Your favorite Boating Vacation spots in KY or TN

[Needafunboat]

I'm not sure exactly where to post this since it doesn't look like there's a KY or TN chapter, so Chris please feel free to move this to the correct forum.

We are looking for a place to bring the boat for a week long vacation in the summer. We are thinking of heading south this time - somewhere within about maybe 8 hrs of Detroit. I've heard that cumberland is very low these days due to some dam construction or something. I've kayaked a large portion of Land Between the Lakes on the KY-TN border - that seemed nice. Very large where we were, but nice. Any opinions on that area?

First, we want to identify the lakes/rivers that would be good, then we'll look for a rental house there - 4BR would be idea, as would a sandy area for the kids to play in.

Any ideas - any favorite spots?? Your help is appreciated!

 

[rpocalla]

THERE IS STILL WATER AT LAKE CUMBERLAND

I took the 20 pulsare down to conely bottom about 4 times this summer. Family, friends, and relatives from Australia all had a blast. The lake is lower than normal. It is not bad, just different. In fact, usually during the spring there is a bunch of debris (drift wood and man made), but with the lower water levels it was alot better. I am planning my trips down for next summer already. One houseboat week and weekend. Plus a few weekend trips

 

[dogschool]

x2

Hands down, Lake Cumberland is our favorite lake. We try to
go every other weekend in the summer.

 

[rpocalla]

dogschool

were you around conely bottom memorial day weekend

 

[Needafunboat]

Wow, I didn't realize it was still OK. I've heard a bunch of stories about marinas on dry land and exposed muddy shoreline, etc..

The one question I have is if we were going to rent a cabin on the lake - would the shoreline be steep and muddy? Have people adapted their docks for the new waterline?

The other place I've been checking out is Dale Hollow. What do you guys think about that? Looks to be considerably smaller, but still very large.

I'm tempted to head north again (torch, elk, higgins, burt/mullet)... But the wife wants to try south and those big, fingery lakes seem cool.

 

[rpocalla]

There are no real cabins on the water. Conely bottom has cabins that sit above the lake (with lake views) that come with a dock. Most of the shoreline is rocky, not muddy. We prefer to rent a houseboat, with all the amenities of home, so we are right on the water

 

[Needafunboat]

Thanks for the info. We'll have 4 kids with us (ranging from 2 to 8) so we need a home base on land - ideally a beach for the little guy too. May need to look elsewhere.

Do you know if Dale Hollow is the same kind of shoreline. From the cabin pics I've seen, it looks like it may be similar...

 

[ssv1761982]

Dale Hollow is narrower through the mountains

Both lakes are very nice, Cumberland is more open. I think there are more big boats on Cumberland too. There are several places on Dale Hollow that have cabins close to the water with dockage available. It has been a while, the only name I can remember is Star Point.

 

[LAPLANT]

PICKWICK LAKE COUNCH TN

 

[justincase]

Hey rpocalla, glad i have a checkmate nieghbor im in smithville.

 

[rpocalla]

hey original

no doubt. where do you usually boat at?

 

[dogschool]

dogschool

were you around conely bottom memorial day weekend

Wasn't me, my motor was out being rebuilt during memorial day
weekend, but we are around conley bottom alot, that is where
we usually put in. We spend the majority of our time there
down around Beaver and Otter creeks near the dam.

 

[rpocalla]

Your boat looks familiar. I know i have you seen you around conely. I just cant remember when.

Well, its snowing here in Medina. I am counting down the days until next summer so i can head back down to lake cumberland.

We should try to do our own checkmate raft up next summer. we should show off our checkmates

 

[drewman]

You will not be sorry renting a houseboat even with the kids. Those boats have everything you will need and then some.

I like Lake Cumberland better with the lower level. There are more land areas to explore, pitch tents, whatever. But there are no beaches so forget that. My avatar was taken on Lake Cumberland. Dale Hollow is nice also but has many shallow areas and much of the same shoreline as LC. I don't think it's worth the extra hour of driving, so we stick to LC.

Someday I will create a gallery of our good times on LC.

 

[rpocalla]

i have had my two year old on the houseboat the last two years and it has been great.....

i like the lower levels as well. Of course, 10ft more would be great

 

[dogschool]

Hey rpocalla,

Sounds good, we are down there all the time spring thru fall, so it
shouldn't be to tough for us to get together. There's 3 Checkmates
in our crew, it'd be cool to get 6 to 10 of us together sometime

(see drewman's avatar pic)

 

[merc245]

I've been down on Cumberland a couple of times house boating.Great famliy times.I would have to agree with everyones Info.I would just like to add is,If you decide to head south is to have all the companys send you thier brochures.A couple of them were giving out $300 coupons like candy during this past boat show season.

Heres a little older video I just put together. Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znfyBKbnUTo

 

[justincase]

hey rpocalla, we usually go to tappan every weekend, did make a trip to indian river michigan on burt lake this year, how about you where do you go?

 

[TALLCHERRY]

Tn Lakes

Does anyone know about Douglas or cherokee lakes? Wife has been wanting to go to TN for couple years, she looking at cabins on these lakes for the summer Vaca. Not sure of county but I thinks its nears Dollywood.

 

[merc245]

Actually my in-laws are about 15 minutes from Douglas lake,Its in Sevier and Cocke( home of the fighting cocks) counties.If you choose Douglas Lake you'll be 30 or 40 minutes closer to all the attractions in the area.
Gatlinberg, Very touresty Few bars Great mexican restraunt center of town with great pictures of margarettias. But always very steamy weather.Dollywood,Never inside amusment park but at the waterpark a few times because its just so steamy in July.Cherokee National Forrest, Simply a beautiful drive with lots of Indain road side stops.

As for the lake,Ive only been down that way in July for the In-laws anniversaries.And never taken my boat down( I wish I had many times. It would of saved me from sitting around reading old copys of the National Inqueirer and World News Weekly!)But were I-40 crosses over theres a large marina with alot of privite house boats and such.Its looks shallow in that area with lots of exposed bottom at that time in July.Typical for a danmed up lake in those parts and I know of one restraunt bar on the water.

Good Luck in where you choose!And when your in Gatlinberg you'll ride the lift to to of the mountain(And you will)).And be prepaired for the pic at the top. The wife wasn't and I got in a good pinch!