake LBJ, Wildlife Lives Next Door 

Father and son fishing at Lake LBJ

In the Texas Hill Country, wildlife is abundant.

Fishing, of course, is one of the more popular past times during the spring and summer months. Amateur and skilled anglers from all over the country flock to Lake LBJ for a chance at record-breaking bass and crappie.

Along with its impressive variety of fish species, the area surrounding the lake is populated by a myriad of wildlife including foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and deer.

Because the areas surrounding the lake are made up of incorporated subdivisions, hunting is strictly prohibited, so a wide variety of beautiful wild animals will be among your neighbors.

Celebrity Sightings Are Routine

lake aerial view

While it may not be Los Angeles or New York City, Lake LBJ holds its own when it comes to attracting the best and brightest.

Influential businessmen and women from several of the largest cities in the state (and the country) flock to the lake for weekend getaways or for retirement.

In fact, the lake is one of the top three choices for retirement in the United States!

Celebrity actors like Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey as well as a number of professional athletes also love calling Lake LBJ their home.

If you’re lucky, you may see Matthew and his kids driving the boat around Horseshoe Bay.

The Beauty of the Highland Lakes is Unparalleled

Whether the blue from the sparkling expanse of water or a rainbow of Texas wildflowers, you know that stepping outside and gazing at the lake is all the color you will need some days.

Throughout April and May, people travel from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the amazing assortment of wildflowers scattered along the shoreline and surrounding fields.

Every year, visitors are drawn to the vivid colors and unrivaled charm of the Lake LBJ  area, however, you are lucky enough to call it home.

There is No Shortage of Things to Do

person boating on still waters

Whether a regatta, boat race or the annual Fourth of July Fireworks display, there is always something going on at Lake LBJ.

Aside from the usual lake activities like boating, swimming, sailing, and skiing, Lake LBJ offers a wide array of other opportunities to get outdoors.

During the day, you like to visit Lake LBJ State Park for its top-notch hiking trails. And if you’re feeling adventurous? The state park offers archery clinics, fishing days, conservation workshops and celebrations.

Rich, Texan Culture

Texas flag and USA flag

One of the most popular lakes in Texas, Lake LBJ is visited by thousands of Texans from all over the state.

Named after the 36th U.S. president, who spent a great deal of his downtime on the lake, this lake brings a touch of Texan (and national) pride to the area.

The lake’s beauty, rich history, and lively atmosphere make a great day at the lake inevitable!

Interested in making Lake LBJ your home? Residents, lake experts, and real estate agents would tell you you’d be surprised at the variety of homes found on Lake LBJ’s 30 miles of shoreline.

Homes on the Lake LBJ market range anywhere from $80,000 to $7,000,000. To get a taste of the real estate diversity on Lake LBJ or browse our 468 listings, visit lakehomes.com or contact lake expert Bruce Jones.

Nicole Walters to be Featured on Lakefront Bargain Hunt

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Nicole Walters

UPDATE 5/2: Nicole’s episode is now set to air this Sunday, 5/8/16 at 7PM central! Be sure to tune in!

UPDATE 4/29: HGTV has made changes to their Lakefront Bargain Hunt schedule and Nicole’s episode has been pushed back to a later date. We will have another update when it is rescheduled and set to air.

Tune into HGTV’s latest episode of Lakefront Bargain Hunt this Sunday, May 1st at 7 p.m. Central to see Lake Homes Realty’s Logan Martin Lake agent Nicole Anderson Walters!

Nicole, who is a seasoned Logan Martin Agent, will be helping a couple from Alabaster find their dream home on Logan Martin after they spent years taking weekend trips to the area.

Lakefront Bargain Hunt features families who are seeking to purchase a lake home on a budget. Each episode highlights a different lake and local expert real estate agent.

Nicole is the second Lake Homes Realty agent to be featured on the show this year; Justin Dyar and Smith Lake were featured earlier this month.

For more information on Nicole’s upcoming episode, visit the Lakefront Bargain Hunt website.

 

You Know You’ve Spent Time on Lake Lanier When…

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Lake lanier satellite mapNestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, breathtaking Lake Lanier spans 37,000 acres and features more than 692 miles of shoreline.

It also happens to be less than an hour away from Atlanta, making it the easiest of commutes.

Whether you grew up visiting the lake or call it your permanent home, you’ll recognize your favorite lake from these landmarks.

Current residents and expert-agents weigh in on their Lake Lanier Highlights.

