Outdoor Recreation

[highriskrc]

I travel a lot with my job and I always enjoy going to state parks, lakes, caves, and other places in the states that are not man-made.... my girlfriend usually travels with me whenever I go and we are trying to find out some nice places to go across the continental U.S. this year while we travel..... I know there are state park registries and things of the nature all over the internet, but a lot of times there are places that only the local's really know about that are really worth going to.... are there any places near where any of you live that are worth seeing?
www.robbiecassidy.4t.com

[karmattack]

There are a mega ton where I live, but it's Michigan and we're surrounded by water....not really on your way to anywhere except Canada. I have a backpacking trip planned for the Manistee River trails in a couple weeks. But there are the Great Lakes, the Picture Rock trails, a drive along Lake Michigan that National Geographic rated in the top 10 of the world (my friends and I bike it), and just a ton of things I couldn't begin to list. Have you hiked in the Smoky Mts? How about Tennessee?

[highriskrc]

Have you hiked in the Smoky Mts? How about Tennessee?
Yeah .... I have been there... I live about an hour from Pigeon Forge/Sevierville at the foor of the Smoky Mountains... I have taken off a week from wrestling next month and I am traveling down through Alabama to Destin, FL and then we're gonna stay there for a few days before going up to the Smokies for about three days.... there is a place called Cades Cove there that is absolutley beautiful, with waterfalls and caves galore..... speaking of Michigan I actually am going to be up there the day before my birthday in September for a show.... lemme know where I can go when I get up there, Karma.

[bwdial]

Flat, hot and humid. There's really not anything near Tampa that I can think of that's really all that spectacular. The beaches around here pretty much suck. Lee County, south of here, and the Big Bend area, north of here, have really nice, unspoiled beaches. The glades are pretty cool, too.

[Threadkiller]

are there any places near where any of you live that are worth seeing?Utah is home to three stunning national parks. Plus there is Timpanogos Cave, Leemund's Cave (actually in Nevada) and about a million caves and canyons you need to know locals to find. The only place I'd say you wouldn't want to visit here is the Great Salt Lake. It's really just a big smelly, salty swamp.

They call this place Goblin Valley. Apparently that name won out over "Rocks that look like Phalluses Valley"

http://www.segura.com/gallery/Telford/galleryimages/GoblinValley.jpg

[Zens7s]

Texas has a large amount of outdoor activities, but I must recommend a trip to Hill Country as essential.

It's located between San Antonio and Austin. I just got back from a weekend trip there in fact.

It is a bit difficult to describe, but essentially you grab your friends, rent some rafts, and float down the rivers (we did the Guadalupe) and check out some of the most beautiful scenery this country has to offer...actually scenery and people scenery.

By the time you get out you are drunk, relaxed, and tan. Then at night you can check out the roadhouses, or the world famous Gruene Hall. (of which I hear I had an excellent time, but I can't vouch for it :0)

I travel a lot for my occupation also, and the locals really do know best!

http://www.river-fun.com/images/RioRaft1.jpg

[jjcourtright]

Colorado is the king.

Here in the Springs we have
http://www.punchstock.com/image/itstock/6668082/large/itf082047.jpg
Garden of the Gods
http://www.yagersoft.com/photog/hires/Pikes%20Peak.jpg
Pikes Peak

http://www.physiol.arizona.edu/PhysioSci/seven-falls.jpg
and Seven Falls.


Elsewhere in Colorado, we have The Great Sand Dunes, Red Rocks, tons of forest...