Key West / Gulf Coast Florida Suggestions

[Paul & Deb]

We are 2 1/2 months and over 7,000 miles into our cross country trip.

We are currently in Williamsport, Maryland to visit some Civil War sites (Antietam Battlefield and Gettysburg) before heading south on I-81 to Natural Bridge then Anchor Downs and then over to the coast in Charleston for the Halloween weekend.

We have always thought we would get all the way down to Key West but we are now kind of unsure. We want to be in Tucson for Thanksgiving which would give us just about 4 weeks after we leave Charleston.

I'm looking for any thoughts and recommendations for memorable spots in the Keys and or the Gulf coast / Panhandle.

Thanks for your help.

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Paul & Deb,

We really liked Topsail State Park in the panhandle. Quite a ways to the beach (still within the park), but an easy bike ride.
Lots of great sites and bike trails. Apparently this used to be a private park that Florida State Parks took over.

Rob

[goldsp8]

If you can make the Keys, a delightful visit. You have only have a couple of days, skip it, return when you have a week or so. Out of Pennsacola is the Ft Pickens NPS campground. If you stay in the first loop (I think it is A), a short walk across the road onto some of the whitest sand I've seen. Water is blue and clean. They have electric hookups but no water. Last time we were there, the Blue Angels were flying overhead.

[Bamaman]

Florida's one of those states that is much larger than it appears. Key West to Pensacola is 832 miles and it's very long detour if you want to be in Tuscon for Thanksgiving.

Along the Gulf Coast, the Alabama state park campground at Gulf Shores, AL is very popular--Gulf State Park. It's now a very developed area with good restaurants and shopping.

[Luckyenough]

We have been to Jolly Roger Travel Park several years in a row. Nice and clean 5 stars and has larger sites than others there. (JRTP.com) Located very close to Marathon and 58 miles to Key West. Yes it is a long ride to get there, but in my opinion well worth it.
Cheers!

[apulido]

DESTIN FLORIDA is a must

[Lingerlonger]

Florida IS a big state. If you feel like you really want to visit Key West, I would recommend leaving the trailer somewhere else and just take the truck to Key West for a day. Be sure to plan to be there at Mallory Square for sunset. (Luckyenough's suggestion of Marathon is probably a good one.)

On your way south from Charleston, you may want to look at the area around Brunswick, GA. Golden Isles, they call it. Jekyll, St Simons, and Sea Islands.

If you feel like you can skip Key West, I'd just go down the east Coast about halfway, then go west to the Sarasota area and back north to the panhandle. Several nice beach areas (e.g. Siesta Key) around Sarasota. Pensacola is great also.

South Florida is gonna start filling up in November, especially the Gulf Coast south of Tampa. Snowbirds (like us) overrun the place.
Reservations could be hard to get. Although you may have some luck with the State Parks, since they have a limit on the length of stay. The snowbirds tend to shy away from them since you have to move every couple of weeks.

Good luck. We were at Jellystone in Williamsport last weekend with the grandkids for their first Halloween weekend. Woke up the last morning to a frozen water supply.

K

[Lingerlonger]

You'll be arriving at Anchor Down at a very good time for the fall foliage in the Smoky Mountains.

See post #69 in this thread for some tips on sights to visit in that area.
http://www.mygrandrv.com/for...together/page7

The loop road for Cades Cove is great for bicycling. I think they even close the road to vehicles for several hours one day a week.

The Roaring Fork Trail is a bit steep for cycling, but there are several great hiking trails in that area. Grotto Falls is just a couple of miles
roundtrip, medium terrain.

K

[Scott and Jan]

Poppy, these are all great places, heres some more options:
Rivers End Campground, TybeeIsland, outside Savannah, GA
"Hannah" Park or Flamingo Lake, Jacksonville, FL.
Jetty Park, Cape Canaveral, FL.
Haven't been there yet, but going to Sugarloaf Key KOA in June.
San Carlos RV, Ft Myers Beach, FL.
Bryn Mawr or Northbeach, St Augustine, FL.

Sounds like you might need to make it to AZ by Christmas, lol. Lots of great choices in FL, you'll enjoy whatever you choose. Enjoy and continue to have a great trip!

[Paul & Deb]

Wow, you guys, thanks so much for all the great info. Now I just have to figure out what we want to do.