Get a dose of summertime tranquility or find a dockside party out on the lake.
By Thrillist Editors, and Matt MeltzerUpdated on June 24, 2024 at 11:15 AM
Lake Chelan gets an average 300 days of sunshine every year. | Photo courtesy of Lake Chelan
It’s no secret that we at Thrillist love to travel—in fact, it’s pretty much all we do. And with every new flight, mountain summit, cocktail bar, and hotel check-in, we always learn something new. That’s why we’re in the habit of turning to our team of seasoned editors and global contributors, each with extensive boots-on-the-ground experience, to help you plan your next jet-setting adventure.
Nothing announces summer quite like a trip to “The Lake.” Whether you live in a landlocked state or overlook the ocean, chances are there’s a lake within a two-hour drive that you and everyone you know never refer to by name. It’s just “The Lake,” and those two words evoke images of dockside cannonballs, twilight barbecues, and general relaxation in nature.
Which lake you’re going to never matters, really. It’s a mindset, a stress-melting escape near the water that has you glancing at prices as you pass the town’s Main Street real estate office. Every part of America has a place like this, and while each have their charms, some stand tall above the rest. These American lake towns are ideal summer destinations, whether your idea of vacation involves tranquil time in the wilderness or raging ‘til sunrise.
If you think the deserts of Utah are trippy, wait till you see all that colossal red and orange rock emerging from a blue body of water. And if you thought lake town and didn’t think desert, prepare to be wonderfully wrong. Lake Powell is Utah’s kayaking, boating, swimming, and all-around-incredible-cliff-views playground.
With all the nearby national parks and out-of-this-world hikes, you’ll probably want to be in Utah for your next vacation anyway. But given the heat waves, you’ll likely be looking for an escape from the state’s dry-out-your-nostrils heat. Enter the splashy, wondrous Lake Powell. Zion and Arches are pretty nice and all, but those in the know keep the mind-blowing adventures going by driving south across sandy cliffs towards the epic lake.
Wahweap is the town with the most boating options, which spans the Utah and Arizona border. Lake Powell also dips briefly in the neighboring southern sate. But, since the majority of the lake—and the most wild images—sits on the northern side, we’re picking Utah as the destination. Though, when you do want to post up, the town of Page in Arizona will have the most options. From there you can also check out Horseshoe Bend and try your luck at getting a lottery ticket for Antelope Canyon. But you came here for the water, and that’s where you want to spend most of your time, made even better by renting a jeep here in 4WD country and trying out the camping thing to get to the most stunningly remote views. Just pack a lot of water. —Danielle Hallock, former Thrillist editor
Michigan is home to dozens of Great Lakes towns, many interchangeable, all fantastic. This list could include 10 from along the state’s 3,300 miles of shoreline and be very accurate. So go to Traverse City or Ludington or Empire. They’re gorgeous. There’s fudge and wine. You know this.
The Upper Peninsula, however, remains mysterious. Marquette—the UP’s sprawling metropolis of 20,000—sits about a 10-hour drive north of Detroit. The gruff, friendly mining town rises from Lake Superior’s choppy shores, its brick-lined streets hosting some of Michigan’s best, less-hyped breweries, like Blackrocks and Drifa and old-school dives like the musty Wooden Nickel. And when night falls on the waterfront city, head to the haunted breakwall in town or climb the Superior overlook on nearby Mt. Sugarloaf to see a bright panorama of stars.
Grab a Torpedo sub from local legend Togo’s and jump from the cliffs of Presque Isle into the icy waters of Superior. If summer crowds descend, head north to the less-trafficked Little Presque. And make sure to head south for at least a day to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: It’s an entire shoreline whose cliff-covered waterfront appears to have been attacked by a giant toddler with a paintbrush, and it’s a scant hour drive from Marquette. —Andy Kryza, travel writer
The State With the Best Beach Towns Isn’t Even on a Coast
3,000 miles of sandy shores.
