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JoeTampa's avatar
JoeTampa
Explorer
Dec 07, 2015

Floridian Christmas Trip - Advice needed

So we have two weeks coming up over Christmas/New Year's where the kids are off of school and I am off of work. So, given that we finally have a TV/TT combination suitable for a real excursion, we are thinking about doing the East Coast of Florida - from North to South along I-95 and then back along I-75 back to Tampa. There's a few things I'd like to get advice on:

1. Am I completely nuts? Will all the good CGs be sold out by now?

2. What CGs are good/recommended? The wife wants some cold (so Jax/St. Augustine area), and I want to find CGs with nice scenery to observe from the trailer in between pages of a good book. I'd also like to take the family on an airboat tour; I know there are some CGs near Miami that offer them.

I was thinking that Lake Okeechobee, Sanibel Island/Ft Myers, and Ft. Lauderdale might be decent target areas, but where would you go?


Joe
Roads and Routes
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Dec 07, 2015
    Have you been to Lake Okeechobee? It has little to recommend it unless you are a fisherman with a boat. US41 (the Tamiami Trail) between Miami and Naples has quite a few airboat rides. And yes you are probably too late for CG reservations south of Orlando. Near the beaches anyway, maybe inland you might find some.

    I don't know how much 'cold' you are going to find in Jax. It's a few degrees colder than the Tampa area but don't expect a blizzard. If you want cold head up to the Smokys.
  • DownTheAvenue's avatar
    DownTheAvenue
    Explorer
    Dec 07, 2015
    Consider camping at Stephen C. Foster State Park in Georgia. It is right at the entrance to the Okefenokee Swamp. You can rent a power boat very cheap and go out in the swamp on the "trails." You won't get lost and will see all kinds of wildlife including alligators up close. Then move to Laura S. Walker State Park for museums and history of the swamp. Then to Jacksonville for very early American history at Fort Caroline National Memorial, Timacuan Historic Preserve, and the Kingsley Plantation. Then move to St. Augustine for the fort, lighthouse and touristy stuff.

    RESERVATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Dec 07, 2015
    Alligator alley comes to mind. Sanibel Is is neat but not for kids unless you have bikes. There's only one campground on the island.
    I's do a Google search for `______ tourism' and put Florida, or other location in the blank space and read on. What about Daytona Race Track?
  • scrubjaysnest's avatar
    scrubjaysnest
    Explorer
    Dec 07, 2015
    Most likely for your proposed route all the FL state parks are booked full. Look for the more out of the way CG's.
  • NCWriter's avatar
    NCWriter
    Explorer
    Dec 07, 2015
    Have you been to Everglades National Park? You know your kids' ages and interests, but some great boat rides and fishing available in Florida Bay and the back waters down at Flamingo, plus easy hikes. Lots of wildlife - crocs and gators, birds. Also interesting to walk the Anhinga Trail, take the Shark Valley tram tour, see the Nike Missile Center, etc. Airboat rides in northern section of the park. Very educational and fun.
  • JoeTampa's avatar
    JoeTampa
    Explorer
    Dec 07, 2015
    NCWriter wrote:
    Have you been to Everglades National Park? You know your kids' ages and interests, but some great boat rides and fishing available in Florida Bay and the back waters down at Flamingo, plus easy hikes. Lots of wildlife - crocs and gators, birds. Also interesting to walk the Anhinga Trail, take the Shark Valley tram tour, see the Nike Missile Center, etc. Airboat rides in northern section of the park. Very educational and fun.



    We haven't - but that will be on the list for next time.

    We drew up a proposed itinerary, starting with the excellent suggestion to visit Stephen C. Foster SP in GA. From there to Jacksonville, then to St. Augustine, then to Titusville, then to the Lion Country Safari/KOA down near West Palm Beach. That will fill the two weeks nicely.

    Now to make reservations... I was stunned to see that Stephen C. Foster had plenty of availability. The only downsides to that park are its distance from, well, anything (so no Walmart runs if we forget/need something!) and the gates close (and you're locked in) at night. Far from insurmountable, but requires a lot more pre-planning and less winging it than we are ordinarily used to. :)
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Dec 07, 2015
    There are Walmarts down in Lake City, not too far away from White Springs. You are given a combination that opens the park gate, so you are never 'locked in'.
  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    Dec 07, 2015
    JoeTampa wrote:
    So we have two weeks coming up over Christmas/New Year's where the kids are off of school and I am off of work. So, given that we finally have a TV/TT combination suitable for a real excursion, we are thinking about doing the East Coast of Florida - from North to South along I-95 and then back along I-75 back to Tampa. There's a few things I'd like to get advice on:

    1. Am I completely nuts? Will all the good CGs be sold out by now?

    2. What CGs are good/recommended? The wife wants some cold (so Jax/St. Augustine area), and I want to find CGs with nice scenery to observe from the trailer in between pages of a good book. I'd also like to take the family on an airboat tour; I know there are some CGs near Miami that offer them.


    I was thinking that Lake Okeechobee, Sanibel Island/Ft Myers, and Ft. Lauderdale might be decent target areas, but where would you go?


    Joe


    Try to get a spot at Ft Clinch SP in Fernandina Bch (and hope there's not a northeaster blowin), Stephen Foster SP on the Suwanee river over in White Spgs for a little old Florida and then back down to one of the state parks on the freshwater spgs. Some of the best Florida has to offer. Bonus side trip would be to the Okefenokee Swamp on the Ga border.
  • johnhicks's avatar
    johnhicks
    Explorer
    Dec 07, 2015
    Fort Clinch SP at Fernandina Beach

    Anastasia SP at St. Augustine

    Gamble Rogers Memorial SP at Flagler Beach

    All these CGs are actually behind the dunes; the CG at Anastasia is wooded and away from the beach.

    Manatee Hammock SG (Brevard County CG) just south of Titusville, across the river from KSC

    Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral (farther to KSC going up SR3)

    St. Lucie Lock COE on the St. Lucie canal just southwest of Stuart

    Forget Lake Okeechobee. The lake is surrounded by a dike so you can't actually see water from your trailer.

    Trail Lakes CG at Ochopee, US 41

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