You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The bucolic town, tucked between Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska, offers a plethora of water sports like canoeing and water skiing. But in todays overheated housing market, is the concept of owning your own waterfront home a punishing fantasy or an achievable reality? Cayuga Lake is known for its stunning wine trail and Aurora, nestled right on the shores of Cayuga, is in close proximity to wineries along the lake as well as wineries lining the adjacent Seneca Lake. Scott. Lake Tahoe, California. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Covington is an excellent one, with state parks, biking trails, easy access to the lake, a great brewery in Abita Springs, coffee shops, restaurants, and waterways streaming through. Trout fishing is popular on Lake Taneycomo. Halfway between Minneapolis and Chicago, the area has become a popular year-round destination for urbanites seeking an escape from city life. Vermont's first and smallest city, Vergennes is a short drive to both Burlington and Middlebury. There are no theme parks or big music shows. 3. It is also renowned as the most hippie town in the state, offering drum circles, natural food options, and plenty of community art scattered across town. Add that to the shops, restaurants, and galleries that fill these charming small towns, and you'll find inviting places to spend your retirement years. 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. You'll also find the town of Bigfork, Montana, which has old Western resort town energy, not dissimilar to the ski towns you'd find in Colorado mining country. Idaho Falls, Idaho. The outdoor offeringswhich often include boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking, golfing, and lounging on the shoresare great ways to spend newly free hours during the weekdays and weekends. 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. People are realizing they dont have to be in the city and suburbs, so they can be out there, says Stephen Bednarski, a real estate agent with Mark Martin and Company. And that is providing an opening for regular folks with steady jobs who have been saving up for just this opportunity to swoop in. Lake of the Ozarks State Park is the largest state park in Missouri. These are the United States' most affordable lake towns in 2021. The region's McGhee and North . Waterfront condos start in the mid 300s like this two-bedroom listed at $349,000. Treat your family to a boat tour aboard the M/S Mount Washington, which has been cruising the lake for nearly 150 years, and if you're looking for a charming hotel, Pickering House Inn is just the place. When you're not exploring the surrounding lakes, enjoy the small-town charms of Clermont, from the Downtown Clermont Farmer's Market every Sunday to the shopping along Montrose Street in Clermont's Historic Village. Set on the banks of Lake Erie, the popular vacation destination offers a revitalized downtown with good shopping and dining. Caddo Lake / Shutterstock. The 15 Best Resorts in the Continental U.S. How to Plan the Perfect Adirondacks Vacation in Any Season Charming Towns and Gorgeous Hikes Included. Sandusky has been getting a lot of press over the past few years. For anyone who wants some waterfront privacy, this certainly is the place. 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. William Hereford. The town of Lake Placid, set on the banks of, you guessed it, Lake Placid, is probably best known as the home of the 1980 (and 1932!) Just a three-hour drive, the idyllic glacial valley, located across the Cascade Range in the high desert, centers on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Chelan. What do Frank Lloyd Wright, shellfish, and the Tennessee River all have in common? A comparatively high tax rate and low income helped push Erie to 15th place in the rankings despite low home costs, but it's still one of the most affordable waterfront cities in the country. 4) Holland State Park Beach: An expansive, sandy beach on Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa, each with its own campground. Flagstaff, Arizona. Port Aransas. There are many reasons why Lake Tahoe stands out as a lake vacation. Sailing, fishing and kayaking are also popular pursuits. But buyers willing to share rights could find a home starting in the $300,000 range, like this three-bedroom log cabin with a deeded dock on private Friends Lake listed at $339,000. But beyond this, Abingdon has great outdoor recreation because it is so close to the Blue Ridge Mountains. This lake town is brimming with charming accommodations, too, from the more modern Hotel Earl to the historic Bridge Street Inn and the waterfront Edgewater Inn & Suites. For some vacation homeowners, renting out their property has meant accepting the fact that a booking could possibly entail more risk than reward during the coronavirus pandemic. Cheboygan is located on Lake Huron, but it's close to many other lakes as well Burt Lake, Long Lake, Mullett Lake, Twin Lakes and Black Lake. Maguire says there has been an increase in interest in the area, especially from out-of-state buyers given the areas lakeside location and tranquil and safe community. Whether you explore its canal-linked lakes via paddle board or a water boat cruise, you'll find plenty of lakeside dining with fresh afternoon catches along the way. More than 125 homes and a projected fifty businesses moved to higher ground, the . Located just south of the Iowa-Minnesota border, Spirit Lake sits on the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region. While Charlevoix offers both waterfront attractions and inland charms, beach-going visitors will love the five miles of shore at Fisherman's Island State Park and Beach. 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).. Lake Tahoe is so big (22 miles long and 12 miles wide) that it straddles . We see a trend across all our markets of buyers thinking, Life is short, buy the lake home! Many of those seek out the more rural lake towns where homes may be relatively more affordable than at larger lakes or at lakes near cities, says Phillips. Just an hour-and-a-half by car from Birmingham, Guntersville boasts nearly 1,000 miles of shoreline on more than 69,000 acres of water. Alabama's Lake Town lives up to its moniker by offering plenty of activities on and off the water. Supported by natural spring and rain water, White Lake is a 1,200-acre body of water in North Carolina, and the town welcomes 200,000 tourists each summer. Bryson City, North Carolina, is a small town with big views. "The City of Opportunity" offers plenty of rest-and-relaxation opportunities to its visitors. 