Family vacations have been a staple of American culture for decades. They are often portrayed in movies, and usually with poor results. Families are shown constantly fighting, bickering and generally having a terrible time. How can you avoid this scenario when taking your own family on vacation? The key is to be democratic - make sure you are heading to a destination where everyone in the family will have some way to have fun! If even one family member is unhappy, odds are that their foul mood will spread until no one is enjoying themselves.

That being said, ask yourself: who is going on the family vacation? Your significant other? Your children? Elderly grandparents? Infants? Teenagers? Each person will have a different idea of what is fun, and though it is important to spend time together as a family enjoying the same activities, each person should have something particular to look forward to. This is easy to accomplish as long as the destination is right!

There are many wonderful lakes with activities for the entire family throughout the country. In California, consider heading to Lake Arrowhead, located in San Bernardino County, about 50 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Children 12 and under will love the Lake Arrowhead Children's Museum, with tons of fun activities, hands-on exhibits, educational programs, clubs, and special events where kids can learn, imagine, explore and create. Adolescents and teenagers can enjoy the Ice Castle Training Center and Ice Skating Rink, where you can skate for fun, or get a lesson from a pro. If they'd rather get out on the water, Lake Arrowhead also offers McKenzie's Water Ski School, designed so that people of all ages can learn this exciting sport (race skiing, barefoot skiing, and even trick skiing styles!). As if this wasn't enough, you and your significant other can take the plunge and give paragliding a shot at Thermal Dynamics Paragliding Adventures. For a great time in the snow, check out the Green Valley Nordic Ski Area (the kids could enjoy this one too!). Elderly members of the family can sit back and relax as they are taken on a paddlewheel tour of the lake, go for a peaceful drive on the Rim of the World National Scenic Byway, or play the 18-hole country club golf course.

If your family is situated closer to the east coast, think about vacationing on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. Here you can enjoy the beauty of the water, the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, and the exciting city of Roanoke, just a short drive from the lake. Teens will love the chance to try water skiing, jet skiing, tubing, wake boarding, sailing, and fishing for striper, which is very plentiful in Smith Mountain Lake. Younger children can enjoy the miniature golf course located just off the lake, as well as swimming in the shallower waters (with adult supervision, of course). Couples can take a relaxing drive on the breathtaking Blue Ridge Parkway, known as "America's Most Scenic Drive." To make the day even more romantic, there are several wineries in the area that offer tasting and other fun events. For the truly adventurous, try skydiving at Smith Mountain Lake Airport, an experience that would give you incredible bragging rights! Finally, the older members of your family will take pleasure in visiting the National D-Day Memorial, located in nearby Bedford, which includes a museum, gift shop, reflecting pool and flag displays. Other facets of American history are displayed at the Booker T. Washington National Monument, which preserves areas of the 224-acre tobacco farm where Washington was born.

These are just two of the dozens of lake destinations that are great for an entire family. Browse through our listings here at LakeRentals.com to find even more great vacation ideas, and remember: include your family when making the decision, it's the only way everyone will have fun. Once you've decided where to go, check out our vacation properties for that lake, as a vacation home is far more economic and comfortable for a family than a tiny, expensive hotel room. Contact us for more information.