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Who needs Maine when there is Massachusetts?

Print | Comments () Posted by Beth Daley July 3, 2008 01:36 PM

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By Beth Daley, Globe Staff

Gas prices got you down? Pledging to drive only if it cost you less than a day’s salary?

Instead of giving up hope for any vacation, try a local one. Whale watching, kayaking, fishing - it's all right here in the Bay State and state officials have created a map to get you to the fun.

Can you kayak?

The map, updated for the first time in three years, lists every public area and includes access info to 67 beaches, 39 pools, 60 playgrounds, 200 miles of trails, 28 campgrounds with 3,525 campsites and 16 harbor islands.

"Massachusetts has one of the largest state park systems in the nation, which is quite remarkable given that we're one of the smallest states,'' said state Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr.

Maps are available at all state parks, highway information centers and hatcheries and online at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/publications/recreation_map.pdf

It's not that Massachusetts doesn't have a lot of visitors.

More than 14 million people visit Massachusetts’ state forests and parks annually. Reservations at campgrounds are up 14 percent from last year.

According to a national survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, about 500,000 resident and non-resident anglers in Massachusetts spent more than $769 million in the latest year statistics are available. About 73,000 hunters spent more than $70 million and 1.9 million people who enjoy wildlife watching in Massachusetts spent about $755 million.

"At a time when many people are concerned about travel and fuel expenses, I encourage folks to see what Massachusetts has to offer for summer vacation options and outdoor activities throughout the year," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles.