New England's anglers are some of the luckiest in the nation when family vacation time rolls around.

Freshwater fishing or coastal, tenting, RVing or resort accommodations; hiking, biking, beach combing, learning local history and folklore; flying, sailing and even submarine adventures are all within reach this summer.

Here's a roundup of some of the best family fishing destinations to explore in 2009:

CONNECTICUT
Nutmeg State families are lucky because several destinations offer access to freshwater and saltwater fishing. Why choose between trout and stripers when you can have it all?

Gardner Lake, in Salem, Montville and Bozrah, offers anglers a shot at stocked brown and rainbow trout, walleyes, largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel and plenty of panfish to keep young anglers happy.

To the west is 190-acre Lake Hayward, another stocked trout water where anglers can also target largemouth bass and panfish.

For more details, check DeLorme's Connecticut/Rhode Island Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 37.

Acorn Acres, at 135 Lake Road in Bozrah, is a great base of operations for fishing and family fun. There are over 200 tent and RV sites, plus rental cabins. The area includes a bass pond and a trout stream that runs through the property.

There's an Olympic-sized swimming pool, hot tub, snack bar, adult lounge, tennis courts, shuffleboard, basketball, horseshoes, badminton, bingo, a playground, crafts, miles of hiking trails, hayrides and live music on weekends to keep the family occupied when they aren't drowning worms.

For more information, call (860) 859-1020, or go online to www.acornacrescampsites.com.

Salem Farms Campground, on the Alexander Road in Salem, has trailer sites with 30-amp service, water, grey water receptacles, fire rings and picnic tables. The campground recently added Wi-Fi Internet access and a new playground.

For more information, call (860) 859-2320, or visit online at www.salemfarmscampground.com.

Witch Meadow Lake Campground, nestled on the shore of a 14-acre lake, is at 139 Witch Meadow Road in Salem. Swimming, boating and fishing are allowed. Pedal boats, canoes and hydro bikes are available. A children's activity program is available.

For more information, call (860) 859-1542, or visit the Web site at www.witchmeadowcampground.com.

Rustic camping is available at 21 sites in Devil's Hopyard State Park in East Haddam. The biggest draw here, in addition to brook trout in the stream, is the 60-foot Chapman Falls, which flows into the Eightmile River. Trails here allow for hiking and mountain biking. There are cooking grills, picnic shelters, tables and pit toilets.

Call (860) 873-8566 for details.

Visit the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research center in Poquetanuck to learn more about this tribe. This is the largest such facility in the world, featuring exhibits on 18,000 years of Native American and natural history.

For more information, call the museum office at (800) 411-9671, or visit www.pequotmuseum.org.

A short drive to the southeast will give anglers saltwater access in Waterford and Mystic. There's plenty for families to do here, too. Visit the Mystic Seaport and Museum, where a recreated 19th century coastal village, preservation shipyard and working artisans bring history to life. Boat rentals are available.

Call (860) 572-5315, or visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Nearby in Pleasant Valley is the Submarine Force Museum. Board the USS Nautilus to get a feel for submarine life, and learn the history of this ship of firsts -- first nuclear powered, first to the North Pole and first to travel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

Call (860) 694-3174, or visit www.ussnautilus.org.

For more fishing information, call (860) 424-3000, or go online to www.ct.gov/dep/site/default.asp.

For general travel information, visit www.visitconnecticut.com or www. tourism.state.ct.us/.