Where can I camp next to a beautiful lake or river?

In our neck of the woods, within the national forests, years ago people would dry camp (boondock) along the small lakes and streams. The forest service turned many of those areas into small campgrounds so they could regulate and make a few bucks. They put in tables, fire pits and built outhouses. Most of those exist today but they are considered primitive and not easily accessible nowadays by the new type of camper. But they are out there.