Florida

Florida Trip Journals

Alachua - Travelers Campground  This CG is directly off I-75 (exit 331) and 201966-1171642-thumbnail.jpg
Site B4
not far from Gainesville so the locals use it often when attending University of Florida football games.  $33/night, 50 amp, water, sewer and free WiFi. 

Conclusion -  This was an overnight CG for us.  While it met our needs,  it is the strangest layout we have ever seen.  Several rows with sites end on end. Each RV must park within the designated area so there is enough room to get out.  They escort you to your site to be sure you park correctly.  Though the setup works it does not give you much privacy and very unattractive.  The WiFi worked sporadically and the interior roads were in terrible shape but the staff were quite friendly.   11/07 - Rating 7.5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alva - Riverbend Motorcoach Resort  This Class A ownership resort is 20 miles east of Fort Myers and a good portion of it sets directly along the Caloosahatchee River. 201966-863511-thumbnail.jpg
Site 72
  All interior roads are paved (great condition) and all sites are deep and extra wide with nice landscaping.   Many sites have lovely water views as there are several ponds.     We stayed during “off season” so it was very quiet and had our pick of sites. $44/night (FL resident), water, 50 amp, cable and free WiFi. 

Conclusion -  Great resort - we loved it and probably will return someday as it is fairly close to home and we would like to enjoy the activities and meet some folks who spend the winters here.  We are told it is a very active resort during the peak season.   The nearest grocery store is about 10 miles away in LaBelle. The WiFi worked great.  If you choose to stay here - I’d recommend a site near the back.  Sites in the front  get noise from Route 80 as the resort entrance is directly off it.  05/07 - Rating 10

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


DeFuniak Springs - Sunset King Lake Resort This resort 201966-1026487-thumbnail.jpg201966-1026493-thumbnail.jpgis a couple of miles from town and right off US 331.  Reasonable rates @ 29/night for 50 amp, water, sewer, free WiFi (though we were told a charge for WiFi is coming soon).  It is also a Coast-to-Coast CG, but we are not members so no deal for us.
 

Conclusion - Unlike some folks, 201966-1026500-thumbnail.jpg201966-1026497-thumbnail.jpgwe don’t consider this a destination resort.  The sites are a bit too close together for us and unattractive.  The pool was nice though a bit small, the grounds near the lake are nice with the pine trees too, but that lake?  Strange - we called it Lake Forest.  Those from Chicago will understand that pun.  They had a kitchen and meals are served at times but not during our stay.  Lots of activities for the guests and you can tell there are folks who truly enjoy this place a lot - but it was not for us.    I doubt we will ever return.    09/07 - Rating 7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lake CityOaks n Pines Campground  201966-1007699-thumbnail.jpg
Shady Sites
201966-1007486-thumbnail.jpg
Satellite Friendly Site
This is CG right off I-10 and about 6 miles from I-75.  $30/night - water, 50 amp, sewer, cable, free WiFi.

 

 

Conclusion   A nice overnight CG — we’ve stopped here before.  201966-1026570-thumbnail.jpgAlthough I-10 is close the traffic noise did not bother us.  WiFi worked great and the owners are very accommodating.  Some nicer sites in the shade were available - but we picked one in the open so we could get our satellite connection.  And also requested one that would be closest to the WiFi tower.  Sites in the back are close to each other, but chances are you will never have anyone parked next to you so no big deal.  You can get fuel right up the road at a brand new station with lots of diesel pumps.  I give it high marks for their service, not their beauty.  09/07 - Rating 9

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miami - Larry & Penny Thompson Memorial Park207967-1004347-thumbnail.jpg
Site 13 _ Pod 8
This CG is part of  a huge county park in South Miami about 1 mile off the Florida Turnpike (Exit 13-184th Street).  207967-1004357-thumbnail.jpg
Pod 9
240  RV full hookup sites - arranged in 11 circular areas they call PODS.  We have not stayed in this CG just drove thru it one Saturday in February of 2008 for a looksee.  You can read more about our visit and see lots of pictures via this link

02/08 - (No stay - So No rating)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Moore Haven - Ortona South   - This is a Corp of Engineer CG 201966-1146474-thumbnail.jpg
Site 23
located on the Caloosahatchee River section of the Okeechobee Waterway.  It’s about 6-7 miles east of LaBelle.  $24/night - water, 50 amp - dump station.  Our roof top satellite has worked fine from this site but sites closer to the front entry have more trees so you may need a portable satellite to get connection.

