Your summer in the South is made delightfully simple with a getaway that’s right around the corner.
Spruce up your summer routine with a close-to-home vacay at Lanier Islands (@lanierislands) in Buford. Less than an hour north of Atlanta, this resort and hotel sits on 1,500 acres along the sandy beaches of Lake Lanier, making it the ideal easy getaway for a girls’ trip, romantic rendezvous or family gathering. You can choose from a diverse selection of accommodations including Legacy Lodges with multiple suite size options, 4,500-square-foot Legacy Villas with six individual access rooms or cabin-style Lake Houses that fit small groups and provide multiple amenities for longer stays. Campgrounds are even an option if you’re looking to have a relaxing outdoor adventure with stunning lakeside views.
Lanier Islands attracts boaters from all over Lake Lanier’s 38,000 acres.
Beyond places to stay, you will find numerous opportunities for exercise, entertainment and relaxation both on and off the water. The first stop on your list should be Lanier Islands’ immaculate golf course, which runs along the lake’s shore to provide a peaceful and picturesque backdrop to your time spent on the greens. This 12-hole course is designed to challenge all skill levels and impress players with stunning views of the islands without noisy distractions. For golf lovers, this course is truly on par. If your summer solace starts in nature, you can find outdoor hiking trails across the resort grounds. A 1.4-mile walk around the Legacy Lodge grounds is a serene way to start your morning by the water, or the LakeHouse Power trail provides space to get in a quick sprint before lounging by the lake.
After working up a sweat, you can head over to Margaritaville for some dining and drinking delights. Alongside water park and boating attractions, Margaritaville has all the summer vibes you need to get into full vacation mode while you enjoy burgers, street tacos or crispy fried shrimp with a refreshing cold draft beer in hand. You can kick up your sandy feet sitting lakeside at the Landshark Bar & Grill or any of the Chill Zone Restaurants and Bars, including Paradise Cantina, L2C Grill and Feeding Frenzy Fried Shack. For those looking to really unwind, we recommend a rest stop at the License to Chill Bar. Its cocktail list is worthy of your attention: bloody marys, chilled Landshark lagers and, of course, signature margaritas to truly put you in the Margaritaville mood.
Landshark lager is available at all of the Islands’ bars and restaurants.
Off the mainland, a day on the waterfront will not disappoint. Renting a pontoon boat for a full day from Harbor Landing will be a definite weekend highlight as you glide across the clear water and bask in the summer sun among family or friends. There are also cruise options if you’re looking for more organized entertainment. On the second Friday of every month, you will nearly go overboard laughing on the Comedy Cruise that introduces new comedians each trip. Its menu of hors d’oeuvres isn’t a joke, though, especially when you try the delectable charcuterie boards, bruschetta chicken, sauteed vegetables, shrimp skewers, Caribbean jerk skewers and bingeworthy desserts.
On Saturdays, you can satisfy your day-drinking desires by signing up for a three-hour sunset Margarita Cruise, which features a sampling of six margaritas and signature boat drinks. Your taste buds will be delighted with build-your-own nacho and taco bars, peel-and-eat shrimp with bloody mary cocktail sauce, and beef and chicken empanadas. You won’t go hungry—or thirsty—as you ride into the setting sun sipping your summer drink of choice.
Legacy Lodge features a grand stone porte-cochere.
Top off your weekend with a two-hour Sunday morning Brunch Cruise. On a redesigned excursion yacht, this cruise is decked out with an extensive brunch menu featuring egg frittatas, hash brown casserole, sausage and chicken biscuits, fresh fruit and assorted pastries—and don’t forget the bottomless mimosas!
Your weekend at Lanier Islands will surely leave you relaxed, refreshed and ready for more future getaways.
Photography by: courtesy of Lanier Islands