Lake Chelan, Washington
About three hours outside of Seattle, drive up through the Cascades and past a series of tiny towns until you come across Lake Chelan: a lake in Northern Washington that gets an average 300 annual days of sunshine(!!!) and whose 1,500-foot deep, robin’s egg blue waters give the Caribbean a run for its money.
Take kayaks, paddleboards, speedboats, and jet skis from LakeRider Sports and Chelan Parasail and Watersports for a spin, explore quiet local villages like Chelan, Mason, and Stehekin, or head out into the enormous North Cascades National Park—one of the most underrated national parks in the country, home to 300+ glaciers, sweeping alpine forests, and remote backcountry camping.
And if you’re thinking: “Meh, all this excitement is nice, but I’d rather chill lakeside, sunglasses on, and a little tipsy,” Lake Chelan is still the place for you. With more than 20 different grapes, this is one of the most low-key but excellent wine regions on the West Coast. Sit in for a spell at Succession Wines, Amos Rome Vineyards, and Cairdeas Winery—all within a few minutes of each other and all of which overlook the lake. —Tamara Gane, travel writer
Washington State’s Best-Kept Secret Is A Sun-Soaked Lake Paradise
Clear skies, great wine, can’t lose.
Learning how to pronounce Can-ah-day-gwa is the first part of the adventure in this Finger Lakes town, which will take you a try or six to figure out. But locals are that special brand of Western New York friendly and happy to help, and once you’ve got it down you’ll be repeating it often as you recommend Canandaigua to anyone who’ll listen.
The downtown is five blocks of pure Americana, except instead of diners and general stores you’ll find a tasting room for nearby Acqualino Wine Cellars, and another with tapas at the Pintxo Wine Bar. It’s not exactly Paso Robles on the Finger Lakes, but the region’s wine culture spills into downtown making for a fun afternoon wine walk capped off with a Hazy IPA at Freqentem Brewing Co.
On Canadaigua’s city pier, you can stroll the absurdly adorable, multi-colored sea houses, then rent kayaks and get out on the water at Kershaw Park. If you’re into watersports but didn’t pack your motor boat, you can still wakeboard and waterski at the nearby Roseland Wake Park, where you’re pulled by a cable along the waves.
The jewel of the town is The Lake House on Canandaigua, a gorgeously designed hotel with meticulously manicured gardens that the groundskeeper will be happy to walk you through if you ask. The hotel’s Sand Bar has a patio that’s practically on the lake, where boaters tie up and join hotel guests for after-hours cocktails by the shoreside fire pits. The Lake House has a spectacular spa, too, where you can try its signature barrel sauna ritual, sweating your way through an hour accompanied by sky-meet-trees-meets-water views. —Danielle Hallock and Matt Meltzer
South Lake Tahoe, California
This town on the Californian side of Lake Tahoe is a solid destination pretty much any time of year, but it’s the summers here that really bring out the best of what this lake has to offer—namely, booze-fueled parties on the water.
Yes, it can get a little rowdy, and anywhere within driving distance of a major California city is prone to huge crowds. But even if you’re not in the mood to deal with people who want to extend spring break to summer, there are plenty of ways to enjoy nature. When you’re on a cruise through Emerald Bay, taking in the turquoise water and towering trees, you’ll barely notice the throngs nearby. Ski resorts like Northstar and Palisades offer courses when there’s no snow, and scenic courses like Edgewood even boast a beach. Many ski trails turn into mountain bike trails in the summer, some of which offer ziplining.
If you’re on vacation to try something new, try your hand at curling at the city’s sparkling new Lake Tahoe Epic Curling Club. New adventures spread to the food world too, and South Lake Tahoe gives you a chance to try Nepalese food at Shangrila Himalayan, or vegan fare at Freshies Ohana. A quick drive over the border into Nevada, and boom: you’re in Reno’s casino country complete with all the clubs, free drinks, and what-happens-here-stays-here attitudes you’d want. —Matt Meltzer, travel writer
Follow Your Bliss to the Most Stunning Lake Paradise in America
Shred the slopes or dive into one of the world’s deepest lakes.
