My parents used to have a house on Lake Martin near the community of Walnut Hill, Alabama. Walnut Hill has exactly one traffic light, one general store, one water tower, one volunteer fire department, and one bar - the "World Famous Rodeo Club". (I am sure you've heard of it.) 

My folks lived there during the warmer months of the year, and each July 4th we would all convene upon them for about a week. It was a tradition I relished and rituals I looked forward to repeating each year. We would wake up early every morning to enjoy the porch before the heat and humidity grew thick. We swam, took boat rides, lay in the hammock and read, took naps, grilled out, and spent our evenings sitting on the porch listening to the roar of the crickets and ciccadas. And for some reason, we would always end up with an unintentional theme for the week. One year we watched an entire 8 part series on the history of the wild west. Other years it was slides and stories from Hal and Steve's safari in Namibia, then the family vacation to Glacier and Yellowstone.

I liked going there because it reminds me of the days when I was very clear on what matters and what doesn't. For example, the roar of crickets and ciccadas at night matters. Year-end bonuses do not. Kids squealing delightedly on a raft behind a ski boat matter. Having or not having the new, brightly-striped Kate Spade beach tote from Neiman's does not matter. In fact, I would bet money that no one in Walnut Hill, Alabama would notice - or better still - care. I love that. And I love that in a place lake Walnut Hill you can go days at a stretch without putting on shoes.

Here are a few pictures and little facts about the place we called home each summer...

A purple McMansion A lot of the houses at Lake Martin are pretty schmancy like this one. They remind me of the starter castles we have in Dallas. When I was a kid, lake houses were still called cabins and staying in one was somewhat akin to camping. But, the yuppies have moved in and taken over. The old dinky cabins have been torn down and replaced with mini-mansions. Now if we could just get Starbucks to move in to Walnut Hill... just kidding.

Dinner is free to those who can catch it.

KIM'S LIST OF THE BEST OF LAKE MARTIN

Swimming is the best way to beat the heat at the lake. (Works best when you wait to cuddle until you are out of the water!)

Lake Martin is enormous (over 40,000 acres of water with 750 miles of shoreline). Lake depth can go from 180 feet to 0 feet very quickly.

Flora and Fauna abound in and around the water.

The Still Waters Marina