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Baxter State Park, A True Wilderness Experience

Baxter State Park is a True Wilderness Experience. With over 200,000 acres, this special place is a hiker’s paradise to experience nature at its best.

There are 46 mountain peaks for you to explore of which 18 of them are over 3,000’ in elevation. The highest peak in Baxter State Park is Baxter Peak at 5,267’.

It’s a park you can get lost in so you should always have a good map with you. Trail maps can be obtained at the area campground, park headquarters in East Millinocket, and the Visitor Center at Togue Pond.

The park is free for Maine residents. The non-resident fee is $16 per vehicle.

I have been very fortunate to have experienced the seclusion of this magnificent park many times. Maine is one of my favorite places to vacation and it’s true when they say, “Maine, The Way Life Should Be”.

Also, as I am a big moose lover and to see them in the wild is an experience of a lifetime. I’ve seen many moose at Baxter State Park, and I guess it’s one of the main reasons I love it so much.

Things To Do In the Upper Peninsula

There are so many things to do in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that you can spend weeks there exploring. It spans 325 miles in length and only has one interstate. Eighty-four percent of it was covered in old-growth forests, making it an outdoor enthusiast’s heaven. Many people flock here every year to enjoy an Upper Peninsula road trip and outdoor recreation at its best. With over 200 waterfalls, 4300 inland lakes, 12000 miles of rivers and streams, and border 3 of the Great Lakes, the Upper Peninsula is a nature lover’s paradise of Pure Michigan.

Things to do in the Upper Peninsula (all regions)

Eat a Pasty

Eat a pasty as the miners did years ago. It is meat, potatoes, and onions wrapped in a crust. You won’t have any problem finding a location that has them. You can even buy them frozen in the supermarket!

Watch a Lake Superior Sunset

Nothing is more beautiful than watching the sunset over Lake Superior.

Casinos

There are 10 casinos throughout the Upper Peninsula. Kewadin Casino operates facilities in Christmas, St. Ignace, Manistique, Sault Ste Marie, and Hessel. Kings Club Casino is located in Brimley, Northern Waters Casino in Watersmeet, MI, the Island Resort & Casino in Harris, and Ojibwa Casino in Baraga and Marquette, MI. So when you’re visiting the UP, try your luck at any of these casinos and enjoy!

Discovering Letchworth State Park: Vacation Guide

It’s no wonder that Letchworth State Park is the most visited state park in New York. With more than 50 miles of trails, three cascading waterfalls, and some of the best camping facilities in the Northeast, it doesn’t take long to see why this is such a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Welcome to Letchworth State Park

Welcome to Letchworth State Park nestled in the heart of western New York, spanning over 14,000 acres across Livingston and Wyoming counties. With its deep gorges carved by the Genesee River, lush forests, and majestic waterfalls – including the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls – Letchworth offers a panoramic vista unlike any other seen in New York. No wonder it is considered New York’s best state Park (well in my opinion anyway and I’ve been to many of NY parks).

The park’s commitment to conservation and historical preservation has also garnered national recognition, including the esteemed USA Today Readers’ Choice Award for the best state park in the nation. The many activities along with its beauty have solidified its status as a treasure within the national parks system and a pillar among New York State Parks.

Key Takeaways:

Letchworth State Park is celebrated as the Grand Canyon of the East, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventures.
The park’s geological wonders, such as the Genesee River Gorge and the major waterfalls, provide breathtaking scenery and numerous recreational opportunities.
Letchworth could very well be a national park with its lush forests, historic sites, campground, and lodging, and should be on your bucket list when visiting New York.

Exploring Killens Pond State Park Felton Delaware

Welcome to Killens Pond State Park

Killens Pond State Park and Campground (open year-round) is located town of Felton Delaware in Kent County about 13 miles south of Dover just off Route 13. This park has so much to offer with a big beautiful pond, fishing, boating, playgrounds, picnic area, camping, and rental cabins. It is one of the nicest state parks we’ve visited

It is a pristine sanctuary, offering a vast array of recreational and natural wonders that captivate the hearts of visitors. Positioned along the southern boundary of the Murderkill River, this 66-acre millpond is surrounded by lush landscapes, welcoming nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. The park features everything from largemouth bass to wandering trails that offer a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Whether you’re looking to engage in a lively pickleball match, uncover the trails on foot, or relish in the calmness of the water via boat rentals, Killens Pond State Park serves as a central hub for endless outdoor activities and cherished moments in a natural setting.