The oldest resort town in America happens to sit on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. Families return to this (frankly, WASP-y) New England community year after year (mine included, for four generations) to escape the heat. And such famous lake lovers as Kurt Vonnegut, Paul Newman, Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, and Dustin Hoffman have also been known to rent and own homes here.
Thanks to a crop of young summer renters, the scene here has lately felt like a less-stuffy country club. The chefs at La Boca are bringing back their famed wild blueberry soup and Lone Wolfe Brewing Company is becoming a fixture. While the lake is the main attraction, Wolfeboro also sees its share of festivals, farmers markets, and free concerts. The best day of the summer? Lobster Day at Hunter’s IGA Foodstore (in the process of getting rebuilt after a devastating fire). A massive truck pulls up filled with lobsters and stays until it is empty. The price per pound can’t be beat—it’s pretty much a local holiday. —Keryn Means, travel writer
A quintessential lighthouse is the perfect place to watch sunset over Mount Dora. | Photo by CreativeStudio79/Shutterstock
Sure, the idea of a Mount Anything in Florida seems a little far fetched, but in this state a whopping 184 feet of elevation rates you mountain status. So pack some extra oxygen and head to this lake town about 45 minutes north of Orlando, which began as a vacation getaway decades before Flagler brought tourism to Florida.
Mount Dora’s original hotel is still standing at the Lakeside Inn, where it’s been welcoming guests since 1883. You can still grab a drink and sit out on its long covered porch, enjoying the sunset over the relatively-undisturbed slice of Florida nature. Cypress trees dripping in Spanish moss line the shoreline, and the evenings give you a sense of what the state was like before all the world moved in.
The food in Mt. Dora has fortunately advanced past 1883, and its location near Central Florida’s abundant farms means the food is delightfully fresh. Dine among modern art and open spaces at 1921, a converted house that does spectacular nightly vegetable specials. Or eat in a library at Goblin Market, a local favorite that’s been around nearly 30 years. For drinks, head a story above the main drag to One Flight Up, whose wordplay is only outdone by its wine selection and views out to the lake.
The water will be calling you, and if you didn’t bring your own boat take a two-hour Cat Boat tour with CatBoat Adventures. The speedy little two seaters take you across the lake to the Dora Canal, a stunning waterway that takes you deep into old natural Florida, one of the most unexpectedly scenic spots in the state. —Matt Meltzer
Fifteen miles from the Canadian border, beneath an endless canopy of Douglas firs, you’ll find this amazing jewel of a town, home to 800-some-odd full-timers who don’t even have their own zip code. Come summertime, the population balloons to 20,000 as weekenders commandeer the cabins that wind along the shores of this 19-mile freshwater lake.
To get there, head north along Highway 57 from nearby Priest River, and load up on huckleberry scones and orange rolls at Lucinda’s Woodland Bakery along the way. You’ll find only small local businesses here, but if you forgot any essentials, the one-stop market/gas station/hardware store The Tamrak has both your back and just about every kind of huckleberry-flavored food item imaginable.
Snag a lakeside cabin at Hills Resort where you can start a pickleball tournament with families who’ve lived here for generations. On the nearby golf course, forage for wild morels that grow in abundance off the sixth hole. Hike the beach trail that hugs the shoreline, and find a private cove to take a plunge. Better yet, ask for directions to Indian Rock, where you can see prehistoric pictographs inscribed by Native Americans and practice your backflip into the waters. You’ll be so distracted by all the wildlife (was that a grizzly?), you won’t even notice you have no cell service. —Ryan MacDonald, travel writer
This Stunning Western State Gets Overshadowed by Its Neighbors
Hot springs, rail trails, lunar landscapes, and starry mountains—all under-the-radar.
Mountain biking is king in and around Hot Springs. | Photo courtesy of Arkansas.gov
At the center of this hillbound resort town are the 143-degree, mineral-rich waters that give the town its wonderfully on-the-nose name. The bathhouses here once drew the likes of Babe Ruth and Al Capone, and which made Hot Springs the site of an eponymous, tiny National Park (and one that could claim to be America’s first, at that). Famous for horse racing and as Bill Clinton’s childhood home, Hot Springs is still a funky-quaint regional destination for art, music, and one of the planet’s most straight-up sexy churches, designed by E. Fay Jones, Arkansas’ late dean of architects and a former Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice.
