Seven Great Lakefront Vacation Rental Getaways

There’s a certain segment of the American traveling population that lives for Life on the Lake, weather that lake is one of Minnesota’s 10,000, a Great Lake, a dammed-up river with bass the size of a yeti, or even a glorified puddle in the middle of a Nebraska cornfield.

You’ll spot these lake people at flea markets, ogling semi-hand-crafted signs that read, “It’s Better by the Water” – which, full disclosure, it almost always is.

So, the question the rest of the American traveling public should be asking is: How do I visit this place?

Simple: you rent. Renting a lakeside home gives you an opportunity to experience all the flavors of American lake living at destinations like:

Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev.

Several years ago, Tahoe was making news for its alarmingly low water levels; these days the water is back up and so are the numbers of vacationers who flock year-round to this oasis on the California-Nevada border.

What can you do on Lake Tahoe? Pretty much anything you can do on or in water: Fish, swim (wade actually, and close to shore), dive, jet ski, water ski, SUP, or just take a leisurely pontoon-boat ride around 192 square miles of snowmelt H₂O.

Tahoe is a year-round destination with some of the West’s best skiing, especially in the spring. The snow gods have been kind over the last several years, bringing down feet of powder to be enjoyed over a long season.

Off-water scenery is nice, too, since the lake is practically engulfed by the Tahoe National Forest on the California side.

If you get tired of pine needles and overwater sunsets, there’s plenty of nightlife on both sides of the lake.

As you might expect from such a popular destination, plenty of rentals are available in all colors, sizes, and flavors. The South Lake Tahoe region is particularly popular. Demand is high so they’re not cheap – $200-$800/night in the summer and up to $1,500/night in the winter. 

Lakeside, Ohio

Imagine what a resort town might look like if it were founded at the turn of the 20^th century by agroup of social reformers. That’s Lakeside, Ohio.

The town was a center of the Chautauqua movement. If you know Chautauqua today it’s probably because of the summer Big Top shows held in places like Bayfield, Wis. (another great Great Lakes destination, if you’re in the market).

At the time of its founding, though, Chautauqua was more about bringing culture and education to the masses, and one of its most popular sites was this summer resort on the Lake Erie shore founded by theUnited Methodist Church.

Lakeside still clings to its Methodist and Chautauqua roots, making it one of the country’s most fascinating lakeshore destinations. A trip to Lakeside is like stepping back in time to an era of straw hats, suspenders and parasols.

It’s still a charming place, and Lake Erie has cleaned up its act, making it a better place to do water recreation.

Rentals are relatively affordable. Less than $2,000 gets you a week in a fully furnished cottage close to the water. And if you’re looking for something a little brisker than ice cream and lemonade, the ferry to Put-In Bay is a short drive away.

Also Read: Hidden Travel Gems in the United States: From the Ozarks to the Arrowhead

The Thousand Islands, N.Y./Canada

Lake purists, forgive us: The Thousand Islands are actually located in the St. Lawrence River, but at that point, the river is wider than many lakes, so we’ll call it a large body of fresh water and leave it at that.

Like Lakeside, the Thousand Islands have a past. In this case, the past involves the richest families in New York, many of whom built literal summer castles on the islands.

Some of the castles are in private hands but others like Boldt Castle are open for tours. You can actually rent a room in the massive 28-room Singer Castle; the VIP Suite alone is a reasonable $795/night.

Better choices can be found among the many cottages and lodges that dot the islands. Some are only accessible by skiff, so unless you BYOB (bring your own boat) you might be at the mercy of the locals.

Prices are good, though, with some family-sized cottages going for $300-$500 a night.

Wherever you stay, expect deep water, big woods, mosquitoes, and the opportunity for day trips to Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. Pack a lumberjack flannel and you’ll be all set.

Grand Lake of the Cherokees, Okla.

When is a lake not a lake? When it’s a dammed-up river. But it’s an empty comparison to anyone who’s been to the Grand Lake of the Cherokees ( sometimes called “Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees,” though the Irish-sounding name is just a regional quirk—not a nod to Ireland).

This massive freshwater expanse sits in eastern Oklahoma not far from the Ozarks, though in feel, it’s about as far away from Lake of the Ozarks as you can get.

Water skiing, jet skiing and pontoon boating aside, Grand Lake is really about two things: bass fishing and really big docks.

The bass are manatee-sized, making Grand Lake a top destination for college and pro fishing tournaments. Even amateurs can get lucky on the lake, though for the best experience, go with a guide equipped with sonar, high-test line, the trickiest baits, and a motor salvaged from a Dodge Hellcat.

The other thing about Grand Lake compared to other lakes: The docks are massive. The Atlantic City Boardwalk is shorter than some of these docks, and with their roofs, porches, and pergolas they add another dimension to lake life: dock life.

Rentals are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. For anyone in a broad expanse of southern states ranging from Texas to Alabama, Grand Lake is truly a grand destination.

Also Read: Where to Travel for the Most Scenic Drives in America

Lake Minnetonka, Minn.

How many lakes are there in Minnesota? So many that they have to locate some of them right in the middle of cities!

That’s the case with Lake Minnetonka, a watery gem located in the heart of Minneapolis.

The beauty of Lake Minnetonka is that it allows for most of the things you might want to do on a lake – boat, swim a little, fish some – without all that nasty, you know, wilderness.

Sure, there are mosquitoes to remind you where you are, but otherwise there are paved walking and biking paths, neat neighborhoods, and great restaurants just down the street.

Call it the best of both worlds.

And yes, there are vacation rentals on Lake Minnetonka. They’re priced on par with other city vacation rentals, so expect sticker shock, but if you want water and city life, there are few better options.

Lake Winnebago, Wis.

If you want all that but balk at big-city prices, consider this 215-square-mile inland lake in east-central Wisconsin. It’s bordered by several small cities – Oshkosh, Neenah, Fond du Lac, and Appleton, if you squint hard enough – that together form the greater Fox Valley metroplex.

The lake excels at northern inland lake stuff – boating, fishing, water-skiing, etc. – but its prime times are winter, when ice fishermen flock to its nooks and bays, and spring, when the annual sturgeon-spearing ritual takes place, with accompanying festivities (which sometimes, depending on the weather, include pickup trucks plunging through the softening ice).

Are there vacation rentals? You bet there are! Scout for rentals on the lake’s relatively undeveloped northeast side, near Highland Beach and High Cliff State Park. You’ll find affordable getaways that live up to the name, on a huge lake with plenty of amenities nearby.

Can’t beat that.

Lake Okeechobee, Fla.

Of course Florida has to get in on the action. Looking for a lake that gives you everything these other lakes give you, plus alligators? Nowhere else but Florida, baby.

Okay, Lake Okeechobee is pretty special. It’s the second-biggest body of fresh water in the contiguous U.S. (sorry, Great Lakes), and like a lot of things Florida, what it lacks in depth (average: nine feet), it makes up for by being huge.

The fishing’s good, especially for bass and crappie (that’s what the site says, folks), but what you’re really going to want to do on Lake Okeechobee is just boat around the thing.

Whether you choose a pontoon boat, bass boat or jet boat, you’re going to see a lot of water, a lot of marshy shoreline, and a lot of wildlife. It’s not the log-cabin, campfire-at-night experience of a northern lake, but it is awfully cool.

And can you rent a condo? Of course you can. Prices are all over the board, ranging from $50 a night to more than $200 a night, so check properties carefully and read authentic reviews before you rent.

No matter where you choose to explore lake life, help protect your vacation with travel protection plus assistance services from Generali Global Assistance. We help cover vacation rentals as well as full-blown vacations.

Want to know more? Get a quote today.

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