13. Cheboygan, Michigan. 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. It sits on 1.5 acres across from Templar State Park on Big Spirit Lake. 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. 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. That makes Ely paradise for lake lovers who really do want to escape from the crowds and arent afraid to keep socially distant. Saugatuck, Michigan. The 7 Best Beach Towns in Texas to Visit This Year - Boundless Roads The 15 Best Affordable Beach Vacations in America - Reader's Digest The area is quiet and the weather is warm in the winter. Caddo Lake is a 25,000-acre lake and bayou on the border of Texas and Louisiana. 10 best coastal small towns across the United States 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. Legend has it that seven mineral springs in Springs Park have healing powers. 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. Best Michigan Beach Towns: Where to Visit Along the Great Lakes & More Catering to guests from around the world, this working dude ranch offers guided trail rides, horseback riding lessons, stocked fishing ponds, and an all-inclusive resort experience. This charming Missouri town is nestled in the Ozarks on the shores of Table Rock Lake and has lots of outdoor activities happening in and around the lake year-round, as well as indoor attractions including museums, galleries, and a historic downtown district filled with shops and restaurants. 4. Its possible to get a house in this area for just over $100,000, such as this cute three-bedroomasking $115,000. The Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway connects the area's extensive park system via roads and walking and biking trails. Located at the southern edge of Lake Keowee and just a short drive from Lake Hartwell, Seneca is a great small town for retirement. While the area boasts multiple lakes, the family-friendly destination offers plenty to do when you need a break from the sun and heat. Crestline, California. Located in the Poconos Mountains, Lake Ariel is a true small town with a population of about 14,500. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device 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. Clearlake is one the more affordable lake towns in California, with average home prices just under $200,000. Fishing, beach going, and relaxing are popular activities. Meera Pal is a Northern California-based writer with a background in journalism and books. Best Lake Towns to Live in | Stacker Retire to Davidson and you'll find all the small-town charm you crave near North Carolina's Lake Norman, plus proximity to the bustling Charlotte metropolitan area. The roughly 2,000-square-foot house sits on a third of an acre and has a fenced backyard. Vermilion has long been one of the most beloved beach towns on the south shore of Lake Erie. The Fort Worth side of the lake is more expensive than the Azle side, where prices are lower and the commute is longer (there is no bridge across the lake). As for housing, there is something for any price range. Bransons usually-packed Silver Dollar City theme park, Dolly Partons Stampede and live country music shows may not be nearly as appealing during the pandemic as they have been in summers past, but theres plenty of opportunity to distance from strangers across the areas many lakes. Even though it has dropped a couple of spots, Sandusky remains a popular vacation spot for Midwesterners looking for lake living at affordable prices. Midwesterners travel from near and far to relax in the gorgeous bodies of water that dot the tourist towns of Okoboji and Spirit Lake. This Southern Adirondack lake town is home to just 515 residents. Aside from focusing on the worlds largest collection of standing totem poles, amateur photographers can point their cameras in nearly any direction and capture a gorgeous view of the citys jaw-dropping natural beauty. 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. Beaufort, North Carolina, one of the Southeast's oldest and most charming beach towns, is at the southern tip of North Carolina's Crystal Coast. Chattanooga, Tennessee. 5 Gorgeous Mountain Towns You Can Actually Afford - Livability 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. Gigabit ISP: C Spire ($80/month) Zillow Home Value Index: $165,574. Lake Burton. Lake Moultrie. Top 10 Cheapest Beach Towns in the US.Most people dream about buying a home near or on the beach. 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. Buyers can find three-season cottages on the water that need some fixing up starting in the $100,000 range, like this two-bedroom ranch with river access listed for $125,000. Chattanooga receives its highest score for affordability. Big Bear Lake is a year-round California destination because, much like Tahoe, it transforms from a ski town in the winter to a lake town in the summer. Lake Sara has a bit of everything. Minocqua's quieter lakes are perfect for swimming lessons and sand castles. Some offer Zen-inducing tranquility, some pulse-pounding action, and others the kind of family-friendly tourist vibe that can optimize rental opportunities. Realtor.com has rounded up its list of the most affordable lake towns where you can find a home that is either directly on a lake or close enough to get a great view. The 43,000 acres of Table Rock Lake are perfect for paddleboarding, kayaking or boating. Situated approximately 40 miles southwest of Knoxville, this gated lakefront community offers space to grow and explore the iconic wilderness of the region. With serene scenes, mountain-framed horizons, and breathtaking stretches of river and lake valleys, lake life looks different in every state, and we're here to celebrate them all. Ithaca is considered the most liberal of all towns in New York City and is ranked the 7th most liberal city in America. And those who get seasick can avoid the water altogether with local wine tastings. This list could include 10 from along the state's 3,300 miles of shoreline and be very . Nestled on Lake Lure in the forested hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the eponymous small town has unparalleled outdoor attractions, including the lake with its wide beach, greenways, golf courses, hiking trails, and Chimney Rock. 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. Lake Greenwood in Lake Greenwood State Park, located right outside the towns of Ninety Six (yes, real name) and Greenwood, offers 11,400-acres of floating fun. Sandusky, OH. Marquette, Michigan. Heres a $55,000 one-bedroom unit. Budget tip: Ko Lanta is one of the cheap beach towns that's as perfect for adventurous backpackers as it is for families. 