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When the ground gets hard beneath your feet and getting out on the water is the only remedy for your seafaring spirit, Central Kentucky and Tennessee lakes offer the answer. If just a day or an afternoon won't satiate your soul, rent a houseboat for a delightful and drifty kind of holiday. With cliff-lined shores, thin, willowy pines, and thick-trunk hardwoods as surroundings; pleasure boating on Central Kentucky and Tennessee's lakes is a wonderful way to escape the city scene and enjoy some quiet scenery.
Pleasure Boating in Central Kentucky
- Laurel River Lake has over 190 miles of cliff-lined shores and quiet coves and is widely considered one of the most scenic lakes in Kentucky. The lake's location inside the Daniel Boone National Forest along, with its proximity to I-75 (just 20 minutes away), makes it a state favorite. There are two full-service marinas near the Grove and Holly Bay campgrounds as well as eight different boat launching ramps.
- Barren River Lake is conveniently located in the rural, rolling hills of south-central Kentucky, about and hour and a half southwest of Louisville and about an hour and a half northeast of Nashville, Tennessee. A full service marina offers boat and pontoon rentals and there are several boat launching ramps around the lake.
- Green River Lake offers 250 miles of stunning shoreline in a rural Kentucky setting. This lake features a dam, campgrounds, and over 25 miles of multiple-use trails and is located less than 100 miles from Louisville and Lexington. There are numerous boat launching ramps as well as a full-service marina offering all type of boat rentals.
- Lake Cumberland is about an hour south of Lexington and is one of the 10 largest man-made lakes in the country. This massive lake has over 1,200 miles of shoreline and has numerous full-service marinas as well as many boat launching ramps. Nearby eclectic, rural towns and Civil War history sites add to this lake's “natural” charm.
Herrington Lake lies less than an hour south of Lexington. The rural lake has over 300 miles of rolling coastline and was formed by the Dix Dam, one of the largest rock-filled dams in the world. The marina here also offers all kinds of boat rentals and many boat launching ramps are scattered about.
Pleasure Boating on the Kentucky-Tennessee Border
- Dale Hollow Lake straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border and has 14 commercial marinas offering boat rentals of all types (and usually a restaurant). The lake is also known for its world-class fishing, cabins, and great hiking trails.
Pleasure Boating in Central Tennessee
- Chickamauga Lake is located just 20 miles northeast of Chattanooga and makes for a great pleasure boating day-trip. The lake has more than 750 miles of mostly-forested coastline and is surrounded by two state parks, two county parks, and four municipal parks. Marinas and boat rentals are readily available for the thousands and thousands of visitors that come here annually.
- J. Percy Priest Lake, in Antioch, is a lesser-known but pleasantly park-lined with many trees, and though it is just a few miles from downtown, it remains surrounded by natural beauty. Marinas, boat launching ramps, and boat rentals for a variety of small and large watercraft are also available.
Houseboats in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
Ditch your land-locked house to float free in a houseboat - that's what many of the central Kentucky and Tennessee locals do. Fish for dinner from the deck, navigate and explore inlets at your leisure, and let the water relax away your earthly cares. With their calm waters, charming coves, and lush green tree-lined shores, Lake Cumberland (Jamestown Resort Marina) in Kentucky and Dale Hollow Lake (Dale Hollow Marina) on the Kentucky-Tennessee border are two of the most popular house boating destinations in the region, and rentals are available on both lakes. While houseboats range from rustic to luxurious, all have showers and bathrooms, and fully-equipped kitchens. Luxury amenities include air conditioning, queen-size beds, TVs and VCRs, Jacuzzis, waterslides, grills, and second-floor viewing decks. Houseboats accommodate anywhere from four to 18 people and can be rented for several days or several months; prices depend on the boat's size and number of amenities. From June-August, prices are generally higher; in the spring and fall prices decline significantly. Don't forget you will be paying for gas and launching fees may apply.
In Central Kentucky and Tennessee, houseboating is nearly always a self-skippered option; you will be the captain of your own ship. Never “driven” one? Not to worry, no experience is necessary; the marina staff of every houseboat rental company will walk you through the navigation know-how, usually at no extra charge. It generally just takes a few minutes to get the hang of it.
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