There’s something soothing in the sound of a rushing creek, the long view over a smooth blue lake, the slow movement of a river… and certainly in the warm waters of a spa. We sent out a call to the region, looking for water getaways, and here are some of the suggestions that came back to us. Take your pick of weekends or weeks away.
Alabama
A segment of the Alabama Scenic River Trail begins at the Georgia line in northeast Alabama, heading south for 631 miles along nine lakes, seven rivers and two creeks, all the way to the Mobile Bay. Ardie Olsen of Cummings, Ga., was the first to kayak the entire trail (in 12 days).
Also in northern Alabama: Lake Guntersville State Park (where the Bassmaster Classic will take place in 2010, says Edith Parten at Alabama Tourism), DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon.
Off-water: Drive the Lookout Mountain Parkway and explore arts and antiques in Fort Payne and Mentone. DeSoto and Lake Guntersville state parks offer hiking, cabin rentals and plenty of special programs and events.
Contact: alabamascenicrivertrail.com, 800-252-2262
Georgia
Whitewater rafting, lakes, waterfalls – north Georgia is a great destination for water lovers, the location of the Chattahoochee, Ocoee, Toccoa, Etowah, Soque and Chestatee rivers, lakes Blue Ridge, Unicoi, Rabun, Russell and Carters, Amicalola Falls and the Tallulah Gorge. The Toccoa River Canoe Trail flows 17.3 miles from Deep Hole Recreation Center to Lake Blue Ridge, with good fishing and floating both. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests include in their acreage 1,367 miles of trout streams.
Off-water: Hike the Appalachian Trail or any of the 430 miles of national foresr trails; drive the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway, experience a little bit of Bavaria in Alpine Helen and gold rush history in Dahlonega.
Contact: USDA Forest Service, Blue Ridge Ranger District
fs.fed.us/conf, 770-297-3000
georgiamountains.org, 404-231-1820
Kentucky
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park was named after a pioneer woman who in the late 18th century escaped Indian captivity after being held for nearly a year. Dewey Lake covers 1,100 acres in the park, with 199 boat slips, three launching ramps and pontoon boats available to rent. There’s good fishing for bass, crappie, catfish and trophy muskie here, on the lake and along lower Johns Creek. Stay at Jenny Wiley’s lodge or in the cabins, or plan an overnight canoe trip. The Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River runs for seven miles, starting in historic downtown Prestonsburg.
Off-water: Try out the 18-hole championship disc golf course, or the adjacent and more traditional Stonecrest Golf Course (where water comes into play on five holes). The Jenny Wiley Theatre’s season lasts two months in the summer, the Country Music Highway (U.S. 23) passes right through Prestonsburg and nearby attractions include the Kentucky Appalachian Artisan Center, the Elkhorn City Railroad Museum and Prestonsburg’s Mountain Arts Center and Kentucky Opry.
Contact: Prestonsburgky.org, 606-886-1341, 800-844-4704
Maryland
“Boy, does Maryland have water!” as Connie Yingling, with Maryland Tourism, puts it. Pick a county, any county:
In Garrett, there’s Deep Creek Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Maryland, and there are six other lakes in the county, four rivers (including the Youghiogheny Wild & Scenic River and the north branch of the Potomac) and two of the state’s highest waterfalls (Muddy Creek and Swallow).
Allegany County is home to Lake Habeeb in Rocky Gap State Park, with swimming, fishing, paddle boats and a scuba diving trail. The C&O Canal ends in downtown Cumberland.
A 42-acre lake and the Appalachian Trail both are elements in Greenbrier State Park in Washington County. The C&O Canal passes through, and Antietam Creek, and stone arch bridges cross various waterways in the area.
Off-water: Waterfall hikes, skiing and golf at WISP; urban diversions in Frederick and Hagerstown including the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts; historic Fort Frederick State Park and the Monocacy and Antietam national battlefields.
Contact: visitdeepcreek.com, 301-387-4386; mdmountainside.com, 800-425-2067; marylandmemories.com, 888-257-2600; fredericktourism.com, 800-999-3613
North Carolina
Paddler Magazine named Bryson City one of the “best paddling towns” in the United States. Fontana Lake offers fishing for largemouth bass, walleye and steelheads, and close-by streams are home to rainbow, brook and brown trout. Water ski, boat, swim, or, if you’re looking for something a little more exciting, head for the Nantahala River’s whitewater.
Off-water: Take a trip on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, or explore the area’s Cherokee history at various historic sites. Motorcyclists can head for the 11-mile Tail of the Dragon (U.S. 129).