Lake Lanier has two distinct personalities

Call it a West Side story, but you know Lake Lanier has two completely different personalities, South Side vs. North Side.

The South Side of the lake is the nearest to Atlanta and always has something going on at the Lake Lanier Islands Resort, the waterpark or restaurants, at LanierWorld, or the larger marinas.

The North Side of the lake is nearest to small towns like Cumming as well as a small city, Gainesville.

This is the side of the lake you will canoe and paddle board on. The shoreline remains a little more residential and the water is peaceful.

Lake LanierWorldLanierWorld

It isn’t just for the kids.

Yes, thousands upon thousands of visitors and tourists make their way to LanierWorld every year.

You may pretend to roll your eyes at the park’s 11 waterslides, wave pool, carnival-style rides and lakeside grill. But let’s be real…you love it.

No matter your age, you love spending the sunny, summer days flying down water slides and riding the Raging River rapids.

And after a day on the waterslides, head over to Pigtails or Fishtails for dinner and dessert.

Port Royale

This is the perfect place for your lake pit stop.

Located on the North side of the lake, Port Royale is by far your favorite marina on the lake.

With 5-Star amenities, the Lighthouse convenience store and Pelican Pete’s, Port Royale rivals even the most impressive of marinas.

Great food, live entertainment and a guaranteed good time are waiting for you down at the Port Royale Marina.

Rich History 

You’re hopelessly fascinated with the history surrounding the lake.

Everyone knows North Georgia has a rich history dating back before the Revolutionary War, but there are some spots around the lake especially surrounded by myth and legend.

War Hill, a 108-acre park, for example, has almost no documented history regarding its origin and early history.

Local experts say there was most likely a significant Native American battle on the site. However, it’s rumored that evidence of what really happened at War Hill is buried under the lake.

Fabulous Fourth of July Celebration 

You can’t imagine spending Fourth of July anywhere else.

Every year, places like Lake Lanier Islands host a swanky “Red, White and Blue Luau,” and Laurel Park serves up hot dogs, cotton candy and snow cones courtesy of the Paul E. Bolding American Legion.

But whether you spend the Fourth in your backyard on the dock or at any of Lake Lanier’s parks, you are sure to have the perfect view for a fantastic firework spectacle.

They See You Rowin’

You wish you had what it takes to be a professional rower.

You’re proud that YOUR lake was home to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and that the Lake Lanier Rowing Club is one of the most prestigious rowing venues in the world.

Some days you look out your window and see five sculls rowing by, and you know this is totally normal.

Sunset Cove

You spent entire days at Sunset Cove.

Whether you drove up in your boat or your car, you know Sunset Cove is the place to be on a clear, summer day.

With live entertainment, a powder-white beach, beach volleyball courts, fire pits and delicious food, what’s not to love?

Park your boat, turn up the music, and stay ‘til the sun goes down.skogies on lake lanier

Eat a Skogie Sammich

Skogie’s Famous Grouper Sandwich has your heart (and your stomach.)

Recently voted best restaurant on Lake Lanier, Skogie’s is the perfect place for good food and cold drinks on a summer day.

Located at the Gainesville Marina, Skogie’s for dinner is the perfect way to cap off a great day at the lake.

Christmas Lights Galore

Magical Nights of Lights means that Christmas is officially on its way.

Every year, Lake Lanier Islands hosts this six-mile animated light display that ends with the Holiday Village.

The Village features carnival rides, bonfires, Santa’s workshop and a live nativity scene.

One of the most treasured traditions on Lake Lanier, driving through the Magical Nights of Lights with a car full of loved ones is the best way to kick off the holiday season.

Lake Lanier sunset

Unparalleled Beauty

You know you live on the most beautiful lake in the Southeast.

Visitors love the lake because of more than 50 parks and public access points on Lanier, but residents love it because this body of water is unmistakably home.

The best part of living on Lake Lanier? There is something for everyone.

With a lake that touches five counties and 600 miles of shoreline, it is easy to find a piece of Lake Lanier that fits every personality.

Whether you enjoy the hustle and bustle of Lanier Island or the serenity of a secluded northside cove, living on Lanier is the perfect oasis.

Interested in making Lanier your home? Residents, lake experts and real estate agents would tell you you’d be surprised at the variety of homes found on Lake Lanier.

Homes on the Lanier market range anywhere from $250,000 to $4,000,000. To get a taste of the real estate diversity on Lake Lanier, visit our Lake Lanier page and see what we have to offer!

 

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