| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/4/2007 11:25:20 AM | When I was younger, I used to camp in the local national forest. Primitive camping seems to be the best way to get to know an area. The area was natural. Those places that I used to camp have now been turned into campgrounds with facilities. I don't mind camping in those places too much, but I prefer to get off of the beaten path a little further. The problem is, who has time to scout new places to camp? Maybe you guys can help me out. Where are good places to camp to enjoy nature that are free of amenities and fees that perhaps offer a unique experience? National forests have gotten more strict in most places where you can camp because of erosion concerns and probably to get their fees from the campgrounds. I enjoy canoeing and exploring the waterways around the state. What are your suggestions of places to try?
I have tried most of the local places, I live in Gainesvile. Also, if someone is interested in going on a camping trip, let me know. My friends don't appreciate primitive camping as much as I do.
I have recently wanted to go on a camping trip to the keys, but don't know the area at all. | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/4/2007 5:51:07 PM | | hello,,,i don't think there is a place like that in th lower keys there might be th type your looking for named jhon pennycamp,,,,,an it might be to comerical for your needs,i have notice in several profiles there were people all ove that liked canoing an camping,,,,,so keep serching,,,,,,i'm sure this thread will get there attention,,,,good luck fishing,,,,joe | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/5/2007 5:13:20 AM | Hello ~ Another Gainesville camper here!
Have you done the Ocala forest? There are some great spots up in the north end for primitive camping....some good stuff up by Tally, too. I went camping this weekend on lake Sante Fe with a bunch of friends, but it was private property.
You might want to contact the Florida Trail association (on South 13th near the massage school) for some cool spots.
I'm originally from the Keys & sadly there are no ultra-primitive campgrounds that I know of, anymore. A small boat & one of the outlying keys is your best bet. Or you can hit the southern end of Everglades National around the Flamingo area & be on the water...just make sure to do it in wintertime or you will be eaten alive!
Your canoe photo looks like the Santa Fe river...is that Ginnie Springs? | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/5/2007 9:04:02 AM | That photo was actually taken at the lower Ocklawaha near Davenport. Yes, I have spent lots of time camping at the Ocala National Forest. Even though they have put in campgrounds, there are still some nice places to go there. I do have tons of photos canoeing on the Santa Fe though. Ginnie has some pretty springs, but I don't really care for the development and how crowed they are with poeple during the warmer months. I prefer, if someone has to be a drunken jackass, they be myself or one of my friends. Also, their prices are pretty high if you ask me. I remember when nature was free!
A small boat and beach camping sounds like a perfect trip. I know alot of places don't allow beach camping, can you just take out a small boat and camp on a small island someplace down there? Also is it better to try to rent a boat or BYOB. Better to go in winter or summer? | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/5/2007 5:03:53 PM | | I have been in the Ocala Forest as well, but more toward the South End. I have been to Alexander Springs & Clearwater Lake near the Paisley area. There are some primitive campsites off the beaten path if you go out of the Ocala forest on the Florida Trail south of Paisley toward SR 44 & SR 46. The entrance is hard to find from the road though, & now may not be a good time to go because of deer hunting season. | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/6/2007 12:13:27 PM | I have camped many times in the florida Bay backcountry...but I've always had my own boat. I suppose you can rent one overnight, you can definately rent a houseboat. But that kind of defeats the 'roughing it' aspect.
There is a large lake up by Tally called Lake Talquin that has some great camping sites....likewise, the rivers in the Panhandle.
Around here, I usually go to my friends property on the Suwanee or Lake Santa Fe if I want to primitive camp. Have you ever tried the island in the Santa Fe river south of Ginnie springs to camp on? I know people who have & had a great time.... | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/6/2007 4:34:35 PM | | Yeah, I have canoes and can take a small boat with me, but from Gainesville, I don't know if it would just be cheaper to rent something once there. Either way, the difficult part is finding the time to get out there. Does anyone keep a photo/travellog of that sort of thing that you know of? | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/11/2007 9:01:47 PM | I have been dying to go camping in the keys!! I have researched and researched!! My best site for finding camping and having the ammenity's is
www.reserveamerica.com
I wouldn't leave home without them. espically last minuate camping!! it is great for that, lets say on thursday you decide to go camping on sat, you can log on there and it will tell you the availability.
I too want to go to the keys, but the drive is so far!!
some of my local faves: blue spring state park, fort desto state park (west coast), st. augustine (a few up there).
Sarah  | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/12/2007 2:58:54 PM | | there is a great camping spot in palmdale.. fisheating creek... also the keys have several... heck, you can google it and find all kinds of places! | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/13/2007 11:02:51 PM | Yeah, I have been searching the internet as well. The internet hasn't gotten smart enough to really give me the information I am looking for yet or at least I haven't figured out how to coax the right answers from it. There are many places that look inviting on the internet, that turn out to be a bit of a let-down in real life. Not that every time out isn't fun, just that time is always a limited resource for those of us who still toil for our supper. Actually, I'm not sure what my boss would say if I just started taking random vacations. Maybe I should give it a try.
St. Augustine definately has some pretty places to camp and just take photos. The coquina beaches always seem exotic looking to me and the bright greens on the rocks in spring provide a really nice contrasting backdrop. I am obviously not the only one who thinks so. It is rare that you don't go out there and see someone taking a photo.
I was looking at the website for Fort DeSoto park recently, sounds like a nice place to check out. I haven't been to the Ringling museum down that way, I was thinking maybe I should check out a museum and then camp. Maybe take a 3 day weekend trip or something. | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/14/2007 11:48:40 AM | | If you are going to camp at Fort Desoto & check out a museum, I would recommend you going to the Salvador Dali Museum in downtown St. Petersburg instead of the Ringling Museum. You would be closer to Fort Desoto from that museum than Ringling & you won't have to drive across the Sunshine Skyway to get there. | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/14/2007 1:19:35 PM | | CHECK OUT THIS WEB SITE. www.floridacamping.com FT DESOTO IS THE PLACE PLACE TO CAMP,BUT ITS HARD TO GET INTO. THEY ARE ALLREADY BOOK FOR THE 1ST FOUR MONTHS OF 2008 | |
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| Good places to camp around the state
Posted: 11/14/2007 11:00:50 PM | I thought I read on the website for Ft. DeSoto that they have first come first serve no reservation camping as well. Is that usually filled pretty quickly?
I went to the Dali museum awhile back. I wasn't very impressed. There really weren't all that many works displayed. I was surprised by the size of some of the pieces that I recognized. I never paid attention to their scale in books. I also didn't remember much about Dali when I went, so the Valasquez reinterpretations threw me a bit. I'm not a big fan of Valasquez, at least not as much as Dali was aparently. | |
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