Lake Wylie is a favorite for thousands of people for its friendly residents and easy going lifestyle. Lake living on Lake Wylie is uncomplicated and fun. Start off with a group of friends cruising the lake, do some water skiing and cap off the evening at T-Bones for a spectacular view of the sunset and the best seafood above water. The next day like clockwork, everyone rises from a good night’s sleep and begins again.

The definition of a relaxed lifestyle, Lake Wylie presents golf, tennis, boating, fishing, water sports and all kinds of recreational opportunities. McDowell Park on the shore of Lake Wylie on the North Carolina side is a camper’s dream with hiking, picnics and space for family reunions. Light-n-Up Houseboat, a 75-foot charter owned by Nancy Bedgood is popular with groups for special occasions. 

But boating is not all there is to do on Lake Wylie. The Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce kicks off summer with the Splash Dash - 5k and 10k and walk on June 9, 2007. The Champion CHIP race is a premier event that attracts runners from the Southeast and is known both for the scenic course and post-race hospitality. An estimated 20,000 people gather to watch Fourth of July Fireworks at Lake Wylie, which are the oldest in the region. YMCA’s Camp Thunderbird is provides day and residential camp and also offers an environmental camp.

Golfers and tennis lovers alike live in the River Hills planned community, the largest on Lake Wylie. The River Hills Country Club has an amenity-packed marina and the championship golf course boasts a picturesque view of the lake from the 18th green. The community is a mixture of upscale homes with close access to Lake Wylie’s most popular pursuits such as kayaking, canoeing, boating, sailing, yacht club socials and picnicking. The River Hills tennis courts overlook the lake and are home to the Bombay Tournament and other regional tennis events.

Venture north a ways and you’ll run smack dab into Lake Norman, another wildly popular lake destination. A bevy of bars and nightlife spice up the area while spectacular homes dot an ever-shrinking but scenic landscape.

Gary and Laurie Fagan love getting away from the rush of the city to their own slice of paradise nestled in one Lake Norman’s peaceful coves. Laurie Fagan calls lake living a “vacation in your own backyard” a sentiment echoed by many lake residents. Husband Gary Fagan loves being able to walk through his backyard and jump off his dock into the lake to cool off on a hot day. But both say it’s the people they meet that makes it even more special, people they often meet by just hanging out at the same places or tying up on the lake. The couple have made so many friends during their time on the lake they built a Tiki Bar on their dock.

Aside from their own backyard socials, when asked about their favorite places to dine around Lake Norman, the Fagan’s listed Solace, and Chef Rob Marilla’s delectable Solace appetizers as their top favorite. Solace was closely followed by Lake Norman Motel for ribs, Rusty Rudder and Irish foods courtesy of the Galloway Hooker. Wine at the corkscrew followed by Red Rocks was cited as a great way to start the weekend on a Friday night.

Author Doug Gray who wrote "PASSIONATE ACTION: 5 Steps to Creating Extraordinary Success in Life and Work" for adventurous business leaders could live anywhere. But after ruling out Raleigh and other parts of Charlotte the executive coach chose the Lake Norman area, citing access to nearby clients, the close proximity of the airport, water and the short drive to the NC mountains as sealing the deal. Since then, Gray has become an active member of the lake community. He created a series of adventure races at Lake Norman State Park and the US National Whitewater Center that benefit diabetes with two events scheduled to take place in 2007. He chairs the Huntersville Parks and Recreation Greenway committee which works to develop physical connections (bikeways and greenways) to one another and is an active speaker and seminar sponsor with the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.

Dan Stone of Carolina Boat Rentals and Balloons Over Charlotte paid a visit to the lake and never left, saying “if you like the water and you like the outdoors, the lake is the place to be.” Stone is the proprietor of two forms of lake fun including water toys and balloon rides. He rents pontoon boats, jet skis and sailboats, a good alternative for people who don’t live at the lake, but want to enjoy the lake lifestyle. Stone delivers and retrieves his boats and jet skis so all renters have to do is show up at a previously agreed upon boat ramp and hop in. Hotels and rental houses are available for people to rent on a nightly, weekly and even monthly basis.

Stone encourages people to forgo a long drive to the beach for the lake instead, and says a plethora of people are flocking to the lake for a week or longer, renting houses just as they would at a coastal destination. Most rent boats or jet skis and spend their lake days traveling by boat to little islands scattered throughout the lake, anchoring the boat and grilling or picnicking with family and friends. Others prefer traveling by boat to the Rusty Rudder or Midtown Sundries for lunch on the deck or tying up by the Sandbar to take part in a massive boat party.

If you already live at the lake or have the ability to own a boat, there is no place like Westpoint Marina. Wetspoint carries seven boat lines, which encompass the entire recreational boating family. They dry store about 600 boats on more than 25 acres and have a service department, ship store, gas docks and a sales facility. Director of Sales Greg Hart says their motto at Westport Marina is “we sell fun!”