With Memorial Day freshly in the rear view mirror, thoughts of warmer weather have been happily nested in our thoughts. Rare June precipitation levels not seen since the Industrial Revolution are gracing themselves upon the San Francisco Bay and damaging, devastating storms are impacting seemingly every corner of the United States.
And while technically not summer, Memorial Day is typically the first holiday welcoming a long parade of summer activity — barbecuing, outdoor activity, parks, weekend vacations and trips to lakes and rivers.
Earlier this month numerous Zinio publications began the cycle of promoting topical summer trip ideas, and not surprisingly, a number of them are completely centered around the visits to lakes and refreshing bodies of water.
Here are some of the favorites. Use them to find inspiration and plan travels near you, or curl up next to a warm fire like we will, staring constantly and longingly at images of children hurling themselves into lakes of the Upper Midwest or yellow labs sitting on piers, basking in the sun.
Los Angeles Magazine, June 2011
Ten Great Walks — hiking in the Los Angeles area with the best views and vistas, canyon adventures and hidden stairways. The spread below is at the top of Griffith Park, with a beautiful California golden glow that could easily occupy a frame of David Lynch film.
Chicago Magazine, June 2011
Summer Escapes, 10 Sparking Midwestern Lakes. Oh man. My favorite. Growing up in this slice of the world, Memorial Day was the first day we could with most authority, although not completely guaranteed — trudge into the sunshine with no fear of incoming snow. Every possible second was soaked up outdoors and everyone made multiple pilgrimages to any number of a thousand stunning, temperate, shimmering lakes. Every second spent jumping off piers into Northern Wisconsin lakes was a reminder that Old Man Winter was on vacation for at least one, if not two, solid months.
The resort pictured below Wandawega Resort is a few miles from where I call home, outside Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Its unique cabins and tent rentals about two hours from the concrete of Chicago can be booked on airbnb.
Smithsonian Magazine, May 2011
By The Shores Of Gitche Gumee — “Yoopers,” thick-accented, hardy Michigoans sandwiched on a ledge of the Upper Peninsula, share the shores of three mighty Great Lakes and real estate of prime outdoor possibilities. Made famous by Longfellow’s “The Song of Hiawatha” and the naturalist Edwin Way Teale, every child born within eye sight of its famously rocky, rugged coastline instantly knows the best rock from which to jump. Word has it, Presque Isle cove is a good place to start.
Cincinnati Magazine, June 2011
Summer Bucket List — venture into the Ohio summer and canoe local rivers, bicycle the Little Miami Trail, or road trip to Bengals Training Camp — if an NFL training camp is allowed to occur.
Outside Magazine, June 2011
Reboot Your Weekend! 21 quick, easy adventures for under $500. Trip ideas center around lakeside cabins, remote hiking trails, wild rivers, out-of-the-way beaches and secret hideouts across the United States from California to Colorado.
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