Summer is the time for vacations and the all-American roadtrip.

Big cities full of attractions and spectacular natural wonders like the Grand Canyon await. But area residents actually don’t have to go far to enjoy tranquillity in the great outdoors.

Webster County is home to two big state parks: Brushy Creek State Recreation Area and Dolliver Memorial State Park.

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, on the eastern side of the county, features a 690-acre lake for fishing, swimming and kayaking. It also has three campgrounds, miles of trails and features for people who bring their horses for an equestrian experience.

Dolliver Memorial State Park, near Otho, has multiple campsites, hiking trails and a boat ramp on the Des Moines River.

For a more active experience, there is the Gypsum City Off-Highway Vehicle Park south of Fort Dodge. It is the largest park of its kind in Iowa.

Webster County Conservation has John F. Kennedy Memorial Park north of Fort Dodge, with its campgrounds and Badger Lake. The Conservation Board also owns Camp WaNoKi and a handful of other outdoor attractions.

Additional outdoor settings, like Twin Lakes in Calhoun County, are nearby.

And don’t forget the rivers. The Des Moines River snakes right through Fort Dodge and Webster County. And not too far away, the Boone River offers its own scenic attractions.

Getting away from it all this summer doesn’t have to involve a long road trip. We encourage everyone to get out and enjoy some of these attractions close to home.