Penny and I are making our first trip to Florida in mid-January. The only places in Fla. I really have on my bucket list are St. Augustine and the Keys. (We won't be doing the Keys this trip.)I'd like to see places other than the touristy beach areas. She wants to set up a base camp and see sights on day trips as much as possible. I want to see as much of Old Florida as still exists; she has no special interest in going to Fla. and is going mostly because I want to.We have reservations at Anastasia SP (to tour St. Aug) and Manatee Springs (to see manatees and cross central Florida). DW is balking at moving a third time.After much back-and-forth, I've concluded her ideal place would be a camp under live oaks, surrounded by orange groves, near (or on) a spring, river or lake, a half-hour from a beach town with Ma and Pa stores and good seafood restaurants all stuck in a 60s time warp.:hAh, think James Island with Charleston and Folly Beach nearby, only in Central Florida. So ... any suggestions?Teach

Myakka State Park, Just outside Sarasota, will meet a lot of your needs.

See FLA like a native. Google...one tank trips Florida Several local TV stations have done these over the years, and many are well done, getting you to some "Real Florida" places. Most all of the two lanes in FL are in great shape and a whole lot more scenic than the big roads. We travel them all the time and never have problems. Some marked "scenic byways" may not have good vertical clearance, best to check ahead.Enjoy the ride...3rd gen 'tired FL Teacher :) :)

Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park Crystal River FL has huge oaks, pool and short drive to beach. In the panhandle we like Live Oak Landing RV park, Freeport, FL. Defuniak Springs is a nice little Florida town. Salt Springs campground near Ocala is beautiful. I would make reservations for that one on www.recreation.gov

What the "real" Florida is for me is what Florida Tourism calls the Nature Coast. It is more like what it used to be in the 50s and 60s, today, than any other part of the state, but is nothing like the Florida of the 20's and 30's my father knew as a child. I lived in Florida again, Orlando the year WDW opened, and in the past 40 years that part has become something quite different than it was before Disney, and most of the Central Florida attractions based on the natural Florida have either closed or been turned into amusement parks. So West Coast, north of Tampa area to Panhandle, and to the east maybe as far as Ocala.

Anastasia is a good place to start. St. Aug is a great place to see. Drive north to Ponte Vedra and south to Flagler Beach. Manatee Springs is a nice park but it is remote with little to see or do How to say this. The local cultural center is Walmart. I would change that reservation to Blue Springs State Park on the St. Johns River in Orange City. River tours boat rentals etc. You will see more Manatee and there is tons to do,see, eat in the area. Downtown Deland is a great old downtown. Your wish list is hard to fill in one park. Don't if you like space stuff. Manatee Hammock is a county park in Mims on the Intracoastal waterway. Cheap shady and close to the Space Center and water.

Need advice from a veteran Fla. traveler | Good Sam Community

Dog_Folks
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
Myakka State Park, Just outside Sarasota, will meet a lot of your needs.
Twomed
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
See FLA like a native. Google...one tank trips Florida Several local TV stations have done these over the years, and many are well done, getting you to some "Real Florida" places. Most all of the two lanes in FL are in great shape and a whole lot more scenic than the big roads. We travel them all the time and never have problems. Some marked "scenic byways" may not have good vertical clearance, best to check ahead.

Enjoy the ride...3rd gen 'tired FL Teacher :) :)
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park Crystal River FL has huge oaks, pool and short drive to beach.
In the panhandle we like Live Oak Landing RV park, Freeport, FL. Defuniak Springs is a nice little Florida town.
Salt Springs campground near Ocala is beautiful. I would make reservations for that one on www.recreation.gov
tatest
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2013
What the "real" Florida is for me is what Florida Tourism calls the Nature Coast. It is more like what it used to be in the 50s and 60s, today, than any other part of the state, but is nothing like the Florida of the 20's and 30's my father knew as a child.

I lived in Florida again, Orlando the year WDW opened, and in the past 40 years that part has become something quite different than it was before Disney, and most of the Central Florida attractions based on the natural Florida have either closed or been turned into amusement parks. So West Coast, north of Tampa area to Panhandle, and to the east maybe as far as Ocala.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2013
Anastasia is a good place to start. St. Aug is a great place to see. Drive north to Ponte Vedra and south to Flagler Beach.

Manatee Springs is a nice park but it is remote with little to see or do
How to say this. The local cultural center is Walmart.

I would change that reservation to Blue Springs State Park on the St. Johns River in Orange City. River tours boat rentals etc.
You will see more Manatee and there is tons to do,see, eat in the area.
Downtown Deland is a great old downtown.

Your wish list is hard to fill in one park.

Don't if you like space stuff. Manatee Hammock is a county park in Mims on the Intracoastal waterway. Cheap shady and close to the Space Center and water.
johnhicks
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
Ft. Clinch SP at Fernandina Beach is a possibility, stay on the river side. You have the river, a beach over on the ocean side, a historic fort, and in Fernandina several great seafood restaurants and what's purported to be the oldest tavern in Florida.
JoeH
Explorer III
Sep 01, 2013
Check out Salt Spring recreation Area. Its a federal park with full hookups. It used to be a private cg. There is a nice spring on site and several other springs within a few miles(Juniper,Alexander are both nearby). It's only about 60 miles from St. Augustine. Nice country setting.... but cell phone coverage is poor, at best.
Queens_Carriage
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
Just remember anything north of Orlando can be cold in January.
352
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
Try Facebook and type in Gail Minor Holton or click on my signature. You will not be disappointed.
dverstra
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
While in St. Augustine , visit the St. Augustine Alligator Park and Zoo.
http://www.alligatorfarm.com/
It is much more than just your old alligator park.

You could fish from one of the piers or just walk out on it and people watch.

On the Nature Coast stay at Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park and visit
Homossassa Springs Park and then take a Airboat tour of the coastal area
Weeki Watchee Springs
Swim with the Manatees with "Manatees in Paradise"
Day trip to Cedar Key.

How much time do you have? We did this last year. We were going to head to another spot but we just relaxed at Rock Crusher and spread the activities out during our time there. Now I want to go back!