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Lakes don’t get enough love. They’re sharkless. They’re just as refreshing as dipping in the ocean (without the resulting salt layer on your skin). And the town connected to the lake is every bit as important, because once you’re done boating, swimming, fishing or just hanging out at the dock, you’re going to want to head inland for a equally fun time. To help us indulge in that most summery of enjoyments, Boatline just released a list of the 17 best lake towns in the US.
The number one lake town on the list is in Bigfork, Montana. Home to Flathead Lake, Bigfork is a year-round resort village where you can be entertained on the lake even in deepest winter (it's actually known for ice fishing). In warmer months, try fly fishing and whitewater rafting. In any season, you’ll appreciate Bigfork’s rustic, historic waterfront village.
The second town listed is Burlington, Vermont, where Lake Champlain offers miles of shorelines for Vermont and New York (and a home for Champ, Vermont’s version of the Loch Ness Monster). Inland, Burlington is an adorable town with brick-paved pedestrian walkways and is the home of the first Ben & Jerry’s in a converted auto garage.
And coming in third is Chelan, Washington. Its crystal clear, glacier-fed Lake Chelan is a boating and swimming haven especially in summer months. Parasailers can get a great bird’s eye view of the Cascade Mountains. Chelan’s small-town charm – its year-round population hovers around 4,000 – includes a quaint historic downtown and many wineries.
Who else made the short list?
4. Grand Lake, Colorado
5 Grand Marais, Minnesota
6 Greensboro, Georgia
7 Hot Springs, Arkansas
8 Lakeway, Texas
9 Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
10 Lake George, New York
11 Lake Havasu City, Arizona
12 Osage Beach, Missouri
13 South Lake Tahoe, California
14 Summersville, West Virginia
15 Traverse City, Michigan
16 Winter Haven, Florida
17 Wolfeboro, New Hampshire