1. The top tourist attractions are the International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center. The Corpus Christi Bay area sits behind the Padre and Mustang islands. It sits on 1.5 acres across from Templar State Park on Big Spirit Lake. Residents can enjoy leisurely days boating on the lake, or go fishing in two of the nearby lakes, Lake Henry and Lake Wallenpaupack. Its perfect for outdoor recreation with acres to hike and canoe. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Budget tip: Ko Lanta is one of the cheap beach towns that's as perfect for adventurous backpackers as it is for families. No. Melbourne, Florida, is the highest-ranked beach town on the Atlantic Ocean shore. 9 Things Youd Better Consider First. The top 10 most affordable lakes for lakefront homes in Michigan are listed below, with the most affordable lake at No. The presence of water-based activities and attractions was one of the main ranking factors for this list. The trooper had successful surgery Thursday and is in "great spirits," Attorney General Matt . Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. These lake towns might not be ones with the highest name recognition or bragging rights, but they do offer a host of fun water activitiesand the privacy and small-town feel missing from bigger, more populated vacation spots. 3: Georgetown, South Carolina. On Lake Winnipesaukee, Wolfeboro is fast becoming the best lake town in the Northeast. This Georgia city is set on the shores of Lake Lanier, which is a busy spot in summertime and a lovely place to live year-round. Ebenezer Park on Lake Wylie offers a boat ramp, picnic tables, swimming, playgrounds, and fishing. Visitors will find endless entertainment within the village of Big Bear, from brunch at Teddy Bear Restaurant to midday microbrews at Big Bear Lake Brewing Company. The beach on Lake Huron at Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin. The small community of Georgetown on the Carolina coast is what Charleston used to be - 200-year-old homes (more than Charleston, in fact), lots of Southern . Port Aransas is a town close to Corpus Christi making it an easy day trip from the bigger city. 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. In the winter, it is a haven for ice fishing and the indoor water parks are open throughout the year. The city sits in a strategic position at the southern tip of the Inside Passage, connecting the Gulf of Alaska to the Puget Sound. The Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway connects the area's extensive park system via roads and walking and biking trails. Scott's median income of $55,825 is quite high, which helps offset the slightly higher home prices and rent. 1. This rural Wisconsin getaway attracts water lovers from across the upper Midwest with its two local rivers, popular manmade Lake Delton and around a dozen other bodies of water with nice homes set right on the shoreline. This city also ranks just outside of the top 10, with the 13 th-most The village of Winsted offers a downtown filled with antiques stores, restaurants, and small boutiques for those hoping to wile away a lazy afternoon. And with inflation rising, stock and cryptocurrency markets taking a beating, and fears of another recession mounting, plenty of well-off Americans are holding off on buying yet another home. 25. This Texas coastal city is known for its soft sand and its profound birding and fishing culture. Even though it has dropped a couple of spots, Sandusky remains a popular vacation spot for Midwesterners looking for lake living at affordable prices. Well, it all depends on where you look. One of the best things is that were far enough from any major metropolitan area that our lakes are not that busy relative to their size, says Deborah Fullford, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors of Indian River. Daniel Herriges serves as Editor-in-Chief for Strong Towns, writing feature articles and speaking across the country on behalf of the organization.He has been a regular contributor to Strong Towns since 2015 and is also a founding member of the organization. Midwesterners travel from near and far to relax in the gorgeous bodies of water that dot the tourist towns of Okoboji and Spirit Lake. Buyers who want to get in on the monthly drum circles in Basin Springs Park can find great deals on homes close to downtown, such as this renovated three-bedroom asking $279,000. The community is well-known for its abundance of vacation rentals and homes for sale. They were all built around the citys natural springshence the name. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. 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. In between shopping, dont miss the reason Ashland is called the Historic Mural Capital of Wisconsin. Roughly two dozen murals dot the downtown district, depicting the lively history of the former logging town. Clear Lake, SD. Chattanooga, Tennessee. 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. Lake Wylie is the oldest lake on the Catawba River. Yup. Eureka, California. At The Soda Shop, centrally located on one of Davidson's main drags, you'll find vintage sips and classic comfort food any time of the day. To come up with our list of the nations most affordable lake towns, we looked at more than 11,000 towns with or on lakes. There are few things more relaxing than the quintessentially American lake vacation. If they already had one home by the lake and they had another home in an expensive city and you had to consolidate, which are you going to choose? she says. Vacation homes are still affordable in Winsted. Rent a cabin with a private dock (and a boat, if you like) at MacDonald's Resort in Bayview. Be sure to make a stop at the iconic Mount Dora Lighthouse, one of only three registered freshwater lighthouses in the country. You have the best of land and sea activities here, from hiking trails and wildlife spotting opportunities to boating and swimming along 42 miles of shoreline. Lake Wylie is a 13,400 acre lake that was created for hydro-electric power, but is also used as a recreational facility by its nearby towns - which includes the rather famous Tega Cay, known for the Jim Bakker/PTL Club extravagance. