If it's time to escape the late summer humidity, why not take a trip to the mountains or hit the dry desert for a weekend adventure?

Snow-capped mountains and hills covered in snow can be a welcome retreat from the hot summer blitz, and setting up camp and hiking your way through mountainous territory could be just the break you need. If you want to hold onto a few more days of heat, a trip to the desert for your heat fix without the humidity might be a better choice for your adventure.

Still, no matter where your late summer travels might take you, you'll need to pack a few essentials for survival.

When you're hitting the slopes in Colorado, make your way to the cabin with the essential survival gear; a survival kit, camping gear and some well-insulated clothing are the absolute musts for your adventure in the mountains. Ski cabins are usually equipped with the basic amenities, but you'll need to stock up on snacks, pick up a first aid kit and make sure you have some quality outerwear to keep you warm and toasty. If you do plan to set up camp somewhere in the hills, be sure to take along a weatherproof tent that won't break down in inclement weather.

Trying your hand at hiking in the Rockies? Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone National Park both offer plenty of spots to set up camp and take in a few mountain sports, but hiking is still the activity of choice for many traversing this territory. Make sure you're well prepared for the adventure with the right hiking boots and a sturdy backpack to tote all your gear.

Skip the humidity of summer without missing the heat with a trip to the desert. New Mexico is a prime destination for nature lovers, a place to explore national and state parks, head out on a wilderness adventure or even take an eco-tour - unguided, of course. When you're preparing to survive in the desert heat in New Mexico, you'll need a backpack full of sun block, a wide-brimmed hat to ward off sun damage and a sturdy water bottle. Better yet, pick up a water bottle belt for easy access to basic supplies on your travels.

Who doesn't love animals? You might have a brand new puppy at home or a curmudgeonly cat who feels he runs the entire household, but how often do you get to see wild animals up close and personal? Animals are a feature of many U.S. outdoor vacations, and Arbuckle Wilderness is no exception.

We used to go to Arbuckle at least once a year when I was a teenager, and some of my favorite memories include staring out the window of my parents' minivan, watching the animals as they grazed on lush vegetation or herded one another from one end of the park to another.

Animals you'll find in Arbuckle Wilderness range from giraffes to monkeys to lions and tigers to zebras, goats and even rhinoceroses.

Arbuckle Wilderness offers a number of activities, from hay rides with knowledgeable park rangers to walk-thru and drive-thru tours of the animals. Visitors can purchase feed cups with which to charm the more docile animals, and they arrange cook-outs for large parties and family reunions. The walk-thru zoo allows you to pet and sometimes feed the animals, including monkeys and lemurs.

Even if you aren't quite as fascinated by animals as I've always been, you and the kids will probably enjoy the amusement park at Arbuckle Wilderness. It doesn't hold a candle to Six Flags or Disney World, but Go-Carts and Bumper Boats have a certain charm. The walk-thru zoo allows you to pet and sometimes feed the animals, including monkeys and lemurs.

If you want to stay in the Arbuckle area, you might want to check out the log cabins, cottages and lake houses they offer for rent throughout the region.

It gets chilly in the evenings at Arbuckle Wilderness, even in the summer time, so you'll want to pack a sweatshirt or two, such as the Ezekiel Nevermind Reversible Hoodie (for women) or Adio Repent Hoodie (for men.) You might also want a pair of sturdy hiking boots to protect your feet and a camera to capture the event.

Make sure you also bring some spare cash if you want to feed the animals or ride the rides! Arbuckle Wilderness is located off Interstate-35 in Murray County, Oklahoma, about one hour from OKC and about two hours from Dallas, Texas.

With Tropical Storm Edouardo drenching Houston, I got to thinking about how often rain can ruin fun family vacations. Whether you plan on hiking in the Adirondacks or riding the rapids in Tennessee, rain can put a halt to your plans and leave you staring through the windows of your hotel room until it's time to catch a plane back home.

Of course, every rain storm isn't as torrential as Tropical Storm Edouardo, and as my mother and I drove to San Antonio to visit family this afternoon, we brainstormed ways to keep the fun in your vacation regardless of the weather.

Hiking in the Rain

Just because the sky is leaking doesn't mean you can't go on that nature hike you were planning. Watch the weather forecast to make sure there isn't any thunder or lightening in the vicinity, then gear up for a hike in the rain.

You'll need sensible shoes that won't easily slip on mud or exposed rock, such as the Scarpa Barun GTX hiking boots. The Gore-Tex lining will make sure your socks and feet don't get wet, and the tread will keep you safe from falls.

