A Nature Enthusiast’s Daytrip to Lake Lanier

BY Ashley Topham

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved the water whether it was a waterfall, the beach, a creek, a lake or even a random stream. It has always been my safe place where the sounds of the tide or current cancel out the outside noise and I can sit and think. The only problem was that I never grew up exactly close to the ocean so it was either driving a minimum of six hours to the closest beach for a weekend getaway or finding the closest body of water which in my case, was Lake Lanier. At 38,000 acres of water, this man-made reservoir is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, offering watersports, glamping, shopping and a variety of local restaurants.

I have so many fond memories of going out on Lake Lanier, the most memorable one occurring when I was a cheerleader in middle school and one of my teammate’s family invited the squad out to their lakehouse on Lake Lanier. We started our adventure by jumping off the lakehouse’s deck and then spending the rest of the day out on the water tubing on her parents’ boat. It was such a rush feeling the spray of the water as we piled up on a tube and her parents would drive the boat back and forth, making these small waves that the us and the tube would fly over.

As an adult, I spent less time going to the lake and more time worrying about completing college and finding a job to the point that I stopped going altogether. Besides the occasional double date on the lake or an anniversary present to do a helicopter tour over Lake Lanier and the local area, it had been a while since my last visit. That’s why I decided to take my husband who didn’t grow up near Lake Lanier for a special day trip, to bring back that magical feeling of being lakeside. Our type of lake adventure would typically revolve around watersports whether that’s tubing and kayaking or renting a boat to mosey around the water all day but I wanted to do something different this time which is why we created our perfect Lake Lanier picnic!

To start off our picnic adventure, I first looked at the map for which park would be ideal. There are a ton to choose from but we ended up going to the Lower Overlook which has multiple picnic tables and the nice unobscured view of the lake. Next, it was time to pack our lunch and since the lake is a little less than forty minutes away from our home, we decided to stop by the Publix just down the street from the park. Nothing beats a cold-cut sub and the sun beating down on the water for us! We opted to grab some macaroni salad to go with our subs, banana pudding as our dessert and a refreshing pint of raspberry lemonade. There are a variety of other locally owned restaurants in the area that would have been a great option too such as Main Street Deli which offers delicious handcrafted sandwiches. If you’re interested in eating on the lake instead of packing your own, The Twisted Oar is another great option. I’ve gone before with friends to enjoy their live music, craft cocktails and delicious seafood including their coconut shrimp which are quite addictive.

Once our supplies were secured and placed into my picnic basket, it was time to head over to the park which has no admission fee, another bonus for a spontaneous and affordable day at the lake. After we selected a picnic table, multiple groups had the same idea and slowly the tables all filled up. Great minds think alike and if you want the local lake experience, having a picnic by the shore is just the way to go.

After taking our time to soak in the sun shining across the water on the lake and eat our lunch, we decided to venture out further with a short walk on the trail that connects to this park. There are a ton of trail systems at Lake Lanier, some offering paved versus natural path options and of course various trail lengths. We visited the lake just on the cusp of spring which was evident as we walked through the forest, slowly coming alive with green leaves and small wildflowers popping up. This is another great way to experience nature on Lake Lanier, especially for those who may not be into watersports. I had anticipated that we would explore the trails so I brought along my Tree Finder book by May Theilgaard Watts, a small manual for identifying trees by their leaves that I purchased at a local bookstore called Charis Books & More. There’s a variety of small manuals such as this one which I believe makes going through trails that much more fun. While the majority of trees were still in their early blooming stages, we took our time scouring for leaves that weren’t too far gone. I ended up finding one on our way back by the picnic tables that I identified as a Bitternut Hickory leaf.

Although my Lake Lanier day trip didn’t involve time spent on the water this time around, I still had an amazing day. I think that’s what makes going to the lake so special because each adventure is curated around the interests of those visiting. Whether you’re interested in cracking a cold one for a day spent out on a boat or you’re just visiting to take in the views, there’s plenty to explore and enjoy. There’s even a Find Your Lake Language quiz through Lake Lanier that you can take, giving you an idea of your ideal day spent on the lake. It was no surprise to me that my results were that I’m a Nature Enthusiast and my perfect day is spent exploring the gems around Lake Lanier.