But it’s cooler water that really drives the action in Hot Springs. Once you tire of the tourist shuffle, head to the west edge of town to Lake Hamilton, an impound on the Ouachita River. Locals joke that everyone in town owns a boat, and while plenty of those rigs are just jon boats for chasing largemouth bass, Hamilton becomes a party lake when the temperatures flirt with 100 throughout July and August.
When they’re ready to dock, hungry boaters idle right up to Sam’s, a pizza joint on the water, to grab a slice and listen to live music. If that’s not your scene, the lake also sits alongside some of the most hardcore mountain biking trails in the South, perfect for a dip once you peel off your sweaty helmet. —Sam Eifling, former Thrillist editor
Vapor Rises From the Ground in This Arkansas Vacation Town
It’s is mist-ical. It’s mobster-y. It’s a magnet for misfits.
Lake Keowee is a sprawling, man-made reservoir that encompasses nearly 29 square miles and boasts 350 miles of shoreline. Only about a quarter of that is developed, so the setting—at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains—is isolated and still feels wondrously pristine. But that’s just the scenic part; what makes Keowee special is the fun part.
The lake’s only seven miles from Clemson University, a school that may or may not be known as a place where students indulge in the occasional adult beverage. This lends itself to epic boat parties in Keowee’s numerous coves. The cabins that line the shore don’t die down much at night, and most of them have floating rafts, jet skis, and other toys for rent.
Not up for parting with ACC college kids? Can’t imagine such a thing, but if that’s the case downtown Seneca makes for a pleasant night out, with just enough fun to keep it interesting for a weekend. Catch some live music during Jazz on the Alley, where musicians take over Ram Cat Alley every Thursday during the summer. Then grab drinks at Brews on the Alley or The Spot on the Alley (they’re big on geographic naming in Seneca), which’ll usually have a residual crowd lingering from said parties on the cove. —Matt Meltzer
A Visitor’s Guide to South Carolina’s Best Beaches
New Yorkers love an upstate moment, especially the Adirondacks. The entire region is studded with blissfully chill lake towns—and while Lake Placid reigns as the most iconic, we’re going to set it aside for the summer and come back in autumn, when you can take in the blazing foliage along Mirror Lake, or hit the ski slopes on Whiteface Mountain in winter.
For classic Griswold summer vacation vibes, we like Lake George. If you’ve ever wanted to camp on a secluded island (we’ve been fans of renting them lately, ourselves), Lake George has 44 state-owned ones where you’ll find nearly 400 campsites, some of which you can reserve for as little as $28/night.
There’s lake cruises, parasailing, waterfall hikes, boat rentals, beer at Adirondack Pub and Brewery, and a great lakeside winery. (One of the state’s largest amusement parks is also nearby, if you’re in that kind of mood.) And if you get tired of the crowds, there’s always the 29-mile secluded shoreline of Great Sacandaga Lake just an hour south. —Tiana Attride, former Thrillist editor
This Ruggedly Gorgeous Section of Upstate NY Is Somehow Still Overlooked
Crystal lakes, sky-high mountains, and very comfortable chairs.
Saugatuck/Douglas, Michigan
Nicknamed “The Great Art-Doors,” Saugatuck—along with its sister city across the river, Douglas—has earned a reputation as a gay-friendly destination for the arts, thanks to ties to the Ox Bow School of Art, the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, and the Armstrong De-Graaf International Fine Art gallery. In addition, the towns boast a whopping 140 LGBTQ-owned or supportive businesses, along with one of the country’s top LGBTQ resorts, The Dunes Resort.
The “twin towns” sit three hours west of Detroit and just 45 minutes from Grand Rapids, making them a perfect road trip destination for city dwellers in search of a lakeside refuge. After you hit the shore and soak up some sun on the renowned Oval Beach, hike through Mount Baldhead Park, or maybe do a little charter fishing on Lake Michigan.
