Showing posts with label Campgrounds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Campgrounds. Show all posts

New York State Adirondacks Campgrounds

Unlike the neighboring and ancient Appalachians, New York's Adirondacks are a young and growing mountain range, a roughly circular dome that over the past five million years has lifted peaks to more than 5,000 feet. Within the Blue Line -- the official border of the Adirondack Park -- 42 campgrounds provide visitors with a wide array of outdoor opportunities. Although all reside in a beautiful alpine countryside of forest, lakes and streams, a handful merit further attention. Note that firewood restrictions apply in all campgrounds.

Northampton Beach

  • Situated on lengthy Sacandaga Lake, Northampton Beach is a large campground of 224 sites set within white pines and mixed hardwoods. Swim at a sand beach from mid-June until Labor Day, use the park's boat launch, or rent canoes or rowboats. The lake is home to many different fish, including walleye, bass, perch and bullheads. Toilets and showers are available, as well as a picnic area and a separate picnic pavilion for rent to groups.

Eighth Lake

  • Close to the popular villages of Old Forge and Blue Mountain Lake, where you'll find the Adirondack Museum, Eighth Lake is a magnet for trout anglers and has salmon ponds adjacent to the campground. RVs up to a length of 40 feet can use several of Eighth Lake's 126 sites and its trailer dumping station. Boat rental is available.

Tioga Point

  • If roughing it suits your taste, you may wish to visit Tioga Point, on Raquette Lake. Accessible only by boat, this is a primitive campground of 15 lean-to shelters and 10 tent sites, each of which has a picnic table and fireplace. Popular with canoeists and anglers, several species of trout, perch and smelt call Raquette Lake home. Campers are cautioned to treat any lake water.

Rogers Rock

  • At the north end of Lake George and just 6 miles south of historic Ticonderoga, Rogers Rock campground is large and and often crowded. Three hundred thirty-two sites accommodate tents and RVs, with restrooms, showers, a dumping station, boat launch and mooring buoys available on one of the Adirondacks' busiest lakes. The park was named for colonial soldier Robert Rogers, commander of Rogers Rangers and popularly fictionalized in Kenneth Roberts' novel "Northwest Passage."

State Campgrounds Near Mesick, Michigan


Mesick, a village in Michigan's Wexford County set amid rolling, mostly rural terrain and nearby parks and forests, is perhaps most known for the annual Mesick Mushroom Festival. Each Mother's Day weekend since 1959, crowds have gathered to pick and devour the area's plump morel mushrooms and participate in other activities such as a parade, flea market, car show and mud bog. Campers who visit during the festival or any time of year will find several state-owned campgrounds within a 30-minute drive.

Healy Lake

  • Healy Lake State Forest Campground (michigandnr.com), approximately 15 miles west of Mesick in Springdale Township, has 24 rustic campsites for tents and small trailers available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The campground includes vault toilets and potable water. Activities for campers include fishing for bluegill, perch and bass on the namesake lake, a boat launch and nearby hiking and mountain biking along the Betsie River.

Baxter Bridge

  • Baxter Bridge State Forest Campground (michigandnr.com), set on the banks of the Manistee River in Greenwood Township, about 15 miles north of Mesick, provides 25 rustic sites for tents and small trailers. Three campsites accommodate trailers or RVs up to 40 feet in length. The campground includes vault toilets, potable water and a variety of recreational activities, including boating, canoeing and fishing for brown and rainbow trout, bass and walleye on the Manistee River. For hikers, the campground provides nearby access to the 4,600-mile North Country National Scenic Trail (nps.gov), nearly a third of which is in Michigan.

William Mitchell

  • William Mitchell State Park (michigandnr.com), set between Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac, approximately 18 miles southeast of Mesick, has a large developed campground with more than 220 campsites for tents, trailers and RVs; some have 50-amp electrical hookups. The campground also has a mini-cabin that sleeps four, a camper cabin that sleeps six, modern restrooms and an RV dump station. A boat launch, swimming beach and playground are within walking distance of campsites, and the park also includes a picnic area with shelters, a hunting and fishing center, and a 2.5-mile nature trail that includes bridges and boardwalks. Anglers can target fish such as walleye, perch, panfish, bass and bullhead in the lakes and the historic canal that connects them.

