Snowbird – one who travels to warm climes for the winter (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
No, we’re not snowbirding this year – yet. Doctor’s appointments and household chores caused us to get a late start this year. Instead of hitting Florida during the peak snowbird season we will be arriving in Florida in early March just before spring break.
While we have been home, I’ve been thinking about all the places in Florida we have enjoyed. Here are just a few highlights from our snowbirding adventures from past years.
We had white sandy beaches almost completely to ourselves at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
The beach at sunset at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Watching the sunset was a perfect way to end the day at Cedar Key.
Cedar Key Sunset
We loved Everglades National Park and camped at the Flamingo Campground twice.
Pa-Hay-Otee Overlook in Everglades National Park
There was a lot of bird watching in Cedar Key.
White Pelicans and Cormorants at Cedar Key
And lots of alligators in Everglades National Park.
Alligators along the Anhinga Trial, Everglades National Park 2012
It was fun seeing manatees at Homossassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
Manatee in Homossassa Springs
This Gopher Tortoise walked across our campsite at Silver River State Park (now Silver Springs State Park).
Gopher Tortoise at our campsite Silver River State Park
We rode the Fort Gate Ferry across the St. John’s River near Salt Springs Recreation Area.
Waiting to cross the St. John’s River on the Fort Gates Ferry
And of course we went for boat rides.
Went for a boat ride in the Salt Springs Run
We ate our fill of stone crab claws and other fresh seafood.
Delicious Stone Crab Claws in Everglades City, Florida
Soon we will be hitching up the fifth wheel to do a little late snowbirding this year. We are going to a few new places and returning to a couple of favorites. Stay tuned to see where we wander next!
I love maps. I like looking at where we’re going, where we’ve been, and where I dream about going.
I wanted to see what a map would look like that showed everywhere we have camped during our first nine years of RVing so I created this one using Google Maps.
To zoom in on the map, click the plus sign at the bottom left of the map. To zoom out, click the minus sign. To see information about a map point, click on the red map point.
For more of my maps you can click the Alaska Trip Maps tab at the top of this page.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Many thanks to all of you who stopped by my blog last year! I enjoy hearing from you so please keep those comments coming!
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 13,000 times in 2015. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 5 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Our 2015 wandering took us on a long a spring trip from Georgia to Texas and a short fall trip to South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina.
During our 2015 travels we camped in 7 states and stayed in a total of 21 different parks: 11 state parks, 6 private RV parks, 3 COE parks, and 1 county park. While we enjoyed them all, a few stand out.
So here it is, the second annual “Wandering Dawgs best campgrounds of the year” list.
Number 3: Lake Bistineau State Park, Doyline, Louisiana
Waterfront Camping at Lake Bistineau State Park, Doyline, LouisianaCypress Trees dripping with Spanish Moss at Lake Bistineau
We first discovered this beautiful state park when we were traveling west in 2011. The park ranger was one of the nicest and most helpful rangers I have ever met. I have such fond memories of sitting on our own private deck watching the lake that I had been trying to figure out when we would have an opportunity to return.
It was a no-brainer to stop here as we headed home toward Georgia on our return trip from Texas. The same great ranger was there and he is still one of the most friendly and most helpful rangers of any place we have been.
Lake Bistineau State Park is located a short drive south of I-20 near Doyline, Louisiana. The sites have paved parking pads with water and electric hook ups, a picnic table, and fire pit. We had a premium site with a wooden deck overlooking the lake.There are several fishing docks located in the campground and one was right in front of our site. The bath house was spotless and there is a small free laundry. The park also has a boat launch. WiFi is available at the office.
Relaxing behind our campsite at Inks Lake State Park, Burnet, Texas
We traveled through Texas in the spring when the Texas Bluebonnets were blooming. After researching where the best place to see them would be, the area in the Texas Hill Country around Inks Lake sounded perfect. When my friend Tim from Arlingon recommended it we knew we had to stay there.
We made reservations just a few days before our arrival and were fortunate to get a waterfront site the week before Easter. We had plenty of space behind our back in site to set up our chairs an enjoy the lake. We would have stayed longer but the park was full for Easter weekend and we had to leave on Good Friday.
Our site was a waterfront, back-in site with a beautiful view of the lake behind the campsite. We enjoyed beautiful sunsets every day.
Sunset at Ink’s Lake
There are hiking trails, a fishing pier, boat launch, marina, and gift shop. Longhorn Caverns State Park is just down the road and there are many scenic drives through the Texas Hill Country.
Our own private picnic area behind our campsiteOur campsite in Palo Duro Canyon
When we made a day trip to Palo Duro Canyon from Amarillo several years ago we talked about returning one day to camp in the canyon. Camping there was high on our must do list when we traveled around Texas in the spring.
There are several campgrounds in Palo Duro Canyon State Park with backpacking, equestrian sites, tent sites, and RV sites with water and electricity. Our site in the Sagebrush Campground had large private sitting area with a covered shelter over the picnic table and a fire ring. There are hiking, biking and equestrian trails. There are also several day use picnic areas, cabins, stables with guided horseback rides, an interpretive center, and the Trading Post Restaurant and Park store.
Leigh over at Campendium asked me to submit a post for my favorite State Park Campground for their May, 2015 Campendium Blog post featuring Best State Park Campgrounds. To read my contribution to the post click here.
Wandering Dawgs 