Key Takeaways:

Central Delaware’s Gem: Killens Pond State Park is a beacon of natural beauty and recreational diversity.
Year-Round Accessibility: Open to visitors throughout all seasons, the park offers activities regardless of the weather.
Rich in Recreation: From hiking along the Pondside Trail to enjoying water slides in the water park, there’s no shortage of adventure.

18 Best State Parks in Pennsylvania 2024

Pennsylvania is home to some of the most beautiful state parks in America. They are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, and boating. If you’re looking for a great place to spend your summer vacation or a weekend getaway check out the best state parks in Pennsylvania.

With over 121 parks, many offer spectacular scenery with waterfalls galore and abundant wildlife including black bears, wild turkeys, red foxes, white-tailed deer, and coyotes.

Here is our list of the best Pennsylvania state parks.

1. Ricketts Glen State Park

Ricketts Glen State Park is known for being the best state park in Pennsylvania but also ranks as one of the top parks in the United States.

29 Best State Parks in America

National Parks get all the glory, but three times as many people visit America’s local areas. The Best State Parks in America serve as extensions of our own back yards, offering up adventures both large-scale and intimate. They remain alluring entry points to nature, often with fewer crowds than their better-known, big-name counterparts.

The best state parks in America combine incredible scenery with less crowded trails and campgrounds, making them perfect for hiking, biking, birdwatching or just getting away from it all. Here’s our list of the 29 best ones you should visit this year!

Each park listed has something unique about it that makes it worth visiting on its own merit!

Best State Parks in America

These parks are listed in any order and not by best first. They are all worth a visit!

Custer State Park, South Dakota

Custer State Park in South Dakota is a popular destination as it contains 71,000 acres in the Black Hills and is full of wildlife like bison, elk, prairie dogs, and more!

With 5 lakes including Sylvan Lake, Center Lake, Legion Lake, Stockade Lake, and Game Lodge Pond, there is no shortage of opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing. The park also offers many hiking trails from easy to strenuous, horseback riding, and biking.

Best New York State Parks

When you think of New York most people think of New York City. Well, it might make up the largest of the state’s population, it doesn’t hold its beauty. So when you’re looking for the Best New York State Parks most New Yorkers look upstate.

With 180 New York state parks, one is more beautiful than the next. However, some stand out more than others, that’s where this list of the best New York State parks helps you determine where to plan your next vacation.

Note: There are no “state parks” in the Catskills and Adirondacks as recreational areas are run by the Department of Environmental Protection in these areas. These preserved areas are stunning with 6 million acres in the Adirondack Park and 700,000 acres in Catskill Park. The parks in this article are within New York’s other regions.

Best New York State Parks

Letchworth State Park

New York’s gem of a state park nestled in what is called the “Grand Canyon of the East”. This park also has been voted one the top 10 state parks in the United States.

101 Things to see in South Dakota

There are so many things to see in South Dakota that you could probably spend months there without doing them all. Let’s face it, South Dakota wouldn’t really be on most people got to see list but you would be wrong to think that. From outdoor recreation, family attractions several with an old west vibe, and an abundance of wildlife South Dakota offers so much to explore. After all, where else can you see a 12-foot-tall prairie dog!

Love outdoor recreations, well you will love South Dakota. With 2 national parks and several national monuments, most people would think of the Badlands and Mount Rushmore. And of course, Sturgis we all have seen pictures of the famous bike week held each August, but South Dakota is so much more. So here is a list of 101 things to see in South Dakota. What are you waiting for, let’s take that road trip!

Things to Do in Moosehead Lake Maine

“Maine, the Way Life Should Be”, the state slogan that represents the way you feel while living and vacationing in Maine. Visiting Moosehead Lake is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in New England located about 70 miles north of Bangor Maine. It covers 75,000 acres and stretches 40 miles long and 12 miles wide.

Greenville and Rockwood Maine are the towns that surround Moosehead Lake. This area is known for moose as they outnumber residences 3 to 1.

The lake sits at 1,000 feet above sea level with mountains located all around the area. Mt. Kineo rises abruptly from the middle of the lake towering 800 feet above the water.

Short Hikes in Upstate New York

When people think about New York, most think of New York City with all the skyscrapers, crowded streets and the lights on the billboards in Times Square. When I think of New York, I see spectacular waterfalls, mountains of green trees and beautiful lakes and streams.

I call it upstate as I live downstate and can’t wait to cross the bridges where I find my paradise. Upstate New York has quaint towns, wineries and breweries, scenic railroads and byways and what I love the most, great hiking.