Editors' picks across 8categories — the dock with the deepest channel, the winery with the view, the restaurant with the right wine list, the trail nobody's on at sunrise.
A Zagat-recognized burger spot at the entrance to Chimney Rock State Park — grass-fed-beef burgers, grilled sandwiches, and fresh-baked desserts. Reopened after a six-month renovation; some older listings still show it as closed.
Visit ↗A tiki bar and grill on the Rocky Broad River, about a mile from the lake and a few minutes from Chimney Rock State Park — a ninety-foot outdoor deck alongside a swimming pool.
Visit ↗A family-owned rental operation on Memorial Highway — pontoon, fishing boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals, delivered to a lakefront dock, Washburn Marina, or Rumbling Bald Resort.
Visit ↗The town-run marina on Lake Lure, the most popular boater access point on the lake — several public landings with well-maintained boat ramps for anyone bringing their own boat.
Visit ↗A historic stucco inn on Memorial Highway, open since 1927, fronting the lake's only public beach — waterslides, a splash zone, picnic tables, and lifeguards, open Memorial Day through Labor Day. The inn's own restaurant, The Veranda, and the Moose & Goose Lounge sit inside.
Visit ↗Several key scenes from Dirty Dancing (1987) were filmed here — including the lift scene in the lake itself, the talent show and final dance at a former boys' camp gymnasium, and the stairs where Baby carries the watermelon. Mountain Lake, Virginia, a different lake, provided the film's lodge exteriors.