Best Lakes For Family Vacations Near Me – Is there anything better than a family vacation by the lake to get you in the summer mood?
A vacation on the lake combines the best elements of a summer vacation—not just swimming, fishing, and boating, but also lazy days at the beach, chasing fireflies, and the lingering scent of sunscreen and wet swimsuits.
Best Lakes For Family Vacations Near Me
There are thousands of lakes in the United States, many of which are great family vacation spots, but some lakes stand out from the crowd for their family-friendly atmosphere, variety of recreational opportunities, and relaxing atmosphere.
The Best Family Summer Vacation With Row Adventures
Here are our favorite family lakes in the United States that are perfect for your next summer vacation.
The shores of Lake Superior are bordered by the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario, Canada, so I can’t recommend visiting just any random place on this huge lake. Instead, I’d suggest you plan a vacation at one of our all-time favorite Lake Superior parks – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
With dramatic scenery, lakeside camping, and an incredible variety of wildlife, Pictured Rocks is a great vacation destination for families who love the outdoors.
While there are plenty of rustic cabins, campgrounds, and motorhomes to call home during your Lake Superior vacation, you won’t find many expensive resorts. The rustic charm and laid-back atmosphere of this area is what makes it so special.
Best Lakes In Michigan For A Family Vacation This Summer
And visit Sable Light Station. Take a guided tour of this beautiful lighthouse, built in 1874 (open every day except Monday and Tuesday). There are many shipwrecks along the coast, which the kids love!
View journal slides. If you dare, go down (and up) this incredibly steep ridge. It was once a log haulage area where loggers pushed logs into the lake for transport. What remains is a large sand dune with a magnificent view of Lake Superior.
Walk There are many great hikes at Pictured Rocks that are perfect for families. Our favorite was the Chapel Basin hike, which takes you to a beautiful waterfall and a secluded beach.
Pitch a tent. Or park your RV. We love camping at Twelvemile Beach Campground. The campsites are located practically on the beach, and all have a wonderful view of the water.
Family Vacation Ideas: Best Places To Vacation With Toddler
Get into the water. Pictured, Rocks Lake National Seashore features a beautiful shoreline with many cliffs, dunes, and rock formations, and the views from the water are incredible. Because Lake Superior can be rough and the water cold, I recommend kayaking with a guide and an experienced paddler. The area’s smaller lakes are great for beginner paddlers.
Attention anglers: Lake Superior is known around the world as a popular fishing destination. Anglers come from all over to catch salmon, trout, walleye and more.
If you’re planning a camping trip, we highly recommend making a reservation at Twelvemile Beach, but you don’t need to pitch a tent to enjoy a family vacation at Lake Superior.
Here are some other options for great vacation spots that are very close to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore:
Best Places To Travel In July 2024
Music Maker Cottage – This lovely cottage is a short walk from the center of Grand Marais and sleeps four comfortably. It is located in the dunes near Agate Beach and only a short distance from the photographed cliffs.
Waterfront Cottage in Grand Marais – For families looking to stay close to town, this charming cottage is located on the eastern edge of Pictured Rocks, right on the water. It has four full-size bedrooms that can comfortably accommodate seven people.
Nauti Pine Lodge – Here’s another lakeside lodge that sleeps nine. Located on beautiful Merwin Lake in the Rocky Mountain National Forest.
When I first saw Lake Tahoe, I thought I was dreaming. Can the water really be so clear and blue?
Family Adventures In The Canadian Rockies: Best Day Trips And Picnic Sites
Lake Tahoe is incredibly beautiful and a great place for your next family lake vacation. As with most of the lakes mentioned here, the best way to experience Lake Tahoe in the summer is by boat, beach vacation, or hiking.
Explore the coast to discover steep granite cliffs next to white-sand beaches, or blow inland to discover fragrant pine forests.
Lake Tahoe remains deep and cold even in summer. Popular activities include kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and even nude sunbathing if you’re feeling adventurous.
