Camping in Florida

Living in Florida has its perks, enjoying 11 months of warmth and sunshine but let's be honest, Floridians love the outdoors but don't necessarily look forward to the heat and humidity for months on end. February - April seems to be the perfect weather.   We look forward to a little lighter air where we can bond and enjoy each other's company, outside of the home, for a reasonable price and without the children complaining about the heat.  Camping is one of those activities to do so! Here is a list of some of our family's favorite places to explore nature; where we all have something to do that makes us happy.  Check them out!

Rainbow Springs State Park - Separate from the main fun, this camping spot will allow you to entertain the little ones during the day, then head to the quiet to decompress a few miles apart.  This might seem a bit annoying to some but trust me - it's a must do!  It's a rare experience to see a waterfall in Florida.  Well, from what I have seen, however, this park has 3 of them!  That pulls me in by itself.  Sure I can listen to nature sounds on my computer but there is something about experiencing this in person that makes me take a step back, breath and enjoy the view in this aquatic preserve.  Not to mention, this park has a designated swimming area that is the same temperature year round!  Let's be honest, by December, the beach water is numbing our legs and we stay on the shore to watch non-locals jump in what they call, "bath water."  If your child has not tried geocaching yet, this is a great place to do so.  Download an app and help your child have fun with geography!  

Lake Louisa State Park - Close to home, this park offers a camping option for those that enjoy nature but prefer not to pitch a tent and be on the "wild" side or just want the simple experience of nature!  Besides regular camp sites, you can opt for a glamping rental option!  That's right folks! This option sits between the tent camping and cabin option.  You get to unplug but still have coffee, linens for a queen size bed, solar lighting and more!  The park also offers rentals and/or tours for Kyaks, canoes, horseback and bikes. The presence of a abundance of wildlife makes nature study easy. 

Fort DeSoto Park - Probably our favorite park...  We hook up our boat and trailer and head here.  A few days of camping, boating and history all rolled into one outing.  DeSoto Park has a historic fort the children are sure to want to explore.  Take a ferry to smaller islands, Immerse yourself in the abundance of sea life and plant life.  Check out their guide here. 

Ten Thousand Islands - The name says it all!  One complex, and plentiful, system of water and mangroves!  There is a boat tour at the Gulf Coast Visitor's Center  Complex of Everglades National Park. If I remember correctly, it was $40 for a 90 minute tour.  Children pay half that.  I recall going when my son was in "6th" grade; he was 11.  The guides know where to go and because they are use to navigating these waterways, this means marine life - which makes this worth the adventure. If you are a nature enthusiast, you will love to explore the islands, paddling and camping out on Tiger Key and Picnic Key under the stars.  
*If you have a boat under 24 feet, Collier - Seminole State Park has a boat launch you can take to lead to Blackwater River.  It's not far and it leads into the Ten Thousand Islands.

Now, of course you have a lot of options to consider.  I hope you get a chance during your schooling journey, to stop, breath the air and engage in fun activities for down time to relieve stress.  Learning can be fun when you are all involved and doing it outdoors allows for exploration.  Pack up the children, the bikes, sunscreen and other gear and try some of these ideas while you're out:

Tree Rubbings
Stamp Art
Pottery/Clay 
Play-Doh
Stargazing and Constellation Study
Make Mud Pies
Climb trees (not the protected ones!)
Paint rocks you find on hikes
Look at leaves under a magnifying glass
Practice animal calls

Just have fun out there learning about life!  Camping memories are always those that children remember - whether you leave snacks out that animals get or the tent colliding because the children ram into it many times going in and out!  Whatever you choose, wherever you go, make memories!