1 - Lake Tahoe, California
Beautiful California landscapes meet clear blue in Lake Tahoe. The entire area is beautiful and there are tons of trails around the lake to explore. There are tons of activities at Lake Tahoe for the whole family including kayaking, paddle boarding and even diving to explore the boats left at the bottom of the lake. If you’re looking to swim, King’s Beach is best, and North Lake Tahoe has the best family friendly activities.
Places to visit near Lake Tahoe, make sure to check out: Lake Tahoe State Park
2 - Lake Erie, Pennsylvania
Lake Erie, Pennsylvania is a great place to take the whole family for a lake getaway. Erie offers beautiful, relaxing lake views, as well as plenty of activities like a pirate themed boat adventure, a zoo, and an amusement park. For the perfect family Lake Erie vacation, head to Presque Isle State Park, which includes miles of sandy lakefront beaches for swimming, wading, and sand castles.
Places to visit near Lake Erie, make sure to check out: Lake Erie Nature and Science Centre
3 - Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is one of the best lake vacations you could take your family on. The beautiful setting in the Adirondack mountains makes this one of the most idyllic lakes you will ever see. This lake is beautiful in the summer, but it is known for its winter activities. The town of Lake Placid has hosted not one, but two separate Winter Olympics. Go in the summer for boating, fishing and swimming, but be sure to come back in the winter to watch, or participate in, some winter sports!
Also make sure to check out other attractions near Lake Placid: Lake Placid
4 - Lake Superior, Minnesota
The largest lake by surface area in the entire world, Lake Superior has shores in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and even Canada. For your Lake Superior vacation, try the picturesque shores of Minnesota, with beautiful vistas like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. There are campgrounds, hikes, and interesting wildlife to meet. The Minnesota shores on Lake Superior are the perfect outdoor adventure lake vacation for your family.
Places to visit near Lake Superior, make sure to check out: Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
5- Lake Powell, Arizona
Iconic desert landscapes surround the stunning blue waters of Lake Powell. In the summer, all of Arizona, and parts of Colorado and California, visit the shores of Lake Powell to cool off from the desert heat. There is swimming, fishing, water-skiing, and exploring the beautiful canyons of northern Arizona. When you go, make sure to stop by Page and visit the slot canyons at Antelope Canyon. Lake Powell is fed by the Colorado River, so take an excursion to the river, too, and check out the famous Horseshoe Bend just south of Page.
Check out other attractions nearby - Lake Powell, UT
6 - Lake Champlain, Vermont
Nestled between the Adirondacks in New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont, Lake Champlain is one of the most popular lake getaways on the East Coast. There is tons for kids to here, including waterfront parks, historic sites, and even a lake monster. The lakeshore town of Burlington is a quintessentially charming small town and has been named one of the healthiest cities in America for many years running. The area around Lake Champlain has been named a UNESCO biosphere reserve, so take the opportunity to explore, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and spend some quality family time at the lake.
Places to visit near Lake Champlain, make sure to check out: Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
7 - Lake Havasu, Arizona
Another stunning desert oasis in Arizona, Lake Havasu is known for sandy beaches, warm water, and perfect weather all year long. Camp out at Lake Havasu State Park and spend the days out boating on the lake and swimming in the clear blue waters. Lake Havasu City has everything you could want for a family vacation, including restaurants, shopping, a lively arts scene, and even an indoor water park. Before you go, be sure to look up the local college students’ spring break schedule. Lake Havasu is the spring break destination for the University of Arizona and Arizona State students, so try to plan around those dates for a more peaceful atmosphere.
Places to visit near Lake Havasu, make sure to check out: Lake Havasu State Park
8 - Lake George, New York
Lake George, New York, is all of the beauty of the Adirondacks, with the perfect balance of solitude and relaxation. The surrounding area is covered in beautiful pine forests, with plenty of hiking trails through the rolling hills. The town of Lake George is full of family fun, including the Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor amusement park. There are adventure parks on land and kayaking, water skiing, and parasailing for water activities. Make sure to take a trip on the iconic steamboat lake cruise, Lake George Steamboat Company, before you leave.
Check out more attractions near Lake George - Lake George, NY
9 - Grand Lake, Colorado
About two hours from Denver, Grand Lake is a family favorite for year-round outdoor fun. There are scenic hikes, winter sports, a charming lakeshore town, and plenty more for the kids to enjoy. Grand Lake is known for its fishing, including trout and salmon, so this is a great place to teach the kids how to fish. Close to Rocky Mountain National Park, the scenery is absolutely stunning out here, and the lake scenery is best explored by paddleboard or kayak. If you have adventurous kids, or if you are a fishing family, this is the lake vacation for you.
Whenever you're planning a summer vacation to Grand Lake in Colorado or you just want to visit the lake, then be sure to hire a local car and limo service to get you there and back. Not only will this help you avoid the traffic jams that are common on major roadways during peak travel times, but it will also ensure that you arrive at your destination safely and with plenty of time to enjoy all that Grand Lake has to offer. For more details, be sure to click here.
Check out more attractions near Grand Lake - Grand Lake, CO
10 - Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Located in Northern Idaho, Lake Coeur D’Alene has everything you could ask for in a family lake vacation. Sandy beaches, boating, water skiing, swimming, and kayaking, you and the kids will spend all day on the water while enjoying the cool temperatures of the Northwest. You can even head down from the lake to either the Spokane or Clark Fork River to go whitewater rafting. If you’re looking for even more fun, the Silverwood Theme Park nearby has more than 70 rides and an attached waterpark.
11 - Big Bear Lake, California
Big Bear Lake in California is just two hours outside of Los Angeles, making it one of the easiest lake escapes to travel to in California. Surrounded by the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear Lake is a perfect setting for an exciting family lake vacation. In addition to fishing, kayaking, swimming and boating, this lake also allows jet skis for bigger kids to adventure on. There is a pirate ship lake cruise, a water park and a scenic Sky Chair to view the beautiful surrounding mountains.
Check out more attractions near Big Bear Lake - Big Bear Lake, CA
We hope you enjoy the summer and make a big splash with the family, have fun and make sure to comment below we would love to hear your experiences.
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