European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 10, 1981, Darmstadt, Hesse                                February 1981 the stars and stripes Pago 19 by Paul Grimes new York times As travel costs More and More americans Are discovering that some of the most Inex comfortable and gratify ing vacation opportunities Are offered by state the facilities available Range from Primi Tive to almost but at any level of Comfort they Are relatively space in a somewhat spartan Campground can Cost As Little As to a night and sometimes is even deluxe heated in Winter and air conditioned in usually rent for far less than what they would Cost out Side Park the Parks Are deservedly and the key to enjoying them is to make reservations for vacations in summer the time to Book is although camping space is usually offered on a first first served Cabins and lodges often can be reserved in new York state does take reservations via ticket Ron for All campsites in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest preserves where someday vacancies in Midsummer Are rare and some other states make on third to one half of their campsites available for Advance in most it is not Nec Essary to be a resident of a state to use its although residents sometimes get priority treatment or pay lower for Cabins and resort Lodge accommodations in the states that offer them most in the Northeast do summer reservations Are almost always Parks in Ala Oklahoma and Tennessee Are among those with full fledged some of them boasting 18 Hole Golf courses and conference but Alabama the beachfront Gulf state in which every room in the Lodge had a Balcony overlooking the Gulf of mexi was badly battered by Hurricane Frederic in september 1979 and is open this season for Only limited How economical is a state Park vacation Here Are some examples in seashore state Park in a two bedroom Cabin with Beds for six occupants is priced at a week this each Cabin has a Range and hot water Heater and is furnished with cooking Silver blankets and pillows but not sheets or the Park is on the Atlantic at the Mouth of Chesapeake just North of Virginia where similar family in More Commer Cial would probably Cost a Day or at inns in state Parks in lunches last year Cost a maximum of dinners ranged up to except for Steak or lobster up to at Pickwick Landing in Southwest ten one of eight resort inns in that states rates last summer they will probably Rise in were a night for one person and for a pick Wick Landing has an swimming full service Marina and 18hole Golf course with pro although some state Park systems offer less than National Parks in the same Vicini others offer under budgetary National Parks Are tending to Cut Back while Many state Parks Are expand if state Parks do not offer the expanse and extraordinary sights of Yellowstone or grand Canyon or Shenandoah National Many of them provide natural Beauty and a variety of the gently rolling terrain of with Lacoochee state Forest in Central for May Lack dra but there Are hiking a Bri dle and facilities for boating and fishing and even a motor Cycle and state recreational facilities Are often less crowded than their Federal Florida division of tourism Canoe trails offer a tranquil look at wilderness Rivers in vacation bargain to get some idea of the variety that May be found in a single states look at most of which is within a Days drive of new York at the Eastern extreme is the wreck Island natural which has no overnight facilities and in cannot support human the which is in the Atlantic East of is accessible Only by boat from Oyster and is a Haven for raccoons and Many species of in westernmost Virginia is natural Tunnel state an 850footlong Natu ral the Park has a picnic self guiding trails and a Visi tors Center for among the 24 other state Parks in Virginia Are fairy in the South Central with housekeeping hiking and bicycling boat rentals and launching horse grocery shopping and a Westmoreland state facing the Potomac in the has similar facilities and the additional attraction of be ing nestled Between two prominent Virginia shrines the Birthplace of George and the Birthplace of Robert new York state does not have House keeping Cabins in its but its offer Ings vary from Jones Beach and hither Hills on the to Bear Mountain with a rustic inn and restau open All just across the Hud son from to Buttermilk Falls near to Adirondack Park which is larger than most National Parks and Buckhorn devils Hole and whirl Pool state Parks near Niagara if a state Park vacation interests a Good beginning would be to select three or four states with alluring climates and then write to the office of tourism in the capital City of those requesting information about their Park most states will readily Send brochures and maps with information about what facilities and activities Are rate sheets sometimes subject to upward Revi Sion on Little notice and advice on How and where to make reservations arc also available upon procedures but in most states where reservations Are they must be made directly with the appropriate usually with a Deposit for at least the first nights you also will usually have to write directly to the Park if you want a detailed map of the surroundings or a Calendar of any special Many even in the colder areas of the Are open All they Are growing in popularity for such Winter activities As Cross country ice skating and survival camping such As Pennsylvania Elliott state even have extensive networks of snowmobile it is generally unnecessary to Reserve for Winter Ohio and South Carolina specify periods when Cabin or Lodge reservations Are accepted in it is from 1 until March 15 for the use of Cabins Between May 30 and in anticipation of More requests than there Are these states have scheduled lot teries to allocate accommodations in such popular locations As South Carolinas Myrtle Beach state some states have a minimum length of stay in Peak season two nights to a others a maximum usually two sometimes but rarely in South Dakota you can stay five consecutive Days but you must then leave the Park for at least 24 after which you May return for another five Parks in Many other limit users to Only one stay a Many states Levy fees to enter Park premises others charge Only for Over night some offer season or an Nual entry passes at to some waive fees or Promise discounts to the elderly or although often Only for their own Illinois offers a guide to outdoor recreation programs for the physically Handi at fort Yargo state Park in 40 Miles Northeast of a special Barrier free campsite and cottages can accommodate More than in new there is a free Access pass that admits handicapped residents of the state to All stat operated in some you will be left substantially on your others offer a Broad Range of group activities illustrated lec Tures by nature Long Dis Tance concerts and even summer Many such activities Are Many Parks Nave visitor centers with a staff to answer questions and keep you informed of special events Many also have permanent wildlife exhibits or before committing yourself to a state Park you might consider a num Ber of for example How accessible is drinking water Are there electrical laundry ice is there a nearby shop or commissary that Sells food and other supplies Are pets permitted they usually Are at but not in Cabins or Are alcoholic beverages permitted any where in the Park usually exactly what recreational facilities Are offered and what does it Cost to use them is a License needed for fishing can boats or bicycles be rented what Are the checking and checkout hours for campsites is Access limited at night is there a minimum age to obtain a per Mit to use a campsite in new York it is if you would like the address of the state Park system in a specific Contact the United states travel Rossmark 6000