Conclusion A fabulous CG - we love it. It is so peaceful.  Sites are huge and the entire CG is impeccably maintained.  All roads and sites are paved.  Landscaping such as grasses and bushes have been added - it looks fairly new so in a in a couple years there will be more privacy between sites.  It’s less than an hour away from our home so it is now our weekend getaway spot.  Our last visit was for 9 days over Christmas in 2007.    09/07 & 12/07 - Rating 10

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naples  Pelican Lake Motorcoach Resort -  This Class A ownership 201966-979300-thumbnail.jpg
Site 4817
(min 26’) resort is 9.2 miles south from I-75 exit 101 (Collier Blvd.)  We stayed here for a couple nights during the off season and unfortunately I cannot remember exactly what we paid and their website does not list the fee.  201966-979297-thumbnail.jpgI think it was something like $45 for water, 50 amp, free WiFi and pool access. 

Conclusion.  A beautiful resort - quite peaceful during our stay 201966-982040-thumbnail.jpg Cool landscaped  siteas I believe we were 1 of 5 coaches there.  It could be quite different during the peak season.  Beautiful owner landscaped sites some decked out to the 9’s.  Easy to get to and we’d stay again but may try it when it’s cooler.  It was the absolute wrong time of year to be in Naples, hot sticky, lots of mosquitoes at night — but we knew that and went merely to get our Bus out on the road after sitting for a few weeks.  Beach pic above is @ Marco Island - very close and a nice side trip.  08/07 - Rating 10 for beauty and comfort. 

Note: We are unsure we’d feel comfortable during peak season though, as we have nothing in common with the Prevost crowd.  Jealous.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ocala  Silver River State Park  -  This SP is about 8 miles off I-75 and the CG loops are 201966-1160387-thumbnail.jpg
Site 2
about 1 mile back from the entrance.  Be aware you will go through town traffic for about 8 miles thru several stop lights. Reserve America states it is only a few miles off the main road, but we followed the brown signs off I-75 to get there and we were not the only ones using this route — we followed several other campers on our drive in.  A slow drive but not bad.  We spent just 1 night here on our way up to Topsail with the purpose to scope out the CG and see where we might like to stay on a future visit.  I would not pick site 2 again as it was closer to the loop entrance and just not as pretty as some of the others.  But for one night it was fine.

207967-910547-thumbnail.jpg
Site 4 - (Camp Host  Site)
All the sites @ this CG are huge with many set into the beautiful tall pine trees reminding us of some of the CGs up North.  There are 2 loops (Sharp Fairy & Fort King).  I thought the Sharp Fairy loop was nicest because it had more pine trees.    $21/night, 30 amp, water, nice size fire pit.  Fires were permitted during our stay and you could buy firewood at the check in area. 

Conclusion - Beautiful place - exactly the type of CG we love.  We are headed back next April for a 2 night stay so we can checkout the things to do in the area and explore the CG a bit more.  I took several pics of some of the camp sites (20 in all)  check them out here.  Make reservations through Reserve America.  11/07 - Rating 10

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pembroke Pines - C.B. Smith Park  201966-705917-thumbnail.jpg
Site 11
This CG is part of a large and popular county park in Pembroke Pines (a large, large city) not far from I-75.  We stayed here twice in a two month period  during our house hunting trip and while waiting to take possession of our new home.    Traffic is an issue around this park and you do hear it (at some sites) inside the CG  - but it was not an issue at site 11 or 12.   $23/night for Florida residents - $30/night non residents, 50 amp, water & sewer.  Big waterpark, nice tennis courts  in the public park area — both stay very busy especially on weekend.  Our satellite worked great on site 11 — we had to pull forward a bit on site 12 to get a good signal.  WiFi available @ Starbucks on Flamingo Road — about 5 min by car.

