Lake Martin Attractions & Dining

Dining: SpringHouse, Kowaliga, and Catherine's Market

Martin punches well above its weight on dining, thanks largely to the Russell Lands lifestyle ecosystem. SpringHouse, at Russell Crossroads, is an acclaimed upscale restaurant that draws diners from across the region; the lakeside Kowaliga Restaurant is a longtime institution serving food with a view of the water; and Catherine's Market is a gourmet market and deli for provisions, prepared food, and wine. Part of the appeal is dining by boat — idling up to a lakeside spot and tying off — a pleasure the clear water and the developed shore make easy. For a lake this size, the quality and variety of dining is a genuine differentiator.

Russell Crossroads and the events scene

Russell Crossroads serves as a village center for the lake, hosting live music, seasonal festivals, markets, and community gatherings through the year alongside its restaurant and market. It gives Martin a social and cultural hub that many lakes lack, where residents and visitors come together off the water. Plugging into the Crossroads calendar — the concerts, the holiday events, the markets — is one of the ways new owners turn a lake house into a community, and it reflects the curated, amenity-rich character that defines this lake.

Children's Harbor and its chapel

One of Martin's most beloved landmarks is the Children's Harbor chapel, a picturesque lakeside chapel associated with the Children's Harbor charity, which serves seriously ill children and their families. The chapel is a familiar sight from the water and a meaningful part of the lake's identity, and the charity is woven into the community's philanthropic life. It is the kind of place that gives Martin a sense of heart beyond the real estate.

Golf and the outdoors

Golf is a real presence here, anchored by the championship course at Willow Point and the newer Wicker Point course at The Heritage, giving the lake two notable courses within its communities. Beyond golf, Wind Creek State Park on the Tallapoosa side offers a large campground, a beach, hiking and biking trails, and public lake access, while natural landmarks like Chimney Rock and Smith Mountain — with its restored fire tower and summit views — reward those who combine lake time with a hike. The mix of manicured golf and rugged natural recreation rounds out lake living well beyond the boat.

Alexander City and nearby history

Alexander City, the lake's hub, carries the area's textile heritage and offers a downtown, everyday services, and the region's main hospital. Nearby, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park preserves the site of a pivotal early-1800s battle — a worthwhile day of history a short drive from the lake. Between the town, the park, and the lake's own landmarks, there is more to explore on shore than at most reservoirs, which is part of why Martin sustains both a vibrant second-home crowd and a real year-round community.

Day trips farther afield

Martin's position opens up easy day trips. Auburn, about 45 minutes away, brings a major university, college sports, and a lively dining scene. Montgomery, roughly an hour south, offers the state capital's museums, civil-rights history, and shopping. Birmingham is about an hour and forty-five minutes, and Atlanta around two and a half hours for big-city culture, sports, and an international airport. Closer in, the restaurants, the state park, the golf, and the lake's clear coves fill unhurried days. That range — a university town, the state capital, and two major cities within reach — means a Martin owner is never short of somewhere to go, even as the clear water stays the center of it all.

Family days and kids

Martin works well for families and visiting grandkids. The clear water makes for safe, inviting swimming, Wind Creek State Park's beach, trails, and campground give children a base on the lake, and the islands and sandbars fill summer days with tubing and exploring. Off the water, Russell Crossroads hosts family-friendly events and music, the cliff and island spots are summer rites of passage for older kids and teens, and the easy dock fishing keeps young anglers busy. It is the kind of place that becomes a multigenerational gathering point — a real factor for buyers thinking about a legacy lake home rather than just a personal retreat.

The seasons on shore

Martin's shore scene shifts pleasantly with the year. Spring and fall bring the best weather for the golf, the state-park trails, and the Russell Crossroads festivals; summer is the social peak on the water, the sandbars, and the restaurant decks; and the cooler months quiet the lake while keeping the dining, golf, and town life going. There is a rhythm to the year here that keeps the area engaging in every season rather than only in the warm months, which is part of why Martin sustains both a vibrant second-home crowd and a genuine year-round community.

The bigger picture

Martin's shore scene is one of its real differentiators. Few Southern lakes pair clear, deep, swimmable water with this much to do on land — acclaimed restaurants, a true village center with live music and festivals, two notable golf courses, a state park, a beloved chapel landmark, and a university town and the state capital both within reach. For a buyer weighing where to spend the next chapter, that combination of clear water, a polished lifestyle, and accessible culture makes a strong argument, and it means a Martin owner who likes to get off the boat is as well served as one who never wants to. The lake is the headline, but the surroundings are a genuine part of the value — and a reason Martin commands the premium it does.