Greetings! Wondering if anyone can give some advice for a family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers looking for clean clear lakes that are excellent for swimming and boating, not too cold, to do some rustic camping on. Thinking that southern Europe is too hot and Northern Europe right now too cold and dreary. Perhaps Central Europe , maybe Poland or Czech R. or Southern Germany (may be too crowded) .We have been spoilt being from with perfect summer temps and great campsites.
Posted by
Genesee, ID
1840 posts
Have you considered northern Idaho? We have clean, clear lakes coming out our ears.
Posted by
OP
market harborough, leics, uk
2 posts
Sounds wonderful but got to stay on this side of the pond this summer due to finances but thanks for the advice -maybe one day! Was thinking about the band of countries in Europe that aren't too far south to be sweltering hot nor too far north to be cold and wet. Does there exist a place like this with warmish clean lakes and some not too commercialised campsites off the beaten track? Or is this asking too much? Been spoilt by the lakes in Ontario where we usually spend the summer. Is there an Ontario in Europe that fits the criteria?
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I have no personal knowledge, but, in the great Internet tradition, that's not going to stop me from posting some ideas. Scandinavian countries have gazillions of lakes, and locals use them heavily in the summer. These may be too cold for anyone but a Scandinavian to actually swim in, but for boating they should be great. In the summer, due to the long days, Scandinavia is anything but dreary; everyone is enjoying the few months of good weather, so there is probably the same kind of festive atmosphere I found in the cities at this time (I was in Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, and Bergen in early July, but didn't get into the countryside). Lake Balaton in Hungary should be neither too cold nor too warm. In Communist days, it was a very popular spot for people from all over the Eastern Bloc, and therefore is supposed to have a very developed tourist infrastructure. I'm not sure how much English is spoken, if that's an issue. Guidebooks have information on the various towns on Lake Balaton.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33778 posts
Hello neighbor, we're only a few minutes apart. I haven't been there yet (still dreaming of it) but there are several large shallow warm lakes in the southeast of Austria. I loved what I had read and I think that may meet your needs.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
Off-site camping is usually forbidden. You will have to stick with camping venues, and they have their codes an so. Open fires or collecting things from natural parks is usually not allowed as well.