TRAVEL Lake Michigan Door County, Wisconsin For Midwestern hospitality, cherry picking and fish boils, head to Northern Wisconsin's Door County. There are loads of family-friendly lake-side inns and cottages from which to choose. Explore five sprawling state parks, 19 county parks and thousands of acres of wilderness.
Bike along tree-covered lanes, tour local lighthouses, and take your pick of 53 sandy beaches along Lake Michigan. Canoeing, kayaking, sailing and other water sports are plentiful. Spend an afternoon in search of arts and crafts and tasty ice cream cones.
For more: doorcounty.com Lake Coeur d'Alene Coeur d'Alene, Idaho This Northern Idaho playground is home to more than 55 lakes, including the namesake recreation area, where an endless array of water and land-based adventures lure visitors. Families opt for boating, fishing, kayaking and jet boating, but make time to enjoy the biking and hiking that are also in abundance.
Stay at the Coeur d'Alene Resort for amenities that include watercraft rentals, spa time, outdoor dining and a lakeside infinity pool. Play a round on the resort's golf course that is home to the world's only floating green. The t own, just 30 minutes from Spokane, Washington, has eclectic shopping, festivals, fairs and art walks, creating a vacation option for everyone.
For more: visitidaho.org or cdaresort.com Lake Powell Page, Arizona Spectacular red-hued rock formations rise from the water's edge.
Sunny days fade into star-filled nights on this vast blue lake, created when the Glen Canyon Dam stopped the waters of the mighty Colorado River and flooded Glen Canyon. The reservoir is named for John Wesley Powell, a Civil War veteran who explored the Colorado River via wooden boats in 1869. A houseboat holiday on Lake Powell promises adventure, unparalleled beauty and a host of opportunities for on-shore hiking, rock climbing and exploring.
With more than 2,000 miles of shoreline and scores of inlets and cozy coves, family members of all ages will depart with memories to last a lifetime. For more: lakepowell.com Lake of the Ozarks Osage Beach, Missouri Visit Lake of the Ozarks, one of the state's largest and most scenic lakes, and enjoy hiking, horseback riding and biking through oak-hickory forests.
Climb to the bluff tops for views of the lake where water enthusiasts enjoy beaches, fishing and boat-based water sports. Stay in one of the park's rustic Outpost Log cabins, reserve a spacious yurt, or pop your own tent. For more: funlake.
com or visitmo.com Lake Winnipesaukee Wolfeboro, New Hampshire Long a family favorite, this scenic, central New Hampshire lake, the state's largest, is cradled by three mountain ranges. The wooded shoreline and more than 200 small islands make for great picnicking, sunning and simply relaxing on or near the water.
Visit local galleries and museums, rent bikes, kayaks and canoes, enjoy community theater, or just stroll on the beach. For more: lakesregion.org Get local news delivered to your inbox!.