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at twilight. However, those who want a waterfront view should expect to spend $400,000 and up, such as this lakefront two-bedroom with a rooftop deck listed for $499,999. 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. Wisconsin Dells, named for the mighty Wisconsin River Dells, is a lakefront vacation destination that truly has something for everyone. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. In town, you'll find its historic district and long-loved restaurants. People are moving back to the area, either after retirement or because they can work from their lake cottage, she says. Homes can vary widely in price: A single-family fixer-upper on the water can go for around $250,000 or into the millions.. Although Lake Placid boasts some impressive multimillion-dollar homes on the water, like this $11 million seven-bedroom estate, folks without trust funds can get into the housing market, too. These towns are not only right on the waterfront of the country's clearest and most sought-after lakes - they have bustling town centers and lively culture within. California, Omaha, and Minnesota are among the most popular transplant states. Next: 10. Located along the Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake is one of the most picturesque places to own a home, and it just so happens to also be the most affordable. The quaint village offers restaurants, hotels, resorts, and fun and unique shops along its cute downtown corridor. 10 . Winter activities include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Here buyers can find a lake home for under $200,000, if they are willing to make some renovations, such as this $175,000 four-bedroom across the street from the beach. The data team at realtor.com ran the numbers to come up with these affordable lake towns. Even in the gated community, affordable homes can still be found. Conroe, Texas, has made its name as a live music destination with shows happening in town almost every day. Stacker used 2020 data from WalletHub to determine the 46 best U.S. lake towns to live in, evaluating each on six factors: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of . Just outside Austin, Texas is Lakeway, along the southern shores of Lake Travis. for much of the year. The lakes themselves arent the only appeal. And we specifically wanted to hone in on the best lake towns in America as a way to help travelers pinpoint exactly where to book a week-long rental or a charming inn for their next lake vacation. Fishing, beach going, and relaxing are popular activities. While its not a vacation hot spot, its just as beautiful as many nearby lake towns for a lot less cash. Theres also this quirky three-bedroom within walking distance to Main Street for $350,000. She writes about food, travel, and real estate for Zagat, FoodNetwork.com, BBC Travel, and more. Known as Alabamas Lake City, its surrounded by older trees, rugged mountains, and has cultural amenities like a regional theater company. Big Bear is less of a hotel town - the name of the game here is renting a house on the water and spending your days fishing, hiking, swimming, and mountain biking. 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. There's a stretch of great small towns north of Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana. Michigan is home to dozens of Great Lakes towns, many interchangeable, all fantastic. From this $400,000 one-bedroom cabin on a wooded, waterfront acre right near the Trezona Trail to this $599,000 one-bedroom cabin on a 1.25-acre island in Shagawa Lake, Ely is the ideal lake town for folks who want to get away from it all.. Marble Falls in the Highland Lakes Region is becoming one of the best-known tourist destinations in the central part of the state. Spirit Lake also offers a host of museums and local historical sites such as the Dickinson County Heritage Center and the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum. Norris Lake dominates the area to the south. Known as a major vacation destination, Lake Ariel is surrounded by the gently rolling hills of the Poconos Mountains. The lakes crystal-clear waters are the ideal spot for fishing, water-skiing, and swimming. If the skys the limit, buyers can check out a four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom mansion on Cedar Point Road listed for roughly $2.4 million. 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. 3. But its not just the water that makes the area so special and desirable. 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. Buyers willing to spend a bit more can find huge spreads like this three-bedroom on more than an acre of property right on the edge of Lake Desoto listed for $454,900. Minneapolis is just over three hours northwest, and Chicago more than three hours northeast. Aurora, New York. People are moving back to the area, either after retirement or because they can work from their lake cottage, she says. Starting at under $200,000, buyers can find comfortable homes right near the shore, such as this four-bedroom ranch just around the corner from the boat ramp, asking $184,900. Emmie Martin , Melissa Stanger, and Andy Kiersz. Tucked way up in northern Minnesota, Ely is secluded and full of pristine lakes and unspoiled forests. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Vergennes and the area bordering Lake Champlain have an old-world New England feel - which stands to reason, as Vergennes was founded in 1788. Chattanooga area residents spend just 21.86% of the area's median household income on housing expenses, including mortgage payments, rent, property taxes and utilities. His company sells lake homes in 33 states. If you love the outdoors, you'll appreciate Deerfield Beach's Quiet Waters Park, where you can camp, fish, and ride some of the longest cable ski courses in the U.S. About half an hour from Orlando, Clermont is the heart of this multi-lake community and is also close to Lake Louisa (the largest of the Clermont Chain of Lakes). The most affordable small town in every state. While the area boasts multiple lakes, the family-friendly destination offers plenty to do when you need a break from the sun and heat. For more water activities, locals also visit nearby Lake Henry and Lake Wallenpaupack, both recognized as prime fishing spots. To find out where house hunters can actually buy a lake home without taking an extra jobor threeRealtor.com looked at the median list prices of more than 2,000 towns located on Americas watering holes from May 2020 through June 2021.
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