ALASKA

Chilkat State Park in Haines (907-766-2292). Peace and quiet is the draw of this Alaskan park located just south of a bald eagle preserve, where you can camp (24 campsites) in sight of glaciers and stroll shoreline trails under a wide-open night sky. There's no lack of things to do, however: Families can take a hike in a temperate rain forest or watch sea lions, seals and whales swim off the shore.

WYOMING

Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site near Hyattville (307-469-2234). It wasn't until 1969 that evidence of a 10,000-year-old civilization was discovered here. Today, this primitive, camping-only park offers insight about what ancient life was like in the Big Horn Basin. A quiet, relatively isolated park, its 200 acres lie in a flat valley surrounded by small rugged canyons and red and gray rock formations, which has a mountain biking trail nearby. In addition, this park is great for bird watching since over 100 species of birds call this place home.

VERMONT

Coolidge State Park in Plymouth (802-672-3612 or 802-885-8891). People come to this park, deep in the Green Mountains, for the solitude and the abundant wildlife. The campsites come with a view--the Killington Mountains, where trails may still have snow cover in May.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Originally published in June 1996. Updated April 2004.