Enjoying a quiet moment, like this beautiful sunrise, is even more relaxing while out in our state's great outdoors. Photo by Tom Berg.

Summer is here! School is finally out of session and it's time to plan a family getaway that everyone will enjoy. To coincide with the warm-weather vacation season, Indiana Game & Fish publishes an annual family vacation guide that highlights a variety of destinations where families can go to relax and get away from the daily grind.

Since gasoline has come down from last summer's all-time highs, in-state vacations are even more affordable these days. And Indiana has lots of state parks and public properties where camping, fishing and general exploring are nearby and downright convenient. The cost is usually quite affordable, too!

The only thing to do is to figure out what activities will interest everyone in the family, and then pick a place that matches those interests. If fishing is at the top of the list, choose a location that has good angling nearby. If the majority of the clan enjoys water skiing or high-speed pleasure boating, be sure to find a lake that has no horsepower restrictions.

If your family would like to include some hiking, wildlife viewing, camping or sightseeing in their plans, that should be easy to accommodate. Indiana's state parks and public properties offer plenty of opportunities. These days, families can even make their reservations online. Camping reservations and cabin rentals can be made in advance on the state's Web site, www.camp.IN.gov.

Here are some topnotch choices to consider for this year:

JUNE
Hardy Lake SRA
Hardy Lake State Recreation Area (SRA) is a very scenic property in southeastern Indiana's Scott and Jefferson counties. The property is situated near Scottsburg, about six miles east of Austin. It covers a total of 2,449 acres, including the popular 741-acre Hardy Lake. This impoundment is nestled among mature stands of oak, hickory, maple and beech trees, making it perfect for fishermen and nature-lovers alike.

The fishing on Hardy Lake is usually quite good, and that is one of the reasons that families come here to spend their free time. Largemouth bass, bluegills, crappies, sunfish and channel catfish are all targeted by the lake's anglers. Many people fish from their own boats or you can rent a rowboat, but there is also good shorefishing access, including two fishing piers.

Larry Lehman, one of District 8's fisheries biologists for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said that the fishing has been improving here for the last few years.

"We did a creel survey in 2007," he said, "and people are more satisfied with their fishing experience now than they were back in 2003 (during the last survey). More anglers fish for bass here than any other kind of fish, but panfish always dominate the harvest."

Although the fishing here is good, there are plenty of other activities for busy families, too. For those who are interested in other forms of outdoor recreation, Hardy Lake SRA offers an archery range, basketball and volleyball courts, a swimming beach and a picnic area. There are also several hiking trails, featuring groves of hardwood forest and beautiful views of the lake.

There are two campgrounds on the property that are popular with campers. The Shale Bluff campground offers 149 electric sites with gravel pads, water fountains, hot water, flush toilets and showers. The primitive Wooster campground is much smaller and only features 18 sites. It also has just one pit toilet.