Any suggestions for a scenic lake within about 2 hours drive from Nashville? We're a family with 2 teenage daughters planning a trip to Nashville in the summer and want to finish up with a few days on a nearby lake -- hopefully in a cabin or lodge with a marina to rent a ski boat or waverunners.

Two possibilities: Center Hill Lake, which will be (I think!) up I-40 about halfway between Nashville & Knoxville, or Kentucky Lake, northwest from Nashville. There are at least one or two state parks on the Kentucky side of the lake. Sorry I don't have a map at hand to give more specific directions, but either Tennessee or Kentucky tourism sites should be able to guide you to rental possibilities.

Hi Jo!

You may want to try out the website www.tennesseelakeifo.com. Tennessee has some pretty lakes. A few years back we went to Douglas Lake and a rented a pontoon boat from Swann's Marina and had a wonderful time. The water was so green and clear surrounded by the mountains but this is probably a 3 1/2 hour drive from Nashville. When I checked out Center Hill Lake on the website I mentioned, it appears to be a beautiful lake as well. Hope you and your family have a wonderful trip!

Oops, realized I made a typing error. The website I mentioned is www.tennesseelakeinfo.com.

Back in the mid-80s, we did a wonderful houseboat rental on Center Hill Lake with three other couples. I don't have the name of the rental co., as arrangements were made by another couple. But it was a beautiful setting with many inlets, and a perfect family vacation. Try a search on houseboat rentals and Center Hill Lake and you should come up with some info.

Try Pickwick Lake. It is about two and a half hours from Nashville located where Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama meet. There are several large marinas that rent all types of boats and watercraft. Additionally, there are several waterfront hotels or cabin rentals.

Thanks everybody and WOW -- I had never posted to this forum before, and was surprised to see so many good replies in the first 2 hours!

Kentucky Lake is wonderful. I suggest staying at Kentucky Dam State Park in Gilbertsville, Ky. There are actually 2 lakes there, Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley the area in the middle is called "Land Between the Lakes" and is protected park area, very natural with lots of water sports. Kentucky Lake was at one time the largest manmade lake in the US, not sure if it still is.

http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/park...ebark-body.htm

At Paris Landing State park there is a motel with rooms overlooking the lake and also 2 and 3 bedroom villas. There is swimming, golf, park for picnics and boat marina nearby. This coming weekend is the annual Paris fish fry.

Barren River Lake is just across the state line in KY directly north of Nashville and much closer than the other KY lakes mentioned here.

Here is a website for Barren River Resort State Park.
http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/parks/barren.htm