There wasn't much to do but there were hiking trails and nature galore. It would be a nice, quiet…read morecampground.

This is a large nicely wooded state park just outside of the town that I grew up. It has a nice…read moreset of hiking trails, a nice central area with picnic tables, a lodge building, and camp sites, and is open year round for things like admiring fall colours and winter sports.

Gull Point State Park is on the west side of West Lake Okoboji and is considered to be the Grand…read moreDame of the state parks within this resort region. It's a large and pretty area with a nice beach, surrounding Burr Oak forest areas, winding hiking trails, and a restored rustic lodge. Lake Patrol and DNR operations are also headquartered here, as is a local scout camp which I attended one summer. Our family prefers Pikes Point State Park because it's closer and easier to work into our day. However, if you want a larger place to play, with a little more to do (including fishing), and on the same blue water Lake, then Gull Point is the place for family fun.

We rented two camp sites for seven people (2 adults and 5 kids). We adhered to the two tents/4…read morepeople per site rule. However, the DNR counted one of our tents as three tents, simply because it was three dome tents, and made us rent a third site. The worst part was how rude the lady was. She wouldn't even listen to me when I tried to show her the tent bag, indicating it was one tent. She acted as if we were criminals. Since there was NO two way conversation allowed, I indicated that we would pay for the extra site but would never be back, at which point she said "That's fine." Worst customer service ever! Three sites for 2 adults and five kids. Really? I don't recommend this place at all! There are way better places to stay in the Okoboji area!

We always enjoy coming to Emerson Bay Campground. Lots of sights with different hookups…read more I do wish people would treat this park better. We pay for this park through our tax dollars, why won't you want to keep it clean. The state doesn't have the staff or money to hire people to pickup after all the campers. When we pulled into site 56 I picked up a grocery sack of garbage and the fire pits had trash in it. Thanks to the De Jong family for not caring enough to clean up the site when you left.

In Iowa, it's not all meat, potatoes, and corn on the cob, although there's none better anywhere…read more Folks in these parts also enjoy their exercise, whether it be walking, biking, or working out at the local YMCA. In fact, just outside the door of our family cabin on Big Spirit Lake is part of the Dickinson County Recreational Trails network. These trails wind throughout the Iowa Great Lakes Region and are excellent 4 season avenues for bikers, hikers, runners, cross country skiers and snowmobiles. The Spine trail is 14 miles and I have taken it all the way down on my bike to Milford. And along the way, it's a treat to enjoy the lake scenery, cross the old RR bridge in Arnold's Park, and discover lots of natural habitat. Trail head parking is available at several location, as are resting/viewing benches, information kiosk displays, bathrooms, and picnic areas.