School will be over soon, and with its end will come free time and sunshine, as well as the need for something fun to do after finals. So grab a couple of friends, dig that old tent out of the garage and head out to one of many Washington state parks for some camping.

In a state of mountains, deserts and rainforests, there are numerous options for campers.

For those looking to do some hiking, Mount Pilchuck State Park is not far. The park offers a three-mile trail to the summit of Pilchuck and a fire lookout from which to enjoy a view of the Olympics and Cascades. Alpine fishing is offered in numerous lakes and streams throughout the park.

For the camping enthusiasts who also enjoy being near civilization, Old Fort Townsend is a wooded park on Port Townsend Bay. Only four miles south of Port Townsend, the park includes 6.5 miles of hiking trails (some of which allow bikes) and almost 4,000 feet of saltwater shoreline where visitors can go boating, fishing and crabbing.

For those who tire of camping or just want to relax with an ice cream cone in hand, Port Townsend offers a wide variety of restaurants and shops. There is a farmer's market every Wednesday and Saturday, and there is usually some art or entertainment going on during the summer weeks.

Moran State Park, on Orcas Island of the San Juans, takes a while to get to but is well worth the drive and ferry ride. Moran is an enormous park with five freshwater lakes, the 2,409 feet high Mount Constitution and a wide array of trails for hikers of all levels.

This park has a wide variety of campsites; those closer to Cascade Lake will allow campers to get to know their fellow visitors and get to the beach before the crowds. Other sites are more secluded and near other lakes and heavily forested areas.

Eastsound is nearby and has a small number of shops and restaurants. Olga, also close by, features the Olga Café, a small restaurant and art gallery. The food is amazing and is often made with ingredients from local farmers.

For those in search of a desert adventure but find that Arizona is too much of a drive, Sun Lakes in Eastern Washington features Dry Falls State Park. These falls were carved by floods during the ice age. After the falls dried up, a cliff was formed that today stands 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide.

This campground features swimming, boating and fishing in the lake, as well as horseshoe pits, golf and hiking trails — enough to keep anyone busy.

If you're staying in Washington this summer, take some time to see the many diverse areas of the state, and eat some s'mores while you do.

Reach columnist Sarah Greenleaf at news@thedaily.washington.edu.