campgrounds in destin or pensacola fl

garmp wrote:
Good luck to you. We've been wanting to go to Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island (COE Park) for quite a while and finally the other day an opening/cancellation opened for 4 days in May and we jumper on it.
Many people now a days make their reservation for the up coming year as they are leaving the park.
As I always say, " Dang all those retired Baby Boomers and their RVs taking up all our camping spaces. Oh, wait I are one!"

I have been to Ft Pickens several times. Just so you realize, it is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and is administered by the National Park Service (not COE). I prefer the A Loop but have also stayed on the C loop. Hopefully you have a America the Beautiful Senior Pass, as this will get you in free (normally a $20 gate charge for 7 days) and get the campsite for half price.

Walking trail goes from A loop to and thru the C/E and B/D loops and then thru the day use public parking and past Battery Worth, and on to the Fort itself. Also be sure and walk past the fort, thru the parking area, to a couple of old barracks buildings, where the Ft Pickens/Penscola Bay museum is located (I think this is called the Discovery Center).

If you are up and around in the morning, you will hear the anthem being played during the flag raising on the NAS across the bay. Most everyone pauses to pay their respects during this time. Walk the stairs to the very top of the observation building of Battery Worth, for a tree top level view of things.

Battery Cooper loop road was closed due to concerns over the possible collapse of the metal observation tower on the road. Not sure if that has reopened or not.

Charles