10 Cool Places to Get Wet - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty

What makes a water lover’s paradise? Beaches, rivers, lakes and water parks. These towns offer plenty of fun water activities.

1. New Braunfels, TX (population 51,804)

Hold on to your bathing suit! The Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, on the banks of the Comal River, is home to Master Blaster, a 1,000- foot water coaster. It also holds the title for the best U.S. water park, according to The Travel Channel.

2. Lake Havasu City, AZ (population 56,603)

Boaters on Lake Havasu can cruise under London Bridge, which was moved here from England’s River Thames in 1971. Each year this lake’s blue waters attract 2.5 million visitors, including the stars and film crew of the Bravo TV series “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”

3. Malibu, CA (population 13,041)

World-class beaches and unparalleled ocean vistas are two of the reasons celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Robert Redford call this town home. Even if you don’t have the bank account for a multimillion-dollar mansion, you can still dip your toes into the water at Zuma or Surfrider, two of Malibu’s 24 public beaches.

4. Mackinac Island, MI (population 500)

More than a million vacationers a year head to this island to soak in its Victorian charm. But you’ll have to cross Lake Huron in a ferryboat. Here horses rule the roads.

5. Lake Ozark City, MO (population 1,931)

The jewel of this resort community is the Lake of the Ozarks, which boasts a 1,100-mile-long coastline—longer than California’s. During July Fourth celebrations, take your boat onto the lake to watch four different fireworks displays burst over the water.

6. Nantucket, MA (population 10,000)

Swimming options are plentiful on this island, with its signature 17th-century architecture. Craving some surf? Head to the south shore to splash in the Atlantic. For calmer waters, aim your bike north toward Nantucket Sound.

7. Annapolis, MD (population 36,603)

Guide your sailboat toward this historic port city that’s home to the U.S. Naval Academy. And don’t miss the Wednesday Night Races from April through September, when 150 boats zip across Chesapeake Bay.

8. Duck, NC (population 500)

The population of this town—part of the spectacular Outer Banks, a chain of barrier islands along the Carolina coast—swells dramatically with summer beach-goers. Climb the historic 1875 Currituck Beach Lighthouse to grab a bird’s-eye view of the Atlantic.

9. Jackson, WY (population 9.631)

White-water rafting is a popular adventure on the Snake River, which winds through Grand Teton National Park. The most exciting rapids: Lunch Counter, Big Kahuna and Rope.

10. Key West , FL (population 25,478)

Snorkelers and scuba divers will barely have time to dry off between excursions to the area’s underwater caves and coral reefs, including Sand Key and Kedge Ledge.

Advice from an agent affiliated with the CENTURY 21^®brand

Backyard pools don’t always make a big splash with potential buyers. But some might simply be nervous about maintenance. Sallie Bradford with CENTURY 21 H.T. Brown Real Estate in Annapolis, Maryland, encourages sellers to purchase a one-year home warranty for the lining, pump and more. “You give peace of mind to the buyer,” Bradford says.