Where the Wild Things Are

I c

ould wax poetic about the joys of vacationing in the great outdoors, like roasting marshmallows, collecting pine cones and wandering aimlessly through the woods. But let's face it--communing with nature doesn't always mean one breathtaking vista after another. It rains. There are too many bugs. There's no hot water. And those darned chirping crickets keep you up all night.

Still, it's worth it--especially if you plan ahead and figure out how to avoid the insects and discover the waterfalls. Not only will this give the biggest gripers in your family less to complain about but you'll be able to take a weeklong vacation for less than the price of a weekend at Disney World.

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The best place to do your research is on the Web, where you can find everything from the best swimming holes to tips on keeping the bears from sniffing around your tent. I always head first to the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov. Just select a state, and the site lists all the national parks and recreation areas in the region. Printable travel guides tell you the peak season, what each park is like, how much campsites cost and where the nearest hotels are. Cool extras include live webcam views and a weather map of each park as well as a "for kids" section that details special activities for them. You can even book a campsite directly on the NPS site.

My favorite unofficial site for outdoor adventures is gorp.com, which features magazine-style articles on topics like "10 Best Adventure Lodges" and "Death Valley's Vital Signs," along with thorough listings for national, state and local parks. I especially like Gorp's Zagat-style ratings of parks and trails (best national park: Glacier in Montana) as well as helpful tips on when to avoid the crowds and the mosquitoes. When the time comes to book a campsite at a state or local park, I head to reserveamerica.com. It shows the exact layout of thousands of campgrounds, so that you can see how close each site is to the main road, other campers and even the rest rooms.

If your family is the adventurous type, a couple of specialty websites are worth exploring. Swimmingholes.org features more than 500 unofficial swimming spots in the 22 Eastern states, plus links to more in the West.

Many are near waterfalls or at scenic lakes. For those who want to rough it, thebackpacker.com has everything from tips for beginners (like how to keep your tent dry) to trail reviews and extensive message boards on topics ranging from "best frying pan" to "Kentucky hiking."

And if you really want to dream, check out onedayhikes.com, which features hundreds of exquisite hikes around the world, from a four-day expedition along the Inca Trail to the "lost city" of Machu Picchu, Peru, to an hour-and-a-half-long amble through the coastal redwoods in Northern California's Muir Woods. The awe-inspiring photos alone will make you and your family want to pack your bags--don't forget the bug spray!--and head for the hills.

You can e-mail questions to Anita at hamilton@time.com