We are going to Topsail next month. Staying a week weather permitting After that I want to go down the gulf coast maybe visit lazy days Tampa area and maybe south from there to the keys and head over to the east coast and come back up, Augestine and to north mertle beach and then cut west thru carolinas and head home. I am familiar with the east coast and coming home but have never been down the gulf coast. We are not in a big hurry but would like to take in the most available sites areas attractions ect. Any and all suggestions from those who know the area would be appreaciated. Thanks in Advance Larry
Larry,Brenda,Travis,Jarred & MEME the Boston Terror TheBunch 2011 American Coach Revolution 42T The Double Wide
You'll love the west coast. There's lot's to do in Tampa, Sarasota, Venice, Ft. Myers, Naples and the Everglades. I would spend a couple of days in each of these areas on my way to the Keys.
Go downtown St. Pete and have coffee at an outdoor table. Watch people. Lunch is wonderful in the open air there. Visit a beach at Treasure Island and go for a walk along the waves.
Go to John's Pass between St. Pete and Treasure Island. Go for a walk along the beach at Treasure Island.
These are not "jump up and down show stoppers," but they are very pleasant places. I will go back again.
Don't miss the Ringling circus museum. That is jump up and down great. It is in Sarasota.
I live in tampa and we like Fort Desoto in St. Peterburg. They have nice campsites close to the beach and some are on the water. I am not sure if they have any sites open during your time frame. However, they keep some sites open for walk ups. Your best bet is to contact the campground in regards to their walk up policy. If your looking for things you can't go wrong with Busch Gardens. Enjoy your stay.
Most of the state parks in florida are nice,some have FHU.I can almost always get a site during the week.The weekends get busy the closer to the beach you get. Fort Desoto is a nice park,its a pinellas county park.During the summer you may even have luck staying at a state park in the keys.
At the Keys, we stay at Big Pine Resort at Mile Marker 33. Very peaceful. You can walk the shore for miles and not see a person. The further South you go, the more you will pay for campground fees. Near Venice, Oscar Scherer State Campground is very nice. Near St. Petersburgh, Fort Desoto is rally nice, but don't have or advertise " open containers"' they will ask you to leave.
Carlos & Ranae
2010 Keystone Raptor Velocity 361 LEV
2012 Dodge Ram, 3500 Turbo Diesel
4X4, DWR, Pullrite 18KSuperslide Hitch
2006 Yamaha Midnight Silverado, 1700 CC
2007 Yamaha Classic 650 CC
Tampa: An RV park we like just N. of Tampa is Quail Run RV Resort, about 20 minutes north of Tampa. Reasonable price in the summer. Some shady sites in the older back section. Go to Ybor City in the daytime, have deviled crabs, cuban sandwich, cuban coffee, black beans and rice and flan. There is an Aquarium and Channelside has shops and things to do. Busch Gardens if you like theme parks. Drive over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Sarasota. Fort Myers has Thomas Edison home and museum.
http://www.ahtahthiki.com/ is a Seminole Indian museum. Look under info and click on the map for directions. There is a nice Corps of Engineers campground in LaBelle, FL called Ortona South.
If you come down US19, you will go by Manatee Springs State Park. Beautiful area. Rock Crusher Canyon is another RV park that is nice near Homosassa Springs.
http://www.yellowjacketrvresort.com/directions.html is a great park on the Suwannee River, way out of town but quiet and beautiful. You can park right on the river. (pricey on the river).
Lonny & Diane
2004 Country Coach Allure 33' "Big Blue"
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Desoto, Rock Crusher, and Lazy Days have already been mentioned, so I'll second those, and will add; Ho-Hum in Carrabelle (right on the water), Cedar Key RV Resort (after all these years Cedar Key has yet to be found), Gulf Waters in Ft Myers (well located before you get to the beach traffic), Koreshan State Park (in Bonita Beach on road to Naples), Naples Motorcoach Resort (nicest in Naples), Chokoloskee Resort and Marina (an "Outdoor Resort" on the water), and, finally, Bluewater Key (for the ultimate Key West experience).
Thanks everyone just what I was looking for places behind the scene. we will not be in a big hurry and intend to spend a couple days in interesting areas. Never know what is just off the road in areas you have never been. Thanks Larry