When I lived back east, my friends and I used to rent a beach house for a week in August. Now that the original group of friends is scattered around the country it’s been more difficult to coordinate vacation time. I recently decided that our summer vacation tradition is worth reviving, only this time I’m arranging for my friends to spend a week with me lakefront in Eastern Washington.

I’ve rented one of the five bedroom Banks Lake villas. The villa sits right on the lake and the large first floor decks provide spectacular panoramic views. In addition to all the water sports and outdoor adventures we can have, we can also enjoy each other’s company watching movies on satellite television, cooking meals in the spacious kitchen, and sipping wine by the fireplace. The villa also comes with a washer, dryer, and dishwasher which will make cleaning up after ourselves a lot easier. I can’t wait for my friends to get out here for the epic return of our summer vacation tradition!

I grew up in the South and attended college only a few hours away from my hometown. When the local economy started to slip, I began to expand my career horizons by investigating opportunities outside the area. As luck would have it, I landed a job soon after graduation and relocated to the Pacific Northwest. Knowing the trip would take several days, I packed up my truck and headed out onto the highway.

I’ve always been an outdoorsy type, so I consulted a lodging directory to find campgrounds along the route. I managed to save money that otherwise would have been squandered on motel rooms. While some of the campgrounds were subpar, the facilities at the Banks Lake campgrounds stand out for their immaculate upkeep and the outdoor activities that were easily accessible. By roughing it, I arrived in town with a few extra tales to tell my new friends and co-workers.