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The nickname Sunshine State was given to Florida for a reason. Even with hot, steamy Summers, there are twelve months of terrific RV camping in Florida. With over 150 RV parks and many more spots that on the beach, Florida offers folks that like to be in the outdoors many things to do.

When you come to Florida, whatever outdoor activity you wish to participate in, the suggestions for places to stay are only based on how much of a good thing you wish for you and your family. On Florida’s Atlantic coast, you will have great fishing, boating, snorkeling, world class golf, romantic sunsets and more.

Many people are unaware that Florida offers 6 of the top 20 beaches in America. So, if golf, fishing, sightseeing or just basking in the sun is your choice, these parks would likely work great for you and your family.

A. The Florida Keys are only 90 miles from Cuba. This most southern tip of the United States has some of the best views available anywhere. Located just 12 miles from Marathon, FL, you will find Bahia Honda. This resort gives you access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Florida Gulf. Fishing and boating are outstanding, as is the snorkeling throughout the Keys. Pets are welcome, but the spots sell out early, so book as soon as you know where you are headed.

B. Curry Hammock Park is also in the Keys, and is pretty much always sold out from October to April. A waiting list exists and although few, there are cancellations, so again book early. Here you will be basically beaching it. White sandy beaches and cookout grills on the beach make this a great spot if you are inclined to just sit there and bake yourself in a deep dark tan. Here you will also see some plant life and animals that are only common to this region, so have your camera ready.

C. Named after famous folk singer Gamble Rogers, this northern Florida destinations offers an abundance of fun to do. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterways, in Flagler County, you will find great snorkeling, deep sea fishing, boating and picnics on the beach, the most common activities. As the temperatures cool, you can watch mother sea turtles lay and hide her eggs for their long nurturing growth and hatch. A different site will offer you many more choices of shells as they lay there waiting for you to take home as a memory of your trip.

D. While still in the northern part of Florida, you may wish to check into the Gold Head Branch Resort. Centrally located between Jacksonville and Gainsville, this locale offers a fresh water lake, home of the Bald Eagle, other local animals and more. Take a drive and enjoy more than 25 golf courses within 50 miles of this resort. Plan a late fall trip to Gold Head and enjoy the wildflowers in bloom with color and scents to keep you calm and enjoy all that this area has to offer.

This is just a sampling of the many choices you have when you head to Florida in your RV. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection manages over 150 parks and each one will offer you a great location to do whatever you have chosen to do for your RV vacation. The many other locations are located all over the state, so chooses carefully and assure yourself and your family a wonderful time getting to know Florida, up close and personal.

The nickname Sunshine State was given to Florida for a reason. Even with hot, steamy Summers, there are twelve months of terrific RV camping in Florida. With over 150 RV parks and many more spots that on the beach, Florida offers folks that like to be in the outdoors many things to do.

When you come to Florida, whatever outdoor activity you wish to participate in, the suggestions for places to stay are only based on how much of a good thing you wish for you and your family. There is fishing, world class golf, boating on either the Atlantic Ocean or in the Florida Gulf. You will find some of the best snorkeling in the world, 6 of the top 20 beaches in the country and depending on your location, some of the best sunsets that you will ever experience.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection manages over 150 destinations and offer some of the best locations for you do all of your outdoor activities. Listed below are just a few:

A. Just 12 miles from Marathon, Florida, in the Florida Keys, you will find Bahia Honda. With access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Florida Gulf, boating, fishing, snorkeling will give you some great fun. They have over 80 hook up sites and pets are welcome. Be sure to take a walk on the beach late in the day, to see some of the most romantic sunsets you will ever see. But book early as these spaces are locked up by returning guests.

B. Also in the Florida Keys is another terrific spot named: Curry Hammock State Park. This location is always sold out during the Winter months, but you can get on a cancellation list to get you into this site. This resort gets over a large percentage of reoccurring visitors. They offer fishing, cookouts, grills, snorkeling and with a protected environment, you will see Flora and Fauna that is only common in Florida.

