Welcome to a weekly segment called "Social Circle." It's a group effort between readers, social networkers and the OnMilwaukee.com editors. Every Monday, we ask a question via Facebook and Twitter and then post the responses from our Facebook "likers" and Twitter followers in this column. Well-known Milwaukee movers and shakers will contribute, too.
Wisconsin is home to many beautiful camping locations that are next to lakes, on the edge of cliffs or in the middle of forests. Camping is affordable, fun and, with the right equipment, a very relaxing break from life's stresses.
This week, the Social Circle shared its favorite camping spots. Or non-camping spots. (Turns out some members of the Social Circle are at zero with nature.) Feel free to add your own, via the Talkback feature.
Felipe Beltran: "Backyard."
Jill Braun: "Mauthe Lake! Awesome place to camp with kids. And Kohler-Andrae State Park. We're heading there next week."
Beth De Bord: "Holiday Inn. Windows open. Grill in parking lot."
Pam Cake: "Peninsula State Park in Door County. It's all about the bathrooms and showers."
Robb Ellicson: "Edge O' the Dells. Kids aren't allowed so you can be noisy by the camp fire later and not wake up to yelling at 7 a.m. Plus the pools are great, the restroom/showers are very clean and every site has electric."
Patrick Fox: "Wyalusing State Park has the best canoing, plus you can moon Minnesota from the bluffs."
Kevin Groen: "Heading to Peninsula State Park this weekend. I'll let you know what I think. However, the greatest place to go camping is Rock Island. Its simply amazing. I can't really explain it in words; I have tried to many times. What I can say is that when I meet someone else who has camped there we both light up and just talk and talk about how our bodies and minds need to go back there. Sort of like how Jack felt when he got off the island."
Jean Gutierrez-White: "Camp Marriott. They have a canopy bed."
Steven Hawley: "Green Lake."
Caitlin Heideman: "Peninsula. Beautiful state park, fish boils and Lake Michigan sunsets."
Jenn Hintz: "McLain State Park on Lake Superior in Michigan's UP. Literally on the shoreline, and before eroding away, had the best off-road rustic sites that were still a short walking distance to full restrooms with running water and electricity."
Elizabeth Howe: "Devil's Lake. Great for families and couples. Beaches are clean-ish and they have flush toilets and showers."
Paul Kennedy: "In Brown Deer, because that's where my home is with my bed, TV and full bath."
Shannon Knapp: "Bong for close and Point Beach for quiet and not touristy."
Dan Krass: "Copper Falls."
Erin Shea Linnane: "Bong, Ottawa and Kohler-Andre are awesome and close. Devil's Lake is gorgeous, but the last time we were there people thought it was OK to just walk through our site to get to the bathroom which got old, fast."
Angie Marie: "Jellystone. 'Cause it rocks."
Andy Pagel: "Bong. Great camping. Best kept secret, I think."
Matthew Pickard: "On the air mattress in front of the TV."
Lisa Platt-Feil: "Jellystone in Warrens. The Jellystones are the best deals in Wisconsin. They offer lots to keep kids busy and are huge."
JC Poppe: "I hate camping but I hear Perrot State Park over by me (LaCrosse area) is super dope."
Julie Ragland: "Wildcat Mountain State Park. Love the driftless area; shop the Amish stores, canoe the Kickapoo River. I wanna be there now!"
Riz Rashid: "Washington Island. The drive up there is the best part. Early, early summer morning."
Melissa Schoeffel: "Newport State Park in Door County, Yellowstone Lake (for the bats), Wyalusing (great canoing, indeed!) and Perrot (you can eat at the Trempeleau Hotel – walnut burgers!), Harrington Beach ... Oh, and Rock Island IS amazing, but you have to take two ferries to get there, and the second one doesn't allow cars (that's WHY Rock island is so amazing)!"
Krys Spunky: "I have camped many, many places. I think the Twin Lakes in upper Wisconsin is a great place for the Wisconsin area. I have done Menomonee Park many times, too."
Jaimmie Stugard: "Point Beach. Beautiful and close enough to pack up the little ones and head home if disaster strikes."
Rebecca Szmania: "Rock Island. It's hike-in/hike-out, take everything on your back, no running water or bathrooms and completely rustic. What more could a girl ask for?"
Mary Thompson: "On the islands on the Wisconsin River."
Keith C. White: "Devil's Lake. Beautiful views, nice hiking, boat rental."
Caitlin Zhenotdel: "Terry Andrae State Park (you can drop the Kohler part, in my opinion, and anything that conservative family puts its name on). The dunes between the camping area and the beach are wonderfully secluded. A unique gem in the state park system."