We are busy with our travel trailer. Kids are grown but we are still full timing it behind the work desks. Long weekends are what we do best...even short weekends as long as I don't have to see the mess in the house.
We live in the Panhandle of Florida and we are looking for ideas for those long weekends. We are attempting to camp in every county in Florida. We also travel in Alabama, & Georgia. We are only 5 hours from New Orleans even.
So what have been your favorite places to camp in the South East? Camping, hiking, junk stores in the rain, historical sites are all favorite activities. (as well as doing NOTHING)
Pet friendly is another must.
Jim01 said
06:45 AM Mar 27, 2014
Have you tried Ft. McAllister http://www.gastateparks.org/info/ftmcallister/ located just South of Savannah? It's been quite a few years since we've been there, but it was real nice and also had some historical sites.
Jim
MarkS said
09:56 AM Mar 27, 2014
If you are military, the famcamp down at Mcdill is on the water and while in Tampa you could take the kids to Busch gardens. I know there aren't many military in Crestview, maybe one or two, but you just never know. There is a great campground over near live oak that features music quite often. If I were there I would just go to apilachicola and eat oysters for a whole weekend.
southernvagabond said
10:54 AM Mar 27, 2014
When we lived in the panhandle our favorite campgrounds were Three Rivers State Park in Sneads, Fl (quite, lots of trees & right on Lake Seminole for good fishing) & Roosevelt State Park near Pine Mtn, Ga (lots of trees, nice small lake & near Callaway Gardens). It has been several years so I am not sure if 3 Rivers is the same but I am pretty sure Roosevelt is.
Technomadia said
11:26 AM Mar 27, 2014
There are some lovely state parks all over that area! In the FL Panhandle, we've enjoyed Grayton Beach SP, St. Andrews near Panama City and Torreya SP (great hiking and views!). And plenty more up that way to discover.
Not too far from the panhandle is also Cedar Key, FL about an hour west of Gainesville. Lovely and quirky little city, and a couple nice campgrounds in the area too. (Our post with specific advice: www.technomadia.com/2014/02/cedar-key-for-rvers/)
We're currently at FD Roosevelt in GA, and agree.. it's fabulous. We'll probably extend here a few more days we love it so much. Georgia has a great 'Friends of Georgia SP' program where you can get an annual pass that includes your car/RV parking fees and a 10% discount off camping. They also have a frequent camper card - a free night with every 7 nights paid for.
In Alabama, we've stayed at Gulf State Park near Gulf Shores, and loved it too.
- Cherie
Kitties Mom said
03:22 PM Mar 27, 2014
Tampa has other attractions- daughter, son, D-i-l and soon the #1 grandbaby. USF is a big attraction to my college kids. Going to Torreya SP for Memorial Day (glad to know I made a great pick there.) St. Andrews is great...we hit there Labor Day weekend because we go to an ATA tournament there. And would you believe we are planning Easter at Gulf State park!
I am going to look into FDR in GA, Cedar Key and 3 rivers. We love Savannah (s-i-l lives there) so Ft. McAllister will be on the list.
Hubby wants to check out Falling Waters in Chipley area. When the kids were little, we went to Horseshoe Bend, AL and tried to visit the Keys until someone broke her foot (watch those steps in the Shipwreckers Tower!) We know the Valdosta, GA area and Orlando very well- more ATA tournaments.
Thanks for the ideas!
southernvagabond said
07:09 PM Mar 27, 2014
I actually grew up in Chipley & have spent lots of time at Falling Waters - though never camping. The park is lovely, wooded & slightly hilly. The water falls are more of a trickle unless there has been a ton of rain. But it is amazing to see the huge sinkholes and there are some good hiking trails. The campground is not very large & has only a couple of sites that can accommodate a medium to large rig. All in all, it is a very nice park & well kept. If you go in the summer take bug spray - it is chigger central.
Falling Waters is actually how I got hooked on RV Dreams. I was looking through Howard's journals & saw one with Falling Waters in the topic so I had to read it & I have been hooked ever since. Howard & Linda seemed to enjoy it there. The town of Chipley doesn't have much to offer except a Walmart that is very near the park. It is about 45min drive to Panama City Beach from the park.
About a half hour east of there is Fl Caverns State park - I haven't seen the campground in several years but it used to have pretty small sites. If you are that way don't miss the cave tour - it is incredible! Most people are shocked to find out there are caves in Florida but these are huge & filled with some fantastic limestone formations. Also up around the Chattahoochee River in Alabama & Ga there are some real nice COE campgrounds.
There maybe camping near you around the Blackwater River, also.
Brenda
MarkS said
08:04 PM Mar 27, 2014
Brenda, isn't Chipley known for having the most millionaires per capita than any other city in the US?
No it was Quincy that was full of Coca Cola millionaires.
-- Edited by MarkS on Thursday 27th of March 2014 08:16:24 PM
southernvagabond said
08:30 PM Mar 27, 2014
Mark, you are correct it is Quincy - though you would never know it driving through the town :)
Kitties Mom said
05:18 AM Mar 28, 2014
The Florida Caverns are pretty just make sure you are not there during the bug season.
We love Blackwater State Park- especially Bear Lake- great hike/bike trail around the lake, wild turkeys, armadillos, canoeing and fishing.
Does anyone have any suggestions for the Space Coast or the center of Florida? Mississippi? Louisiana?
If you ever get the chance to take US 90 on the coast of Mississippi, there are some beautiful sculptures made out of the tree stumps from Katrina. They are worth the trip...and you are about 100 ft from the water in places.
We are busy with our travel trailer. Kids are grown but we are still full timing it behind the work desks. Long weekends are what we do best...even short weekends as long as I don't have to see the mess in the house.
We live in the Panhandle of Florida and we are looking for ideas for those long weekends. We are attempting to camp in every county in Florida. We also travel in Alabama, & Georgia. We are only 5 hours from New Orleans even.
So what have been your favorite places to camp in the South East? Camping, hiking, junk stores in the rain, historical sites are all favorite activities. (as well as doing NOTHING)
Pet friendly is another must.
Have you tried Ft. McAllister http://www.gastateparks.org/info/ftmcallister/ located just South of Savannah? It's been quite a few years since we've been there, but it was real nice and also had some historical sites.
Jim
Not too far from the panhandle is also Cedar Key, FL about an hour west of Gainesville. Lovely and quirky little city, and a couple nice campgrounds in the area too. (Our post with specific advice: www.technomadia.com/2014/02/cedar-key-for-rvers/)
We're currently at FD Roosevelt in GA, and agree.. it's fabulous. We'll probably extend here a few more days we love it so much. Georgia has a great 'Friends of Georgia SP' program where you can get an annual pass that includes your car/RV parking fees and a 10% discount off camping. They also have a frequent camper card - a free night with every 7 nights paid for.
In Alabama, we've stayed at Gulf State Park near Gulf Shores, and loved it too.
- Cherie
I am going to look into FDR in GA, Cedar Key and 3 rivers. We love Savannah (s-i-l lives there) so Ft. McAllister will be on the list.
Hubby wants to check out Falling Waters in Chipley area. When the kids were little, we went to Horseshoe Bend, AL and tried to visit the Keys until someone broke her foot (watch those steps in the Shipwreckers Tower!) We know the Valdosta, GA area and Orlando very well- more ATA tournaments.
Thanks for the ideas!
Falling Waters is actually how I got hooked on RV Dreams. I was looking through Howard's journals & saw one with Falling Waters in the topic so I had to read it & I have been hooked ever since. Howard & Linda seemed to enjoy it there. The town of Chipley doesn't have much to offer except a Walmart that is very near the park. It is about 45min drive to Panama City Beach from the park.
About a half hour east of there is Fl Caverns State park - I haven't seen the campground in several years but it used to have pretty small sites. If you are that way don't miss the cave tour - it is incredible! Most people are shocked to find out there are caves in Florida but these are huge & filled with some fantastic limestone formations. Also up around the Chattahoochee River in Alabama & Ga there are some real nice COE campgrounds.
There maybe camping near you around the Blackwater River, also.
Brenda
Brenda, isn't Chipley known for having the most millionaires per capita than any other city in the US?
No it was Quincy that was full of Coca Cola millionaires.
-- Edited by MarkS on Thursday 27th of March 2014 08:16:24 PM
We love Blackwater State Park- especially Bear Lake- great hike/bike trail around the lake, wild turkeys, armadillos, canoeing and fishing.
Does anyone have any suggestions for the Space Coast or the center of Florida? Mississippi? Louisiana?
If you ever get the chance to take US 90 on the coast of Mississippi, there are some beautiful sculptures made out of the tree stumps from Katrina. They are worth the trip...and you are about 100 ft from the water in places.