Bungalow Corse

Are you ready to rev up that motor home of yours, packed and perked up to hitch up the camper and trailer to it and hit the road for your Florida RV camping holiday? Well, not so fast buddy, is the signal given to newbie campers keen on doing so – for there are some basic ground rules and tips that can make this the most memorable holiday experience of your life if you do it right. We begin by answering the commonest questions of anybody heading Florida-way: from dithering between going far south or heading to the Keys, from deciding between Orlando or dropping by the fantasy area of Disney World to first narrowing down where your interests lie and what Florida has on offer for you that is worthy of checking out, before you head out that door! We highlight the best of Florida RV camping, on the road, beaches, and the Everglades, for all camping enthusiasts heading away.

The best thing to do is start by deciding what appeals to you most when thinking up that Florida RV camping trip; if you have nothing particular in mind or if you can think up something of interest, both ways are a good measure to juggle the inner traveler’s mind. How about the beach or are there kiddy interests to consider by way of Disney World? Nature lovers would find the magnificent outdoors and animals in Florida a real treat for their eyes, so that’s another possibility.

If Beach-fun is your kind of Florida RV camping holiday, it’s a great way to go the Keys over the Overseas Highway offer varied site options that include a cruise opportunity over the blue waves of the Atlantic along an open highway that’s memorable in its way. The expansive, pristine sands of the Keys offer endless pleasurable ways to spend your time in the sun, lolling under a shade or simply glowing in the sun, sipping your cares away in a cocktail.

Most holidaymakers choose Florida for a visit to fabulous Disney World and truly this is a hell of a place to go, whether you are an adult or a child as this fantasy land is ideal for all age groups. It’s easy enough taking that RV to Disney World and its many modern facilities at Disney Fort Wilderness, with many campsites close by, make it ideal and cost-effective to holiday here with family and have fun too besides saving on hotel accommodation.

Most campers with vehicles and family-size trailers looking to head Florida-way are enamored of the State’s numerous natural parks and gaming reserves with in-built campsites and modern amenities housed in them so you park your RV and soak in the natural scenery too. Biking enthusiasts can enjoy as can trek lovers who are advised to head to Florida Caverns State Park; lovers of the ocean can try Bahia Honda State Park but there are over a hundred parks in Florida just waiting to be explored – so get going and find them all.

Central Florida is home to many fine state parks more than 100 hiking trails and some of the best camping and fishing spots around. In a tough economy, many families are turning to the outdoors for active family bonding time without the accompanying expenses that vacations can rack up. Additionally, many parks have great discounts online as well as offer many membership discounts. Most campgrounds will allow you to reserve a spot online or via phone so that you can ensure that your family vacation goes as planned.

Wekiwa Springs State Park

With beautiful vistas and cool springs, guests have the chance to relax in nature, picnic, or swim. For those more active its 13 miles of hiking trails provide great views and are popular for walkers, horseback riders, and bicyclers alike. Just an hour from the Orlando theme parks, Wekiwa Springs has a full-facility campground and offers canoe and kayak rentals.

Blue Spring State Park

Covering more than 2,600 acres, this state park is a Manatee Refuge and home to the nearly extinct West Indian Manatee. The park is closed e closed mid-November through March during Manatee season and swimming with the manatees is strictly forbidden. The spring waters are crystal clear and 75 degrees which make it ideal for swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers. It’s also popular for other water sports such as fishing, canoeing, and boating. The park offers a full-facility campground as well as air-conditioned cabins. With plenty of picnic areas and a hiking trail, it is a very popular spot during weekends, especially 3-day holiday weekends. Get there early as spots fill up quickly.

Rock Springs Run State Reserve

With miles of unspoiled shoreline, this state reserve is a beautiful refuge of nature where guests can enjoy horseback riding, hiking, or bicycling along 17 miles of trails. Horse rentals and guided trail rides are readily available. In the fall, parts of the reserve are closed for hunts. The park boasts equestrian camping and primitive campsites along the river that are accessible by canoe.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Established in 1963 as part of John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island consists of 140,000 acres providing a wide variety of habitats including coastal dunes, saltwater marshes, scrub, and pine woods providing habitat for more than 1,500 plant and animal species. Popular activities here include bird watching. wildlife observation, including a manatee observation deck as well as fishing, boating, and hunting.

If you are looking for a way to get your kids out from in front of the TV or off the computer, the great outdoors is the way to go. These Central Florida excursions will not only bring your family closer together but will show your children that you value activities that work the brain and body, not just the thumbs from the TV remote, PSP, or iPod. No more than an hour’s drive from Orlando, Central Florida State Parks are a cost-effective way to have a vacation they’ll never forget.

If you want to stretch your vacation dollar without sacrificing the quality of your enjoyment then you should consider visiting some of the Florida State Parks when you plan your vacation in the Orlando area. Visit the popular theme parks, but reserve some days for modestly priced outings in parks that provide unmatched natural beauty as well as great outdoor physical activity.

Two of the must-see parks in the vicinity of Orlando are Blue Spring State Park in Orange, County and the Wekiwa Springs State Park which is situated 20 minutes north of Orlando.

Blue Spring State Park is best known for the manatees, the gentle mammals that ply the waters of the St. John’s River. At Blue Spring you can watch the manatees from specially constructed boardwalks. You can’t swim or dive with the endangered creatures but there are plenty of swimming and diving areas where you can take advantage of the year-round 72-degree spring water. The water is crystal clear and great for scuba diving.

Other outdoor activities at Blue Spring State Park include hiking, picnicking, and camping. Camping can be done in a full facility or primitive camping areas. Cabins are also available but are in limited supply and require a reservation.

As I said, this is a modestly priced outing. Admission to the park is only $5.00 per vehicle and extra passengers cost $1.00. The best things in life are free, and in this case, almost free!

A similar vacation destination is the Wekiwa Springs State Park which is a short 20-minute ride from Orlando. This park is also centered around a powerful natural spring that pumps 42 million gallons of 72-degree fresh water each day.

The park’s name comes from the language of the Creek Indians and means “bubbling water.” And the nature preserve that is included in the park extends over 7000 acres and provides visitors with a glimpse of Florida as it existed hundreds of years ago.

In this beautiful natural setting, you can enjoy yourself by swimming in the 72-degree water, canoeing, picnicking, and camping.

As in Blue Spring Park, there are several camping options at Wekiwa. If you want general camping then you can choose from sixty campsites. The sites have a table, water, electricity, a fire circle with a grill, and restrooms with hot showers. It is extremely important to make a reservation for a camping area.

For the more adventurous there is backpack camping. Two backpack camping sites are located on a 13-mile hiking trail. The maximum capacity of each site is ten people and you have to bring in your water, food, and firewood, as well as take out your trash. Canoe camping is another option, and if you like horseback riding, there is a horse camping trail as well.