To find a summer-vacation getaway that offers fantastic fishing along with plenty of other family fun can be a challenge. Luckily, the Keystone State has all the options covered.

Campgrounds nestled into our state's 17 million acres of forestland offer everything from primitive sites to cozy cabins. With Pennsylvania's 83,000 miles of wilderness streams and rivers, 160,000 acres of inland waterways, plus 470,000-acre Lake Erie, fishing opportunities abound. Factor in the rich local history, whimsical amusement parks and unusual shops and eateries, and visitors to Pennsylvania are sure to find the winning combination for their family fishing vacation!

GREAT LAKES REGION
There's no way to talk fishing in Pennsylvania without mentioning Lake Erie, renowned as the walleye capital of the world as well as a hotspot for smallmouth bass and yellow perch. State-record Chinook salmon, coho salmon, lake trout and palomino trout have all been taken from Erie's depths.

Great angling can also be had just inland from Lake Erie. Pennsylvania's northwestern region is home to fantastic family fishing in any number of locations, including Edinboro Lake in Edinboro, Pymatuning Lake near Linesville, Woodcock Creek Lake near Saegertown, Lake Wilhelm near Sandy Lake and Justus Lake near Franklin.

Lake Wilhelm contains 1,860 acres of warmwater habitat that's perfect for largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleyes, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegills, crappies, catfish, perch and sunfish. Rowboats, pontoons, paddleboats, kayaks and canoes can be rented at the marina.

The 2,856-acre Maurice K. Goddard State Park borders Lake Wilhelm and is adjacent to 2,027-acre State Game Lands No. 270. This rolling, open terrain, mixed with wooded areas and lake habitat, contains ducks, rabbits, turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, woodcock, grouse, deer, eagles, ospreys and a variety of other critters for wildlife watchers.

A total of 150 picnic tables are available throughout the park, and the boat launch areas feature restrooms and larger picnic facilities. There are 14 miles of trails along the lake and through nearby open fields. Six miles of mountain bike trail weave along the north shore. Creek Road on the south shore offers bikers a 12.5-mile loop.

For more information, you can visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/mauricekgoddard.aspx.

Family-friendly lodging can be found at Camp Wilhelm next to the state park. Sites include full-hookup and primitive sites, cabins and rental campers. Guests have access to the park, the lake and campground amenities, which include a heated pool, arcade room, sand volleyball court, playground, horseshoes and more. Call (724) 253-2886 for more information. Or give Goddard Park Vacationland Campground a try. They have 602 sites; 514 are full hook-ups and 16 are rental units. Call (724) 253-4645 for details.

When the family tires of boating, hiking, the great shoreline-access fishing, and bird watching, there's still plenty to do. To see what programs are scheduled, visit the McKeever Environmental Education Center at www.mckeever.org, or call (724) 376-1000.

McKeever has three dormitories and a dining hall that can accommodate 120 people. The site also has a discovery building, auditorium, five miles of hiking trails and an outdoor amphitheater.

In nearby Hermitage, visit Shenango River Lake to picnic, swim and hike while anglers fish for bass, walleyes and a variety of panfish. Hike the Shenango Trail or the nearby Seth Meyers Trail, which is one-half mile long and offers a self-guided interpretive nature hike.