| Did you know that a day at the beach can | | | | pristine forested land on a peninsula |
| have a positive effect on one's | | | | where the Nanaimo River joins the Ocean. |
| emotions? Or that even looking at a | | | | Campers here will enjoy water on three |
| relaxing beach scene can have a calming | | | | sides of this park, and have their |
| effect? Maybe that's why many people | | | | choice of sunny sites, river sites, |
| choose to spend their vacations at the | | | | ocean sites or secluded forest sites. |
| water's edge, either at the ocean, lake | | | | New Brighton State Beach - Capitola, |
| or river. | | | | California: New Brighton State Beach is |
| Where might you want to spend your next | | | | one of the most popular state beaches in |
| "water vacation?" | | | | California, and chosen as one of the |
| On an Island | | | | "Most Beautiful Campgrounds" by |
| There are so many island destinations | | | | Frommer's. Located in the town of |
| around the world with fantastic beaches | | | | Capitola, just south of Santa Cruz, this |
| upon which to relax, as well as great | | | | 93-acre park along the coast of Santa |
| diving, snorkeling and swimming | | | | Cruz offers spectacular views of the |
| opportunities. | | | | Monterey Bay. New Brighton State Beach |
| Most people instantly think of the | | | | is also popular for its family-oriented |
| Hawaiian Islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu | | | | campground which sits on the towering |
| and Kauai. But if you've been to Hawaii | | | | bluffs high above the Pacific Ocean. |
| and want to try something new, how about | | | | River Rafting |
| St. John, the smallest of the U.S. | | | | Whether it's rafting lazily down a river |
| Virgin Islands? St. John was voted one | | | | or an exhilarating whitewater rafting |
| of the "Top 5 Islands in The Caribbean, | | | | trip, a rafting vacation can be anything |
| Bermuda, and the Bahamas," by Travel + | | | | you want it to be. If whitewater |
| Leisure in 2006, voted one of the "Top | | | | rafting's your passion, why not try the |
| 10 Caribbean/Atlantic Islands" by | | | | Youghiogheny River Gorge which passes |
| readers of Conde' Nast Traveler in 2006, | | | | through Ohiopyle State Park in |
| and voted "All-Around Destination" by | | | | Pennsylvania? Not only will you |
| readers of Caribbean Travel & Life in | | | | experience some intense whitewater |
| 2005. | | | | rafting, but you'll also experience |
| The climate on St. John is nothing short | | | | Ohiopyle State Park, which Woodall's |
| of fantastic, ranging from the low 80s | | | | Camping Life includes on their "Top 10 |
| during the winter to the low- to | | | | State Parks" list. |
| mid-nineties in the summer. Lodging | | | | Whichever river you choose, do make sure |
| options range from pricey resorts on the | | | | your rafting experience matches the |
| beach (Caneel Bay Resort) to quite | | | | class of the river. If you've never |
| reasonable modest inns with shuttles | | | | engaged in whitewater rafting before, |
| that take you to the beach. One such | | | | you may want to start out with a lower |
| modestly-priced inn is The Inn at | | | | class, and go in a group with |
| Tamarind Court. With 20 units, 14 with | | | | experienced guides. |
| bathroom, The Inn at Tarmarind Court | | | | Lakeside |
| starts at $110 - $120 for a double room | | | | The great thing about a lake is that |
| in the off-season, $148 in the winter. | | | | there's usually one within a couple |
| You can reach them at 800/221-1637. | | | | hours where you live, so a great weekend |
| Camping on a Beach | | | | getaway isn't far away. But, if you're |
| Want a great view but don't want to | | | | planning on a longer lakeside vacation |
| spend big bucks to get it? Consider | | | | with spectacular views why not consider |
| camping on the beach, either with a tent | | | | Lake Michigan? |
| or in your RV. As with islands, there | | | | Lake Michigan is one of the five Great |
| are an abundance of great beach | | | | Lakes of North America, and has the |
| campgrounds from which to choose. Here | | | | distinction of being the only one of the |
| are three you might like: | | | | group of Great Lakes to be located |
| Henderson Beach State Park, Destin, | | | | entirely in the United States. Lake |
| Florida: Henderson Beach State Park was | | | | Michigan is bounded by the U.S. states |
| named one of the "Top 15 Scenic Views" | | | | of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and |
| by ReserveAmerica, and is located just | | | | Michigan, but it is the beaches in |
| east of Destin, Florida on U.S. 98. Tent | | | | Michigan where most consider the lake to |
| and RV Campers here will enjoy more than | | | | be at its most beautiful. The off-white |
| 6,000 feet of natural scenic shoreline, | | | | sand of its beaches are often referred |
| with sugar-white sand beaches and | | | | to as "singing sands" because of the |
| emerald green waters of the Gulf of | | | | distinctive squeaking noise made when |
| Mexico. | | | | someone walks across it. That is due to |
| Living Forest Oceanside RV & Campground | | | | the sand's high quartz content. |
| - Vancouver Island, Canada: RV West | | | | Whichever water vacation you choose, the |
| Magazine readers have voted Living | | | | point is to go relax and rejuvenate. |
| Forest Oceanside RV & Campground their | | | | That means leave your laptop at home and |
| favorite privately run RV park and | | | | your cell phone off. The world can wait |
| campground. Located in Nanaimo, The | | | | while you enjoy the water and the view. |
| Living Forest consists of 53 acres of | | | | |