Shaylee & Stephen
Things To Do
Rent a Boat on Lake Martin
You can't come to Lake Martin without getting out on the water! The good news is, there are plenty of places to rent a boat. Here is a list of marinas that have rentals ready to go, however, you will want to get yours reserved soon as they are sure to sell out in the late Spring months.
Visit Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock is an iconic landmark and easily one of Lake Martin's most popular hangout locations! It can easily be spotted by the bright spray paint graffiti. Accessible only by boat, at any given time you will see pontoons hanging out and cheering on dare devils as they jump from the three cliffs.
Climb Smith Mountain Fire Tower
The Smith Mountain Fire Tower hands down has the best views of Lake Martin! You can climb to the top of this 90 foot tower and see panoramic views of the entire area. Surrounding the tower are also beautiful hiking trails, with different levels of difficulty. This is a must-see!
Visit Wind Creek State Park
Sitting right on the waters of Lake Martin, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the lake from this beautiful campground! Visitors can go camping, hiking, fishing, zip lining, horseback riding and so much more at Wind Creek State Park! Day passes include access to a beach and The Silo. You can also rent a boat from here (though you should get your reservation in early!).
Hiking Trails of Lake Martin
There are stunning hiking trails all around Lake Martin! Overlook Park is our top recommendation, as it starts out with views of the Lake Martin dam and takes you around the edges of the water to viewing areas of Chimney Rock. However, equally as beautiful are the trails around Smith Mountain Fire Tower.
Get a Bushwacker - Lake Martin's Unoffically Official Drink
Our favorite drink.. and soon to be yours too! A mix of icecream, rums, coconut and chocolate liquors, and "toppers", you can't leave Lake Martin without trying one of these! Here's a list of all the best places to get one.
Waterfront Dining on Lake Martin
You can't come to the lake and not dine on the water - so here are our favorite places to eat with waterfront views! Kowaliga, The Landing, The Social, Chuckwalla's Pizza, Niffers... and many more. Read more about each one of these unique places here.
Breakfast Places Around the Lake Martin Area
For our folks staying in the Alexander City side of the lake, here are a few places you will need to pop by for a great breakfast!
BBQ Restaurants in Alexander City
Here are 4 local BBQ restaurants you will have to try while in town! Have you ever had Alabama white sauce?
Eat at Kowaliga Restaurant
Hank Williams fans.. this one is for you! Based off of the hit song, "Poor Ol' Kow-a-liga", this restaurant pays homage to the great Country music legend. Be sure to take a photo with the massive wooden Indian, feed the turtles, and try the Conecuh sausage - which is local to Alabama. This restaurant has a massive wrap around porch facing the water... which makes it a great place to catch a sunset too. Fun Fact: it is also located next to the church we will be getting married at!
Eat at Cotton's BBQ
Believe it or not, this is one of our favorite places to get a Cheeseburger! Cotton's is an old Texaco gas station turned BBQ joint... and does not disappoint!
Grab a Pizza at Chuckwalla's
One of the most famous places to eat on Lake Martin! Chuck's is a brightly colored, two story marina that is also the go-to spot on the lake for pizza. We suggest the "Chimney Rock" pizza with "Raspberry Chipotle Chuckwalla’s Wings”. You’re welcome.
Visit The Landing
Bushwackers, corn hole, food... and sweeping waterfront views! One of our favorite hangouts!
Eat at The Social
The Social is an open air dining experience, with great food, bushwackers, and daily live music.
Eat at Niffer's Place
Niffer's Place is located in the Dadeville area, near Harbor Point Marina and Creekside Lodge. They are known for their burgers and fish bowl cocktails! There are also fun yard games and often times live music.
Eat at SpringHouse
SpringHouse is located at Russell Crossroads and is the perfect place to go for a more formal dining experience. You can sit inside the farmhouse style dining room, or outside on the second story terrace with sweeping views of rolling hills and woods. A great place to catch a sunset as well.
Visit Russell Crossroads
See the place we got engaged! Visit Catherine's Market for lunch, Bru 63 for coffee, SpringHouse for a fine dining meal with sweeping scenic views, or walk the trail through the woods. This is also home to The Stables, where the famous Clydesdale horses stay and the Lake Martin Kentucky Derby party is held every year.
Take a Guided Boat Tour on Lake Martin
Lake Martin is massive! In fact, it was once the largest man made lake. With nearly 900 miles of shoreline and dozens of iconic locations, such as Chimney Rock and Pirate Island, you may want to book a guided lake tour to get the full experience. Tours can either take you to all of the iconic stops, or simply catch a sunset cruise. It's up to you!
Main Street Alexander City
For our friends staying in Alexander City, be sure to pop down to Main Street for local shopping, food, and more. Carlisile's is a historic, old fashioned restaurant with one of the oldest soda fountains in the state. The Square is a New Orleans inspired with iron wrought decor, shops, and food. Also home to the Wellborn Musclecar Museum.
Visit Spectre - The Movie Set of "Big Fish"
Not far from Lake Martin is Jackson Lake Island, home to the movie set of Tim Burton's hit film, "Big Fish". You can walk around the town of Spectre, pet wild goats, and even kayak around the island. We did a full episode video on it, definitely recommend checking out if you have time!
Visit the Wellborn Musclecar Museum
Located near the heart of Downtown Alexander City is the largest muscle car museum in the world. Here, visitors can take a step back into the 1970’s and walk amongst some of the most iconic and rare American muscle cars ever made. The staff is incredibly knowledgable and great at story telling too!
Climb the Silo at Wind Creek State Park
You can actually climb to the top of the Wind Creek State Park Silo! Older than Lake Martin itself, this is an incredibly historic icon. Climbing to the top of the Silo offers stunning views of the waters and is one of our favorite spots.
Visit Lake Martin Machine Gun
Lake Martin Machine Gun is THRILLING! Guests can step back in time and shoot iconic machine guns, such as a Tommy Gun and Ma Deuce. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, and can give a historic lesson on how the machine gun has evolved over time into what we see in battle now. No experience in shooting needed - the staff is well-trained and makes even the newest of shooters (Shaylee) feel completely at ease.
Visit Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is home to one of the most influential battles in American history. Not only was it the final battle of the Creek War, it also ultimately resulted in the United States government obtaining over 23 million acres of land, which would later create a majority of the state of Alabama and portions of the state of Georgia- and kick off our country’s westward expansion. You can visit the museum, as well as drive (or walk!) around the actual battlefield and relive the moments leading up to, as well as the aftermath, of this battle.
Watch our travel blog, "Pelican Point Expeditions"
You may not know this... but we are the official travel bloggers of Lake Martin! Watch all of our videos on things to do, places to eat, and local adventures on our Pelican Point Expeditions social channels: YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram!