Great Lake Vacations for Kids!

La Petite Traveler

by Katharine Bohlmann

Since we live in California, we have the Pacific Ocean. But all across the country there are beautiful lakes. Vacations on the water are the best as you can be really active and learn lots of new sports.

My favorite lake is Clear Lake and it is located on the border of Ohio and Indiana. I go there every summer with my Dad and his family for a week. My Dad has been going to this one particular lake since he was a kid. My grandparents rent the same cottage every summer for the entire family. There are thirteen of us in total and it is a great opportunity for me to see my east coast cousins. The cottage is right on the lake and we have our own dock, which is perfect for my grandpa's ski boat. My Dad also rents a float boat for us from the marina. A float Boat is a large, flat boat that moves very slowly. At top speed, it hits around 15 miles per hour. But it is great fun as it has couches and a big table in the center.

Lake vacations are fun because you spend a lot of time outdoors. We BBQ lunch and dinner, we make s'mores, and we have lots of room to run around and play Capture the Flag!

We spend most of the week on the water and I practically live in my bathing suit. Each morning, after a big traditional breakfast of pancakes and bacon, we head to the dock and get ready for a morning of waterskiing. It is different than snow skiing or snow boarding but it's fun to get pulled by the ski boat and glide across the water. When you fall, you hit the water and let go of the line until the boat turns around to pick you up.

One of the other cool things we do at Clear Lake is tubing. Three of us lay on top of the tube, which is attached to the boat by a long rope. My grandpa drives the boat really fast and we all fly in and out of the wake. We have a blast; the water splashes in our faces and we are giggling the whole way. We take a break in the middle of the day and go to the island and have a picnic lunch.

As the sun starts to set after an active day, we are all ready to enjoy the calmness of the lake. We all hop onto the float boat with a bowl full of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and we take turns driving the boat around the lake. One of the nice things about being out in the open and miles away from a big city is that you can see the star formations in the sky. We look for the Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and the North Star.

Back in California, there are many great lakes to visit too. An hour and a half from Los Angeles, up in the San Bernardino Mountains, is Lake Arrowhead. There are some beautiful homes on Lake Arrowhead but there is also a Hotel called the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa. The hotel was recently renovated and there is a nice spa for your hardworking parents to enjoy too. What I liked about this hotel is that you can bring your dog. They even have a special room service menu for pets that includes things like Rover Filet, Pizza Paws and Hound Dawg burgers. They also have a kids' menu both in the room and at the restaurant. The hotel also has a private beach where you can go swimming and where they prepare the Clam Bake in the summer months. There is a shopping village right next to the hotel where you can go browsing or look for homemade fudge. You can also take the Delta Queen around the lake for a relaxing cruise.

Lake Arrowhead is also a great place in the fall to go looking for your pumpkin. At 5,500 feet the pine trees smell really good, and it is hard to believe that you are anywhere near Los Angeles. They actually can get snow there so for those of us who live in Southern California it is a great place to see the white stuff.

Lake vacations are a great alternative to the beach. They are perfect family getaways and a chance to do something different. I live at the beach and I love the ocean. But any chance to swim, whether it be the sea, fresh water, or a chlorinated pool is great with me. Jump in and take the plunge!!!!!

For more information on LA lakes, visit www.laresort.com.

Katharine Bohlmann is ten years old and lives in Santa Monica with her Mom and two adorable dogs. She also has a home in Palisades with her dad. In her free time, Katharine likes to email her friends, read and watch The Gilmore Girls. She is currently in the fourth grade.