For many, the Fourth of July brings families together for a weekend over the summer.
That's the case for the Nielsens and the McAlisters. Every Fourth of July, Peter Nielsen says he drives with his wife from Brentwood, California, to see his in-laws at Washoe Lake State Park Campground.
"We come up here once a year and meet our in-laws, camp out for the weekend and just cook and clean for them," Nielsen says.
Neilsen says he and his wife also enjoy the natural beauty of Washoe Lake, from its pretty beaches to the wild horses running around.
This year, Nielsen says Washoe Lake is just one stop on a road trip.
"We're here for four days," Nielsen says, "and then from here we're going up into Idaho, and then back home after that."
Nielsen drove three and a half hours to Washoe Lake to visit John McAlister, his father-in-law and a Navy Seal veteran.
McAlister says he enjoys visiting the Washoe Lake campground because it's near Reno - and has electrical hook-ups.
"A generator, I don't like to mess with them," McAlister says, "They're too dang heavy for me to move."
Nielsen says he also enjoys the campground amenities, especially the accessibility.
"This is a handicapped site," Nielsen says, "They have a couple of handicapped sites here at Washoe State Park, and they're really nice."
Even though it isn't as well-known as Lake Tahoe, Washoe Lake is still a great place to spend your summer weekends.