201966-705918-thumbnail.jpg
Site 12
Conclusion
Great park - with paved roads & spacious paved sites.  Perfect location for folks visiting relatives as it’s close to Miramar, Weston, Fort Lauderdale areas.  A few sites have good shade - others out in the open.  Natural habitat surrounds the CG - nice walking trails.  Only “big” issue - they have a huge concert area nearby (don’t believe it is inside the park)  We were there the night of a concert and it went on all night long — literally all night.  It was awful.  We got about 3 hours sleep.  03/07 & 04/07 - No concert Rating 9 (with concert — i give this place a 3) -  NOTE:  There were no concerts during our 2 week stay in April.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Port St. Lucie - Outdoor Motorcoach Resorts   This is a Class-A only “ownership”  resort 201966-234832-thumbnail.jpg
Site 54
approx 50 miles North of West Palm Beach, FL.  Not far from I/95 - but far enough away so it was quiet.  We had an owner-developed site (#54) and it was lovely. Several sites were 4 sale — and boy are they pretty but also expensive.  Checkout the link to the Florida Trip Journals above to see  more pics of this place.  207967-259327-thumbnail.jpgVery nice - but we’d rather own one in a cooler climate - like near the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Several new restaurants are being built nearby and plenty of “close” shopping already exists including a Walmart.  We paid for  5 nights  but did not spend 5 nights onsite. We chose to stay here as we felt it would be safe to leave our Bus unoccupied for a couple days as we went further South to spend time with relatives over Christmas.  Linkspot WiFi was available - for $5.95/day and worked fine. 58.50/night (Winter rates & 10% FMCA discount), 50 amp water/sewer. 

Conclusion Very expensive.  For the amount they charge, WiFi should be included. Seems reasonable they could offer this to non-owners  but since they do not I do not believe they deserve a 10. Not much of a scolding I know, but there - I feel better - lol. 12/05 - Rating  9

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Santa Rosa Beach  Topsail Hill State Park 207967-283727-thumbnail.jpg
At the Beach
201966-278538-thumbnail.jpg
Site 138  -  12/2005
207967-287014-thumbnail.jpg
Enjoying the Beach - 2005

 

 

 


 

We have been to Topsail 3 times since 2005.  This is one of our favorite places to stay - there are no “bad” sites although section 100 seems to be the most popular as you get more privacy with the vegetation.  201966-1032959-thumbnail.jpg
Site 123 - 09/2007

201966-1171569-thumbnail.jpg
Site 127 - 11/200
It is about a 1/2 mile walk or bike ride to the beach or take the CG tram which runs about every 2 hours (sometimes more frequently during the busy season).  Sites are paved as well as all roads inside the CG.  And the beach is drop dead gorgeous.  Lots of shopping in Destin including a good size outlet mall.  The Public grocery store is not far from the CG off 98. Also off 98 is the Donut Hole - a great breakfast place.   You can get free WiFi @ Lucille’s Gossip shop which is off Rt 30A - turn east out of the CG and it is about 3-4 miles up the road.   Continue driving East on 30A and you will run into Seaside - a popular tourist town where they filmed the exterior shots for the movie “The Truman Show”.   Wikipedia says the cast and crew lived there during the shoot.  It’s kinda fun to walk the quaint streets, some good places to eat and a few shops to explore. 

Conclusion - Fabulous - simply fabulous. 12/05 & 09/07 - Rating 10

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tierra Verde - Fort De Soto Campground  This is a popular 207967-694133-thumbnail.jpg
Site 214
CG in Pineallas county. Most sites directly on the water either on the bay or along the boat channel.  We stayed on the bay side.  Some pull thru sites but those are not on the water.  Our site was very roomy with lots of vegetation for privacy.  207967-694143-thumbnail.jpgYou’ll have visits from critters here — raccoons, squirrels, and lots and lots of birds.  The famous beach is a few miles away — drive or ride your bike on the pathway.   Lots of tolls around this area.  One to get into Tierra Verde, one to get to St. Petersburg, one to get to De Sota CG/Beach area.  All small amounts 35-50 cents each.   $25/night  50/amp water - dump station.

Conclusion -  Lovely CG —  the raccoons were a bit of a nuisance.  Isolated from services like a major grocery store but the CG has a nice store for essentials.  See more CG pics here. 5/07 - Rating 9