Interlochen

  • Interlochen State Park (michigandnr.com), about 18 miles north of Mesick, also lies between two bodies of water: Duck Lake and Green Lake. Interlochen, designated as Michigan's first state park in 1917, has 480 total campsites, more than 420 of which are in a large modern campground along the shores of Duck Lake, and three camper cabins. The large campground provides sites with 20-, 30- and 50-amp electrical hookups, plus modern restrooms, two RV dump stations and tents available for rent. The park also has a rustic campground along Green Lake with 59 campsites, vault toilets and water pumps. Recreational options include a swimming beach, three boat launches, rowboat and canoe rentals, a picnic area with shelter, 1-mile nature trail and fishing on both lakes for bass, bluegill and pike.

State Campgrounds Around Columbus, Ohio


Ohio has 56 state parks with family campgrounds that are set along scenic lakes or creeks or in natural wooded areas. Most campgrounds are open year-round and include a mix of electric and non-electric sites for tents, trailers and RVs, as well as access to an array of recreational amenities. If you're planning a camping trip to the Columbus area, a half-dozen state campgrounds are within an hour's drive of Ohio's capital city. You can bring up to two pets per campsite, as long as they are kept on leashes.

Alum Creek State Park

  • Less than 22 miles north of Columbus, Alum Creek State Park in Delaware is the closest state campground to the Buckeye State's capital. The 4,630-acre park has 286 campsites with 50-amp electrical hookups, including three sites with full hookups and some overlooking 3,387-acre Alum Creek Reservoir. The campground has a mix of wooded and open sites, restrooms with hot showers, RV dump station and camp store with Wi-Fi. Camper cabins and 30 equestrian campsites also are available. Other attractions include a 3,000-foot swimming beach, fishing, boat ramps, disc golf course, dog park and eight picnic areas. The park has a bounty of trails, including several hiking and mountain biking trails, 38 miles of bridle trails and a 7-mile multipurpose trail open to snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and dog sledding in the winter.

A.W. Marion State Park

  • If you're looking for a cozy camping spot, A.W. Marion State Park in Circleville fits the bill. This small, 309-acre park lies 30 miles southeast of Columbus and has approximately 60 campsites, half of which include electric hookups. Other campground amenities include vault toilets, drinking water, RV dump station, volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoe pit and playground. The park also has a group camping area, picnic areas and two hiking trails, including 1-mile Squawroot Trail, which begins at the campground, and 5-mile Hargus Lake Trail, which follows the shoreline of the 145-acre namesake lake. Boating and fishing are available on the lake, with boat rentals available. Winter activities at the park include ice fishing, ice skating and sledding.

Deer Creek State Park

  • Deer Creek State Park in Mount Sterling, approximately 30 miles southwest of Columbus, has a number of accommodation options, including 227 campsites with electric hookups, group and equestrian camping, camper cabins, 25 two-bedroom cottages, a lakeside cabin and 110-room lodge. The campground has centralized restrooms with showers, an RV dump station, volleyball and basketball courts, miniature golf and two playgrounds. Other park amenities include an 18-hole golf course, 1,700-foot swimming beach, boating and fishing on 1,277-acre Deer Creek Lake, picnic areas, nature center and bicycle rentals. The park also has seven hiking-only trails ranging from a quarter-mile to 2.5 miles, a 1-mile mountain bike trail and 17-mile bridle trail. Winter activities include ice fishing, ice skating, sledding and snowmobiling.

Other Nearby Campgrounds

  • Several other Ohio state parks have campgrounds within 45 miles of the state capital. Delaware State Park, 34 miles north of Columbus, has more than 210 campsites with electric hookups and three rental yurts. Buck Creek State Park in Springfield, 42 miles east of Columbus, has more than 110 campsites, including about 90 with electric hookups, and 26 two-bedroom cottages. Mount Gilead State Park, 45 miles northeast of Columbus, has a campground with approximately 60 electric sites and two camper cabins. All three parks include boating, fishing, disc golf and trails. Delaware and Buck Creek also have swimming beaches.

Campgrounds Near Medicine Hat, Alberta


The peaceful landscape of the South Saskatchewan River Valley, in southeastern Alberta, Canada, with its rolling hills, coulees and prairies, promises an idyllic retreat for campers. Visitors to the mid-sized city of Medicine Hat, three hours southwest of Calgary, can find several nearby options for a camping excursion, whether RV-ing or tenting.

