Those interested in a vacation getaway can snag this four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house located about 1.4 miles from the Guy Sandy boat ramp on Arbuckle Lake for $275,000. 9 Things Youd Better Consider First. Port Aransas is a town close to Corpus Christi making it an easy day trip from the bigger city. Glen Arbor is nestled between Lake Michigans Sleeping Bear Bay and the Glen Lakes. Those looking for history and a well-preserved downtown will enjoy the heart of this city, while those keen on a lake vacation can head straight to Basin Harbor, a resort on Lake Champlain celebrating its 135th season. The presence of water-based activities and attractions was one of the main ranking factors for this list. You're sure to catch your fix of small-town charm and slow country living in this Alabama town. The 15 Best Affordable Beach Vacations in America - Reader's Digest Consider spending the winter or the entire year in one of these southern cities. There are no theme parks or big music shows. Eureka Springs is situated near several bodies of water, including Lake Leatherwood in the city limits and the enormous nearby Beaver Lake, as well as Table Rock Lake, which is located just across the Missouri border. Rent a house along the water - on either the Nevada or California side - or stay at Edgewood Tahoe, the only five-star resort right on the water with gorgeous architecture, golfing, and an idyllic pool overlooking the lake. Sean Pavone/Getty. The cold winters allow for hockey and ice fishing, and the warmer months . Then we ensured these were the kind of places buyers want to be, by searching for the towns with the most water-based businesses, like marinas, restaurants, and activities, using U.S. Census Bureau data. Winsted, Connecticut is a picturesque community is home to Highland Lake, one of the largest lakes in Connecticut and a popular spot for residents to beat the summer heat. Meera Pal is a Northern California-based writer with a background in journalism and books. Watch the sun set over the town while grabbing a pint at Oconee Brewing Company, or beat the early bird crowd and catch the sunrise with a side of coffee and buttermilk pancakes at Caf 44. But in todays overheated housing market, is the concept of owning your own waterfront home a punishing fantasy or an achievable reality? Best Places to Buy a Lake House 2021 | Vacasa Most Affordable Lake Areas to Call Home - Lake Homes Realty Chattanooga, Tennessee. Find a warm welcome in LaGrange, a cozy West Georgia town located on West Point Lake. * The average of monthly, median list prices for all homes in the city (not just lake houses) from January 2022 through May 2022, using Realtor.com data. The Best Lakes to Live On in California The Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee rivers have their confluence at or near Paducah, and nearby are two long lakes, Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with the Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area situated between them. 22. Most Affordable Beach Towns - 2021 Edition - SmartAsset The 800-acre recreational lake is surrounded by a wooded shoreline, winding road and grassy picnic spots that come right up to the edge of the water. 2 . 3. Set your sights on Lakeway, Texas, which is located in the Hill Country near Lake Travis, and you'll have bountiful opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking in the picturesque landscape of the sunny Lone Star State. The famously human-made lake is known for speed boating and waterfront resorts, but Osage Beach claims 420 acres of shorefront that's particularly inviting for families keen on a beach vacation. We have homes that are $100,000 to $250,000, and then we also have $5 million lake homes. After a full day of work, many residents find themselves on the water or hitting the trails for a hike. For those looking for a property as close to the water as possible, there are options. Next: 25. Chattanooga, Tennessee. California, Omaha, and Minnesota are among the most popular transplant states. A suburb of Lafayette, Scott is the third most affordable city in Louisiana. Caddo Lake - Karnack. Condos on Lake Delton start in the low $100,000s, like this sweet two-bedroom asking $154,900. Nine miles west of Cleveland is Rocky River, Ohio, a town of 20,000 ranked #24 by Niche in the entire state for best suburbs. It's all about the water sports at White Lake - tourists come to swim, boat, tube, jet ski, wake board, and the like. Enjoy Greensboro's historic charm: Main Street bustles with locally owned businesses and eateries, and Lake Oconee is a destination for water activities. 