5 Beautiful Lakes to Visit this Summer

Summer is here and that means it’s the perfect time to visit your favorite lake! Here are some of the most popular lakes in the United States. With more than two months of summer left, maybe you’ll have time to visit all ten?

1. Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee is located in the foothills of the White Mountains within the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Lake Winnipesaukee is surrounded by charming villages with distinctive atmospheres; all of these towns offer quaint shops and restaurants that make for a great afternoon. I recently visited the town of Wolfeboro and was stunned by the beauty and idyllic nature of the area. Lake Winnipesaukee’s crystal clear water and picturesque beauty make for a relaxing vacation or day trip.

Fun fact: The Native American word Winnipesaukee means “Smile of the Great Spirit” or “Beautiful Water in a High Place.”

Sources and More Information:

http://www.lake-winnipesaukee-travel-guide.com/lake-winnipesaukee-waterfront.html http://www.lakesregion.org/regionalinfo/ourlakes/lakewinnipesaukee/tabid/182/default.aspx 

2. Table Rock Lake

With almost 500 miles of shoreline and close vicinity to Branson and Silver Dollar City, Table Rock Lake makes a great vacation spot! Table Rock is considered one of the best lakes for fishing since it has a variety of bass, catfish, and bluegill. If you’re a nature lover, then you can enjoy Mark Twain National Forest which is close to Table Rock. Table Rock is a great place to visit because it appeals to a variety of people; nature lovers, fisherman, and theme park goers alike can find something to do near and on Table Rock Lake!

Sources and More Information:

http://www.branson.com/learn/branson-lakes/table-rock-lake/

http://www.visittablerocklake.org/

3. Lake Sidney Lanier

Lake Sidney Lanier is located in Cumming Georgia just 40 minutes away from Atlanta. More than 7.5 million people visit this lake per year and it’s not difficult to see why; the serene setting creates a perfect atmosphere for relaxation and with renowned golf courses and fishing spots, Sidney Lanier appeals to all kinds of people. Sidney Lanier is a perfect place for families to visit since it is close to the waterpark Lanier World. If you can’t visit Sidney Lanier during the summer, don’t fret because from November through January six miles of holiday lights are strung up to create one of the world’s biggest light shows. Fun Fact: Lake Sidney Lanier is actually named after an American poet and musician of the same name; the lake was created by the damming of the Chattahoochee River which was the subject of his poem named The Song of the Chattahoochee. 

Sources and More Information: 

http://www.homeaway.com/info/travelers/travel-ideas/destination-guides/georgia/what-to-do-in-lake-lanier

http://www.cityofcumming.net/lake-sidney-lanier/

4. Old Hickory Lake

Old Hickory Lake is a reservoir located in north central Tennessee close to the Tennessee’s capital of Nashville. With eight marinas and activities such as hiking, boating, and hunting, Old Hickory Lake is a great place for fisherman and outdoorsman to visit and with its close proximity to Nashville, which is famous for county music, it’s also a destination for music lovers. With Nashville’s great nightlife and the lake’s both scenic and energetic atmosphere, Old Hickory is a place where you can go for both an active and relaxing vacation.
Fun Fact: Old Hickory Lake is named after President Andrew Jackson whose nickname was Old Hickory. His home the Hermitageis located close to the lake.

Sources and More Information:

http://www.nashville-vacation-fun.com/old-hickory-lake.html

5. Great Sacandaga Lake

The Great Sacandaga Lake is located in Fulton County, New York; one of the largest of the Adirondack lakes, Great Sacandaga is surrounded by lofty pines and situated within the Adirondack Park. In addition to relaxing in the natural beauty of the lake, you can participate in activities such as fishing and jet skiing. One of the best things about the Great Sacandaga is its proximity to a variety of museums and entertainment such as dinner theatres. A good way to spend your day at Great Sacandaga Lake would be to start the day off with boating and fishing and then visit the Adirondack Museum to learn more about the history and culture of the Adirondacks and then end your day at a dinner theatre. 

Sources and More Information:

http://www.adirondack.net/sacandaga/

http://www.visitsacandaga.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Lanier

Canvas Lake Decor Maps

I paint lake, river and bay maps and have for the last 4-5 years. They have become something that I love to do. I often receive emails from customers about my maps. Here's one that I received after Fathers Day.

"Hi Larry, just wanted to thank you again for the Lake Nebagamon map.  I gave it to my father in law for Fathers Day and he absolutely loved it!  His wife told me he said it was the best gift he ever received." 

I call my maps treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure.  I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can paint a custom lake, river or bay map, too. I hide a tiny mermaid/fish in the waters of all my lake map paintings that folks love to search for.  

Here's a few more recent comments

Customer Email: 6/22/15: Hi Larry, just wanted to thank you again for the Lake Nebagamon map.  I gave it to my father in law for Fathers Day and he absolutely loved it!  His wife told me he said it was the best gift he ever received.(Custom Lake Map)

Customer Email: 6/12/15: I got the picture today! Looks really good.  Thank you very much. Great job. Very satisfied!!! (Bull Shoals Lake) 

Customer Email: 6/8/15: Received the map in the mail over the weekend. Much sooner than I expected! It looks amazing! One of a kind, crafted really well! You added all the special locations I asked for and it is perfect! Thank you so much!!(Table Rock Lake)

Customer Email: 5/20/15: It’s perfect!! Love it! It’s a b’day gift for my  husband. He will love it too. Thanks so much:) (Choctawhatchee Bay)

Customer Email: 5/04/15: Hi Larry, Received the map right on time and wanted to let you know it’s great! I like things for the lake house that you just don’t see everywhere and this is just perfect. When my friends get their place rebuilt this is going to be the best house warming present! Thanks again. (Custom Lake Map)

If you are looking for a gift, my maps make a great gift for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. See more and read about my treasured maps, go to LeoMaps.com. 