Have oysters on the half shell at Everyday People Café, enjoy Southern hospitality and Southern-inspired food from two-time James Beard Award semi-finalist Matthew Millar at The Southerner, or make the 15-minute drive to Salt of the Earth in Fennville, a farm-to-table restaurant and bakery. Oh, and hit up Saugatuck Brewing Company and get some Neapolitan Milk Stout. Obviously. —Nicole Rupersburg, travel writer
This Route Around the Great Lakes Is the Ultimate Summer Road Trip
Roads that are the best of the midwest.
Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Lake Havasu is perhaps the best party lake in the country. Remember spending spring break hopping from boat to boat by day, then jumping into a pool at a club fully clothed at night, because by then what was the difference? Exactly, me neither. So it’s no surprise that the city sitting on Havasu’s shores and sharing its name would soak up some of that greatness.
There’s good food, good drink, and good casino gambling, but ultimately the best part of Lake Havasu City is the water. After the madness of spring break subsides and the party boats clear out, Havasu becomes a legitimately fun place for people of all ages. Yes, the heat can get kind of ridiculous (128 degrees isn’t unheard of), but as long as you’re doing something in the water—like scuba diving, say—you probably won’t burst into flames. —Matt Meltzer
Arizona’s Coolest Small Towns Are Filled With Cowboys, Wine, And Mysticism
It’s a state of caves, cosmic vortexes, and living history.
A mere 12 miles from Canada, Ely is the gateway to the lake-strewn Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness—a nearly Delaware-sized wilderness preserve, the country’s largest east of the Rockies. This “lake district” is actually an inland sea with wooded islands seemingly arranged for the canoeing camper’s convenience. It’s an endless medley of interconnected streams, lakes, and waterfalls landscaped by cliffs, ridges, ancient Native American rock art, 1,200-year-old cedars, and soaring white pines. Overhead flights are banned, and motorboats are outlawed. Life’s complications disappear as you dip a canteen over the side of your canoe and take a swig.
Ely’s hilly main drag of earthy shops, restaurants, and outfitters is lost in the deep woods, literally at the end of the road. Folks opt to wear mukluks (locally manufactured moose-hide boots) and baseball caps. Excepting a few plastic-roof joints, most of Ely’s log-cabinish food establishments serve fresh-caught fish (like the walleye, Minnesota’s state fish) and locally grown rice. Ely Steak House’s wild rice soups are a must-try, while its lounge doubles as a community center. Meanwhile, the Northern Grounds café hosts the occasional live band. Don’t forget to stop in to the Root Beer Lady museum while you’re in town. —Bruce Northam, travel writer
Colorado is rightly known for its mountains—but don’t sleep on its underrated lakes. Better yet, combine the best of both worlds in the sweet little town of Dillon, an oft-overlooked gem just 15 miles north of its world-famous big brother, Breckenridge.
Dillon’s number one attraction is the Dillon Reservoir, an absolutely show-stopping alpine lake that feels worlds away from the busy I-70 traffic whizzing by in the distance. Sitting at an elevation of 9,000 feet within 10 miles of four major ski resorts, Lake Dillon also boasts the Dillon Amphitheatre as one of the most magnificent outdoor venues in the venue-rich Centennial State.
In town, Arapahoe Café and Pug Ryan’s are where you’ll want to be to cover your food and drink bases, while the nearby hike to Sapphire Point and scenic drive through Boreas Pass are not to be overlooked. But when all is said and done, you’re here for one thing and one thing only: to get that ass out on that lake.
Accomplish this life-affirming feat via pontoon rental from the friendly folks at Dillon Marina (after knocking back a few at the waterfront tiki bar first). To spend a few sun-soaked hours boating on the mountain-rimmed Lake Dillon beneath the cloudless Colorado summer sky is to know true happiness. —Jay Gentile, travel writer
These Mountain Lake Towns Are Next-Level Serene
The new high water mark for small towns.