C. Named after famous folk singer Gamble Rogers, this northern Florida destinations offers an abundance of fun to do. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterways, in Flagler County, you will find great snorkeling, deep sea fishing, boating and picnics on the beach, the most common activities. As the temperatures cool, you can watch mother sea turtles lay and hide her eggs for their long nurturing growth and hatch. A different site will offer you many more choices of shells as they lay there waiting for you to take home as a memory of your trip.

D. If you enjoy fresh water, then you might consider Gold Head Branch. Located between Jacksonville and Gainsville, this spot has been a favorite for years. This 2300 acre park is the home of Bald Eagles, Gopher Tortoises, Fox Squirrels, Foxes, Snakes and other Florida furry animals. The fall is a wonderful time to visit this resort as wildflowers are in full bloom and the park feels, looks and smells wonderful.

Florida is and always will be the number 1 vacation destination. From all of these locales, a day trip to a theme park or to shop will only enhance the vacation experience. Florida is truly the Sunshine State and by visiting there in your RV you will have the chance to take in all that this beautiful state has to offer. If these areas are not where you were planning to stay, check around and you will find that there are many great options for you and your family.

It doesn’t matter if your RV is an Coleman, Fleetwood, Forest River or Four Winds Travel Trailer, even an old Airstream all are subject to the same Laws of Nature when it comes to cold weather camping.

I present the following tips from my experience of living in a travel trailer for 17 years in The mountains north of Atlanta. The following list should provide some insight into the issues you need to tend to when Jack Frost comes calling.

If the campground water is supplied from an above-ground pump head you can wrap the head and supply pipe with a heat tape and build an insulated box around it. It will freeze and probably break if left unprotected.

Now I cover the fresh water garden hose supply line from pump head to the RV with foam pipe insulation and then run it inside PVC pipe.

You can Put a Y adapter with shut-off branches where it enters the RV. When the thermometer gets below freezing you should leave a tiny stream of water running out the open branch of the Y adapter to the ground. Having the Y at this point with water draining moves water all through the camper supply line. Moving water takes longer to freeze.

Place a heating element like a light bulb under the metal fitting and Y entering the camper. The metal inlet will freeze rapidly. Provide cover for the light bulb to protect it from snow and rain. A hot light bulb will blow out when hit by moisture.

On really cold nights (below 32 degrees) you should leave a small stream at the bathtub. Catch the drip into a plastic tub or pail large enough to hold most of the night’s drip. If you drip it into the main tub it could freeze in the drain line outside.

If you leave the toilet drain handle closed during the day then you can drain it each evening, adding enough water to flush out the pipe reasonably well. The pull valve will freeze when it is left closed each day! If you are determined to leave it open then you can leave the drain valve open. If you leave the valve open it becomes very important to rinse the tank and drain line with several pails of water every few days to avoid clogging. Do not leave it open for weeks without rinsing because it will clog with solids (personal experience).
You should leave the lower inside cabinet doors open to allow heating inside pipes that run along the outside walls.

Leave your upper cabinet doors open slightly to keep moisture from collecting inside.

Put moisture-absorbing material in the clothes closets and leave the closet doors ajar.

If you have one of the older outdoor “Instant” hot water tanks made for camping it needs to be insulated or it will become frozen and break. These units are made with radiator-like fins so that the water heats up quickly. Consequently, the small amount of water within these fins will freeze freeze. One way of protecting the unit is to construct an enclosure around it and hang a pair of drop lights inside. The cover should be made of metal due to the hot tank. The newer versions have built-in freeze protection so this does not apply. Use caution when building enclosures around the older models and remember to provide adequate ventilation.

Note: These tips come from camping where the temperature is rarely less than 15 degrees. If you camp in more severe environments such as the Upper Midwest where temperatures go far below zero then obviously even more extreme measures must be taken.

Camping in North Carolina offers spectacular natural beauty. There are also historical towns full of charm. The state borders Tennessee on the west, Virginia in the north and Georgia and South Carolina in the south. Trails for hikers, bikers and horses are available. Gorges, mountains, forests, waterfalls and other scenic natural sites abound.

