1st Place: Coon Fork Lake County Park
2nd Place: Lake Wissota State Park
3rd Place: Brunet Island State Park

The classic combination of campfire, s’mores, friends, cheeky raccoons, and a starry night sky is all one needs to enjoy summer in Eau Claire. But where do you pitch your tent? Location is everything when you are seeking a rural hideaway to escape the city. Rated number one in the Chippewa Valley is Coon Fork Lake County Park, with private, woodsy sites that make it tricky to spy on your neighbor (a bonus or hindrance, depending). Campers have a wide variety of recreation from swimming, canoeing, and hiking, to horseback riding. Lake Wissota, northeast of Chippewa Falls, slides into second place with its 1,062 acres of forest abounding in furry woodland animals, secluded sites, beach, and hiking trails. A mere hop, skip, and jump further north is Brunet Island State Park, which also boasts 1,200 acres of breathtaking beauty and recreational activities. Plus it’s an island! How cool is that? – Heidi Kraemer

Really? About 30 people prefer pitching a tent “Outside Wal-Mart.”