Maine in the summer is heaven and this town of 1,170 on Rangeley Lake is as great a summer destination as the state has. Boat, canoe, or kayak on one of the six lakes here, or hike and camp in Rangeley Lake State Park, and climb up Saddleback Mountain for a panoramic view of it all.
The small town is all quaint New England, with antique shops, seafood restaurants, bed & breakfasts, and storied lodges like the Loon Lodge and The Rangeley Inn, whose history dates back to 1877, depending who you ask. Try some local Maine beer at the Furbish Brew House on Main Street, or taste what’s in season on the rotating menu at The Rangeley Tavern, inside the historic hotel. Golfing here is a pleasant change from humid courses in the South and Midwest, so playing 18 at the Mingo Springs golf course won’t wear you down. —Matt Meltzer
If You’re Into Coastal Grandma Vibes, This Is the Summer Vacation for You
This summer, embrace who you were always meant to be.
Those in search of the quintessential Midwestern lake town have been making the short drive from Chicago and Milwaukee to Lake Geneva for generations. Hop aboard a booze cruise with Lake Geneva Cruise Line or pilot your own vessel with help from local outfitter Elmers to explore the gorgeous 8.5-square-mile lake before diving headfirst into the area’s bustling bar and restaurant scene. Nurse your next day hangover crashed out in the sand at Riviera Beach or, better yet, wander the lake’s uniquely open-to-the-public, 26-mile Lake Geneva Shore Path that skirts by the glistening front lawns of million dollar homes with million dollar lakefront views.
Active travelers will want to hit downtown’s Avant Cycle Cafe, where once they’ve poured you a fresh coffee, guides will show you all the lake’s best cycling routes. Opt for the 20-ish mile trail that takes you around the lake and into other shoreside towns like Williams Bay, Lyons, and Lake Como. Then reward yourself with a Hugh Heffeviezen at Topsy Turvy Brewing, set inside an old church across the street from the bike shop.
No trip to Wisconsin is complete without a meal at a supper club. The old-school Mars Resort is part biker-bar, part lakeside rager, that calms down into an evening supper club once the sun goes down. The most intriguing menus in town are at the unassuming Flat Iron Tap, who in addition to serving loads of local beers sources its whole menu from area farms. Explore nearby Lake Delavan and wind up at A-plus local dives like the Inn Between. —Jay Gentile and Matt Meltzer
Though Montana can be a downright frozen wasteland in the winter, the place comes alive in the summer. You already know about Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, and you know about Bozeman, but you might not know about Bigfork. Here, fly fishing, hiking, and big skies meet the arts, creating a summer-long outdoors paradise.
The 27-mile freshwater Flathead Lake might not be home to its eponymous mythical monster—though if you aspire to the paranormal with your vacations, we’re certainly not here to judge—but it is home to many kinds of lake trout that are especially tasty when grilled after a long day on the water.
Beyond the outdoors, summer here is home to the Riverbend Concert series, with live music in Sliter Memorial Park on Sundays. Early August brings the Bigfork Festival of the Arts, and the Bigfork Summer Playhouse has live theater and musical productions from May through September. —Matt Meltzer
In Montana, You Can Go Island-Hopping in the Old West
Come for the raves, stay for the wild horses on Flathead Lake.
Sometimes a lake town is as much about the journey as the destination. And yes, this town just a stone’s throw from Ontario is one of the jewels of Lake Superior. But it also sits near the end of the North Shore Scenic Drive, and if you’re taking a trip to Grand Marias you’d be remiss if you didn’t make it part of your road trip. Stretch your legs and hike through waterfalls at Gooseberry Falls State Park, then tour one of Superior’s great landmarks at the Split Rock Lighthouse.
As you roll into town, stop and take a walk on Black Beach, the odd black sand beach that’s not on a volcanic island. Once in Grand Marias, you’ll be offered the full outdoorsy spectrum of canoeing, hiking, fishing, camping, rock climbing, and even birdwatching (for all you voyeurs who like to spy on birds).
