Weekend Getaway

Photo by: Donald Tong


There's nothing like a relaxing weekend at the lake to clear your mind. A couple of friends and I took a trip to Lake Oconee to stay at a friend's lake house. This mini-vacation was the perfect mixture of fun and relaxation, and I encourage everyone to spend a weekend with mother nature this summer. If you are thinking of making a trip to the lake house soon, here are a couple of do's and don'ts.



Do bring amazing friends
I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by a group of chill and outgoing people. I couldn't think of another group I would have rather cruised around with.

Don't be lazy when it comes to applying (and reapplying) suncream
We all forgot to reapply and now we are all regretting it. The sun in Georgia is no joke (it was 101 degrees) so you need to constantly apply that cream and constantly drink water (something else we forgot to do).

Do have a bomb a** playlist 
We had a dance party on the boat, and I think I loved it more than any nightclub or bar I've ever been too. The combination of lit music, beautiful scenery and the rush of wind was an excellent mix. We even made a couple of new friends at the community hangout because our boat had the best music, and everyone wanted to join in on the fun.

Don't leave your phone behind 
I was too paranoid to take my phone on the boat because I am the epitome of clumsy. But by leaving my iPhone at home, I missed out on a lot of wonderful photo and video opportunities. Note to self: Invest in a waterproof case.

Do have a DD 
This is by far the most important thing to do. If you are 21+, you will want to take some drinks with you on the lake; it's basically required. BUT you need to be responsible, hence the designated driver. I'm lucky enough to have a best friend that doesn't drink. She's one of those "naturally wild and crazy in a good way" type of people, and I'm honestly afraid to see what would happen if she did drink. She also saved us because we got pulled over on the way back to the dock, and if she hadn't been driving, my friend who owns the boat would be in jail.


So those are my do's and don'ts for a safe weekend trip on the lake.  Seriously, book an Airbnb on a lake, stay at a lake hotel (there's a Ritz Carlton on Lake Oconee), or if your on that just-graduated budget like me,  stay at a friend's place. No matter where you stay, just hustle and make it happen. Being surrounded by nature is the perfect way to recharge and prep for a chaotic week.