Stay in Town

  • Travel no further than Medicine Hat itself to find the Gas City Campground, located on 7th Street Southwest just off the Trans-Canada Highway. The grounds offer 97 gravel campsites for both tent and RV camping for use from late spring until early autumn. Sites range in services, including full service with 30-amp electric hookups, sewer and water; power and water; power only; and non-service sites. Guests can enjoy an assortment of other amenities including horseshoe pits, firewood and fire pits, a playground, convenience store, showers, laundromat and Wi-Fi.

Head to a Park

  • Approximately 45 minutes southeast of Medicine Hat is the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, offering tent camping and cabins on its 133 square miles of rolling hills and prairies, along with a vast array of animal and plant species. A total of 13 campgrounds, seven of which lie along the shores of Elkwater Lake, provide more than 400 tenting sites. Camping is open all year, allowing visitors to enjoy lake activities and hiking along the 31 miles of trails in the summer, and skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing during the winter.

Find a River Retreat

  • Just 15 minutes northwest of Medicine Hat in Redcliff, Alberta, on the banks of the Saskatchewan River, is the Redcliff Municipal Campground. Open from May until September, the grounds have 14 tent camping sites with electric hookup options; rates are lower for campers who forgo this option. Visitors can stay active in the on-site pool and playground as well as nearby bike trails and baseball diamond. The campground also offers tables and grills at each site, as well as free showers and flush toilets.

RV Options

  • The Wild Rose Trailer Park and Campground is right in Medicine Hat, off Highway 1, offering 92 full-service RV sites. Guests can enjoy the comforts of home with on-site laundry, restrooms and showers, a playground, Internet and a pet-friendly environment. The Ross Creek RV Park is on the southern edge of town, nestled among rolling hills. The park has 42 full-service sites, offers Wi-Fi, and is adjacent to a nearby golf course and walking trails. On the western edge of Medicine Hat is the Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course and RV Park, a small 21-site park offering both tent and RV camping with 30-amp hookups, toilets, showers and water.

Campgrounds in Upstate New York


More than 54,000 square miles in area, New York -- the largest state in the northeast -- offers a nearly inexhaustible selection of campgrounds. From the North Country to the Catskills, through the center of the state and west to the Niagara Frontier, there is much from which to pick and choose. Load up your camping gear, gas the car and explore the Empire State.

Central New York

  • Green Lakes, just east of Syracuse, was established to preserve its two rare meromictic lakes, which are lakes whose surface waters and deep waters never mix. The park has tent and RV camping as well as cabins. Hike along nature trails, picnic under one of several covered pavilions or swim at its sand beach. Flat trails circle both of the park's lakes. Especially popular is Green Lakes' 18-hole golf course, opened in 1935 and one of the first built by renown designer Robert Trent Jones. Note that firewood restrictions apply in all state parks.

Catskills

  • North-South Lake is the largest campground in the Catskills, with seven camping loops and 219 sites. This is where to bring your canoe or kayak as no motorized boats are permitted. Once two lakes, an isthmus was removed in the 1980s, creating a single body of water where anglers cast their lines for a variety of fish including bullheads, crappies and bass. Just outside the campground is famous Kaaterskill Falls, one of the highest -- 260 feet in two leaps -- in the east. Campground amenities include a dump station, picnic grills, restrooms and showers.

North Country

  • Anglers, boaters and sightseers alike are drawn to Wellesley Island State Park, a forested jewel in the heart of the famous 1000 Islands. Primitive campsites -- accessible only by boat or foot -- dot the St. Lawrence River shoreline. The park's many camp loops accommodate tents and RVs. There is a marina, docking slips and four boat launches. Muskellunge fishing is very popular in the autumn. The park's facilities include a laundry, showers, a museum, visitor's center and 9-hole golf course.

Niagara Frontier

  • Just 15 minutes from colossal Niagara Falls, Four Mile Creek State Park has 275 large campsites, half of them with electric hookups. Prime sites with memorable views are along the shore of Lake Ontario; hiking trails thread through the wooded bluffs above the lake. A camp store, laundry and showers, picnic areas and playground are available. Discount tickets for Niagara Falls' two most popular attractions -- Cave of the Winds and the unforgettable Maid of the Mist boat ride -- are for sale at the park.

