For most families, the two-week vacation has gone the way of the dodo bird. Few families today can afford to take off two solid weeks in the summer. With both parents working and the kids busy with soccer, swimming, summer camp and other activities, there just doesn't seem to be enough of the time that past generations had to enjoy a leisurely summer vacation.

Factor in the cost of gas these days, and those families who do travel now are more likely to set their sights on several short trips rather than one long out-of-state excursion. This is one reason we should be happy to live in Wisconsin: There are so many family vacation options available within our borders that it would take a couple of lifetimes to explore them all.

Here's a look at a handful of summer vacation getaways right here in Wisconsin where you and your family can enjoy great fishing -- plus plenty of other outdoor fun.

LAKE WISCONSIN
In these times of high gas prices and short vacation windows, Lake Wisconsin on the Sauk County-Columbia County border presents a destination that is easy to reach in a couple of hours from anywhere in southern Wisconsin. Just head west on Interstate 94 from Madison or Milwaukee and you'll arrive before the kids can ask, "Are we there yet?"

This 9,000-acre flowage on the Wisconsin River offers good fishing for bluegills, crappies and white bass, along with opportunities for walleyes, saugers, bass, muskies and catfish. Panfish here run big, so the kids won't be catching runts.

Try the backwaters of Whalen's Grade and several other shallow bays for bluegills, crappies and largemouth bass. The power-plant discharge across from the I-94 bridge is a good spot for white bass, which will hit any small white or silver artificials. If your kids are advanced anglers, you can teach them how to jig the river channel and dropoffs for smallmouths, walleyes and saugers. Blade baits and tube jigs will take all three species.

From Lake Wisconsin, it's a short drive west to Devils Lake State Park, which is a great camping, fishing and hiking destination in its own right. If you go to Devils Lake, take the side trip to Parfrey's Glen. A short hike will take you into a delightful mini-canyon, where you'd almost expect to see a Hobbit at any turn. Another attraction is the Merrimac Ferry, a free car ferry that crosses Lake Wisconsin between Lodi and Merrimac.

For more information, contact the Lake Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce at (608) 635-8070, or online at www.lakewisconsin.org; Sunset Resort at (608) 592-4880, and Bridge Bait and Tackle at (608) 592-4806.

YELLOWSTONE LAKE STATE PARK
One of the few lakes in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, 450-acre Yellowstone Lake in Lafayette County was formed by a dam on the Yellowstone River. The lake is surrounded by a state park, which has campsites, hiking trails, boat launches, picnic sites and more. There are also two private campgrounds nearby.