Dinosaur Valley State Park

Located about an hour and a half outside of Dallas, Texas, Dinosaur Valley State Park is famous for its dinosaur tracks. Campers can view different dinosaur tracks located in the bed of Paluxy, which is a river that winds through the park.

Yellowstone National Park

There is perhaps no place more famous for its camping than Yellowstone National Park. Located throughout parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872. There are a dozen campgrounds in Yellowstone and over 2,000 campsites to choose from. In addition to a vast array of fauna, the park is almost famous for its Old Faithful Geyser which spews hot water into the air every 90 minutes.

Cedar Hill State Park

Also situated near Dallas, Texas, Cedar Hill State Park is renowned for providing something for everyone. The park provides not only convenient access to a major metropolitan area, but also fishing, hiking, mountain biking, boat ramps, swimming areas, golf courses, and an agricultural history center. The park is located on the shore of the Joe Pool Lake where all requests for water activities can be met. This park has become a famous vacation destination thanks to its accessibility and amenities.

Bend, Oregon

From this city of 85,000 people lies access to some of the countries most beautiful and famous camping sites. The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is in this area and a must-see for all camping enthusiasts. Outdoorsy folks will find everything they’re looking for in the parks surrounding this region. It is highly noted for its hiking, mountain biking, fishing, skiing, bird-watching, boating and scenery. Many citizens of Bend live there primarily because of the ease-of-access to these amenities.

Yosemite National Park

Some say Yosemite National Park, located in east-central California, is the most beautiful park in the country. The park is known for its cliffs, waterfalls, Giant Sequoias and diverse fauna. Its most famous cliff, El Capitan, looms over the park and is a rock-climber’s fantasy.

Manistee National Forest

Located in northwest lower Michigan, this national forest is famous for its access to Lake Michigan and diverse seasonal offerings. Popular summer activities include boating, canoeing and hunting. In the winter, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are activities some visitors enjoy. The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, are one of the only wilderness areas in the U.S. that contain a dunes system.

Allegany State Park

Not far across the Pennsylvania border into the western part of New York is Allegany State Park. This spacious park offers over a dozen hiking trails, some more than five miles in length. The park has over 300 cabins, some of them winterized, available to rent. Tent and trailer areas are also accessible. One reason this park is so famous is thanks to its proximity to several large metropolitan areas. Residents of Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo can all reach this park within a day’s drive.

When it comes to finding out the nicest places to camp, the best tips always come from people who have camped at the places they recommend.

And who better to share some great campgrounds in Minnesota than a park ranger who works there. After having worked as a park ranger for 35 years, he should definitely know the best places to camp.

He posted a 4 minute video on YouTube, which is below, showcasing his 4 favorite places to go camping in Minnesota. He is an avid outdoorsman and photographer so his top picks are great places for outdoor lovers and shutterbug enthusiasts.

His picks are:

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with over 2,000 campsites but his favorites are on Clearwater and West Pike Lake.

Split House Lighthouse

Moose Lake

Itasca State Park

Even if you don’t plan to go camping in Minnesota, watch the video for the gorgeous scenery in it!

No, that title is not a typo. And no, you will not get arrested for cutting your Christmas tree down at a national forest as long as you do it in a national forest that allows the cutting of holiday trees and as long as you purchase a permit.

The United States Forest Service sells thousands of holiday tree cutting permits every year to thin out trees in the forests which helps prevent forest fires.

But don’t think taking a trek through a national forest to find a tree is going to be the same as going to a tree farm to cut down a tree because unlike those nice tree farms, the trees in the national forest are not in perfect straight lines with all other brush and trees removed; nor are you provided with a saw for cutting the tree down or a way to haul it back to your vehicle.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not a fun family outing. A person just needs to be prepared. When cutting a holiday tree in a national forest be sure to pack water and food (and maybe a thermos of hot chocolate) because you may take quite a long walk to find the “perfect” tree in the snowy woods. You’ll also need a hand saw to cut down the tree; along with a a tarp and rope for hauling it back to your vehicle or campsite; and rope for securing it to your vehicle. Snowshoes might also come in handy.

Remember that every national forest has different rules and regulations but many of them issue holiday tree cutting permits through the middle to latter part of December. To find out if the national forest in your area sells permits and to find out the cost and dates you’re allowed to participate, go to the US Forest Service website, use the drop down menu to find a national forest in your area and then either use the “contact us” button to contact officials at the forest or check out its home page to see if it has any information about holiday tree cutting.

I checked to see if permits were available at the Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin. I went to the forest’s home page and then clicked on “winter activities” where I found out they sell permits for cutting down holiday trees for just $5 per tree (the cost does vary but I think a permit costs less than $15 in most parts of the U.S.).

You could turn a tree cutting expedition into a camping trip as well. Check to see if the national forest in your area allows winter camping and turn your tree hunting excursion into a memory making camping weekend!