"Lake Perry State Park and Wildlife Area" Perry State Park by basstbn

Early day cartographers' maps designated the entire plains area of the American territories as "The Great Desert." To be sure there was vegetation, lots of it -especially grasses, but no great rivers, and no lakes. Thanks to the US Corp of Engineers and depression-era works programs, there are now many good-sized reservoirs scattered across the state of Kansas.

One of these is Lake Perry, located in a hilly, wooded area north of Lawrence and Topeka. It is a popular lake for fishing, boating, swimming, and camping. As with all Kansas state lakes, there are no hotels, lodges, or resorts on the lake - only rustic camping facilities, and a minimum of dining facilities.

The park and wildlife area covers more than 11,000 acres, better than a thousand of which are marshland. It is an excellent place to watch and hunt waterfowl.

• Pros:Good boating & water sports, fair fishing, good hiking and wildlife viewing
• Cons:Lack of lodging & dining
• In a nutshell:Favorite recreation area for region's inhabitants