Additionally, make sure you wear a rain slicker that will keep the rain out of your eyes and protect you should the weather turn ugly while you're climbing the side of a mountain or roaming deep in a forest. A padded lining with plenty of pockets will be perfect, and don't forget extra batteries for the flash lights.

Camping in the Rain

You don't have to seek out more cozy lodgings if the weather turns foul--a great tent and plenty of food that doesn't need to be cooked will suffice even in the wilderness. Make sure that your tent doesn't have any leaks before you start to pitch, and make sure to head indoors if you see lightening or hear thunder close by.

Games in the Rain

Visiting a state or national park during inclement weather can be almost as fun as when the skies are clear and blue. Send your family on a wet-weather scavenger hunt or take a jog through the trails in the rain. Again, as long as there isn't any thunder or lightening, you'll find that the rain is actually invigorating.

Rain doesn't have to spoil your next outdoor vacation. Just make sure you're geared for any type of weather with coats, sensible shoes and luggage that won't ruin if it gets soaked heading for the car.

Sure, you love the great outdoors--but you also love your iPod! Check out these cool tips for hauling your tech gear up mountains and down rivers, regardless of your vacation destination.

Let's face it: we're all multi-layered human beings with a wide diversity of interests and passions. We're not just accountants or just mountain bikers, and sometimes our interests conflict with one another. This is the conundrum that active professionals face when they need a break from concrete sidewalks and high-rise office buildings. Sure, you want to go skiing or white-water rafting or hiking with the family, but you don't want to cut yourself off from the civilized world.

Taking an outdoor vacation means lightening the load of stress you carry on a daily basis and freeing yourself from worry. You shouldn't feel guilty about wanting to check your e-mail or answer your cell phone, but you'll need to be prepared if you want access to your gear on vacation.

Know the Itinerary

You'll need to plan differently for your vacation if you're going to be canoeing down a river than if you'll be climbing a mountain. Water, for example, is like kryptonite for your tech gear, so you'll want to pack sealable plastic bags to store your laptop, cell phone, PDA and other electronics.

Also, you'll want to think about comfort if you'll be on the move or cruising down a trail, so consider a roomy messenger bag with a shoulder strap for all your gear, such as the Patagonia Half-Mass Bag, which is padded to keep your gear extra safe.

Think Small

Big, bulky bags really don't cut it when you're trying to haul your tech gear around the wilderness-or even on a plane. The goal should be to find the smallest bag that will conceivably hold all of your equipment.

A compact backpack, for example, will allow you to safely store the majority of your gear without worrying about extra weight or volume. The Oakley Planet Pack 2.0 is the perfect solution-it even has a special compartment for your media player while you're on the go.

You'll also want to focus on security if you're going to bring expensive tech gear with you on vacation. Having a small, easy-to-access bag that holds all your stuff will allow you to keep a close eye on your belongings, and you won't be hunting through your luggage when you've got to get your Internet fix. So stay safe and allow yourself to enjoy the great outdoors and modern conveniences at the same time!

Five-star hotels, room service and expensive tours can't compare with these nifty ideas.

We aren't all lucky enough to have thousands of dollars socked away for yearly vacations, but if you like the great outdoors, you're in luck. You can plan amazing outdoor vacations on the cheap, without sacrificing fun and relaxation. Five-star hotels, room service and expensive tours can't compare with these nifty ideas.

State Parks

One of the best ideas for outdoor vacations on the cheap is to visit a state park - or even more than one! Most have camping facilities that include restrooms and even water sources, and you don't have to have an RV or camper to get some shut-eye. A fifty-dollar tent from Wal-Mart, a roaring fire for your hot dogs and s'mores and plenty of scary stories will keep a family of four in style for a whole week.

Even better? The camping fees at state parks are next to nothing, and some even don't charge during the off season. For example, "primitive" camping at Sam Rayburn in Texas is only $10 per night, while full service camping is only $18. You won't find that kind of deal at any hotel.

Visit Relatives

Most people don't think about all of their relatives and out-of-town friends when they plan outdoor vacations. For example, maybe you've always wanted to go hiking in Colorado, but you don't have the money to spring for a hotel and meals while you're enjoying the fresh air. Consider calling your old friend from college or your second cousin and asking if you can stay with them. Not only will you save some dough but you'll get a chance to catch up!

