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Other stories in "Camping"

• A roof in the woods
  In state parks, visitors love their camper cabins.
• 30 great campsites
  These spots have what campers want — location, location, location.
• Yippee for yurts
  A weekend stay on an Iowa lake is so simple, it's hardly camping.
• How to find the best campsites
  Great campsites await those who know how to look for them.
• Camping in state parks
  For summer, reserve far ahead to get choice spots at peak times.
• Camping in the Twin Cities
  For many, a lake vacation is a hop, skip and jump from home.
• Camping around Lake Michigan
  For a beach vacation on a budget, stay at cabins and campgrounds in state parks.
• In the shadow of the Giant
  In a provincial park wrapped by Lake Superior, campers exult in beauty.
• Camping out west
  Not far from the Twin Cities, county parks provide easy access to beach life.
• Getting away from mosquitoes
  In the bluffs of southeast Minnesota, breathe a sigh of relief.

A camper's cheat sheet

Here are 10 state parks not far from the comforts of civilization — restaurants, shops, golf courses, even nightlife.

Even if you camp, you don't have to rough it.

A lot of state parks have plenty of woods, water and wildlife, but they're also just a short bike ride or walk away from the finer things in life — say, a pizza parlor or ice-cream stand.

Nearby restaurants make packing easy because you can leave the pots, dishes, soap and firewood home. Even if you like cooking over a fire, it's still nice to go out for a treat.

Here are 10 parks in five states where you won't be too far from some of your favorite things.

Wisconsin

Peninsula State Park between Fish Creek and Ephraim. This park includes a golf course and an amphitheater with a professional acting troupe, plus bike trails to the two adjoining towns, both with dozens of restaurants and shops.

New Glarus Woods State Park next to New Glarus. This park is on the edge of an adorable Swiss town, which has many restaurants, a European-style bakery, shops and a municipal pool. The Sugar River State Trail connects the park to the town.

Iowa

McIntosh Woods State Park near Clear Lake. This park is across Clear Lake from the northern Iowa resort town, with its many restaurants and shops, and there's a supper club next door. The park has yurts as well as campsites.

Honey Creek Resort State Park near Moravia. This park on Rathbun Lake in southern Iowa actually is a resort, with luxury rooms, suites and cottages as well as RV sites. There's an 18-hole championship golf course, a restaurant and even an indoor water park.

Michigan

Traverse City State Park in Traverse City. This crowded but well-located state park is right in town, across the highway from a Lake Michigan beach. A bicycle trail connects it to downtown, with its many restaurants and shops as well as brewpubs and music venues.

Holland State Park in Holland. This park is across the Macatawa River/Lake Macatawa from the Dutch town. There's a concession building on the big beach and restaurants lining the busy road to the park. The park also has two very popular camper cabins right off the beach.

Minnesota

Lake Bemidji State Park near Bemidji. This park is next to a golf club that has a restaurant and across the lake from a university town of 13,400. It's connected to town by the Paul Bunyan State Trail. The park has camper cabins as well as campsites.

Afton State Park near Afton. This park on the eastern edge of the Twin Cities is along the St. Croix River and next to Afton Alps golf course. It's also close to restaurants in the village of Afton. The park has camper cabins as well as campsites.

Illinois

Starved Rock State Park near Utica. This scenic park along the Illinois River includes a large lodge with a restaurant and snack shops. It's also close to restaurants in Utica.

Illinois Beach State Park in Zion. This park on the northern edge of Chicago includes the Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center on the shore of Lake Michigan. The resort's restaurant doesn't have a distinguished history, but there are many other places to eat nearby.

  Last updated on July 12, 2012