15 Affordable Small Towns in the US With Fast Internet for - PCMAG Set in the Ozark Mountains of Northwestern Arkansas, Eureka Springs gets a ton of visitors who want to admire the beautifully preserved architecture of its Historic District. Each year, with the arrival of the dog days of summer, the desire to find a place by the water becomes nothing less than a national obsession. The 55-mile-long body of water is ideal for sailing or paddling past historic cabins and sprawling vineyards. Abingdon, Virginia. Known as Alabamas Lake City, its surrounded by older trees, rugged mountains, and has cultural amenities like a regional theater company. It is so beautiful that the locals of the Texas Hill Country have given it the nickname of "The Jewel". For many looking to escape the city, it became a great place this summer to social distance and enjoy the outdoors. It sits on 1.5 acres across from Templar State Park on Big Spirit Lake. There's something for every travel palette in this town, from the boutique shops and locally-owned restaurants, to the 9,000-foot-plus peaks boasting hiking and mountain biking trails, to the seemingly unlimited boating and water sport opportunities on the clear blue water of Lake Chelan. Waterfront condos start in the mid 300s like this two-bedroom listed at $349,000. There are few things more relaxing than the quintessentially American lake vacation. Test your muscles and head downriver to Wilson Lake, where there are plenty of spots to stay and enjoy fresh shellfish by the water. Lake Burton. Kick up your feet at the Inn on the Square between grub sessions at Good Times Brewing at The Mill House and the Cheeseburger House. 10 Affordable Places to Retire on the Water - US News & World Report Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, Abingdon is one of those small towns in the south that is known for its combination of artsy vibes and historic charm. Spanning 2,600 acres, the lake of the Woods master-planned lake paradise offers residents exclusive access to its on-site equestrian center, 18-hole PGA golf . Best Lake Towns To Retire To in the South, 12 Lesser-Known Southern Destinations Our Editors Can't Wait To Visit In 2023, The Best Mother-Daughter Vacations to Take This Summer, 10 Prettiest Places for Fall Foliage in Tennessee, Pass Christian Is the Mississippi Beach Town You've Probably Never Heard Of, Affordable Florida Beach Towns Perfect For Your Next Vacation, 18 Perfect Fall Girlfriend Getaways To Plan Immediately. Cheboygan, Michigan. Share of household income . From a time-capsule-worthy main drag in Greensboro, Georgia, to a sun-soaked chain of lakes in Winter Haven, Florida, these are the South's best lake towns of 2022. (Fun fact: Big Spirit Lake is home to 40 different species of fish.). "The City of Opportunity" offers plenty of rest-and-relaxation opportunities to its visitors. Buyers can find homes like this three-bedroom, two-bathroom lakeside abode, listed for $449,000. Bryson City, North Carolina, is a small town with big views. Single-family homes on the water start in the high $300,000s to low $400,000 range, such as this four-bedroom on 2.31 acres listed at $410,000 or this three-bedroom on the market for $399,000. There's a stretch of great small towns north of Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana. The 440-acre, 3-mile-long lake features two public beaches and a shoreline dotted with a mix of upscale and affordable permanent and vacation homes. There has been a lot of new development in the area, as more people from out of state discover the Spirit Lake area, says Schaben. Vermont's first and smallest city, Vergennes is a short drive to both Burlington and Middlebury. Top 10 Cheapest Beach Towns in the US. - YouTube ( (Tony Franzel for Realtor.com)) 1. However, the Salmon Capital of the World, as Ketchikan is known, is built up along the waterfront due to its steep and mostly forested terrain. Charlevoix is the perfect getaway to Lake Michigan. Located near Lake Toxaway, the largest private lake in the state, Cashiers has long been a favorite vacation spot and has also inspired people to relocate there for retirement. Tucked into Chequamegon Bay on the south shore of Lake Superior, Ashland is rich with local history, arts and culture, and natural beauty. An upscale and heavily golf-oriented resort community on the Gulf Coast, Diamondhead is . Be sure to make a stop at the iconic Mount Dora Lighthouse, one of only three registered freshwater lighthouses in the country. Best Retirement Lake Communities | Compare Communities Get Facts Sights include the Palace Hotel and Bath House, listed on the National Historic Register, as well as the Basin Park Hotel and the supposedly haunted Crescent Hotel. She covers tech, real estate, and everything in between. During the summer months, visitors and locals cruise along the shores of the 55-mile-long body of Lake Chelan, sailing, wakeboarding or paddling past historic cabins and vineyards. The roughly 2,000-square-foot house sits on a third of an acre and has a fenced backyard. Florence, Alabama. Best Lake Towns to Live in | Stacker The 26,000-acre census-designated place boasts nine golf courses, dozens of restaurants, 14,000 residents and 11 lakes with plenty of single-family houses and townhomes on the shores. Canyon Lake. Halfway between Minneapolis and Chicago, the area has become a popular year-round destination for urbanites seeking an escape from city life. Vacation homes are still affordable in Winsted. Most of the time beach towns are far too expensive to actua. 8 Quaint Beach Towns In The Southeast - TravelAwaits Lake Wylie- South Carolina/North Carolina. Aurora, New York sits on Cayuga Lake, one of the largest of the 11 Finger Lakes. Lake homes have always been a popular, aspirational home. Then we calculated affordability by analyzing median home list prices year to date through May 2022 for these communities. 