Vermont's little-visited Southwestern Lakes region is full of sapphire jewels undisturbed by summer crowds. None is more pristine and pretty than Lake Saint Catherine, where you can rent paddle boats or canoes, or just dive in to the water with a snorkel to meet and greet the lake's large population of perch, pike, and trout. Lake Saint Catherine State Park, 3034 Route 30 South, Poultney, 802-241-3655, vtstateparks.com/htm/catherine.cfm.