# Any nice hotels on nice lakes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [November 14, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861 "2025-11-14T21:37:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/1 "2025-11-14T21:37:14Z")
Up until this year, I thought there must be quite a lot of decent hotels that are right on a good looking lake. After all, I knew about American and Canadian wilderness resorts that have at least one example of this, and I had stayed at and enjoyed the Wilderness Lodge at Disney World that was successfully modelled off of them. (I don’t count the other Disney World resorts since the lake is most appealing from the Wilderness Lodge, since it was built to echo a natural shoreline.) And I had already stayed at The Breakers at Cedar Point on Lake Erie, and was already familiar with quite a few lakeside hotels in New York State, even though the view in the former situation wasn’t that great and I’ve never stayed at the latter hotels to know how good they are. But I could think of so many near-examples that I thought that _surely_ there would be quite a few at least classy hotels on truly beautiful lakes. But I can’t actually find any just from hunting on Google Maps. Probably because I prefer my lakes on the small side. If a lake is small enough and wild enough to be beautiful, then the most that will be around there is a no-frills motel, or sometimes just an RV park. And sometimes it’s difficult to tell from Google Maps since resorts are sometimes set up like apartment complexes, and it’s difficult to tell from that setup how nice the resort is. And if a lake is small enough but not in a wild area, then it is usually surrounded by so many _other_ developments that it becomes no longer beautiful. For instance, [the Embassy Suites on Cranes Roost](https://maps.app.goo.gl/hfEigPDPNXBxoK698) has a great looking lakefront, but the view is spoiled by the surrounding buildings, including the infamous I-4 Eyesore. One probable example is Legoland/Cypress Gardens. The beauty of the lake and closeness definitely counts as [seen here](https://maps.app.goo.gl/V2w3GhKVhmW6DEZ6A). The hotel itself is probably at least acceptable enough that _in total_ it counts because of how nice the lake view is. Any examples you can think of? I know that natural beauty and classiness are subjective, but I personally like hotels that have at least some services so I don’t have to bring everything I’m going to be using with me. You are of course free to apply your own criteria. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/2 "2025-11-14T21:44:38Z")
The [Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise](https://www.fairmont.com/en/hotels/lake-louise/fairmont-chateau-lake-louise.html) in Canada leaps to mind. It ain’t cheap though. (I’ve been there and it is amazingly beautiful…pictures barely capture it.) [![](https://cms.inspirato.com/ImageGen.ashx?image=/media/9415081/banff-canada_fairmont-chateau-lake-louise_exterior_6993729_4k.jpg&width=1200) ](https://cms.inspirato.com/ImageGen.ashx?image=/media/9415081/banff-canada_fairmont-chateau-lake-louise_exterior_6993729_4k.jpg&width=1200) ETA: The lake really is that color from minerals in the water runoff that fills it. Perfectly safe although waaaay too cold to swim in (not sure you could even if you wanted to…no boating either). ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/3 "2025-11-14T21:46:32Z")
Jenny Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park. Spectacularly good lodge on the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. Quite expensive, but includes breakfast and dinner in probably the finest in-park restaurant anywhere. > **[Jenny Lake Lodge | Grand Teton National Park](https://www.nationalparkreservations.com/lodge/grandteton-jenny-lake-lodge/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=73502657&gclid=CjwKCAiAw9vIBhBBEiwAraSATn-Vne_h4Yay8gQ-vfojtqgnrgScMqzIWpq75zFZkWIqAXcFSn7PUxoCZEwQAvD_BwE)** > > Book your stay at the luxurious Jenny Lake Lodge in the beautiful Grand Teton National Park. Book your adventure today! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/4 "2025-11-14T21:48:41Z")
Second Lake Louise. Another option, farther North, is Jasper Park Lodge. More alpine lodge than grand hotel. Also not cheap. > **[Luxury Hotel in Jasper - Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge](https://www.fairmont.com/en/hotels/jasper/fairmont-jasper-park-lodge.html)** > > Set on a 700-acre luxury resort in the spectacular Rocky Mountains, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is one of the top hotels in Jasper, Canada. With a breathtaking setting between towering peaks, pine forests, and crystal-clear Lac Beauvert, this hideaway... ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/5 "2025-11-14T21:53:36Z")
I’m not sure if Lake Tahoe meets your criteria for a “nice” lake; large portions of its shoreline do have a lot of development. But there are several fancy hotels on it’s shores. And there are still parts of the shoreline that are still relatively wild. You would just have to travel some distance from the hotel to get to the wild parts, because the nice hotels are in the developed areas. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/6 "2025-11-14T21:54:06Z")
