7 Days - 7 Lakes (need some help)

[Soon2BV]

My middle son graduates from college in May and is heading off to law school (somewhere) in August, so we are planning a guys trip with the boat. Probably three of us (older son, this one and me) traveling with the truck, the boat and a tent.

We want to make a large loop from Indiana and visit several states and lakes along the way, skiing and wakeboarding at each one.

One challenge is i don't know where the good lakes are outside of Indiana (ok, i admit, there really aren't any good lakes in Indiana ).

Anyone have some good recommendations for some mid-west water? We have no plan and no route at this point - just an idea.

(Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, beyond?)

Edited October 2, 2009 by Soon2BV

[REW]

My middle son graduates from college in May and is heading off to law school (somewhere) in August, so we are planning a guys trip with the boat. Probably three of us (older son, this one and me) traveling with the truck, the boat and a tent.

We want to make a large loop from Indiana and visit several states and lakes along the way, skiing and wakeboarding at each one.

One challenge is i don't know where the good lakes are outside of Indiana (ok, i admit, there really aren't any good lakes in Indiana ).

Anyone have some good recommendations for some mid-west water? We have no plan and no route at this point - just an idea.

(Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, beyond?)

put Kentucky lake and Dale Hollow on your list, there is also a good look just north of Dale Hollow (cant remember the name) might have better water than Dale.

[02RedWS6TA]

I'm not sure how far north you want to go but Torch Lake and Higgins lake are some of the cleanest lakes there are.

[wienrdog]

How about Green Lake (Romine Ky), Cumberland (Monticello, Ky), Dale Hollow (Albany, KY), Laurel River (London Ky), Norris (Knoxville, TN), Centerville (Cookville, TN), Old Hickory (Nashville, TN). There are a few other lakes around Knoxville/Maryville that would work too.

Sounds like a good time, though tiring.

[Michigan boarder]

I'm not sure how far north you want to go but Torch Lake and Higgins lake are some of the cleanest lakes there are.

As well as Walloon Lake and Big Glen Lake. Literally stunning. But also 5 hours North of the Michigan/Indiana border. You could do a Michigan tour and not have to travel very far between lakes for sure. Corey Lake is near the MI/IN border, that's a nice one too.

Sounds like a great trip!

[REW]

How about Green Lake (Romine Ky), Cumberland (Monticello, Ky), Dale Hollow (Albany, KY), Laurel River (London Ky), Norris (Knoxville, TN), Centerville (Cookville, TN), Old Hickory (Nashville, TN). There are a few other lakes around Knoxville/Maryville that would work too.

Sounds like a good time, though tiring.

Norris and Old Hickory will be crowded during the week and on weekends due to the close proxsimity to large cities. Cumberland is the one I couldn't think of.

[MalIbuCPA]

I'm not sure how far north you want to go but Torch Lake and Higgins lake are some of the cleanest lakes there are.

As well as Walloon Lake and Big Glen Lake. Literally stunning. But also 5 hours North of the Michigan/Indiana border. You could do a Michigan tour and not have to travel very far between lakes for sure. Corey Lake is near the MI/IN border, that's a nice one too.

Sounds like a great trip!

Chain o Lakes would incorporate Torch Lake. Some rivers are a little hairy in a Bu.

MI Inland Waterway is also a great time. Includes 2 locks, plenty of depth for the Bu.

[cyoda44]

Lake Ocoee and the Ocoee river.

Do some White water rafting and boating all within 5 miles of the other. My son works for High Country as a guide and photographer.

[Marine Specialty]

Go west!! Lake Wilson in Kansas is is wonderful lake to visit always smooth water on it somewhere.

[newguy]

i'm sure you've already been to these lakes, but the ones i like in indiana are tippecanoe, wawasee and monroe (reservoir)

[Simo]

I agree with weinrdog. Cumberland, Norris, Laurel and Dale Hollow are great and all fairly close to each other. You could also look into Center Hill. There are some good lakes in North Carolina and Georgia as well ( can't think of the names )

Good luck

[wienrdog]

I have spend multiple days on all of those lakes except Centerville & Green. I have heard many glowing recommendations for Centerville & some good reviews of Green too.

Old Hickory was my least favorite, but we were visiting friends whose parents live on the lake. That's why I recommended some of the other TN river lakes around Knoxville. I've had friends who've been on them & highly recommended. them.

Depending on the route you'd take & where in Indiana you are, it should take no more than an hour to 2 between any of the lakes & they are all reasonably sized lakes. I think Laurel River lake at about 6K acres is the smallest.

I'd likely do them as Green, Dale Hollow, Centerville, Knoxville area (Loudon, Watts Bar, Melton Hill, Douglas, Cherokke, Tellico), Norris, Laurel, Cumberland.

