Florida’s Top 5 Campgrounds

November 30, 2009

Setting Up TentCamping in Florida is one of the best ways to explore the state. In the winter months, snuggle up to a campfire. Or enjoy the summer breeze by camping beachside. Some sites are resort-like (hot tubs, shower facilitiy, visitor center) while others are primitive with few amenities. No matter the time of year or location, Florida has a campground to suit.

Florida’s campgrounds range from beachfront views to a forest canopy, from the grounds of Everglades National Park to the center of Walt Disney World at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Florida boasts some of the most beautiful back country campground spots too – though to get to them, you will need to canoe for hours through the Everglades or hike miles along Florida Trail. We offer in-depth camping tours of Florida – a 6 night canoe trip in Everglades National Park, for example – but Florida’s Top 5 Campgrounds are accessible to all by car, bike, or on foot. So next time you are planning a trip to Florida, consider packing a tent!

Florida’s Top 5 Campgrounds

5. Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Yes, yes… we realize that camping at Disney World is not the most outdoors’y way to get out into nature, but if you are going to be spending time at an Orlando theme park, we think camping at Fort Wilderness is the closest you can get to a balanced holiday. The campground is surrounded by beautiful forest, and never short on human sightings. With a huge swimming pool, lots of campfire activities (movie under the stars with popcorn and roasted marshmallows, anyone?), and a free shuttle to any Disney property… this is a must stay campground when visiting Orlando. 

4. St. Augustine – Anastasia State Park. Atlantic Ocean. Sand Dunes. Beaches as far as the eye can see. This picturesque state park has one of the best campgrounds in the North. After a full day visiting the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine, take an early evening dip in the water before heading to sleep. When the alarm wakes you up in the wee hours of the morning, know that you are minutes away from witnessing the awe of the sun rising up over the ocean. If you are quick enough, drive over to Florida’s west coast to watch the sun dip below the Gulf of Mexico, all in one day.

3. Homosassa Springs. Located just under Florida’s panhanlde (northwest Florida), Homosassa Springs is the jumping off point for visiting with the elusive Florida Manatee (lovingly referred to as the “cow of the sea”). This area of Florida is home to spring-fed rivers, virgin forests, and a touch of souther hospitality. A number of local operators offer campground facilities in the area.

2. Florida Keys – Bahia Honda State Park. If waking up to a sandy beach and crystal blue water for a morning dip sounds nice, then book a campground at Bahia Honda State Park now (it books up especially quick in the winter). Just 37 miles from Key West, Bahia Honda boasts gorgeous views, great kayaking, and a little South Florida history – stop by the visitor’s center to learn about the Old Bahia Bridge.

1. Everglades National Park. Miles from any city, with sky views that reach to the heavens, camping anywhere in Everglades National Park will be a most memorable experience. After a day of Alligator tracking, bird watching, and canoeing through the Mangrove jungles, drive to the tip of the park (nearly 40 miles from the main entrance) for Florida Bay views of open water and set up camp for a night under the stars. And don’t worry about the Alligators (and crocodiles in this part of the park), they’ll be sleeping too!

Craghopper Night Dinner

Florida’s Top 5 Campgrounds is selected by Florida Adventure Treks – Florida’s ONLY small group adventure tour company in the state. Our seven (7) and fourteen (14) day tours take you to all of Florida’s best campgrounds, as well as tourist hot-spots and plenty of off-the-beaten-path destinations. Check out our itineraries at http://www.floridaadventuretreks.com/our-tours/adventure-tours.

By Florida Adventure Treks | Posted in Adventure Activities, Adventure Beaches, Adventure Tour, Adventure Tours, Budget Tours, Camping Tours, Florida Adventure Treks, Florida Beaches, Florida Travel, Off The Beaten Path, Singles Travel, Small Group Tours, Top 5 Campgrounds | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Travel Holiday for Singles

November 23, 2009

Craghopper - Southernmost PointTo travel alone or not to travel at all? Travel!