How to decide the camp location in North Carolina

As there so many options, the best way to limit the possibilities is to decide what type of camping trip you are looking for. Do you want to go traditional and rough it? Do you want showers and potable water available? Are rented cabins more suitable? Is an recreational vehicle park a consideration? Are you interested in enjoying seasonal events as well?

Some useful tips for travelers

You should do your research to make the most of this opportunity. Going online opens up a whole host of sources, including the state’s useful resources that can guide you in planning your trip. Planning ahead will certainly improve the quality of your experience.

Keep the following in mind: chairs and coolers cannot help you stake your claim to a spot next to yours at campsites in national parks. Tents must be set up. If you try to use chairs and coolers to stake claim to a spot, they will removed and placed in the lost and found.

How to find the right camp ground

Online many websites are available to help you narrow your choice. There are general sites that provide information and specific sites such as those for state and national parks and also individual camp websites (once you have narrowed your search and are looking for more details). A useful book about tent campsites for those interested in going this way is the guidebook entitled The Southern Appalachian & Smoky Mountains that even has a list of top locations such as the Standing Indian Campground in Franklin, NC; the Black Mountain Campground in Burnsville, NC; Linville Falls Campground in Spruce Pine, NC to name a few. Some readers might want to stop with the top 20 list in this book;but, it is useful to know that the choice is broad and plentiful to satisfy even the most finicky traveler.

How to make the most of your experience

Think ahead. Plan and prepare. You will have a camping vacation that memories are made of with just a little forethought.

Americans and enterprising foreigners choosing a vacation trip that makes nature the focus might consider camping in NC. For those who are unfamiliar with the state, you need to know first of all that there are three identifiable regions: the mountains in the west, the Atlantic coast on the east and the Piedmont heartland. With the Atlantic to the east, North Carolina has Tennessee on its western border, Virginia on its north, and Georgia and South Carolina to the south. There are many, many locations to choose, offering campers of all types something they would like. These include the Linville Gorge, Mount Mitchell, the Blue Ridge Parkway, national forests, waterfalls, hiking trails, bike trails and horse trails amongst the sites to enjoy.

Camping locations in North Carolina

As there so many options, the best way to limit the possibilities is to decide what type of camping trip you are looking for. Do you want to make it as natural as possible? Would you prefer available showers and water? Do cabins for rent appeal? Do you have an RV you would like to take with you to a recreational vehicle park? Are there special events you want to visit as well?

Tips to consider

The best tip is to research ahead of time. The computer is a useful tool to help you plan. Going online opens up a whole host of sources, including the state’s useful resources that can guide you in planning your trip. Planning ahead will certainly improve the quality of your experience.

Keep the following in mind: chairs and coolers cannot help you stake your claim to a spot next to yours at campsites in national parks. Tents must be set up. If you try to use chairs and coolers to stake claim to a spot, they will removed and placed in the lost and found.

Narrowing your choices

There is an array of informative websites to help you find your campground of choice. General sites or specific sites like those for national and state parks or individual websites for the various camping grounds. Please keep in mind that if tent camping is your choice, there is a book that has greater detail. The book’s title is:The Best In Tent Camping: The Southern Appalachian & Smoky Mountains. It lists many known and unknown sites(depending on the prospective camper’s familiarity with the state), such as the Linville Falls Campground in Spruce Pine, NC; Camping & Cabins on Cape Lookout National Seashore in Harkers Island, NC; Mount Mitchell State Park in Asheville, NC and many other possible destinations. No matter how choosy the camper this book illustrates that there are savory offerings available.

Making the most of your camping trip

Think ahead. Plan and prepare. You will have a camping vacation that memories are made of with just a little forethought.

When you want to take your family on a fun vacation you may be having a hard time deciding because of money issues these days. Now that money is tight because of the economy it can feel like you just cannot take your family. Staying home should not be an option, though. These times are very important to spend making memories that will last your family a lifetime. In order to do this you should consider caravaning camping.

To caravan you just need a vehicle that can haul the caravan. Many places rent caravans that do not charge much money. It is a lot less money than renting a hotel room. Instead of setting up tents and wasting that time you could just rent a caravan.

