Thursday, August 30, 2007

The Tale of Two Smith Lakes

Floridians love the serenity and carefree lifestyle associated with lake living. Within the FloridaHalfbacks region of mountain and lake destinations, are two very special lakes named Smith, each with it own unique character and abundant vacation and relocation opportunities:

Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
is a large artificial lake southeast of Roanoke, Virginia, and southwest of Lynchburg, Virginia. The area lies in a broad valley nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of rural south-central Virginia of the Appalachian chain. The lake is 20,600 acres and has over 500 miles of shoreline.
Smith Mountain Lake has become a popular recreational area. Fishing is very popular, especially for striped bass. The lake has hosted professional fishing tournaments. Boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, and riding personal watercraft are also common activities. Smith Mountain Lake State Park opened in 1983 and provided a beach and a section for swimming. Golf at one of the several nearby courses is a popular landside activity.

The lake was featured prominently in the 1991 movie comedy “What About Bob? “, directed by Frank Oz and starring Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss and Julie Hagerty.

Smith Lake, Alabama
Like a diamond that is deep, clear and blue, Lewis Smith Lake is one of Alabama’s treasures. Located in Walker, Winston and Cullman counties, this 21,200-acre lake is different than most other Alabama reservoirs with dozens of different feeder streams, winding bays, and sloughs. Steep bluffs cradle much of the lake, with water depths dropping as deep as 60 or 70 feet just a few yards offshore. The water often appears emerald green, and a bass that strikes a lure 10 feet down can be seen as it hits. If you typically fish a shallow body of water, then your first trip onto Smith Lake can be intimidating. Watching your depth finder jump to 200 plus feet can leave you feeling lost. However, like most lakes, the majority of bass, bream and crappie fishing is done by casting to the numerous large rocks and fallen trees along the shoreline. With 500 plus miles of shoreline, it isn’t that difficult to find fish. An hour north of Birmingham or south of Huntsville and just off I-65, the lake is easy to find.

Find your perfect mountain or lake cabin, best golf courses, intimate bed and breakfast inns, or a tranquil campground at lake’s edge. Find more information about real estate and accommodations at the two Smith Lakes by visiting www.FloridaHalfbacks.com.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Florida Halfbacks.com Expands!

Seems that Floridians looking for that perfect spot in the mountains is more prevalent than we first thought! The mountains of the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia are a true haven for Floridians. But what about Alabama's lakes and mountains? Or mountain cabins in West Virginia? Did we mention middle Tennessee's rolling hills and welcoming spirit? Or the Piedmont of North Carolina and its temperate climate? What about the Appalachia of Kentucky?

You asked...and we heard you. The staff at FloridaHalfbacks.com has just unveiled its newest regions for Floridians. Check out our interactive home page map and find your perfect mountain or lake cabin, best golf courses, intimate bed and breakfast inns, or a tranquil campground at river's side.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Gatlinburg featured in "101 Best Outdoor Towns"

Gatlinburg, TN is well known for its amenities and attractions, but it received an extra plug when it was included in the travel book "101 Best Outdoor Towns: Unspoiled Places to Live, Visit and Play."

Released this month by Countryman Press and written by Sarah Tuff and Greg Melville, "101 Best Outdoor Towns" provides information about possible vacation spots for those who like outdoor activities but appreciate the amenities offered indoors.

"This is the first type of book of this genre that we've done," said Tuff during a phone interview from her Vermont home. She and Melville have written many articles about outdoor towns for magazines and used that as the basis for "101 Best Outdoor Towns.""A lot of research came from stories we've done for magazines and an innate knowledge for hot spots and adventure for outdoor travel," Tuff said. For this book, she said they wanted to look beyond the obvious and locations that have become too expensive for the average tourist."We wanted to find small outdoor-oriented towns that were still affordable and had access to national parks and state parks, but also had great coffee shops and pubs and art scenes," she said.