The places that don't make you apologize for the kids. Restaurants with crayons that aren't an afterthought, parks with shade and bathrooms, the ice-cream stop with the line on a hot Tuesday.
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.
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.