Experience A Fun Variety Of Outdoor Adventures At This East Coast State Park

Picking the perfect place to vacation with the entire family can be a decidedly daunting task. When you're hoping to plan and enjoy a getaway where everyone's interests are taken into account, it can be tempting to focus solely on national parks as top destinations for a variety of adventures. While there are certainly beautiful and memorable moments to be had when you head to such locations, there are often droves of other travelers with the exact same idea in mind. The unexpected crowds can quickly take the shine off the trip of a lifetime.

This time around, why not focus on a state park getaway instead? If your traveling crew is passionate about outdoor adventures, make your way to the East Coast and spend some quality time together at Lums Pond State Park. Located in Bear, Delaware, Lums Pond State Park is home to the largest freshwater pond in the entire state and has a long list of outdoor options for fun that everyone can pick and choose from during a visit.

If you're looking for a multi-day stay filled with customized outdoor adventures, Lums Pond State Park is home to a spacious and inviting campground. Here, guests can choose to tent camp their way through a stay or opt for a more primitive horse campsite without hookups instead. The campgrounds also have convenient RV parking sites and yurts available for reservation.

If you're a traveler who looks forward to casting a line no matter where you roam, you'll find Lums Pond State Park is a prime place for fishing. Underneath the surface of the pond, species ranging from perch and pickerel to crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass thrive. Just make sure you have a state fishing license in hand — which can be obtained online through the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

For outdoor adventurers who prefer to paddle or row their way through a day on the water, Lums Pond State Park is a perfect place to spend quality time in a canoe, rowboat, or recreational kayaking. While you're more than welcome to bring your own, rental watersport equipment is readily available at the Summit North Marina right on-site. The marina hosts 250 private boat slips and also rents pedal boats upon request. When you head out onto the water, Lums Pond State Park is conveniently equipped with a boat launch and two piers for visitors to use.

Whether you end up visiting Lums Pond State Park for the afternoon or spend multiple days exploring the grounds, you won't want to miss out on the exciting bike trails while you're here. These beautiful pond-side routes are not only scenic but also provide paths for cyclists of all skill levels to enjoy. If you're an experienced mountain biker looking to hone your skills, be sure to start on the Swamp Forest Trail. Those looking for a more leisurely approach to biking through the park will want to stick to the Little Jersey Trail, which is relatively flat and covers nearly  eight miles of terrain.

If you do head out on the Little Jersey Trail, it's good to be aware that this path is a shared-use route open for hiking, biking, and horseback riding alike. If you're saddling up to explore, you can enjoy the trail between 8 a.m. and sunset daily. Just be sure to leave all of your vehicles and horse trailers in designated parking areas near the trailhead.

When you're ready to pick up the pace and elevate the view, make time to try the ziplines at Lums Pond State Park. Your adventure starts at the Go Ape Adventure Park where you can take on ziplining courses high up in the treetops that last anywhere from two to three hours at a time. The course includes tree crossings, swings, ziplines, and ladders to conquer that are sure to thrill.