Differences between Lake Lanier and Lake Sinclair.. (Atlanta, Gainesville: big house, to buy)

[SoManyPlaces]

and any other lakes in the Northern section of GA. Not too close to Atlanta

I want to begin the on-line search for lake property and am having a difficult time finding enough photos of the areas surrounding the lakes.

I would like to know the differences in topography...does one lake have more hills surrounding it? (We like a bit of hill for a view if possible).

Is one lake warmer than the others? Which one is less busy during the summer?

We do want a recreational lake, but would like to find an acre or more up or down the lake from the main gathering area. IOW, a more private spot for living.

We want a lot of different kinds of trees.

A town very close by with restaurants, some activities for a teenager (a bowling alley very close if possible as our son is on leagues), health food stores OR a great farmers market once a week type of thing.

We just want to check off as many things as possible. Not concerned about work yet, as we want to buy the land soon and build near retirement which will likely be in 4 or 5 years.

Until then, we will have to be somewhere close to Atlanta but that will be another post LOL.

For now, finding lakefront property is first.

If I can get some opinions and info on a few of the larger lakes I will be very grateful!
Thank You~~~

[cittic10]

I don't know didley about Sinclair but I do know Lanier and some others up in the N.GA mts and n. carolina.
The lakes in the mountains have a more diverse selection of tree species, such as sweet birch, which aren't found around lanier. The ones in the mts are a much cooler in the summer, being in lower heat zones and higher elevation.

Lanier is huge and depending on what side you live on you can be in the busy suburbs in forsyth county, or in north gwinnett, flowery branch and gainesville. heck, you can even be all the way up near dahlonega. As donald trump would say, "It's hee-uge." Most of the homesites along lanier are up on hills and have a nice view. I looked a lot there a few months back that had a really nice view and it wasn't even directly on the water. It was up on a hill. Gainesville has the farmers market. Not sure about the others. There's a bowling alley in buford.

I think you're going to have trouble finding land. There's some small lots, but if you're looking for small acreage, you're not going to find that at lanier and if you do, it will either be millions or it will have problems.

Some lakes are better than others for recreation. The ones you're going to find homesites on are usually the noisy, busy, full of jetskis, helicopters, and lots of big houseboats. If you're into paddling in tranquility, some (but not all) of the other lakes are much better IMO.

Allatoona is another lake you might be interested. That's out on the west side. The west side is not my forte.

[cittic10]

By the way, one tool you may find very helpful is google maps.

How you use it is, you locate the property on google maps. Then zoom out a few times so you can see the whole area. Then type in "bowling alleys" or "farmers market" or "supermarket" or whatever it is you're looking for into the maps search box and it will put pins showing where and what they are. That way you can see what's in the area.

Or isn't in the area.

[SoManyPlaces]

I thank you very much! Sorry I have not been on here since your post.

I know we really want a quiet end/side of a lake, but have the lake large enough for recreation, ie; boating. But it should take awhile to get to the main basin of a lake for us.

I am now looking into Lake Sinclair because it is a constant (well, more than most!) level lake and seems to have smaller towns around it.

I no longer need or want to be near a city....seems like an hour away is almost too close!

When you say *west* do you mean west of Atlanta, or west side of most lakes?

It seems unlikely that we will be able to even find lake view property that has 5 acres or so, but we will keep looking. We could get that here in TX, but we want to leave here :/

Thanks again!
Sherri

Originally Posted by cittic10

I don't know didley about Sinclair but I do know Lanier and some others up in the N.GA mts and n. carolina.
The lakes in the mountains have a more diverse selection of tree species, such as sweet birch, which aren't found around lanier. The ones in the mts are a much cooler in the summer, being in lower heat zones and higher elevation.

Lanier is huge and depending on what side you live on you can be in the busy suburbs in forsyth county, or in north gwinnett, flowery branch and gainesville. heck, you can even be all the way up near dahlonega. As donald trump would say, "It's hee-uge." Most of the homesites along lanier are up on hills and have a nice view. I looked a lot there a few months back that had a really nice view and it wasn't even directly on the water. It was up on a hill. Gainesville has the farmers market. Not sure about the others. There's a bowling alley in buford.

I think you're going to have trouble finding land. There's some small lots, but if you're looking for small acreage, you're not going to find that at lanier and if you do, it will either be millions or it will have problems.

Some lakes are better than others for recreation. The ones you're going to find homesites on are usually the noisy, busy, full of jetskis, helicopters, and lots of big houseboats. If you're into paddling in tranquility, some (but not all) of the other lakes are much better IMO.

Allatoona is another lake you might be interested. That's out on the west side. The west side is not my forte.

[cittic10]

Originally Posted by SoManyPlaces

When you say *west* do you mean west of Atlanta, or west side of most lakes?

I meant the west side of atlanta.

I have some neighbors that have a boat down on sinclair but i'm sure it's because they have a family member that owns a property where they keep the boat. I'm not really familiar with it though. It's too hot down there for me.

[SoManyPlaces]

Hi,
Thank you!
I am beginning to think it will be too hot for me as well. Not for my husband, but we will have to compromise! LOL

Looking at Cumberland Lake in KY now
But my husband will likely love the GA heat...
Thanks again,
Sherri

Originally Posted by cittic10

I meant the west side of atlanta.

I have some neighbors that have a boat down on sinclair but i'm sure it's because they have a family member that owns a property where they keep the boat. I'm not really familiar with it though. It's too hot down there for me.

[lastminutemom]

Does your teen want to live in the middle of nowhere?