Port Canaveral Campgrounds


The reverberation rattles your teeth as a Roman candle on steroids emerges from a halo of fire and billowing clouds of spent fuel. Campers lucky enough to be anywhere near Port Canaveral in the days of the Space Shuttle launches got a ring-side seat as the elegantly winged vehicles surged toward the heavens. Today’s campers may see the occasional rocket launch but in-between the attention turns towards sun and sand with perhaps a bit of fishing thrown in. Mobile home parks catering to permanent residents dot the landscape, but properties that allow recreational camping are not as common.

Jetty Park Campground

  • Jetty Park Campground is the only property of its kind in Port Canaveral. It sits on the ocean side of Merritt Island at the eastern end of George King Blvd. Campsites are available for RVs and tents. Onsite cabins are also for rent. The 35-acre campground has its own stretch of sandy beach, a fishing pier, bait shop, a playground, concession stands and pavilions for rent. Soak up some sun as you watch cruise ships heading into and out of port. Pets are allowed in the campground area only. Take a walk along the jetty past water so clear you often see marine mammals and fish swimming beneath the surface.
    (ref 1, also see location, photo gallery, jetty park campground home page)

Port Canaveral Recreation Areas

  • Two other day use recreation areas are available in the Port Canaveral area. One is Freddie Patrick Park on the south side, 10 acres of parkland with picnic tables, restrooms and a boat launch ramp. Another is Rodney S. Ketcham Park on the western end of the island with another boat ramp, an observation tower facing the harbor and picnic areas. Ketcham Park is a stopping point on the 2,000-mile Great Florida Birding Trail. No fees are charged for the use of either park. An additional park is in the planning stages. Eventually Avocet Lagoon will offer 4 acres of picnic-friendly space close to the Canaveral Lock.
    (ref 2, trail measurement first par)
    (ref 3)

Campgrounds on Merritt Island

  • Head south on Merritt Island and you’ll find more camping opportunities. In Satellite Beach, about 17 miles south of Port Canaveral, is the Ocean View RV and Mobile Home Court. Sitting across from the beach it offers RV camping for nightly, weekly and monthly stays. Satellite Beach is a known nesting area for sea turtles. Roughly 5 miles farther south is the Lucky Clover RV and Mobile Home Park, also an RV only park. Unlike Ocean View RV, this property welcomes pets but does have some size and/or breed restrictions. Located in Melbourne, the RV park is about a half-mile from the beach but it does have a swimming pool.
    (ref 4 and 5)

Sebastian Inlet State Park

  • Head even farther down the island to Sebastian Inlet State Park, about 40 miles from Port Canaveral, and enjoy a more back-to-nature camping experience. Choose from a beach-side RV and tent campground or a more primitive walk-in camping area. The RV campground can accommodate rigs up to 40 feet. This park give you access to the swells of the Atlantic Ocean, perfect for surfing, as well as to the quieter waters of the Indian River Lagoon on the western end of the island. The Sebastian Inlet connects the two bodies of water and State Route A1A connects both ends of the park. The Fishing Museum near the mid-park camper registration station and the McLarty Treasure Museum on the park’s southern end, are also available.
    (ref 6, also see home, map on home page right which enlarges when you click on it)

Campgrounds Near Six Flags St. Louis


With coasters named Screamin' Eagle, Pandemonium and Bonzai Pipeline, Six Flags St. Louis delivers plenty of high-speed spins and loops to satisfy even the most seasoned theme-park veteran. The combination amusement and water park is just 30 minutes from St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri, an area that attracts thousands of campers annually. When you want to wind down from all the entertainment at Six Flags, roll up in your RV or pitch a tent at one of a number of campgrounds within 15 miles of this extreme coaster kingdom.

Jellystone Park Resort

  • Next door to the theme park, Jellystone Park Resort has everything from wilderness campsites to deluxe ready-made "glampsites" with air-conditioned pitched tents. The meticulously maintained park is open from April to October, and amenities include a snack shack, camp store, gift shop, laundry and dump station. After a day at Six Flags, a swimming pool, game room, playground, miniature golf course, horseshoe pits, and basketball, volleyball and shuffleboard courts make for quieter diversions. Socializing is big here, too, with a full calendar of activities including bingo, pancake breakfasts, tailgating parties and light-stick parades.