5. I cover residential real estate, including buying, selling and trends. And for $800,000, its possible to buy a cabin on a private island. Its also a prized destination for great shopping and local activitieslike a top-notch weekly farmers marketand its welcoming community vibe, says Jen Schaben, real estate agent with Stauss Realty in Okoboji. Located in the Adirondack Mountains and surrounded by rivers famous for fly-fishing, cliffs made for climbing (and jumping), and lakes ideal for a host of water sports, Lake Placid is one of the most sought-after vacation spots in New York. Although some of these homes are pricier than many homes across the country, they offer the chance to get a waterfront property, and with hurricane season upon us, perhaps a safer location than an oceanfront home. Port Aransas. From big lakes to small ones, natural ones to human-made, there are plenty of bodies of water calling out for you to explore themand maybe even make your new home in one of the lovely towns on their shores. At B-52 Brewery, you'll find them serving up a new brew release every Friday alongside live music performances. Prices include all homes in these towns, including those on a lake. The top tourist attractions are the International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center. 10 Surprisingly Affordable Lake Towns To Own Property in Across the US Striking views, a gorgeous landscape, stunning lakes, and affordable housing? When on dry land, you might hit a casino (Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania) or theme park (Branson, Missouri), tubing or go-karting (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin), or enjoy strolling through the shops and restaurants of a historic district (Vermilion, Ohio).. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Branson, MO (Table Rock Lake & Lake Taneycomo) Table Rock Lake, MO Photo courtesy of wanderthemap.com. But that doesnt mean the rest of the 99% cant get in on the waterfront action. Fun fact: hundreds of Bigfoot sightings have been reported on the Texas side of Caddo Lake since 1965. Yup. Visitors flock to Harbour Town for a New England-style getaway without stepping foot out of the Midwest. This Charming Small Town in Upstate New York Was Just Named the Best Place to Buy a Lake House in 2023 8 Best Small Towns to Buy a Vacation Home in the U.S. Where to Buy a Vacation Home in Colorado Homes in These 25 Waterfront Cities Are a Total Steal William Hereford. 1. 10. Norris Lake dominates the area to the south. Beaufort, North Carolina. And while it is possible to find a single-family home on the water that needs a bit of love for under $200,000, the pickings at that price point are slim. And those who get seasick can avoid the water altogether with local wine tastings. 5 of the Best Towns to Buy Florida Waterfront Homes - Clever Real Estate Just a three-hour drive east of Seattle, this high desert town is the sunny escape from the rain and clouds of the coastal Pacific Northwest. The 10 Best Lakes to Call Home - D Magazine What do Frank Lloyd Wright, shellfish, and the Tennessee River all have in common? As for housing, there is something for any price range. Sara Ventiera is a journalist based in New York City and Los Angeles. Waterfront townhomes start in the mid-$100,000s, like this three-bedroom for $168,000. For those who aren't as keen on sinking their toes into soft white sand, Charlevoix is also home to Lavender Hill Farm, with idyllic fields packed with 25 lavender varieties, and Castle Farms - an actual stone castle in northern Michigan. Covington, Louisiana. Cliff Billingsley/Getty Images. 8 Best Beach Towns in Georgia - Southern Trippers It's the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi - boasting 200 square miles of water. The dog days of summer 2021 are upon us at last. Those looking to move to Cheboygan are finding plenty of affordable homes for sale, including this four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house listed for $169,900. Maine is home to (literally) thousands of lakes and ponds, from the largest lake, Moosehead, to midsize lakes like Portland-adjacent Sebago Lake and Rangeley Lake near the middle of the state. Flagstaff, Arizona. Darien is one of the best family beach towns in Georgia, with plenty to see and do. The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Louisiana For 2022 - HomeSnacks Stay at Lakeside Inn, Florida's oldest continuously operating hotel, and get your fill of delicious Florida cuisine, offered by chef Norman Van Aken at his restaurant 1921. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Waterfront condos start in the mid $300,000s, like this one-bedroom listed at $349,000. The 10 Most Affordable Lake Towns in America, 2021 - realtor.com Lakeway Resort & Spa is the place to be in the area - not just for those looking for a lovely lakeside hotel, but for those renting in the area who want to book a spa day or dinner at the resort. No. Minocqua's quieter lakes are perfect for swimming lessons and sand castles. The dock area of a home for sale in Crane Lake, where most listings are under $226,000. The beach on Lake Huron at Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin. Even though it has dropped a couple of spots, Sandusky remains a popular vacation spot for Midwesterners looking for lake living at affordable prices. Check out Margaritaville Lake Resort for a family-friendly vacation in Osage Beach. For a home right on the lake, buyers can find nice single-family homes starting in the $200,000-range, such as this waterfront three-bedroomasking $259,000. Minocqua, Wisconsin. Some offer Zen-inducing tranquility, some pulse-pounding action, and others the kind of family-friendly tourist vibe that can optimize rental opportunities.