On top of the active stuff you’d expect, this town of 1,400 has some fantastic dining (like Sven & Ole’s Pizza and World’s Best Donuts) and a vibrant arts scene that might surprise you. No trip to Grand Marais is complete without at least one drink at Voyageur Brewing Company, possibly the city’s most famous export that doesn’t involve Olympic ice hockey. —Matt Meltzer
This Rugged and Winding Coastline Is a Superior Road Trip Destination
Lighthouses, aquavit, and Bob Dylan, together at last.
Branson gets a bad rap, almost exclusively from people who’ve never been. Yes, the main drag in town is a classic stretch of American kitsch, complete with celebrity tribute artist shows, a museum constructed to look like the Titanic, and plenty of neon. But set the pretension aside and Branson is one of the best places in America to go for silly fun.
For starters, Table Rock Lake is a serene, family-friendly alternative to the rowdy Lake of the Ozarks. But the real fun here isn’t just relaxing in the quiet hills—it’s in all those cheap tourist thrills you think you’re too good for. Branson is home to Silver Dollar City, who just opened a brand-new indoor family coaster called Fire in the Hole. telling the story of the night the town burned down.
Outside the park, the single-car alpine coaster at Runaway Mountain—and the original Branson coaster—are as close to taking a go-kart down a winding mountain road as you’ll ever experience. Plus there’s ziplines onsite. You can also get your adrenaline going at the towering Bigfoot Gravity Bomb, a 200-foot free-fall ride that lifts you for a stunning view out over the town and the lake before dropping you. To calm down, hit the 150-foot Branson Ferris Wheel, which boasts the same views without the stomach drop. —Matt Meltzer
This Midwestern City Has Wild West Vibes and Plenty of Live Entertainment
Buckle up for a wild and wacky action-packed trip deep into the Ozark Mountains.
Shasta Lake, California
Shasta Lake offers every possible lakeside perk plus one more: dynamite views of Mt. Shasta and its 14,180-foot, snow-capped peak. Summer sees pontoons, sailboats, jet skis, houseboats, and bass boats scattered like gems across the bright blue water. Lake Shasta hosts a bounty of fishy deliciousness—bass, catfish, sturgeon, and crappie—with nearly 370 miles of coast and myriad coves great for dropping anchor and casting a line. Opt to stay on a houseboat (marinas all over the lake have plenty of offerings), and you’ll be able to grill your fresh catch right there on deck.
If you need a diversion from swimming and fishing and water skiing and eating fresh AF fish, you can take a free tour of Shasta Dam. The 602-foot structure is the nation’s second-largest concrete dam. Famed folk singer Woody Guthrie legendarily composed “This Land is Your Land” while helping construct the dam’s arch barrier. And if all that wasn’t enough, the Lake Shasta Caverns—underground parts of the lake you can only explore via boat—offers guided tours of the 250-million-year-old caves. —Rebecca Golden, travel writer
Time abandoned Arnolds Park long ago, leaving this “City of 5 Lakes” riddled with kitsch and nostalgia. A resort town since the late 19th century, it’s now so vintage it’s back in style—picture wooden roller coasters, tiny colorful Ferris wheels rising just above the lake, popcorn and lemonade stands, and families taking glass-bottom boats out for wholesome Sunday afternoons on the water. It’s a summer-long county fair, practically an Iowa trademark.
The eponymous theme park sits on West Lake Okoboji, a prime spot for lazy days in the sand or for renting jet skis, boats, and stand-up paddleboards. Afternoons outside the park are meant for getting on the water, strolling the idyllic downtown, and navigating melty Nutty Bars, Okoboji’s favorite ice cream since 1949.
Late nights are for live music, ice-cold beer, and last-call lake parties. To the north, Big Spirit Lake—the biggest of Iowa’s “Great Lakes”—is more about communing with nature and the water, if that’s more your scene. Several waterfront state parks get you the best of both worlds, too, at least when paired with a pint at nearby West O Beer. (Not as classic as the Nutty Bar, but just about!) —Jacqueline Kehoe, travel writer
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