St. Louis West/Historic Route 66 KOA

  • Just a one-minute drive from Six Flags, St. Louis West/Historic Route 66 KOA has a wide selection of campsites. Campers can dig in stakes at primitive tent sites, cruise into RV sites with full or partial hookups, or get back to nature in rustic log cabins. Railroad enthusiasts can book a fully restored, little red caboose equipped with a whirlpool tub. Shops and eateries are nearby, and a playground, game room, swimming pool, laundry and dump station are on premises. St. Louis, just a 30-minute drive from the KOA, has a wealth of attractions, including the Gateway Arch, St. Louis Zoo and St. Louis Science Center.

Pin Oak Creek RV Park

  • Twelve miles south of Six Flags in Villa Ridge, the year-round Pin Oak Creek RV Park has a playground, game room, miniature golf course, sand volleyball area and basketball court to keep campers busy. Hone your helicopter and swan dive in the spacious swimming pool, or sign up for paintball fun. Licenses aren't needed to cast a line for catfish, crappie, bluegill and bass in the on-site fishing pond. Pick from primitive campsites, partial-hookup sites for pop-up campers and tents, full-hookup RV sites, comfortable log cabin rentals or a rustic bunkhouse that sleeps 12. For more creature comforts, reserve a deluxe cabin or the double-wide mobile home.

Robertsville State Park

  • Robertsville State Park is a 1,200 acre property 13 miles from Six Flags. The scenic Meremac River provides boaters and fishermen with 2 miles of wet entertainment. Neighboring Calvary Creek attracts licensed anglers interested in reeling in bluegill, crappie and smallmouth bass. Hiking trails, scenic vistas, a boat ramp and birdwatching opportunities abound at this year-round park that formerly served as a working farm. A playground, restrooms and a seasonal sanitary dump station dot the acreage, as do a limited number of rustic and family campsites with full or partial hookups.

RV Campgrounds Near Priest River, Idaho


The confluence of the Priest and Pend Oreille Rivers near the town of Priest River, Idaho, is a big draw for campers. These waterways and several nearby lakes provide abundant opportunities for boating, fishing and swimming. With much of the area covered by national forest lands, native wildlife such as bald eagles, black bears and moose thrive, and you might glimpse these animals during your visit. You can find camping options ranging from primitive to luxurious within 30 miles of Priest River.

Mudhole Marvels

  • The Priest River Recreation Area, a mile east of town, houses a waterfront campground with 20 sites. Also called the Mudhole Campground, this facility can accommodate RVs, but doesn’t have hookups. It does have a dump station, clean drinking water and restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers. You can launch kayaks from the campground’s boat ramp, and fishing areas and a swimming beach present other recreational opportunities. Rounding out the amenities are a playground and baseball field. Near the campground, you’ll find the Priest River Wildlife Area, home to bears, deer, bald eagles, osprey and many other bird species.

West to Washington

  • You can find other camping opportunities near Newport, Washington, about 6.5 miles west of Priest River. Two campgrounds on the Idaho side of the border occupy the banks of the Pend Oreille River and have boat launches, swimming beaches and fishing areas. Both can accommodate RVs, but don’t have hookups. Pioneer Park in the Colville National Forest consists of 17 sites with campfire rings and picnic tables. The facility also has potable water and vault toilets. Albeni Cove has 14 sites with grills and fire rings. In addition to drinking water, the campground has flush toilets and hot showers. If you prefer a resort setting, check out the Newport/Little Diamond Lake KOA. Pull-through sites accommodate trailers up to 70 feet, and 50-amp electric hookups, as well as water and a limited number of sewer hookups, are available. You can take a paddle boat out on the campground’s lake, fish from the shore or practice your golf swing on the driving range. A pool, hot tub and sauna round out the amenities, and the KOA also hosts crafts and other activities for children.

Riley Recreation

  • Riley Creek Recreation Area operates a campground with 67 sites that can host RVs up to 60 feet. Each site has water and electric hookups, as well as flush toilets, hot showers and a dump station. Less than 10 miles southeast of Priest River, near Laclede, the campground stands on the banks of the Pend Oreille River and has a boat ramp and swimming area. Other recreational assets include basketball and beach volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and biking and hiking trails.