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).. Originally located precisely where the lake is, the town of Butler was submerged in 1948 as the reservoir filled. An upscale and heavily golf-oriented resort community on the Gulf Coast, Diamondhead is . Entry-level lake homes start in the $100,000s such as this $155,000 four-bedroom with a giant deck. 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!) 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. Buyers can find lakeview condos starting in the $200,000 range, such as this three-bedroom listed at $298,000 a bit farther from town. Best Places to Buy a Lake House 2021 | Vacasa Average Home Cost: $338,035. More than 125 homes and a projected fifty businesses moved to higher ground, the . Baraboo, Wisconsin. Each place had to have at least 50 listings each month to make the cut. 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. The community is well-known for its abundance of vacation rentals and homes for sale. Credit: John Noltner. In terms of housing, though, Dillon is much cheaper than those numbers suggest. It's an ideal setting for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of large cities. According to Time and Money magazines, Murfreesboro is one of the top 20 places to live in the US. The Best Lakes to Live On in California 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. The area also has lots to do, from shopping and dining to mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and canoeing on its rivers and lakes. The lakes themselves arent the only appeal. The International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center are probably the most happening spots in town. House hunters who want easy access to entertainment after paddleboarding, kayaking, or boating across 43,000 acres of water will appreciate one of the many waterfront homes on Table Rock Lake. Vergennes and the area bordering Lake Champlain have an old-world New England feel - which stands to reason, as Vergennes was founded in 1788. Yup. At B-52 Brewery, you'll find them serving up a new brew release every Friday alongside live music performances. Branson, MO (Table Rock Lake & Lake Taneycomo) Table Rock Lake, MO Photo courtesy of wanderthemap.com. Median home list price: $307,000. This is a country chock-full of picturesque lakes, from the northeastern shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and Rangeley Lake in Maine, all the way to the southern California shores of Big Bear Lake. As one of the best beach vacations in Texas, Port Aransas has everything you need for a family or solo getaway. Coos Bay, Oregon. Well, it all depends on where you look. There's a stretch of great small towns north of Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana. Source: ESB Professional / Shutterstock. 25. 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. And all of them are great for those seeking escape in the spring and fall as wellno small consideration these days. No. Condos on Lake Delton start in the low $100,000s, like this sweet two-bedroom asking $154,900. 15 Cutest Small Towns in The South, USA - Southern Trippers Lake of the Ozarks State Park is the largest state park in Missouri. The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina For 2022 - HomeSnacks Alleged shooter of State Police trooper arrested in SC Striking views, a gorgeous landscape, stunning lakes, and affordable housing? The top 10 most affordable lakes for lakefront homes in Michigan are listed below, with the most affordable lake at No. This waterfront home . Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular year-round destinations in California - and when you see the sunshine ricochet off the lake in the summer months, you'll see why it's just as enticing in June as it is in the height of ski season. Animal lovers will gladly pay roughly $7 ($4 for kids) to spend a couple . His company sells lake homes in 33 states. Long-time locals and even some visitors are convinced that there's something in the water in this lake town. For the price-conscious, there is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo on Shoreline Drive that is listed for $260,000. William Hereford. Set on the banks of Lake Erie, the popular vacation destination offers a revitalized downtown with good shopping and dining. But its not just the water that makes the area so special and desirable. 10 Affordable Places to Retire on the Water - US News & World Report Located on the sandy shores of Lake Erie, Sandusky was named one of Americas best coastal towns by U.S. Today, and topped the Realtor.com 2021 list of the Most Affordable Lake Towns. The median home price in Dillon is $125,400. Closer to town, those similar units near the large body of water go for at least an extra $100,000if not moresuch as this three-bedroom asking $539,000. 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. Affordable lakeside towns with homes for sale now | Trulia 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. Located in Pennsylvanias Poconos Mountain range, Gouldsboro is a close weekend trip for New Yorkers and New Jerseyians. 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.. Its easy to spend an entire day outdoors in Ashland, either fishing in the deep waters of Chequamegon Bay, hiking to one of the many nearby waterfalls, or simply counting the different species of birds flying over the bay. 3 North Carolina Lake Towns Among The Best To Live In The U.S. Melbourne, Florida, is the highest-ranked beach town on the Atlantic Ocean shore. The Pacific Northwest is filled with pine tree-lined bodies of water, but in terms of lake towns that offer both water activities and mainland charms, Chelan is one of the best waterfront enclaves in the PNW. Enjoy the natural beauty while hiking through the park, or set out for a swim in nearby Greers Ferry Lake. 3: Georgetown, South Carolina. A leg of the great Cumberland Trail is accessible at the north end of LaFollette. Listed at $399,900, 29 Marina Cove Drive is a 2-bed, 3.5-bath condo on Spinnaker Island with 1,894 square feet as well as views of Hull Bay and Boston Harbor from the living room and bedrooms. And that is providing an opening for regular folks with steady jobs who have been saving up for just this opportunity to swoop in. 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.