'Great Camping and Attractions on the Great Lakes' from GoCampingAmerica.com

Egg Harbor in Door County, Wisc. (Photo: www.eggharbordoorcounty.org)

Recently, Jeff Crider wrote a great artile on "Great Camping and Attractions on the Great Lakes" for GoCampingAmerica.com, which is administered by the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds.

"One of North America’s most interesting and varied travel destinations is Great Lakes, the largest grouping of freshwater lakes in the world," Crider wrote. "Spanning more than 750 miles from east to west and offering more than 10,000 miles of coastline, Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Ontario and Erie offer scenic coastal villages, waterfront towns and historical sites, including lighthouses and military forts, as well as some of the country’s largest cities."

Below are highlights of Crider's report. I strongly encourage you to read the full article.

Lake Superior

• Buffalo Valley Camping in Duluth, Minn. is a great base camp for exploring the west end of Lake Superior. 

Lake Michigan

Door County, Wis.: One of the most popular vacation destinations in Wisconsin, Door County is famous for its lakefront campgrounds, its dense forests and numerous scenic locations for canoeing, kayaking, fishing and hiking.

• Door County Camping Resort, Egg Harbor, Wis.
• Egg Harbor Campground & RV Resort, Egg Harbor, Wis.
• Fish Creek Campground, Fish Creek, Wis.
• Harbour Village Resort, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
• Tranquil Timbers Camping Resort, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Green Bay, Wis.: The cities near Green Bay are popular summer camping destinations for Green Bay Packers fans, who go to Laumbeau Field to watch the packers practice until football season starts in the fall.

• Apple Creek Campground, De Pere, Wis.

Milwaukee, Wis.: New attractions in Milwaukee include Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin (www.discoveryworld.org), a 120,000-square foot facility with interactive science and technology exhibits, theaters as well as fresh and salt water aquariums that feature aquatic life from the Great Lakes, the North Atlantic and the Caribbean.

• Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, Caledonia, Wis.

Chicago, Ill.: Top attractions in Chicago include the Art Institute of Chicago, which was considered one of the top rated museums in the United States. Other attractions include the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum, the Chicago Children’s Museum and Navy Pier, an entertainment venue that includes a 150-foot ferris wheel and an IMAX theater.

• Fish Lake Beach Resort, Volo, Ill.
• Fossil Rock Recreation Area, Wilmington, Ill.
• Hide-A-Way Lakes, Yorkville, Ill.
• Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, Portage, Ind.

Traverse City, Mich.: This is scenic area is popular area is popular with hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts. Local attractions also include Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, which offers miles and miles of white sand beaches as well as sweeping views of Lake Michigan from atop the park’s sand dunes.

• Holiday Park Campground, Traverse City, Mich.
• Leelanau Pines Campground, Cedar, Mich.
• Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, Traverse City, Mich.
• Traverse Bay RV Resort, Acme, Mich.

Lake Huron

Mackinac Island, Mich.: Located on the northern tip of Michigan on Lake Huron, Mackinac Island was voted one of the top 10 islands in the world by Condé Nast Traveler for its historic architecture and scenic environment. The island, which is also the site of Michigan’s oldest state park, is also the site of the annual Mackinac Island Fudge Festival, which is scheduled for Aug. 22-23.

• Cedarville R.V. Park & Campground, Mackinaw City
• Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, Mackinaw City
• Mackinaw City / Mackinac Island KOA

Frankenmuth, Mich: This German-themed town, a few miles inland from Lake Huron, is the only city outside of Munich, Germany to have an officially sanctioned Oktoberfest celebration, which takes place this year from Sept. 18-21. Other upcoming Frankenmuth events include the Michigan Zombie Run, a 5k mud and obstacle course run through a densely wooded course filled with zombies that jump out at the runners. Zombie runs are scheduled for July 19 and Aug. 9.

• Ber-Wa-Ga-Na Campground, Vasser, Mich.
• Frankenmuth Jellystone Park, Frankenmuth, Mich.
• Genesee Otter Lake Campground, Otter Lake, Mich.

Lake Erie

Several historic lighthouses are located along Lake Erie, including the Land Lighthouse in Erie, Penn. Originally built in 1818, this was the first lighthouse built by the U.S. government in the Great Lakes. The current structure was built in 1867.

• Presque Isle Passage RV Park & Cabin Rentals, Fairview, Penn.
• Sara’s Campground, Erie, Penn.
• West Haven at Lake Erie RV Park and Family Campground, Fairview, Penn.

Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park in Buffalo, N.Y.: This park features historic submarines and ships, artifacts and special events.

• Hejamada Campground & RV Park, Port Byron, N.Y.
• Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Mexico, N.Y.

Lake Ontario

Niagara Falls: One of the most famous waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is actually a series of three waterfalls on the Niagara River that drain Lake Erie into Lake Ontario.

• Branches of Niagara Campground & Resort, Grand Island, N.Y.
• Niagara Falls KOA, Grand Island, N.Y.

Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse in Youngstown, N.Y.: This lighthouse was first constructed on the roof of the Old Fort in 1781. It was the earliest official lighthouse on the Great Lakes.

• Jellystone Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, Ont.
• Niagara Falls KOA, Grand Island, N.Y.
• Branches of Niagara Campground & Resort, Grand Island, N.Y.

Selkirk Lighthouse in Port Ontario, N.Y.: Built in 1838, this is one of only four lighthouses in the U.S. to retain its original birdcage lantern.

• Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, Mexico, N.Y.