Because the water is so clear, divers often explore the many boats and barges that are moored at the bottom of the lake.
Ideas For New England Vacations With Kids
If you want to get off the beaten path and explore the surrounding mountains with unparalleled views of the Tahoe Basin, consider hiking the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail.
Lake Tahoe is 22 miles long and 12 miles wide, so before you pack your beach bag, you’ll probably want to pick a more specific location.
On the California side of the lake, there is North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe – both are beautiful, but we found North Lake Tahoe to be more family friendly. You can’t go wrong with any of the towns in North Lake Tahoe.
It’s about a 10 minute drive from Truckee Lake, but it’s so beautiful and on my list of favorite places to stay for the day!
Best Lake Towns In America
Royal Beach is right on the water, and because it’s on a shallow bank, it’s warm enough to swim.
North Lake Tahoe vacation rentals range from cabins and campsites to lakefront cabins and luxury resorts. Here are a few places we recommend for family lake vacations in North Lake Tahoe.
Camping: If you can find a spot, check out the Tahoe State Recreation Area in Tahoe City. It’s a small campground and it’s right on the lake!
Glamping: William Kent Campground is a few miles south of Tahoe City. Yurts are a nice upgrade from camping, but still quite affordable!
Best Lake Vacations For The Entire Family
Budget: Mother Nature Inn at North Lake Tahoe is a pet-friendly motel in downtown Tahoe.
Luxury: Red Wolf Lakeside Lodge is a cozy and classic mountain retreat on the shores of Lake Tahoe. It has a private beach, a beautiful pool and rooms of different sizes for small and large families.
Vacation Rental: This lakefront home in Tahoe Vista has six bedrooms and two bathrooms, a hot tub and 100 feet of sandy beach. It’s worth bragging!
I grew up on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont, so yes, I’m biased, but I think it’s a great place for all kinds of fun family adventures.
Best Family Beach Vacations In The U.s. 2024
Lake Champlain is called America’s sixth largest lake. Located 125 miles south of the Canadian border and straddling the states of Vermont and New York, Lake Champlain and its surrounding communities seamlessly blend rural charm with urban influence.
Lake Champlain played a key role in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the War of 1812, making it a great destination for history buffs. It also has its own lake monster, so be careful when visiting.
Vermont’s eastern shore of Lake Champlain has many wonderful family vacation spots.
Our favorite places are south or north of Burlington. Of course, if you’re more interested in a city break on the lake, Burlington is a great place for families with kids.
The Best Family Vacation
About 45 minutes south of Burlington is Button Bay State Park for camping, and they also have cabins if you don’t want to rough it. We like to use Button Bay as our home base and then explore other parks and natural areas nearby.
Mount Phila State Park was Vermont’s first state park and is one of the best places to watch the sunset in the entire state. The hike up Mount Philon is easy enough for kids, but you can also hike to the top, which is nice after a long day on the lake.
For swimming, we love Kingsland Bay State Park, a beautiful area for day trips. We include all three state parks in our guide to camping near Burlington, Vermont.
Your other option is to drive north to Burlington and take a vacation on Lake Champlain Island. This collection of islands was once part of Vermont’s inland sea, and you can still find ancient marine fossils if you know where to look.
Lake George Cabin Rentals
The area is very close to the border with Quebec, Canada, so plan to see a lot of people who speak French.
This part of Lake Champlain is great for kayaking and canoeing, fishing and biking. It’s pretty flat and there are bike lanes all over the island. There are also several Vermont State Parks, including our favorite Burton Island State Park, which is only accessible by passenger ferry or personal watercraft.
Camping: Grand Isle State Park is Vermont’s most popular state park. Choose from tent/van sites, simple cabins or camping.
Bed and Breakfast: North Hero House Inn is a family-run bed and breakfast in North Hero that offers free breakfast and a hot tub.
Family Adventures In The Canadian Rockies: The Best Of The Okanagan From Kelowna To Penticton, British Columbia
Lake Havasu in Arizona is a popular vacation spot for college students who want to have fun
