We're looking to do a lake vacation in Summer 2023 as we usually have gone to a beach. Here's what we'd like:

- Water that's truly warm enough to swim in. If the water is somewhat clear, that's always nice too.
- Family friendly town with good restaurants and activities for kids 5 & 8 (hiking, biking, mini golf, etc)
- Upscale lodging options be it a hotel, condo, or house.
- Needs to have a good pool (slides, pool bar a plus)
- Within a full day drive from Houston or reasonably close to a major airport.

Budget is pretty flexible as have a ton of points across United airlines, Hilton, Marriott, and Chase. Fine to use cash too.

Horseshoe Bay

Ritz Carlton at Lake Oconee in Georgia is a good family vacation spot. Very kid friendly. Lots to do.

Log Country Cove in Kingsland.

Close to Marble Falls, which has mini-golf, restaurants, etc. You can rent a full log cabin home, including some with a pool, and if you don't own a boat, you can rent that, too. Plus jet skis, paddle boards, etc.

There's a rope swing over the cove that kids love. And Perissos Winery is close by for the parents.

Log Country Cove

Branson on the lake and hot springs/nw ark areas can be great for this.

Might be too late for the nicer vrbos/Airbnb though. We meet up there since it's half way between us and some family in houston

murphyag said:

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Ritz Carlton at Lake Oconee in Georgia is a good family vacation spot. Very kid friendly. Lots to do.

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My SIL took her family there last summer and loved it. I think it's $$$ but they were probably on an employee rate or points.

ChipFTAC01 said:

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murphyag said:

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Ritz Carlton at Lake Oconee in Georgia is a good family vacation spot. Very kid friendly. Lots to do.

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My SIL took her family there last summer and loved it. I think it's $$$ but they were probably on an employee rate or points.

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Yeah, it isn't cheap. The first time we went was with friends who live in Georgia. I wasn't excited about paying that much for a lake trip, but we ended up having a great trip and have gone back with our extended family twice since then. I travel every week for work, so I'm able to use points and that helps offset the cost somewhat.

Define "reasonably close to a major airport"

I'd drive 2-3 hours after a non-stop flight if it was worth it.

Appreciate the other suggestions too!

Check out some of the places in Northern MN (Brainerd area). Weather is absolutely gorgeous up here in the summers.

I live in the Atlanta area, and I've heard a bunch of people mention this as a great place for families to go. But I'm curious what a family actually does at a place like this. Fwiw, my kids are 7, 5, and 3.

spark09 said:

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I live in the Atlanta area, and I've heard a bunch of people mention this as a great place for families to go. But I'm curious what a family actually does at a place like this. Fwiw, my kids are 7, 5, and 3.

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There are pools, spa for the ladies, lake activities, they have special activities for little kids, etc. We spend most of the time playing golf or swimming. One thing that you may not like is that at some times of the year kids under 12 can only use the family pool which is geared toward younger kids. The other pool is nicer/better view in my opinion. Our kids are over 12, so it hasn't been an issue for us.

All in all, I wouldn't spend more than 4 days there probably. If we lived in Atlanta, I could see us doing a couple of long weekends there each year. But, If I only got one vacation per year, I'd pick a beach vacation over a lake trip.

Makes sense. Thanks for the info.

We stayed at Watermill Cove on Table Rock Lake near Branson in 2017 and then again this past summer as the kids all wanted to return. Tons of activities in the area and then even at property if you want to hang around there.

Watermill Cove - Table Rock Lake

Been there five years straight with my in-laws, also a great place