When you think of the beach, you probably picture glistening oceans and LOTS of tourists. Thinking outside the vacation box will require that you be willing to look for your beach experience in unusual locations. For a more intimate experience, you should try going inland to get your fix for the sandy life.

Anywhere there is a large body of water, people gather for recreation. Some of the bodies are larger than others and offer more opportunities. The Great Lakes Region has large waves, great fishing, and even some sandy beaches for you to enjoy – all with out the annoyance of the salt. The lakes are so large that the waves rolling into shore will remind you of the best ocean beach you have ever been on.

The southern part of the United States has its share of fine lake retreats. Lake Guntersville, located in Alabama, is ranked as one of the top sportsman’s lakes in the United States. The fishing has drawn several tournaments to the area, including a Bass Master’s. Although it is a man-made lake (created by a dam on the Tennessee River), it remains the same level within a few inches no mater what the weather around it.

The west is definitely not going to be out done when it comes to freshwater retreats. Many people think of Lake Tahoe as a skier’s paradise. While this may be true for part of the year, during the warmer months the water sports take over the community. If you’ve always wanted to scuba dive but never wanted to brave the ocean creatures then you have found your spot. The crystal clear waters are perfect for enjoying an underwater adventure.

If you really want to get away and enjoy your freshwater vacation then choose one of the many smaller lakes that dot the country. Private vacation rentals can give you the luxury you desire coupled with seclusion that you didn’t even know you wanted. Just settle in on the water and enjoy the lull of the small waves lapping against the shore line.

Freshwater vacations can offer many of the same benefits that you can get from the ocean. There are beautiful mountain lakes and man-made wonders all through out the United States. You can parasail on some of the larger lakes, windsurf on almost any of the lakes with enough water to take a boat, and with a little luck you can find a sandy location far from the chaos of the tourist infested beaches by the ocean.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm and is filed under Adventure Travel, Popular Cities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.