Anyplace you go you can find places to camp. These sites don’t cost too much money and they are convienent for you family. They have bathroom facilities and picnic tables. They even have barbeques so you can cook.

Caravaning also allows you to bring your own food. Food can be the most expensive part of the vacation. Just pack some healthy camp food that your family likes and you are all set.

Look online with your family and decide where you all would like to go to visit. There are probably many places that are close to your home. If you find somewhere close then you can save a lot of money on gas. Gas can be a lot of money so that it great.

Most camp sites that you go to are very inexpensive. You may need to make reservations well ahead of time, though, so plan accordinly. Caravaning with your family is a great way to spend time together and vacation. You won’t regret that you did.

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Are you interested in taking a camping adventure in your motor home? If you are, is this your first time doing so?If you recently acquired a new or used RV, you may be wondering how to go about preparing it for you first RV camping trip. If so, you will want to continue reading.

One of the first and most important things to do to prepare your RV for the road is to make sure it is inspected, services and up-to-par. If you just recently bought a brand new motor home, you may not need to have your motor home serviced.  On the other hand, if your motor home hasn’t been driven in a while or if you bought it used, you may want to think about having a professional motor home mechanic inspect your motor home for you.Being stranded in a broken down RV isn’t very fun at all.

Since you will be taking your motor home on a camping adventure, you will likely be spending your nights sleeping in your motor home. For that reason, you will want to make sure that your motor home is filled with clean bedding.Unlike many other RVers, you may not want to pack only sleeping bags.Many RV beds are designed to use traditional bed linen.Ensuring your RV is stocked full of clean bedding will help ensure your nights are peaceful, comfortable and restfull.

You also want to make sure your RV kitchen is stocked with all the necessary supplies.To begin with, make sure you pack enough food for your trip.You might consider bringing extra food with you in case you make new friends on your adventure. In addition to packing enough food, snacks and drinks, you will want to be sure to bring the right eating utensils with you.Whatever utinsils you use, you will want to make sure you have all the right items to cook your food in, as well as eat with.

It is also important that your motor home bathroom is filled with supplies, especially if you are planning on taking an extended camping trip.You want to make sure you stock all the necessary toiletries, health and beauty products as well.It is also helpful to bring an adaquate number of towels and wash cloths.If the RV park you are visiting doesn’t have a laundry facility, you may want to bring at least one towel for each day of your trip.

The aforementioned steps are just a few of the basics that you will want to cover when preparing for your next camping trip.  To ensure that you bring along everything with you that you need, you may want to think about making yourself a camping checklist. By making a camping checklist, ahead of time, you are more likely to make sure that you bring along everything that you want and need to bring.  Also, packing your motor home in advance of your trip may also make it easier for you to ensure that everything is good to go on the day of your camping trip departure.

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Are you interested in going on a camping trip in your Open Range RV? Choose your campground as soon as possible if you do not know where you want to go already. In the summer months, camping is a popular activity; therefore, you will want to make sure that you are able to get a camping reservation at the RV park of your choice.

Another one of the many reasons why you may want to think about making your camping reservations in advance is because many campgrounds allow their guests to handpick which camping spots they want. Of course, not all campgrounds allow this, but you will find that a large number of them do. In terms of getting a good campsite, you will find that the earlier you make your reservations, the more campsites you have to choose from.

In all honesty, the “perfect,” campsite is likely to vary from person to person. Think about what you want to do as well as what those in your group want to do and choose accordingly. Although there may be some variations of what you are looking for, you may want to take some of the factors mentioned below into consideration, when choosing the perfect campsite.

If you are going camping with small children, you may want to think about making sure that your camping site is a good distance away from any bodies of water or any dangerous hiking trails. You will also find that many campground parks have on-site playgrounds and such. It may be a good idea to try and get a camping spot that is located near a playground or other locations that are designed for children.

In addition to the safety of those that you will be camping with, preferences are also something that should be taken into consideration. If you want to spend your time on the water either swimming, boating or fishing, then you will want a campsite close to the water. If you want to spend time hiking on the other hand, try to get a campsite close to the hiking trails and so on.

