Whether its the start of summer, the dog days of summer, or the tail end of the summer season, North Carolina's Lake James is an ideal spot to hunker down for a day, a weekend - or even longer - to enjoy a day by or on the water. And one of the best spots to gain access to the reservoir that was named for a tabacco tycoon and the benefactor of Duke University, James Buchanan Duke, is by way of Lake James State Park in Nebo.

At 6,812 acres, Lake James has ample space and endless opportunities for exploration, if you happen to want to get out on the lake for an adventure.

The park offers two boats ramps suitable for launching your boat for a day on the water. But you don't necessarily need a motorized boat to fully enjoy the spoils of this wonderful hideaway.

The state park has a beach perfect for digging your toes in the sand on a warm day and soaking in the rays from the sun.

(Note, that for most of 2020, the swim beach at Lake James State Park has remained closed due to the pandemic. But we certainly hope that changes soon.)

In addition to the sandy beach, the park also boasts 25 miles of trails with some pretty spectacular views of the water.

A whopping 15 miles of trails are open for mountain biking!

If a big powerboat isn't your speed, consider dropping a kayak into the calm waters of Lake James.

Discover the lake's diverse shoreline that clocks in at 150 miles in length.

Spending the night along the shores of Lake James is a no-brainer if you're into camping.

Camping is found in a few areas of the state park, including hike-in sites carved into the flora along the shore, paddle-in sites on the Long Arm Peninsula that are only accessible by boat, and 33 drive-in sites at the Paddy's Creek Area.

Lake James State Park is open for year-round enjoyment, not just in the summer.

And if you think this park is gorgeous on a balmy summer day...

Then you're really going to love it in the fall season, too!

Lake James State Park is found on the lower end of the Linville Gorge. It's where all that water from Linville Falls eventually ends up and is definitely worthy of a visit! It's located 36 miles and just under an hour from the Linville Falls Visitor Center, making it an ideal place to camp and explore the trails and waterfall views at Linville Falls, too. Find this state park's hours (which vary by season and month), details of additional amenities, and more on the official website for Lake James State Park.

Have you discovered the underrated beauty of Lake James in North Carolina yet? We'd love to hear your feedback, so join the discussion in the Facebook comments!