Contact: greatsmokies.com, 800-867-9246
The Grove Park Inn in Asheville is celebrating its 96th birthday this year. The resort and spa includes 20 indoor and outdoor water features, including a waterfall near the entrance, grottoes, plunge pools, waterfall pools, a mineral pool and a lap pool “blanketed with 6,500 fiber optic stars,” staffer Jay Winer points out. Underwater music plays in the lap and mineral pools, and an outdoor whirlpool can hold up to 30 guests with a view of the mountains.
Off-water: The resort’s golf course first opened in 1899, redesigned in 1924 by Donald Ross and restored in 2001 to the tune of $2.5 million. Plus there’s tennis, racquetball and fitness classes, and Asheville’s history, shopping and arts to explore.
Contact: groveparkinn.com, 800-438-5800
South Carolina
Milestone Press has just released a revised edition of “Waterfall Hikes of Upstate South Carolina,” including 125 waterfalls (30 unlisted until this publication), written and photographed by South Carolina native Thomas King.
“Waterfalls, flowing water and quiet mountain trails calm and refresh the inner spirit,” King writes.
In the same region covered by King’s book are three connected lakes: Hartwell, Keowee and Jocassee (click here for Cara Ellen Modisett’s Nov/Dec ’08 story on Jocassee) and the whitewater of the Chattooga.
Off-water: The Bartram and Foothills trails pass through here. Greenville’s Peace Center hosts Broadway shows and concerts by international performers, and the Hagood Mill Historic Site and Folklife Center and Pickens County Museum of Art and History host festivals and exhibits.
Contact: milestonepress.com, 828-488-6601. theupcountry.com, 864-233-2690; 800-849-4766
Tennessee
For a more urban water experience, follow the Pigeon Forge greenway for a mile and a quarter along the Pigeon River towards the Old Mill, past Patriot Park. The greenway has been the result of $1.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Conservation, and it will eventually stretch for four miles through the city.
The Old Mill along the river has been in continuous operation since 1830, grinding grain with the use of 4,600-pound stones, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s home to a restaurant where visitors can taste the products of its labors: pancakes, biscuits, corn bread and grits.
If you’re interested in the over-the-top water diversions in the Pigeon Forge area, try out the River Battle and Splash Country at Dollywood.
Off-water: Shows and rides at Dollywood; beautiful handmade work at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts; hiking and exploring in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Contact: mypigeonforge.com, 800-251-9100
Virginia
Three variations on the Shenandoah River all flow through Front Royal – the north and south forks and the main river. Two outfitters in the area create trips for novice and experienced boaters. Its nickname, “Canoe Capital of Virginia,” has been officially endorsed by the Virginia government.
Off-water: The close-by Shenandoah National Park includes the scenic Skyline Drive and 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail, not to mention another 400-some miles of non-AT trails. The Skyland Lodge hosts events from cooking workshops to clogging performances, and outdoors are ranger programs and other events throughout the season.
Contact: Front Royal-Warren County Visitors Center, 800-338-2576; Front Royal Canoe Company, 800-270-8808; Downriver Canoe Company, 800-338-1963
Lakes big and small make for great getaways in the Virginia mountains: Claytor Lake, Douthat and Fairystone state parks in the southwestern part of the state all have water as their centerpieces; there’s Mountain Lake, of Dirty Dancing fame (slowly refilling), the 12-mile-long Lake Moomaw and the massive Smith Mountain Lake, with 500 miles of shoreline, 20,000 acres of water, a state park and a growing community along its shoreline.
Off-water: Hiking and programs at state parks, quick drives into Blacksburg, Roanoke and other mountain towns with arts, shopping, university events and semi-professional sports.
Contact: dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks, mtnlakehotel.com, dgif.virginia.gov, visitsmithmountainlake.com
West Virginia
Amy Kaczynski at the Greenbrier County CVB suggests Blue Bend Recreational Area and Lake Sherwood. Blue Bend is in the Monongahela National Forest, described as a “uniquely primeval spot.” Lake Sherwood, the largest lake in the Monongahela National Forest, covers 165 acres, with two beaches, camping and hiking trails. Visitors can rent boats and canoes.
Off-water: The national forest covers 919,000 acres of land, including more than 500 miles of hiking trails and backcountry roads and trails for horseback riding and mountain biking. Lewisburg is home to Carnegie Hall, with concerts, exhibits and classes.
Contact: greenbrierwv.com, fs.fed.us/r9/mnf, 304-536-2144, 877-444-6777
