amazing us lakes for summer vacation

With its green pines and blue water Californias Big Bear Lake feels like a step into vacations past. But you can get in good mountain biking at Snow Summit and standup paddleboarding on the lake. And Windy Point Inn is sleekly contemporary.

Simple pleasures really can be the best. Theyre what Northern Californias Lakes Basin area has to offer. About an hour and a half northwest of Lake Tahoe the basin holds more than 50 alpine lakesGold Packer and Lower Sardine are the most popularaccessible by car or hiking boots.The region has its plush sidejust sample the Citron cocktail at sunset at Sardine Lake Resortbut its true heart is easygoing lowkey and thrifty. There are more than 10 public campgrounds including Sardine Campground where every site has a view of the jagged Sierra Buttes. You can rent boats at Sardine Lake Resort. Or hit the areas dozens of trails: Families can wander the easy 0.5mile path to Frazier Falls; intrepid hikers can climb about 2.5 miles to the top of Mt. Elwell or conquer the mighty pinnacle topped by the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout a 7mile roundtrip.

Stretching northeast for some 10 miles from near the west entrance to Montanas Glacier National Park Lake McDonald has a beauty that seems easy almost lazy with dense forest sloping down to the glasssmooth water. Lake McDonald is the largest (10 miles long) and deepest (464 feet) body of water in the park.

Park your car in South Haven and then say goodbye to it. This cute Lake Michigan town (60 miles southwest of Grand Rapids) is completely walkable so its easy to stroll between sandy beaches fun restaurants cool galleries and pretty bed and breakfasts.

This northern Wisconsin resort town (165 miles northwest of Green Bay) has all the ingredients of a great family vacation including more than 3000 lakes in Vilas and Oneida counties. Minocquas quieter lakes are perfect for swimming lessons and sand castles. Meanwhile you can zip across big Lake Minocqua on a wakeboard or check out the MinAqua Bats ski team. Kids love cheering at Scheers Lumberjack Show or digging into an ice cream cone at Hoggie Doggies. And the lodgings here understand what a family lake vacation is all aboutno one minds a little sand tracked in.

The nickname Water Park Capital of the World is a pretty good clue to the kidappeal of this hilly vacation area near Lake Delton (50 miles northwest of Madison). Waterpark resorts (such as Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park left) plus oldfashioned amusement parks top most itineraries. But The Dells also has three state parks and plenty of spots for grownup relaxation. Try to find time to see the Dells the unique craggy bluffs rising over the Wisconsin River like stacks of sandstone pancakes. Some of the best views are from doubledecker excursion boats. For a Dellsstyle adventure bounce your way through the woods and splash into the river on the Wisconsin Ducks amphibious transport vehicles from World War II.