Lake Lure: How to Enjoy this Serene Lake Town in NC

Lake Lure

Lake Lure is a mountain town in North Carolina and a favorite vacation destination due to its lush beauty, adventure, and set from the 1987 hit Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

Whether you plan to take out a boat, hike in neighboring Chimney Rock, or eat a relaxing meal while enjoying the sunset over the lake, you’ll never run out of refreshing ways to enjoy your visit.

Lake Lure

Our family was invited to spend a weekend exploring the area, and we quickly discovered that it’s full of fun things to do and delicious bites to eat that we are excited to share with you!

(Note: We were invited, hosted, and compensated for our visit to Lake Lure. All opinions and experiences shared are our own.)

Where to stay in Lake Lure

We were hosted at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa, and we simply can’t recommend it enough! This hotel has offered elegant accommodations to the community for almost a century. Upon entering the premises, it’s not hard to see why it’s thrived for so long.

Lake Lure Inn Spa

It is conveniently located within walking distance of multiple restaurants and parks and is directly across the street from the public beach.

Lake Lure Inn

It offers hotel rooms and cabins named after characters from the iconic movie Dirty Dancing, which was filmed in Lake Lure. Did you know the Lake Lure Inn & Spa hosted the actors during filming?

We stayed in “Johnny’s Cabin” and loved having a jacuzzi tub, our own parking, and a small kitchenette.

Johnny's Cabin

Our favorite part of the hotel? The pool! The pool’s temperature was perfect, the landscaping was immaculate, and the view was gorgeous.

What more can you ask for? How about a brunch buffet?! Yep, every Sunday.

Easy to see why we loved this place so much, right?

Lake Lure inn spa

Things to do in Lake Lure

Enjoy the beach

Lake Lure Beach is a public access with a sandy shore, a small water park, a splash pad, and more. Lifeguards are on site, and there is a charge for entry ($10 for adults, $8 for kids, and children under four are free).

It’s a great, affordable way to enjoy the water and catch some sun!

Lake Lure Beach

Morse Park

Exploring Morse Park may have been our favorite thing while in town! Surprised by its breathtaking beauty, we had a wonderful time pushing our boys in a stroller throughout the pathways.

Morse Park

The path winds through meadows and ponds, giving visitors incredible views of the lake and Rumbling Bald Mountain. There are many great spots for picnicking and fishing along the way.

Morse Park

You can also find pavilions, playgrounds, basketball courts, gardens, and more!

Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

A historic bridge dating back to 1925 was reimagined into an enchanting garden in 2013.

Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

Now home to more than 2,000 species of plants, the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge is covered with vibrant colors, making it a popular stop for visitors to take photos and admire the scenery.

Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

Get out on the water

Lake Lure is a lovely body of water for boating and other water sports. Bring your own or rent a ride! Lake Lure Tours offers a few water adventures via guided water tours. Or, if you prefer to explore on your own, boat rentals are available.

Lake Lure Tours

Their marina houses a variety of motorized and non-motorized rentals, from pontoon boats to kayaks.

boats

Explore neighboring Chimney Rock State Park

Chimney Rock State Park is only a ten-minute drive from Lake Lure and should not be missed. We wrote a guide for our top tips for enjoying Chimney Rock that you may find helpful.

Tips for visiting chimney rock

Don’t forget to save some time to eat and play through Chimney Rock Village, a road lined with great shops and restaurants as you enter the park!

Where to eat in Lake Lure

Lake House Restaurant

Lake House Restaurant is right on the water and offers extraordinary views of Lake Lure as you dine. Enjoy an extensive menu of cocktails and American fare like burgers, sandwiches, and steak. There are also veggie burgers and plenty of gluten-free options.

La Strada

La Strada is an Italian restaurant that also offers beautiful lake views. Choose to dine on their patio overlooking the water at sunset or opt for carry-out for a cozy night like we did! We enjoyed eating their yummy pizza and pasta while resting in our cabin.

La Strada

Scoop Lake Lure

Scoop is a great little ice cream shop with outdoor seating within walking distance from Lake Lure Beach. They serve classic favorites the family will love after a day in the sun!

Scoop

We loved walking here from our hotel after dinner. The ice cream was delicious and affordable!

Scoop Ice Cream

We hope this guide inspires you to visit Lake Lure soon! If you’ve visited the area before, comment on some of your favorite ways to eat and play through town!

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