"I Love this lake, The most amazing scenes appear in its wake, The sun arises just above the shore, Giving grace and beauty to this place I adore." LKO

Check this monster out! A Tennessee state record Largemouth at 15.2 lbs. The massive fish was caught on Chickamauga Lake in East Tennessee and breaks the old record of 14.8 lbs caught in 1954. I think if I caught this lunker, I would have the biggest smile on my face!

Check-out my vintage style maps that I paint of lakes, rivers, and bays,  These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized lake, river or bay maps, too. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoMaps.com. 


As you can see, my maps make a great gift. To see more of my work click here www.LeoLakes.com. 

Remember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, or at least enjoy one on your wall.

Lake House, Fish sun screen, Alien week

Occasionally, I draw cartoons for fun. I've just finished a few more bait cartoons, yes bait cartoons. You may ask why bait cartoons? Well, it seems that the fishermen or fish always get the cartoon spotlight, so I decided to be the only person to focus on bait. Think about it, without bait no fishing or fishermen! Also, bait can be fun. Have you ever left your fishing worms in the refrigerator and your wife found them? Me either, because I hide them behind the the big jar of pickles. Also, don't just Bait, BaitRageous! Enjoy, 

Oh yeah, check-out my vintage style maps for the lake house. If you have a special Lake, River or Bay, then paddle over to my website at LeoLakes.com. We also do custom maps and personalized maps.

Remember: " Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, if not, then at least put on the wall." 

Frame your Favorite, Lake, River, or Bay, LeoLakes.com. 

I must have been a lighthouse keeper in a past life... sort of !

I ate at a Red Lobster the other day with my wife and teenager. After we finished our meal, I started looking at the decor. If you have ever been to Red Lobster, the decor is all about the sea, lobster and seascapes.

One particular photo stuck out in my mind, it was like deja vu. I felt myself drawn to this photo of a lighthouse for some reason. I thought, maybe in a past life, I was the lighthouse keeper of this lighthouse. Then I remembered.....

Oh dang, I've been to that lighthouse and it wasn't long ago while on a trip to Maine. It's the Portland Head Lighthouse in Portland, Maine. Here's the proof, a photo that I took. Oh well, I don't guess that in a past life I was a lighthouse keeper, but I almost worked at a Red Lobster when I was in high school!

Check-out my custom and personalized river, lake and bay maps. 

Portland Maine Road Trip

Road Trip! I went on a long road trip last week to see a few places that I've never visited and some that I have. One of those places is known for great lobster...yes it's Maine and it's "wicked good" as they say here! We stayed overnight in Portland and were able to see a few sights and eat some delicious lobster.

One of the big attractions is the Portland Head Lighthouse. It's located at the entrance of the main shipping lane to Portland's Harbor. The lighthouse was finished in 1791 making it Maine's oldest.

I added a map to give a prospective of the area. Think if you were the Captain of a ship, navigating the waters before 1791 at night. What do you think your chances of getting the ship to safe passage would have been.

Portland Head Lighthouse is a picturesque lighthouse. Off to the right, you can see the beginning of Ram Island. I'm wondering why they called it Ram Island, could it be that many ships rammed the island?

Fact is, ships did hit the ledge many times, so many  the government finally erected the Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse in 1905. It's pretty much abandoned now, but is on the National Register of Historical places.  

How would you like to be the lighthouse keeper at Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse in 1905? They say that during big storms, waves crash into the lighthouse reaching over half its height.

The coast is rocky and interesting to look at. There are small beach areas tucked in between the rocks, very little sand and mostly hand size stones.

The gulls must have a good life here, you often see them lounging around on the rocks. 

Here I am with the wifey. As you can see, she is looking down at something, probably a lobster headed in the direction of her toes. Anyway, after Maine we spent 2 days in Montreal, 2 days in Toronto, and 1 day in Columbus, Ohio.  

One last thought from Maine.

Can living in the ten acre woods be productive?

We live on ten acres that we call, "The Ten Acre Woods". There's no Eeyore or Piglet here, but you will find many adventures near the creeks, woods, and fields. This story provides a little different prospective on living in the woods by asking the question: "Can living in the ten acre woods be productive?" Yes it can Piglet, yes it can! 

Here's a product of our ten acre woods, our daughter, Callie. She has lived in our ten acre woods all her life. When she was young, she searched for roly-poly bugs under rocks around our house. On the back of our ten acre woods, she has waded in the little stream of Sulfur Creek, looking for crayfish and catching fish. While waking in the morning, she has heard the rat-a-tap of a red breasted woodpecker on the side of our western cedar house. 

What did the ten acre woods produce? Well, she just received a Bachelor Degree from Sewanee in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies, Summa Cum Laude, Honors, Phi Beta Kappa, Ranked 4th in the class. You see, living in the woods can be productive, because now she will be studying the streams, woods, and fields. 

Here's the whole crew, I'm the tall one!

Remember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream.

Awesome Father's Day gift for the lake lover!!!

Here's the best Father's Day gift for the lake lover, a personalized vintage style map of their favorite lake, river, or bay. What a unique gift for the sportsman, lake lover, boat or lake house owner. Add those cherished photo's of that big trophy fish, fun family outing, lake house, favorite sail boat, lucky lure, or water skiing trip directly to their favorite vintage style lake map.

Folks are discovering that these personalized decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hid things in the lakes waters, which make the maps even more interesting. I  hide a tiny mermaid/fish in the waters of all my lake map paintings that folks love to search for. I call my maps treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. 

These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. 


As you can see, my maps make a great gift. To see more of my work click 
Orders are picking up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.