Things to Do on Norris Lake: A Couples' Guide From Serenity Villa
Updated: Oct 1
Norris Lake is why most people find us. More than 800 miles of shoreline, clear blue-green water, and coves quiet enough that you can anchor for an afternoon and not see another boat. Serenity Villa sits five minutes up the mountain from it, which is exactly the right distance: close enough to be on the water by mid-morning, far enough that the only sound at night is the woods.
Here's how our guests actually spend their days, with drive times from the villa.
On the water
Two marinas are practically at the bottom of our hill.
Lakeview Marina, 5 minutes. The closest boat ramp to the villa, and an easy one — not steep, quick to launch. If you brought your own boat, this is where you put in. Good crappie and bluegill fishing right off the dock.
Beach Island Resort & Marina, 8 minutes. This is the full-service stop: pontoon and watercraft rentals, boat gas, a beach, and The BoatHouse at 33 right on the water with live music on weekends. If you didn't bring a boat, rent one here. Book ahead for summer weekends.
Cedar Grove Marina, about 15 minutes, also rents pontoons and deck boats and tends to have the cheapest fuel on this end of the lake.
For couples, our advice is a pontoon: slow, stable, room for a cooler, and you can drift into a cove and swim off the back. Kayaking, paddleboarding, tubing, and water skiing are all here too.
Fishing
Norris is known for bass, crappie, and striped bass, and the lake's depth and clarity make it a year-round fishery. Coffee on the balcony at first light, on the water by eight, is a good day. The dock at Lakeview is a fine place to start if you'd rather fish from shore.
Parks and trails
Big Ridge State Park, about 30 minutes, has lakeside hiking trails (the Ghost House Trail is the one everyone does), a swimming beach in season, and shaded picnic spots on the water. Norris Dam State Park, about 45 minutes, sits at the dam that created the lake — overlooks, trails through the woods, and the dam itself, which is worth the drive on its own. Both are easy half-day trips that leave the afternoon free for the hot tub.
Wine
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm in Maynardville, about 25 minutes, is a working farm with a tasting room, outdoor seating, and their own cider. Bring lunch, buy a bottle, and sit in the countryside. Chapman Hill Winery near LaFollette is across the lake and a longer drive, but couples love it for the charcuterie boards and the view; open Thursday through Saturday evenings only.
Where to eat
Serenity Villa has a full kitchen and a lot of our guests cook, but when you want to go out:
The BoatHouse at 33 at Beach Island (formerly Bubba Brew's), 8 minutes. On the water, live music, big portions. The nachos are famous for a reason.
Miss Sherry's Place and the Corner Store, about 7 minutes down the mountain, for a quick bite or supplies.
Pete's Place in Maynardville, about 25 minutes, for a steak dinner. Open evenings, closed Sunday.
Tacolandia in Maynardville, about 25 minutes, for the best carne asada tacos in Union County.
Li'l Jo's BBQ in Maynardville, about 30 minutes, for barbecue and live music on Thursday nights.
Wildlife
You don't have to leave the property for this one. The hummingbird feeders on the lower deck are busy every morning, and deer and other wildlife come through the valley below the house. Bring binoculars.
A sample day
Coffee on the upstairs balcony. Pontoon from Beach Island by nine, a cove for lunch, back at the dock by three. Sauna and hot tub while the sun goes down over the valley. Fire pit, then pinball if you have anything left. That's the day that shows up in our reviews over and over.
By season
Summer is peak lake season — long days on the water and warm nights by the fire. Fall brings color to the whole valley and cooler evenings that make the hot tub and sauna the main event. Winter is the quiet season: the lake is at its quietest, the glass wall on the hot tub room closes against the cold, and the villa feels like a cabin. Spring is when the hummingbirds come back.
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