Stay at a B&B

If you don't have any friends or relatives who live near your destination, there are other ways to travel on the cheap. Bed-and-breakfast motels, for example, are usually less expensive than a hotel, and many offer home-cooked meals so you won't drain your bank account on fast food for the entire vacation.<p>You can enjoy outdoor vacations on the cheap if you think outside that proverbial box. Everyone deserves some time off now and again, and sometimes it's easier to commune with nature when you aren't in your own backyard.

Bat flight, cave exploration and nature talks are all part of the fun at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Have you always wanted to see bats in their natural habitat? Do you prefer darkness to bright sunshine? Are you the exploratory type? Vacations for the outdoorsy type don't have to include rock climbing or bike riding - in fact, there is plenty to do and see below ground. Carlsbad Caverns, located in Eddy County, N.M., is one of my favorite vacation destinations in the world.

Rather than exposing yourself to the great outdoors, you can explore what underground passageways have to offer. The Carlsbad Caverns were formed over hundreds of years as aggressive sulfuric acid ate away at the limestone rock below ground. Now, these caves are open to public for exploration, including a few caves where visitors can tour by themselves without a guide.

Even better, Carlsbad Caverns offers a wide range of difficulty in their cave tours, allowing both experienced cave divers and novice enthusiasts alike to enjoy their vacation. Spider Cave, for example, includes lots of crawling, climbing and shimmying through tight spaces, which can be exciting for someone who doesn't mind a bit of physical activity. Of course, those who are claustrophobic need not apply.

For more novice visitors, the Kings Palace cave is one of the most beautiful sites to see in Carlsbad Caverns, and includes lighted passageways where dozens of fascinating cave formations are put on display. The Left Hand Tunnel Tour is easy compared to some of the other caves, and requires that visitors carry lanterns as they explore cave pools and ancient fossils.

Of course, spending an entire vacation below ground might be depressing to some, which is why Carlsbad is one of the best destinations in the entire U.S. On the days when cave exploration seems unattractive, you can take a few hours in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Nature walks, informative demonstrations given by park rangers and slide programs are all available.

And finally, make sure you take at least one evening to visit the Carlsbad Amphitheater, where every summer evening the bats leave the cave in one gigantic stampede, rushing out over seated visitors. Although photography and pets are not allowed, this is a wondrous experience that no one should miss while in New Mexico.

If your idea of a vacation is seeing how many miles you can cover through dense wilderness, Great Smoky Mountains National Park might be your dream destination.

If your idea of a vacation is seeing how many miles you can cover through dense wilderness, Great Smoky Mountains National Park might be your dream destination. There are more than 800 miles of trails through America's most visited park, and if you wait until Fall for your vacation, or head out in the early summer, you'll have less competition from other visitors.

Some people prefer to spend their vacations in the numerous Great Smoky Mountains campsites, taking day hikes over the trails that wind sinuously through the Smokies. However, you can also take two-, three- and four-night backpacking trips and sleep out under the stars. Either way, you're guaranteed a fair amount of exercise and a close-up encounter with several forms of wildlife.

Maddron Bald Overnight Loop

If your legs have been parked under a desk all year, this might not be the trail for you, but experienced hikers who have kept in shape will find the hike invigorating. The two-night adventure takes you along the foothills of Gabes Mountain and into the woods toward a campsite known as Sugar Grove, which has developed a reputation for bear sightings. On the second day, you'll follow Maddron Bald Trail and camp along Otter Creek, and finish the trail on the third day down Snake Den Trail.

This particular adventure on your vacation will take you to 5,800 feet in elevation, and you'll constantly want to stop not to rest your legs, but to admire the stunning vistas that appear through clearings.

Fontana Lake Loop

For those inexperienced hikers, or the vacationers who haven't kept in shape, Fontana Lake is the ultimate destination for beautiful scenery without as much burn. Start out your morning at Fontana Lake, and try some jet-boating before you head up into the mountains, or simply take the chartered boat service from the marina to the other side of the 29-mile-long lake.

The hike itself is magnificent, providing interspersed views of both Fontana Lake and Eagle Creek, carrying you up relatively gentle inclines and long, sloping declines. You might get to see some deer, and you'll find birds of all species flying among the trees. Children in particular will enjoy the view of the Appalachian Trail, which is intersected on the last leg of the hike. You'll end up at Fontana Marina, where you can return to your campsite or enjoy another opportunity for fishing or boating.

There are thousands of different combinations of trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, each of which has something different to offer. Just make sure you bring plenty of water on your hike, and if you come during the middle of the summer, choose non-rationed campsites for more seclusion and less interruption on your hike.