While traveling alone can be daunting and lonely at times, exploring a new place opens up many opportunities to meet new people and reinvent yourself. There are plenty of resources available to the single or solo traveler

  1. Traveling Alone – Hostels are great places to meet other like-minded solo travelers. A hostel is similar to a hotel stay, except lodging is usually dorm room style or shared space, with a kitchen to prepare and cook meals. The price for a hostel is generally less expensive than a hotel. Visit Hostelling International and Hostels.com for more information about locations throughout the world.
  2. Couch Surfing – For an even more intimate experience into the places you will visit, consider meeting locals by sleep on their couches! As crazy as the concept sounds – e-mailing a complete stranger so that you can sleep on their couch for a night or two for free (or for very little money) – it is popular all over the world. Visit CouchSurfing online at http://www.couchsurfing.org/
  3. Small Group Travel – Perhaps the best of both worlds – you meet other single travelers and get local experience at the same time – small group travel connects like-minded travelers with a tour guide’s local knowledge of the history, culture, and places you will be visiting. With a small group tour, people from all over the world travel together. It is much different than a big bus trip. With a small group tour, you travel with 12-20 other people along with a tour leader that is part of the group (not just a driver). The tour operator will make most of your arrangements for you, from transportation, lodging, and optional activities.

Our tour company, Florida Adventure Treks, caters to single travelers that want to experience Florida like a local. We are Florida’s ONLY small group tour company. To learn more about single and solo travel to Florida, visit us at www.FloridaAdventureTreks.com.

By Florida Adventure Treks | Posted in Adventure Tour, Adventure Tours, Budget Tours, Camping Tours, Florida Adventure Treks, Florida Travel, Singles Travel, Small Group Tours | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

The Benefits of Small Group Travel

November 20, 2009

Craghopper - Southernmost PointWhen visiting a new place in the world, we cannot think of a better way to explore that place than with a small group of like-minded travelers. Small group tours offer all the benefits of an all-inclusive vacation with the intimate feel of really experiencing a a culture – its history, geography, food, and music. A small group tour is perfect for single travelers and couples or families alike. Many small group tour operators attract travelers from all over the world – so in addition to visiting a new place, you get to  meet great people from other countries (as opposed to people from your own country).

The following is just a short list of the benefits to small group travel:

  1. You don’t feel like a “tourist” in a big bus full of other passengers with hip packs and cameras blaring.
  2. Your tour operator takes care of the logistics – transportation, lodging, schedule, activities.
  3. There is flexibility. In a small group, you can change the itinerary at a moment’s notice so if there is a street festival or cultural event taking place, you can stop for a few hours.
  4. Small groups can take advantage of group rates, so your vacation ends up costing less than traveling on your own.
  5. You meet like-minded travelers, and make friends that last a lifetime (and a place to stay during your next vacation!)
  6. Small group tour operators can take you “off the beaten path”. Unlike the big bus tour, your tour guide can bring you to local restaurants and other destinations that can’t normally handle larger groups.
  7. For camping tours, your tour company provides camping equipment and cooking supplies for your use.
  8. The small group tour operator knows local outfitters. This will ensure that all of the optional activities you participate in will be high quality and will offer you an in-depth experience.

For all the benefits of small group travel, there are important questions you should ask your tour operator before booking your holiday vacation.St. Augustine Sunrise

Do you have a minimum passenger requirement? Many tour companies will not run a tour unless they have a certain number of bookings. In part, a tour with just 2-3 people wouldn’t be much fun for you. You should know whether they have already met that requirement and, if not, how much notice will they provide you that a tour is being cancelled.

Are your tour guides from the place we are planning to visit? If you are visiting China, your tour guide should be from China! If Kenya, it would be great to have a tour leader that grew up in Kenya. Locals have more knowledge about an area, can tell stories about growing up there, and can alter the itinerary to your wants.

Where do we stay during our vacation? Sometimes, small group tours are synonymous with budget tours. But a budget tour shouldn’t mean you stay 15 miles away from a city just to cut costs. Your small tour should put you in the center of the action. If your tour visits Miami South Beach, you should stay within walking distance of Ocean Drive and the Art-Deco district. Where you stay is just as important as the places you will visit.

What is included in the tour price? Be careful when booking your tour. A tour operator might suggest that lodging is included in the price, but that you will have to pay a local supplement for a few nights in a hotel room. Or a gas tax to be paid upon arrival. This could easily increase the cost of your tour by $100. You should also see what activities are included in the price – a tour operator that charges $750 per person but doesn’t include any activities is not as good as a tour company that charges $795 per person and includes over $150 in activities.

Is the staff helpful? If you have a question about your tour, call up the tour operator. They should be helpful in answering all of your questions.

With this information, you should be well on your way to booking a small group tour in your desired destination! Have fun…

By Florida Adventure Treks | Posted in Adventure Tours, Budget Tours, Camping Tours, Florida Adventure Treks, Off The Beaten Path, Small Group Tours | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)