Lake Yellowstone Hotel in Yellowstone NP, although the lake is on the large side: [![](https://cdn.yellowstoneparknet.com/images/content/2894_387_Lake_Yellowstone_Hotel_lg.jpg) ](https://cdn.yellowstoneparknet.com/images/content/2894_387_Lake_Yellowstone_Hotel_lg.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/7 "2025-11-14T22:00:52Z")
IANA expert on your topic. But I have a couple ideas that may help all of us help you. What is small enough? 1 square mile, 10 square miles, etc. Is a smaller enclosed bay on a large lake good? e.g. a ~1 square mile 3-sided bay on e.g. Lake Erie? What is wild enough? Does wild require high terrain? Or are lakes in low rolling hills OK too? Budget matters too. The popularity of scenic lakes in the middle of nowhere as vacation spots for the well-off probably peaked a hundred years ago when air conditioning didn’t exist. Nowadays a lot of laking and camping in rural areas is sorta working class. Which folks want a Motel Six with a Denny’s nearby when staying in what passes for town. All my question-fussing aside, here are two ideas. Anywhere on Lake Tahoe is spectacular. I’m sure there are at least some hotels you’d consider nice there. ETA: Ninja’ed by @WildaBeast. Totally different idea: Instead of looking for lakes, try searching Yelp, Tripadvisor, etc., for “glamping”. Not that you necessarily want to glamp, but that might find you a lot of pretty lakes where people are willing to pay a premium to sleep in a cottage or hard floor permanent tent. With a decent likelihood of interesting boutique hotels nearby. Glamping is a new enough travel category that you probably won’t be distracted by too many run down has-been glamping facilities. They won’t all be lakeside, but a decent fraction will be. They’ll all be scenic somehow. So that’s a decent proxy for filtering on pretty lakes. One last question: You didn’t say what your catchment area is. Are you interested in all 50 US states? Lower 48 only? How about Canada? I know of some great lakeside cottage and glamping facilities in Costa Rica and Colombia, but that might be farther than you want to go. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/8 "2025-11-14T22:02:48Z")
Olympic National Park - Lake Quinnault and Lake Crescent Lodges. > **[Olympic Lodging Experience | Olympic National Park & Forest | Olympic...](https://www.olympicnationalparks.com/lodging/olympic-lodging-experience/?&mkwid=s&crid=747897467259&mp_kw=olympic%20national%20park%20lodge&mp_mt=e&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22473620564&gbraid=0AAAAAD25oYa2Vl3r-Bd3OXUPxodhdnWrd&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjKaP19HykAMVJ3R_AB3jaRYHEAAYASAAEgKLufD_BwE)** > > Learn about The Lodge on the Olympic Peninsula and the experience of staying in the Olympic National Park & Forest, WA. Custer State Park, Sylvan Lake Lodge. > **[Lodge Rooms](https://www.custerresorts.com/lodging/lodge-rooms)** > > Our lodge rooms provide a traditional hotel-style experience with all the amenities you need for a relaxing stay in Custer State Park. I favor the “CCC”, stone and beam style lodges. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/9 "2025-11-14T22:18:48Z")
[Canoe Bay](https://www.canoebay.com/) in Wisconsin. Adults only, not cheap, but absolutely wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/10 "2025-11-14T22:21:52Z")
IMO [Lake McDonald Lodge](https://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/lodging/lake-mcdonald-lodge/) in Glacier National Park is about as good as it gets for a fantastic lodge on a fantastic lake in a fantastic pristine wilderness. I haven’t stayed there because the lead time for reservations was longer than 6 months when I visited, but someday I’ll go back and stay. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/11 "2025-11-14T22:34:17Z")
Rocky Gap Casino near Cumberland MD, my wife and I had a getaway (without the kids) there recently. Beautiful spot, can walk right out of the hotel onto the trail: [https://imgur.com/gallery/FP7QEML](https://imgur.com/gallery/FP7QEML) ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/12 "2025-11-14T22:37:43Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I’m not sure if Lake Tahoe meets your criteria for a “nice” lake; I’ve spent a lot of time in tahoe. It always bugged me (in common with a lot of the US, particularly on the west coast) how disconnected the hotels were from any kind of hiking trail or lake side beach, or the “outdoors” generally. There is obviously some absolutely mind blowing lake side hiking and beaches around tahoe, but expect to get out of your hotel, walk through a massive parking lot, and drive for 30 minutes to reach any of them. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/13 "2025-11-14T22:58:37Z")
Another one in Glacier National Park: [Many Glacier Hotel](https://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/content/uploads/2024/04/glacier-many-glacier-lake-deck.jpg) on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake. Another one in a National Park: the [Crater Lake Lodge](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOHUeFxszGaE7kbR_UI1U0G4xKcc62iz7UfcBkTwzutav37MZhXgsGMTH5SvvLTpQ/photo/AF1QipM4VFNSWx668Wj02gg-f-0Lyl7ksptxNYLG-paF?key=TkhvUkE5U3BUWVRzLWZsMUZYQnNVZ2loVDNsVWNB). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/14 "2025-11-14T22:58:50Z")