Camping is one of America's most beloved pastimes, and many families throughout the United States choose a different camping destination every year. If you're an outdoorsy type who enjoys sleeping under the stars, you might want to try camping at Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego, Louisiana.

Located just outside New Orleans, Bayou Segnette State Park is a unique camping ground where wildlife and vegetation are plentiful. Since the surrounding area is mostly made up of wetlands, visitors from other parts of the country are guaranteed a fresh new experience. Plus, this particular camping destination was named one of the Top 100 Family Campgrounds of 2008 by The Camping Club.

Wildlife

Most of your day at Bayou Segnette State Park will likely be spent in wondrous fascination as you study all forms of wildlife. Birds such as the bald eagle and cardinal flourish here among the swamps and marshes, and minks and nutria are likewise populous. Of course, you'll want to heed the signs and stay clear of the alligators and snakes that have made this area their home for thousands of years.

If you want something to cook over the campfire for dinner, Bayou Segnette State Park has some of the best fishing in Louisiana. Catfish, bass, redfish and trout can be found in the many tributaries, streams and lakes that run through the camping ground. And don't forget to make time for the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses several miles of hiking and biking trails, plus opportunities for canoeing.

Overnight Stays

Camping at Bayou Segnette State Park is a different experience every time, as the area provides a total of 98 different campsites from which to choose. Each site comes equipped with water and electrical hook-ups, or you can choose to sleep under the stars in your family tent.

Of course, some of us like the great outdoors during the day, but prefer the comforts of home overnight. If you don't fancy the idea of sleeping in a tent or recreational vehicle, Bayou Segnette State Park also offers guest cabins at a reasonable rate, each of which contains amenities such as individual piers, air-conditioning, screened-in porches and heat.

Recreation

It is pretty much guaranteed that you'll never be bored at Bayou Segnette State Park. If you're in the mood to get wet, the wave pool is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer afternoon, or you can jump in a canoe and take a guided tour of the marshlands that surround the park. Children will enjoy playing in the facility's many playgrounds or learning about wildlife with a park employee.

Bayou Segnette State Park is open year-round, with park facilities open daily from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Entrance costs $1 per person except for seniors (over age 62) and children under the age of three, who are granted free admittance. Camping in your RV or tent costs $18 per night, while Golden Age members receive a 50% discount.

If you and your family prefer the smell of freshly cut grass to the scent of room-service breakfast in the morning, fancy hotels just might not cut it for your vacations. Outdoorsy types would rather hike, bike and climb than visit museums and other tourist attractions, and thankfully, the U.S. is chocked full of great vacations for those who prefer the great outdoors.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, for example, is one of the most popular destinations. Conceived and built in the '20s and '30s, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail winds sinuously from Maine to Georgia over 2,175 miles of beautiful scenery. Mile markers posted along the footpath tell hikers how far they've come and how far they have to go, and many families choose to visit a new leg of the trail every year until they've covered it all.

This incredible path was designed and cleared by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to maintaining the hiking trails in the U.S. According to the National Park Service, more than 4 million people visit the Appalachian National Scenic Trail each year, and more than two thirds of the U.S. population are within a day's drive of a portion of the trail.

If you're looking into prime outdoor vacations, this is definitely one of the first spots you should consider, particularly because it can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Most of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is not difficult to traverse-there are very few steep hills-and the path is dutifully maintained by the ATC. Furthermore, you can punctuate your vacation with pauses in various cities and towns along your hike, exploring historical areas and learning what this country has to offer.

The best time to plan vacations at the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is during the late spring, when all of the state parks through which the trail cuts are in bloom and none are closed. Camping parks are available for outdoorsy types who want to pause for the night and sleep under the stars, though there are also hotels and hostels if you don't feel like roughing it overnight.

Families with children should start their vacations in the southernmost tip of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, because this is the easiest leg of the path. Low hills and gentle valleys keep the hike interesting, but there aren't any major elevation changes that might wear out little legs or cause difficulty breathing. Plus, hikers have the opportunity to see Springer Mountain, Neels Gap and Vogel State Park, all of which offer breathtaking views.

However, outdoorsy types who like a challenge on their vacations might prefer the Pennsylvania leg of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. This section is punctuated by tall, rocky ridges and treacherous gaps that make hiking more invigorating for the experienced hiker. Historical sites abound in this area, which provides relief from the monotony of hiking, and there are plenty of cool streams in which to dip your feet before you carry on.

All in all, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is one of the most beautiful footpaths in the country, and it certainly gets points for length. Although you won't be able to see all-or even half-on one vacation, the outdoorsy type will think he has died and gone to heaven.