They all have plenty of space to explore & offer good water much of the time. Most will have readily accessible slalom courses if you're into that too. However, they're also close enough to areas so that lodging shouldn't be too much of an issue.

No matter which lakes you go to, try to get some locals input on them as larger lakes can vary greatly in how busy various portions are and a 20 - 30 minute drive before you launch can find you much nicer water and scenery.

[jayjoans]

A one man zebra mussel machine.

[obski]

Sounds like a great trip. One that your boys will always remember.

[UWSkier]

Drive north through Michigan. Hit Lake Superior (Bring drysuits). Loop down through Wisconsin. Hit the Three Lakes or Eagle River chain. Then head west to Minnesota, south to Iowa, back through Illinois.

Plenty of suggestions if you go this route!

[Baddog]

Ther ARE 10,000 lakes in MN. Pick 7.

[UWSkier]

Ther ARE 10,000 lakes in MN. Pick 7.

Or you could skip that wasteland and enjoy any of Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes.

[REW]

Lake Ocoee and the Ocoee river.

Do some White water rafting and boating all within 5 miles of the other. My son works for High Country as a guide and photographer.

good one I didnt think about it even though I will be there this summer as well. we will be staying at Adventured Unlimited in there cabins and doing the river and boarding on the lake. beauty is you can do both. There are also camp sites at Adventures Unlimited. If you are wanting to spend the night on the lake there is a marina that has some rental cabins on the lake. Great lake the water is a bit chilly though. great for summer.

[Baddog]

Ther ARE 10,000 lakes in MN. Pick 7.

Or you could skip that wasteland and enjoy any of Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes.

Just to clarify, and I can say this with knowledgebecause I lived there twice, MN is the land of 10,000 lakes and apparently 1 fish. How many in WI?

Edited October 4, 2009 by Baddog

[UWSkier]

Ther ARE 10,000 lakes in MN. Pick 7.

Or you could skip that wasteland and enjoy any of Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes.

Just to clarify, and I can say this with knowledgebecause I lived there twice, MN is the land of 10,000 lakes and apparently 1 fish. How many in WI?

Wisconsin has over 15,000 but a good many of those are really more like ponds around 4 acres or so.

/hijack

To the OP, do you have a particular route or mileage you'd like to do?

[Ache For Wake]

Ther ARE 10,000 lakes in MN. Pick 7.

Or you could skip that wasteland and enjoy any of Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes.

Just to clarify, and I can say this with knowledgebecause I lived there twice, MN is the land of 10,000 lakes and apparently 1 fish. How many in WI?

Wisconsin has over 15,000 but a good many of those are really more like ponds around 4 acres or so.

/hijack

To the OP, do you have a particular route or mileage you'd like to do?

Minnesota has 11,842 lakes over 10 acres according to WikiAnswers.

sorry for hijack!

[cyoda44]

Lake Ocoee and the Ocoee river.

Do some White water rafting and boating all within 5 miles of the other. My son works for High Country as a guide and photographer.

good one I didnt think about it even though I will be there this summer as well. we will be staying at Adventured Unlimited in there cabins and doing the river and boarding on the lake. beauty is you can do both. There are also camp sites at Adventures Unlimited. If you are wanting to spend the night on the lake there is a marina that has some rental cabins on the lake. Great lake the water is a bit chilly though. great for summer.

Yes the water is cold... but you know it's clean!!!

You can also camp out on the lake, fish, rope swings, ski course. The local YMCA has cabins on the lake for rent...with dock.

[warsetter2010]

Lake Jocassee, and Lake Keowee on the NC-SC border are both super nice and Keowee stays fairly warm in the fall and winter. Those are my two favorites. I heard Lake Watawba in Tenn. is a nice one but have not seen it for myself. Have fun I wish I could take a trip like that.

[REW]

Lake Jocassee, and Lake Keowee on the NC-SC border are both super nice and Keowee stays fairly warm in the fall and winter. Those are my two favorites. I heard Lake Watawba in Tenn. is a nice one but have not seen it for myself. Have fun I wish I could take a trip like that.

I spent a week on a rental on Jocassee last year, it rained everyday but we had a great time anyway, at least the water falls were running full though the lake was still low. it was our third trip to Jocassee, the JOC is still serving the largest "scoops of icecream I have ever seen, especially after they see you three days in a row filling up a wakesetter. I havent checked to see how much it came up after the last rains, but is should be good for next summer. camping at Devils Fork state park is great but there are no docks avaliable for leaving the boat in the water and the lake has a tendency to drop quite a bit in a day. You could end up stranded if you are not careful

[Soon2BV]

We have no particilar route or mileage in mind, just a route that will go between 7 and 9 days.

With three drivers, we can all rotate driving and relaxing.

We have spent a lot of time at Dale Hollow, Cumberland, Barren River and Green River, so i would like to do something differnt from that.

I am liking all of the ideas coming into this - i need to get my mas and start seeeing where these are.