Size is also another factor that you may want to take into consideration, when choosing a campsite. Most campgrounds have different size campsites to choose from. For the most part, the larger campsites are reserved for campers with Open Range RVs or multiple tents. Before agreeing to rent a particular camping site, you will want to make sure that the site in question is large enough for your entire camping group.

If you are camping in an Open Range RV, then you will want to make sure there are hookups such water and electricity. Camping in an Open Range RV is so much better when you can utilize the benefits of your RV.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many factors that you may want to take into consideration when choosing a camping spot for your next camping adventure. Most campgrounds do allow you to choose your own campsite, remember however, not all of them do.

Camping for most people means a tent and sleeping on a mat on the ground. Camping in an RV is what you need if this doesn’t really appeal to you. This is the ultimate outdoor adventure.

RV’s come in many sizes and shapes. RVs start with campers that fit in the bed of a pickup truck. These can have a shower and toilet, beds and even a full kitchen in them.

Next there are van conversions called Class B motorhomes that are basically a cargo van converted into a camping vehicle. Many even have a rasied roof for more head room. These units, like the truck camper, will have the same amenities.

Next up is the Class C motorhome. Although it looks like a pickup or van from the front, the similarity ends there. You are probably familair with motorhomes and this one has a sleeper extension over tha cab and the rear looks like a regular motorhome. Basically a cargo box with windows, but much prettier. The Class C has all the amenities of home. A kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room. You could live in a Class C.

The next step us is the Class A motorhome. This has the most room of all motorized RVs. RVs and motorhomes are like little one bedroom apartments. They are fully self contained. You will find luxury from the four person dinnette to the queen size bed. You even have a microwave oven in addition to a refirgerator and a stove. You might even have an ice maker capable of making over 20 pounds of ice a day. Party ready!

If that weren’t enough choices, there are still the trailers. First of all, a travel trailer is one you can pull behind a truck or a large SUV. A 5th wheel travel trailer hooks onto a hitch in the bed of a truck. Each type of these trailers are as good as the best motorhome. They cost a lot less and that is the biggest advantage.

You can buy new or used. Whichever way you choose, you should do a lot of research on the internet first. Find out as much as you can about RVing. There are RV forums that you can find by doing a search in your favorite search engine.

When you decide that an RV might be for you, attend an RV show or two. There are major RV shows at fairgrounds and stadiums where many dealers and vendors are selling every type of RV there is. You can always find and RV show where several dealers come together to display and sell their inventory.

If you really are not sure you would like to spend $40,000 or $250,000 on a hobby you are not sure you would like, buy a used RV. There are pre-owned RVs you can get into for under $5,000.

Camping in an RV is a fun adventure awaiting you and your entire family.

When you want to take your family on a fun vacation you may be having a hard time deciding because of money issues these days. It is also hard to decide where to go. Many places these days are not family oriented and if they are they cost too much money. With the economy the way it is many families are saving money by not taking their normal vacations. You don’t have to, though. Take you family caravaning camping (sometimes called RV camping) and have a lot of fun while also saving a lot of money.

A caravan is easy to hitch up to the back of your vehicle so you will have a place to rest during the night while you are camping. There are no crazy tents to set up- just a caravan.

You can go anywhere you want to just as long as there are camp sites available. You don’t need to rent an expensive motor home or stay at expensive hotels. This allows you to save money that you can spend doing sight seeing.

You can also pack your own camping food to help you to save money. This is a big money saver. Food tends to be the most expensive part of a trip with the family. Just Pack up some healthy food that you family loves and you are ready for camping.

If you go online you will find many places that would be great for your family and not too expensive. There are so many places to see and go to. Find a place your family would be interested in that is close to home. That way you don’t have to waste a lot of money on gasonline.

Camping grounds are normally not very expensive and just cost a few dollars per night. Plus, they normally have bathroom facilities and places to picnic. Your family can have a lot of fun on vacation and you can still save a lot of money. Go caravaning camping with your family.