Priest Lake

  • About 25 miles north of Priest River, you can reach the 225,000-acre Priest Lake. Several campgrounds on and near the southern end accommodate RVs. Dickensheet is the closest, at 23 miles north of town, and has 11 sites with space for 24-foot trailers. Operated by Priest Lake State Park, the campground doesn’t accept reservations. Amenities include a dump station, flush toilets and showers, along with a ramp for launching canoes, kayaks and rafts. The National Forest Service maintains the other campgrounds in this area. Luby Bay, 29 miles north of Priest River, is designed to house RVs up to 65 feet. The facility has 52 sites divided between two locations; one section is paved, the other gravel. Hydrants and water fountains supply drinking water, and five sites have electric and water hookups. There’s also a dump station. Two nearby campgrounds, Outlet and Osprey, have parking spots large enough to accommodate RVs but lack hookups.

RV Camping and State Campgrounds Near Huntington Beach, California


Palm-studded coastline and surfable waves make Huntington Beach a draw for anyone who ever paddled a surfboard. Its nickname is “Surf City,” a fitting title for a town that hosts the U.S. Open of Surfing each year. The best of the best come here in search of waves, fortune and fame. Huntington State Beach fronts the town and is the perfect spot for picnics, sunbathing and water sports. Though overnight camping at Huntington State Beach is not allowed, other options are available for those wanting to spend the night under the stars.

City of Huntington Beach –- Sunset Vista RV Park

  • The City of Huntington Beach operates its own beachfront RV campground, the Sunset Vista RV Park. The seasonal park is open from October through May and reservations may be made through the City of Huntington Beach Camping Reservations website. The park is located south of the pier and uses space at the Huntington City Beach parking lot. Sites have water and electric hookups, and most can handle RVs up to 45 feet. The exception is the beachfront row, where the RV length is limited to 30 feet. Restrooms, outdoor showers and an RV dump station are available. Leashed dogs are welcome but are not allowed on the sand.

Huntington Beach Area Privately Owned RV Campgrounds

  • At less than 2 miles from Huntington Beach State Park, the Huntington by the Sea RV Park is another viable option for RVs up to 45 feet. Located on the land side of the Pacific Coast Highway, this family-oriented park has full hookups, resort-style amenities and is open year-round. Another option is Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina, 8 miles south of Huntington Beach. This park is adjacent to the Back Bay Nature Preserve. It has its own mile-long stretch of sand with an adjacent water park, and a safe swimming area for the kids. Rent a pedal boat or a sailboat and get out on the water in this calm, protected area. All sites have full hookups. Both campgrounds allow pets but have breed restrictions.

Crystal Cove State Park – Laguna Beach

  • Only 11 miles south of Huntington Beach is Crystal Cove State Park. Its Moro Campground is perched on bluffs across from the beach, and has RV and tent campsites. RV sites have water and electric hookups, and can handle rigs up to 35 feet. Hiking trails follow the bluffs and lead down to a beach access ramp that gets you safely onto the sand. Pets are welcome, but they must be leashed and kept in your RV at night. No animals except service dogs are allowed on the sand. Crystal Cove State Park allows gas barbeques on the beach, so it’s possible to enjoy a picnic on the sand. Crystal Cove is quite photogenic and has been used as a backdrop in a number of Hollywood productions, including “Treasure Island” from 1918 and “Beaches,” filmed in 1988. Camping reservations are available via Reserve America.

Doheny State Beach – Dana Point

  • Less than 30 miles south of Huntington Beach is Doheny State Beach -- and a campground that extends to the sand. Some of the RV sites, which can handle rigs up to 35 feet, have oceanfront views and back up to the beach. San Juan Creek runs through the northern end of the campground, separating the day-use area from the overnight section. Showers, restrooms and an RV dump station are on-site. Leashed dogs are welcome, but not on the sand. Doheny State Beach is known for its tide pools, found on the northern end of the beach. At low tide, you can find a number of marine creatures living in their temporary homes while waiting for the sea to rush in again. Look but don’t touch -- this is a protected marine area.