Santa Maria Lakes

Lakes Near Santa Maria

The weather is warm and that means it’s time to start planning your upcoming family vacation. If you’re looking for a fun destination, consider visiting a lake near Santa Maria. A stay at a lake can be wonderful for people that enjoy the outdoors too, as they are a great way to take in the local scenery and all that nature has to offer.

Whether you’re seeking to go kayaking, partake in some water skiing, go for a swim, or just lounge at the beach, the lakes near Santa Maria provide you with plentiful opportunities for aquatic fun. Take a look at the table below to see your nearby locations from small lakes to all sports lakes for you to enjoy.

Lakes Close to Santa Maria

Lake Activities

When you visit a lake near Santa Maria you’ll find all kinds of activities that can be enjoyed by people of all persuasions. You could go for an exciting day trip or decide to stay overnight to a hotel or a bed and breakfast on the water to make the most of your time unwinding.

Now we’ll run down a list of some of the best things to do when you make your way to a Santa Maria lake:

Go fishing. For those that love to fish, finding a good fishing hole shouldn’t be too hard to help you have a relaxing day with a line in the water whether you’re roaming the lake in a killer fishing boat or standing on a dock with a beer in one hand and a rod in the other.

Get in the water. The swimming lakes near Santa Maria offer all kinds of fun for the kids, or plenty of exercise for those looking to be active in between working on their tan. If you want to spend time swimming and on the beach you’ll want to be sure your lake has a sandy beach and a designated swimming area prior to packing the car and the family! Admit it, even the nicest swimming pool just isn’t as much fun as a magnificent public beach!

Water sports. If you’re able to get access to a ski boat, why not get out on the water and start kicking up a wake showing off your water sports talents? Take the family out for some tubing or skiing as the all sports lakes give you a number of choices.

Lake Getaway Prep

A day at the lake can be drastically different when you take into consideration which lake you’re going to, when you decide to go, and the activities on your to-do list. To make things easier we’ve built out a short list of popular go-to necessities that you can use as a checklist before you hit the road.

Common lake items

When you’re out on a lake near Santa Maria you’ll probably want to take along many of these things so that you’ll be safe, comfortable, and relaxed.

  • Something to dry off with
  • Food and snacks
  • Radio or speaker
  • Sweatshirt and sweatpants
  • Cords and a charger for portable devices
  • A cooler and drinks
  • Garbage bags
  • Plates, bowls, utensils, cups
  • A blanket or sheet
  • Insect repellant

Additional lake stuff

The gear in the list below can make your life easier for trips to the lake depending on what you’ll be doing. You may want to double check for some of these so you’re not missing something critical.

  • Hand sanitizers or moist towelettes
  • Tackle box
  • Beach toys (buckets, shovels, football, frisbee, etc.)
  • Wine key
  • Licenses and registration for boating and fishing
  • Fishing poles, nets, etc.
  • Legal flotation devices
  • Swimming goggles
  • Worms or other bait
  • Rafts for the kids

Lake Safety Tips

While the water can provide fun during a day on the lake, safety should be top of mind. These safety tips will make sure that you and your family are always safe at your favorite Santa Maria lake.

  • Keep children within arm’s reach at all times while swimming in deep water
  • Always wear a life jacket when boating, kayaking or paddle boarding
  • Don’t mix alcohol with swimming
  • Avoid swimming near rocks or shallow water areas that may not be deep enough to dive underneath and escape from waves
  • Have an emergency plan if you run into trouble on your watercraft
  • Always wear sunblock
  • Don’t swim alone

Some More Tips

Not everyone has had a chance to visit the lakes near Santa Maria and likely have some questions about how to make the most of their time there. Of course, every lake will possess their own character and trappings, but here are a handful of items to review when making plans that might help start your trip on the right foot.

  1. Maximize unique assets in the area. If you have time for a longer stay, look for local state parks and recreation areas that offer the option to stay near or even on the water without breaking the bank.
  2. No boat, no problem. It’s common that lakes will have local marinas that offer boat rentals. Just because you don’t own a boat to enjoy a day fishing on the lake or taking the kids out for some wakeboarding or tubing. Doing a quick Google search will usually allow you to find a marina that has what you need.
  3. Research your beaches. If you pick the wrong time of year, occasionally the beaches near Santa Maria can get extremely crowded. If you want some space to yourself, do some digging on a variety of nearby beaches and lakes to see if you can find one that’s less crowded if you want a more relaxing vibe. To get in on the party, search out the busiest, most popular sandy party scene!