My extended family is coming to visit for my birthday in June, and they are renting a lake house through vrbo.com/homeaway.com.

Search for either Charlotte, NC, Lake Wylie, SC, or Lake Norman, NC. These are really not small towns, and you can get everything from a small cottage to McMansion. You'll probably find less of the former and more of the latter.

Thank you -I'm very familiar with vrbo, as well as home-away, but was frustrated trying to use them because I didn't know which lakes met my criteria. Thank you so much, now I can get started.....

Sorry gsc, but I Hate Lake Norman. Horrible. Flat, no mountains, ugly, tons of houses and anything near Charlotte is not mountainous.

I would look for either Fontana or Lake Lure. Maybe Lake Toxaway.

Lake Gaston on border of VA and NC.

Lake Gaston and Lake Tillery are two I kind of happened upon myself. Are they kind of cottage then? Do you know if there are any alligators?

We visited Lake Lure a few years ago, while on a road trip. Very pretty. I had forgotten about it. Fontana I'm not familiar with...

Just went and looked up Fontana -beautiful! I guess I had forgotten to mention mountains in my criteria, but we definitely prefer a mountainous lake. Would love to see more lakes like Fontana.... Toxaway looks very nice too!

This post was edited by bestyears on Wed, Apr 3, 13 at 10:07

Yes, flat, BUT there is the US National Whitewater center that has tons of outdoor activities. Also Kings Mountain national park has good hiking.

The Iredell county side of Lake Norman is probably less developed, but it has been a long time since I've been up there.

I have been to most of those listed and like most of them. Fontana is closest to me. You might also check The Highlands, NC, there are lakes in that area and that is a nice area to visit. You'd also be close enough to visit the Smoky Mountains area. Pigeon Forge, TN is a huge shopping area.

I have not seen alligators at NC lakes unless you are closer to the coast.

My parents were always very fond of Lake Lure.

A couple of years ago when driving from Brevard, NC to Cullowhee, I passed Lake Glenville, and that was an awfully pretty lake, too.

Claytor Lake in VA is gorgeous. It is a state park but there are also cabins for rent. It is in a great part of VA . c

Here is a link that might be useful: Claytor Lake St Park VA

The alligator thing is pretty funny...but we do have Cottonmouths!

Lake Glenville is gorgeous, the first time I saw it, in winter, driving around the area, I'll never forget, breathtaking with the mountains....

I guess it depends on how much you want to do , ie. how much commercialism, less with Glenville, more with Fontana but Fontana is gorgeous too...

I love Lake Jocassee, but there's nothing to do....

Lake Glenville is the lake I mentioned that is close to Highlands/Cashiers area. Pricey - but a nice area. We enjoyed staying in the Highlands.

tina

I looked up Glenville -wonderful, but yes, does seem a little pricey. Looked up Claytor Lake too, but I would like to drive, and that would really extend the trip. Definitely worth checking out some time though -thanks!

Bumblebeez -I grew up on lakes in NH. Never even thought about alligators till I moved to TX. Do you know people here waterski in lakes with gators!!!!! So I always have to ask now... Not sure where the gator boundaries are.