I did look at Tahoe but I couldn’t tell how nice the places were from the air. It does indeed look like the naturally beautiful places there do not have a lot of resorts. Even if the southeast corner didn’t have any resorts, the lake view _per se_ would still be not as good as at the more rugged places. > [@griffin1977](#): > > Rocky Gap Casino Looks good, and it’s near my vague stopping point for my next vacation. I might just try to swing it. Thanks for the suggestions everyone - some nice ones! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/15 "2025-11-14T23:34:33Z")
Within the last 18 months, my wife and I have stayed at shoreline hotels on Lake Maggiore in Italy (the lesser known, and therefore less developed, but equally beautiful nearby cousin to Lake Como) and Lake Bled in Slovenia. Lake Maggiore is pretty sizeable, but it’s very long and skinny so it feels smaller than it actually is as you’re sitting on a terrace drinking prosecco and enjoying the view. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/LagoMaggiore.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/LagoMaggiore.jpg) And Lake Bled is simply one of the most picturesque lakes in the world. [![](https://cf.bstatic.com/xdata/images/hotel/max1024x768/262280446.jpg?k=15c5096893cafb717d8cfce905b32c21c388b7ef436bf71c8dc293c7260a8b5f&o=) ](https://cf.bstatic.com/xdata/images/hotel/max1024x768/262280446.jpg?k=15c5096893cafb717d8cfce905b32c21c388b7ef436bf71c8dc293c7260a8b5f&o=) We also visited Annecy in the east of France on a day trip, which sits on a gorgeous lake. [![](https://frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Lake-Annecy-Talloires-Bay.jpg) ](https://frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Lake-Annecy-Talloires-Bay.jpg) And this isn’t a lake, it’s a harbor, but it’s small and cute and just a lovely, lovely place to visit and explore — Auray, in the west of France. [![](https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/sit_full_reduite_lg/public/sit/images/LOIda5099b0b8154/2028-baiequiberon18-40alamoureux--mg-3344--33--bce96b4d012349c79c4953d1d4784bad.jpg?itok=_CLcKZye) ](https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/sit_full_reduite_lg/public/sit/images/LOIda5099b0b8154/2028-baiequiberon18-40alamoureux--mg-3344--33--bce96b4d012349c79c4953d1d4784bad.jpg?itok=_CLcKZye) ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/16 "2025-11-14T23:41:14Z")
Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY (as seen in the TV show “Upload”). [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Mohonk_Mountain_House_2011_View_of_Mohonk_Lake_from_One_Hiking_Trail_FRD_3247.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Mohonk_Mountain_House_2011_View_of_Mohonk_Lake_from_One_Hiking_Trail_FRD_3247.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/17 "2025-11-15T00:04:37Z")
Hot Springs, Arkansas. Several hotels lake front. 2 lakes. Biggest small town in America. It’s quaint, rustic, fun and plenty of outdoor activities. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/18 "2025-11-15T00:21:12Z")
I passed by the Otesaga Resort in Cooperstown, NY. Looked like a nice place, although the scenery isn’t quite as dramatic as some of the pictures posted here so far. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/19 "2025-11-15T00:34:02Z")
Auberge Lac-à-l’eau-Claire is a very nice resort hotel with a pretty lake and outdoor activities in Québec. Places like this aren’t uncommon; there are so many lakes in the province and people want to go to them! > **[Nous joindre - Auberge Lac-à-l’Eau-Claire](https://lacaleauclaire.com/nous-joindre)** > > Pour en savoir plus sur les directions et sur les personnes-ressources ou pour connaitre les coordonnées de l'Auberge, visitez la section Nous Joindre. Sacacomie: > **[Hotel spa Sacacomie](https://www.sacacomie.com/)** > > L'hôtel spa Sacacomie, la nature en Majuscule. Unique en Mauricie, au coeur de la nature. Venez profiter de nos installations uniques Auberge du Lac Taureau | Lanaudière, Saint-Michel-des-Saints [Auberge du Lac Taureau | Lanaudière, Saint-Michel-des-Saints](https://share.google/poXDzWAPs93UPStIN) Log Castle Resort | Fairmont Le Château Montebello [Log Castle Resort | Fairmont Le Château Montebello](https://share.google/49CfaRSEmd4l49vs1) (Many of the Fairmount hotels would probably meet OP’s criteria) A little more in town, Hovey Manor: Home | Manoir Hovey, Relais & Châteaux - Eastern Townships [Home | Manoir Hovey, Relais & Châteaux - Eastern Townships](https://manoirhovey.com/en/) Auberge Godefroy : [Auberge Godefroy | Hotel, Spa & Golf near Trois-Rivières](https://www.aubergegodefroy.com/en/) I’ve been to many but not all of these. Nice little romantic getaways and all an easy drive from Montreal, so able to draw that business pretty easily. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861/20 "2025-11-15T01:19:30Z")
Seconding Mohonk Mountain House. This is the one I came in to say. It’s a beautiful lake, beautiful scenery, a beautiful and isolated hotel, beautiful hiking trails right out the door. And it’s beautifully EXPENSIVE as well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-nice-hotels-on-nice-lakes/1024861.md?page=2)