Five Campgrounds for Outdoor Family Summer Vacations

When thinking about where to go camping with your kids, consider these five summer vacation spots perfect for family fishing, boating, and family camping fun.

Wagon Trail Campground, Door County Wisconsin

This idyllic 75-acre summer vacation spot is the northernmost private campground on Wisconsin’s stunning Door County peninsula. Located 80 miles north of Green Bay, along Lake Michigan, Wagon Trail is where postcard-perfect outdoor family summer vacations happen. There’s a mix of 145 tent and RV sites as well as cabin, trailer and yurt rentals to satis-fy any camping preference, bait and fishing pole rentals, and a fish cleaning table with freezer space for your catch. Within an easy hike is the Mink River Estuary, where the eponymous river and Lake Michigan combine to form this pris-tine freshwater estuary, one of the last of its kind in America. There you can put your canoe or kayak in the water for a memorable Midwest family camping experience.

Stone Mountain Park, Georgia

Less than 20 minutes from the heart of downtown Atlanta is Georgia’s answer to the question, “where to go camping to escape the rigors of city life?” Stone Mountain Park offers lakeside yurts to go with hundreds of more traditional tent sites and RV parking spaces. On the East Lake area of the park is the REI Boathouse, where campers enjoying one of their best family summer vacations ever can rent kayaks, stand up paddle boards, canoes and pedal boats. Or, take your private boat out to catch the bass, carp, crappie, catfish, and bream that are swimming in the lake.

Salton Sea State Recreation Area, California

One of the most unique summer vacation spots in America is also one of the largest inland seas and lowest spots on earth, at 238 feet below sea level. Mecca Beach Campground here is popular with campers, boaters and anglers looking to catch tilapia, the only fish that can survive water this salty — but at least you won’t need to season it much for dinner — during their family camping adventure in California. The sea, which is now 25% saltier than ocean water, offers su-preme conditions for kayaking during your family summer vacations too!

Lake Ana State Park, Virginia

Near the center of the Richmond, Charlottesville, Washington DC triangle is this charming state park with a beach on one of Virginia's most special lakes. When consulting our family camping checklist, don’t forget to pack the fishing poles because there’s a two acre pond designed especially for family fishing thanks to easy access for children and the disa-bled. There’s also a boat launch to head out onto the lake to snag some largemouth bass, crappie, bream and other freshwater fish. Family camping at Lake Ana is available in tents or in one of six camping cabins, two six-bedroom lodg-es and 10 two-bedroom cabins.

Garner State Park, Texas

This is the most popular state park for camping in the whole of Texas, and it’s easy to see why it’s a beloved summer vacation spot for residents of the Lone Star State. Located 90 minutes west of San Antonio, the 2.9 miles of Frio River winding through 1,774 acres of scenic Hill Country terrain is prime real estate for kayaking, tubing or boating during one of your family summer vacations deep in the heart of Texas. The park rents kayaks so no need to worry about bringing your own but when writing your family camping checklist, be sure to include fishing poles and lures to pull some large-mouth bass, bluegill, and rainbow trout from the Frio!

Discover more amazing places to go camping and fishing with your family, and don't forget to get your fishing license before you head out!