Great Places to Camp this Summer

Image by eTombotron via FlickrFirst of all, the best place to camp this Summer may very well be in your own back yard.  If you have small children, and the budget is tight and time is short, your younger children will love a backyard camping adventure.

It's even better if your local area will allow a campfire so you can roast hot dogs and marshmallows.  But even that is not a necessity.  The important thing is that you get out.

But if you have the capability to get out and travel a bit, clearly the possibilities are almost endless.  No matter where you live in this country, there are great options for camping.  We thought we would look at one or two areas in various regions throughout the country.  If you have some additions you feel need to be on the list, feel free to leave a comment. We will be confining the list to public campgrounds because we believe that there are so many wonderful state and federal areas supported by our taxes that it is a shame not to take advantage of them.

Southeastern Region

Starting in the southeastern United States, we suggest Carolina Hemlocks Campground in the South Toe River area.  This area represents one of our earliest "big" family camping adventures.  The scenery was spectacular.  Not only was there great camping, suitable for kids of any age, but there is also very good fishing in the South Toe River for various trout species.  One evening we were treated to music by a local family playing bluegrass gospel music for anyone who wanted to bring over a folding chair and have a listen.

One word of caution: the river rises very quickly in a severe rainstorm.  One evening, though we were camping in a designated area, we quickly had water running through our tent and midway up the wheels on our car.  Just keep an eye on the forecast, or don't camp near the stream.

It is our feeling that this outstanding area is a great choice for all families, and especially so for ones where your kids are a bit younger. There are just fewer hazards for mom and dad to worry about.  Supplies are quite a distance away, so plan accordingly for this.  For more information, visit the Carolina Hemlocks USFS page.

Midwestern Region

Brookville Lake in Indiana has a lot to offer, and it really starts with the natural beauty of the area.  The area has two public beaches, over 25 miles of hiking trails, and over 400 camping spots.

If you are a fisherman, the area is renowned for its walleye fishing.  Walleye in this lake are large enough for fishery biologists to milk them for eggs, which are used to rear additional walleye used to stock additional areas.

If hunting is your thing, there are over 9000 acres available for hunting a variety of species.

Activities and facilities include:

• Archery
• Boating / 9 Launch Ramps
• Fishing / Ice Fishing
• Hiking Trails
• Horseshoe Pits
• Hunting
• Interpretive Naturalist Services
• Marinas (see list at right) 
• Picnicking / Shelter house
• Playground
• Shooting Range
• Swimming / Beach
• Volleyball
• Water skiing

For more information on Brookville Lake, visit their Indiana DNR Page.

Northwestern Region

I know some people will think I should have for sure listed a spot on the ocean in this region.  We LOVE the ocean in this area, and I know we will write about one of these areas in an upcoming blog, but we chose City of Rocks National Reserve.  

At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, this place is crazy beautiful!  Idaho is a land of awesome vistas, and superlatives can certainly come easy, but this place truly is special.

In the 1840's, the enormous rock formations were used by California-bound settlers as a landmark.

Today, the area is an oasis for rock climbers, hikers, naturalists, geologists, bird watchers, and others who appreciate the beauty of nature.

In the park there are over 100 campsites split between standard sites and RV sites. The amenities in the standard sites are rather sparse.  Do not expect showers and a recreation center kind of experience here.  For additional information, visit the City of Rocks NPS website.

Northeast Region

Here is one more place where there are so many great choices, it's hard to pick one.  We really like the Allagash Wilderness Waterway region of Maine.  This area is renowned for hunting, fishing, and general recreational camping.

This area is perhaps best suited for a family that would like to incorporate some fishing into the visit.  Allagash Wilderness Waterways fishing is awesome for many species, and is perhaps best known for its smallmouth bass and brook trout fishing.

There are a number of great campgrounds in the vicinity. In some of the areas, there are additional available amenities such as canoe rentals.  Check with the State of Maine Department of Conservation site for more on the camping details.

Southwestern Region

The Southwest is known for deserts and cactus and there is certainly some of this.  We remember well when we first moved to Northwest Colorado, our initial failure to appreciate the subtle beauty of the high desert.  Well, the camping area we will mention here certainly has some of this desert topography, but it has a lot more.

Beaver Creek Campground in the Coconino National Forest really is kind of an oasis.  There are places to swim, fish, and is just generally a nice place for family camping.

It is also beautiful.  You will certainly not be disappointed by a visit to this gem of an area.  The true oasis transitions into the Sonoran Desert just beyond the campground area.