New York's 11 Finger Lakes are among the deepest and most scenic in the country. Here, Cayuga Lake, in Ovid, N.Y.
(Zia Soleil/Getty)
North Carolina's Lake Lure sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
(Harrison Shull/Getty)
When exploring the eastern and northern shores of Lake Lure, make one of the four cabins at the Grafton Lodge your base camp.
(The Grafton Lodge)
The coast gets all the glory, but Mainers love their lakes: especially Moosehead. Here, a swimmer takes a leap at Beaver Cove.
(Terry Wild)
Drive over the hills in Hammondsport, N.Y., to Keuka Lake, and follow the Keuka Lake wine trail, stopping at vineyards along the way.
(Judy Mcadoo)
When even Seattleites can't take the gray skies and drizzle anymore, they head three-and-a-half hours east to the sunny shores of Lake Chelean, in the North Cascades.
(Super Stock)
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