In the western Upper Peninsula, five of the best options for a memorable time are the state parks in the area. All five parks offer their own unique flavor while providing all the amenities expected from a state park.

All five parks are available for under $20 a night and, along with the rest of the state parks in Michigan, will be celebrating their 90th anniversary.

Coming into the beautiful city of Baraga, one will find the Baraga State Park. Besides all the amenities one comes to expect from a state park, it also offers a night in an authentic tepee. The 56-acre park offers 128 sites, fishing and access to Lake Superior.

Just under an hour northwest of Baraga, between Hancock and Calumet, one finds the beautiful beaches associated with McLain State Park on Highway M-203. The campground offers 97 sites and the some of the best sunsets in the Upper Peninsula.

Mike Halt, manager of the park, said it opens in mid-May and the buildings close in mid-October, with camping available until November 1.

The camping sites are modern with electrical hookup, Halt said. There is also a toilet and shower building, dump station for recreational vehicles and water at the dump station.

Halt said there are six mini-cabins, which house up to four people, and a large rustic cabin, which can house up to eight people. The mini cabins cost $45 per night and the large cabin costs $60 per night.

One of the most historic places in the Western Upper Peninsula is Fort Wilkins Park in Copper Harbor. Visitors coming in from June to August will see the entire staff in costumes representing the Fork Wilkins of yesteryear.

Lee VerBerkmoes, supervisor of the park, said it was an actual United States military outpost until 1870.

From the middle of June to the end of August, VerBerkmoes said role players perform as residents and military personnel of the fort for visitors.

"They actually try to re-create the summer of 1870," VerBerkmoes said. "That was the last year the fort was occupied by the military."

VerBerkmoes said there are 160 modern campsites at the park, and they're open now and will close Oct. 11. Each campsite has electrical outlets. There is also a toilet and shower facility and a sanitation station for recreational vehicles.

The fort was built in 1844, and there are several vintage buildings still left, and VerBerkmoes said despite the state's financial difficulties, visitors will still be able to see them this summer.

"They're available to the public," he said.

In order to get into the park, VerBerkmoes said visitors need a vehicle permit. Seasonal or daily permits can be purchased at the park.

At the Twin Lakes State Park in Toivola, visitors will be treated to majestic Lake Roland. The lake offers everything a boater or swimmer could want with a fairly small size, warm water and is never too crowded. The park is a great home base for people looking to explore the U.P.

Fifteen miles from Ontonagon is the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. This 60,000-acre park is one of just a few wilderness areas left in the Midwest. The "Porkies" have an abundance of secluded lakes, miles of wild rivers as well as over 25 different trails for hiking or backpacking.

According to Sandy Richardson, communication assistant at the Porkies, hiking, camping and back-country activities are among the most popular.

"Hiking is one of the premier activities in the park with over 90 miles of interconnecting trails that are signed, tagged and brushed," she said.

For those who may consider camping beyond the summer season, Richardson said the park is open for camping, and all trails are still available for use in the autumn.

"The trails that are open in the fall are the trails that are open in the summer," she said. "(All facilities) remain open until mid October."

Richardson said the visitor center is open until Oct. 12 and the restrooms at Union Bay are open until Oct. 13. After Oct. 13, the park goes from modern campsites to semi-modern with electricity hookups.

The number of visitors in autumn is slightly less and the type of visitor is different, Richardson said.

"In the fall, we have fewer families and more couples and groups," she said.

There are many tour groups which come for day-trip fall color tours, Richardson said.

"Colors are the No. 1 reason people come in the fall, and the second reason is hunting," she said.

Add photographers coming for the fall colors, and despite having slightly fewer visitors, Richardson said park employees are still busy.

"The fall season is busier for us than spring and early summer," she said.

Backpack camping is still available at the park in the autumn, also, Richardson said. Many backpackers prefer autumn because there are fewer people and no insects.

"It's a perfect time to back-country camp," she said.

For more information about available campsites, facilities and fees for camping in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park go online to michigan.gov/porkies.

All of these campgrounds can be found online by going to michigan.gov/dnr, then clicking the recreation, camping and boating link. The Web site offers free site registration as well as a plethora of additional information about the campgrounds.