Nothing compares to the rejuvenating quality of water. It cools you down on a hot day and provides endless entertainment for children Kids seem most content splashing and swimming, digging in the sand, and running in the sun. Lake and river visits teach children to be silent and still as well, letting the cool water of a creek rush over their bodies or silently watching beavers, turtles, and frogs go about their business. There are canoes and row-boats to paddle, fish to be caught, water skis to master, and sailboats to sail. As long as there is water nearby, most parents find that all family members stay busy and content.
This chapter covers cottages, cabins, rooms, and houseboats on rivers and lakes throughout the country; you'll find even more in the chapter on resorts. Many of the places we list have self-contained kitchens, so families can either do their own cooking or head to a restaurant for a special treat. The type of water recreation can be as simple as a sandy beach and an inner tube or two or as elaborate as a full-service marina supplied with a variety of boats, fishing gear, and scuba-diving equipment. The places we have selected are either right on the water or a stone's throw away. Both privately owned and state-run facilities are listed, and all offer excellent values to vacationing families.
River Rafting:
Family rafters report that white water rafting is a thrilling vacation that provides lots of opportunities for togetherness. The following outfitters offer special trips for families, but there are many more. To find specific outfitters in an area you are interested in visiting, contact America Out-doors, a national organization listing outfitters and guides.
America River Touring Association offers family trips throughout the west: 800—323—2782.
America Wilderness Experience is a trip broker that represents many outfitters: 800—444—0099.
Class VI River Runners operate in the Appalachians of West Virginia: 800—252—7784 or 304-574-0704.
Expeditions, Inc. offers trips through the Grand Canyon:
520—779—3769.
OARS (Outdoor Adventure Specialists) runs a variety of trips throughout the west: 800—736—4677 or 800—346—6277.
ROW River Odysseys West offers special "Family Focus" trips;
rafters as young as five are welcome. 800—451—6034, 208— 765—0841; PO Box 579, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83816.
Unicorn Expeditions runs rivers in Maine: 800—864—2676.
Convict Lake Resort
Pinecrest Lake Resort
Bonanza King Resort
Odell Lake Lodge
Baker Lake Resort
Redfish Lake Lodge
Hill's Resort
Lazy J Resort and Rafting Company
Cliff Lake Lodge
Holland Lake Lodge
Slide Rock State Park
Eminence Canoes Cottages and Camp
Float Trips on the Meramec River
Black Pine Beach Resort
Timber Bay Lodge and Houseboats
Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters Canoe Trips and Cabins
Sunset Resort
Meadowbrook Resort
Pine Beach Resort
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Lavalley's Resort and Antiques
Chain O' Lakes Canoe Trips
Pymatuning State Park Cabins
Buffalo Outdoor Center
Petit Jean State Park
Bayou Segnette State Park
Crooked River State Park Cabins
Cumberland Mountain State Park
Big Ridge State Park
Stephen Foster State Park
Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park
Adventures Unlimited
Hungry Mother State Park
Blackwater Falls State Park
Mountain Springs Lake Resort
Herrington Manor and Swallow Falls State Parks
Lake Taghkenic State Park
Harvey's Lake Cabins and Campground
Indian Joe's Courts
Lakeshore Terrace
Anchorage
Sebago Lake Lodge and Cottages
Attean Lake Lodge
Kawanhee Inn
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