If you happen to be in the Northeastern Tennessee area, one sojourn you must make is to the beautiful Watauga Lake.
Tucked within the Appalachian Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest, you’ll see stunning lake and mountain views. Watauga Lake is a man-made reservoir built by the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) for flood control, hydroelectric power generation and preservation of marine life. Watauga Lake, formed in glacial times millenniums ago, has remarkable depth, reaching about 300 feet at the dam. Due largely to the beauty and easy access of the lake, tourism has blossomed in the surrounding communities. Started in 1942 and dammed in 1948, Watauga Lake is the TVA’s highest-elevated reservoir in the Volunteer State.
If you need Watauga Lake lodging then nearby Sugar Hollow Retreat is a great place to spend a night, a weekend or a summer vacation and treat yourself and your family to a fun-filled natural adventure. Sugar Hollow, in nearby Butler, TN, is a unique haven and has 300 acres of pristine wilderness, nine-miles of hiking trails and easy access to the beauty and thrills of Watauga Lake. With private guest houses and a mountain lodge available you’ll find luxurious lodging and superb amenities: modern kitchens, fireplaces, spacious rooms and baths, laundry facilities, satellite television, decks and breathtaking views.
If you are searching for adventure, Watauga Lake is your one-stop locale for extreme fun. Bring your boat, and you’ll have access to several public marinas for a nominal fee. Most area marina also rent boats for your convenience including Fish Springs Marina. Enjoy power boating, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and water skiing on the expansive 23-mile lake.
Several National Recreational areas such as Rat Branch Recreational Area are located on the southern shore of Watauga Lake costs just $2 on the honor system. Arrowheads abound in this locale of the ancient Cherokee nation.
Fishing is at its finest here, as Watauga Lake stocks over ten species of fish, including rainbow trout and bass. A Tennessee State fishing license is required which can be obtained at local marinas such as Lake Shore Marina .
Hungry after all that water fun? Several local restaurants on and off the lake offer a plethora of meals in all price ranges. Check out Dry Hill General Store - “THE gathering place on the east end of the lake” offers breakfast/lunch/dinner menus with daily specials. Other local favorites include The Captain’s Table, offering the finest quality seafood, served lakefront, 423-725-2201. Shirley’s Restaurant located on Hwy 321 in Butler, TN has family-style buffet meals, 423-768-2092. Carter At Main in Elizabethton, TN serves gourmet cuisine in a frontier mansion.
After a nice day on the lake, while heading back to Sugar Hollow Retreat, check out the view from the bridge across Watauga Lake near Butler. You’ll experience the most stunning sunset imaginable. It just so happens that in the summer, the sun sets right over the water when looking West from the bridge.
Enjoy your day at Watauga Lake, Tennessee!
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on Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 at 3:37 pm and is filed under Better Travel, Enjoy, Recreation Tips.
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