Located near Charlotte in central North Carolina, Lake Norman has over 520 miles of shore line making it the largest manmade lake in the state. Duke Power dammed up the Catawba River back in 1959 for hydroelectric purposes and the Lake soon became a preferred location for second homes of the wealthy as well as primary dwellings.
As with any large body of water, there are so many things to do! You can rent a pontoon from any of the 18 marinas and cruise the shoreline observing how the rich and famous live. However, it is highly encouraged that you view these homes from a distance and respect the privacy of the owners, many of whom are NASCAR drivers. Like you, they need their down time as well. The sheer number of multimillion dollar homes will blow your mind. For a quicker tour, rent a jet ski and enjoy the lake at 40 mph. Do you like to fish? National bass tournaments are held here on a regular basis. Golf anyone? No problem; bring your clubs and prepare to be challenged. There are no less than 18 courses to play.
The Lake is so large that 9 towns incorporate part of the shoreline into their city limits. It’s not a perfect round or oval lake either. The shape resembles a series of Finger Lakes linked together. Because of this there are plenty of small off shoots that allow you to have some peace and quiet if you wish to rent a large house boat and spend some overnight time on the water.
Many consider eating out a very important part of a vacation. There’s no way to list the available cuisines with 30 minutes of where you stay. Charlotte, Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville offer eateries that include everything from burgers and fries to fine dining.
When you’re ready for a fun vacation, pack some beach towels, bathing suits and sun screen and come visit Lake Norman in N.C. This will be one vacation you can do as much or as little as you please.