The peaceful, deep-blue fingers of Grand Lake O' the Cherokees extend into northeast Oklahoma's Ozark hills on the prairie's edge. Even on summer weekends, pleasure boats buzz across the 65-mile-long lake's spring-fed waters -- teeming with crappie, catfish and largemouth bass -- without dodging swarms of other craft, and anglers stake out quiet coves.

Most of the lake's resorts are small family operations. At six state parks along the shore, you can camp, swim, launch a boat or simply stroll among the hickory trees.

Grove (population: 13,000), located on the lake's east side, is the hub for visitors. From the lakefront, you can board the Cherokee Queen II, a replica of an old-time paddle wheeler, which takes passengers on 26-mile sightseeing cruises. A dozen specialty shops line the turn-of-the-last-century main street, and antiques stores dot US-59 north of town.

On summer weekends, families sing along with the homespun Grand Lake Opry or the Kountry Kuzins Jamboree. At celebrations such as Grovefest (May 5 and 6 this year) and others around the lake, visitors browse local crafters' booths and sample hearty barbecue.

Har-Ber Village along the shore near Grove re-creates an early settlement of 1888,with 100 authentically furnished cabins and other buildings. Across the lake, the massive, Tudor-style lodge of Shangri-La Resort rises along the lakefront at the tip of the peninsula known as Monkey Island. Activities at this full-service retreat run from golf on two championship 18-hole courses to bowling.

More information:

Related Links: