Life is Good in Tampa Florida - MacDill AFB Campground

(Tampa FL) 72 degrees, blue sky, ocean breeze

The weather is now absolutely perfect.  It's been much colder than anticipated leading up to this point but at last this is heaven.  We are now camping at the MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa Florida.  It is a fantastic military campground with lots of amenities. We have a full hook up site for two weeks.  Sites are close together with not a lot of the "it" factor.  However, the price is great at about $21/night and our neighbors are very nice.  In fact, everyone seems very friendly. 



Our campsite



You can stay longer but there is a rotation system that involves moving to dry camping, partial hook up and then full hook up every two weeks. There is some way you can make reservations a year in advance and stay longer,  but I'm not sure all the details about that option.  We called two weeks prior and were able to reserve this site for two weeks but after that we will have to do the rotation system. 

It is a very large base (over 5000 acres) and campground.  The beach is less than a five minute walk from our site with a nice restaurant.  I love this beach and hope to spend a lot of time here working on my tan, reading, kayaking, and enjoying the sunsets.  The retirement life sure is hectic! 



Beach near campground



Beach Restaurant



There is an active social schedule with crafts, day trips, and even a dinner club if you are interested.  A schedule to left at your door each week.  Most of the activities and mail room are handled by a large group of volunteers. This is a very organized place.  The commissary (grocery store) is huge with great variety.  The best we have seen to date.

The only downside would be the Internet access and cell phone service.  It is very slow including mine with Verizon.  I had to go to the library to write the blog today and catch up on email. There is also a long 25 minute drive from the campground to get off the base. 

According to the website the "MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Mobility Wing which provides day-to-day mission support to more than 3,000 personnel in its immediate command, along with more than 50 Mission Partners comprising over 12,000 additional personnel, to include the United States Central Command and United States Special Operations Command . It is a force capable of rapidly projecting air refueling power anywhere in the world. MacDill also bases the Aircraft Operations Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose NOAA Corps flies "Hurricane Hunter" missions in WP-3D Orion and Gulfstream IV aircraft."  General David Petraeus is stationed here.   We have found security to be very tight here for obvious reasons.

For now we have been staying close to our campsite.  John has been cleaning the motorcoach and doing lots of maintenance.  I've been cooking, walking Jimmy, and reading.  We took a long walk yesterday on a trail at the campground. It was a pretty walk out to a lake and eventually led to the golf coarse.  Some of the forest was very dense and it made us realize how difficult it must have been for explorers when they first arrived here. 

We met this guy along the way.  He was very busy trying to find something to eat and barely noticed us.  There is a lot of wild life right in the park.  Last night John saw a huge great horned owl. 



We plan to go explore Tampa and St. Petersburg soon.  I think we are really going to like it here. 

Having Fun in Orlando With Family and Friends

(Kissimmee, FL 67 degrees, sunny, and windy)

We left Destin a little later than planned and drove for about 6 hours. It was a long drive across the panhandle.  We decided to try boondocking for the first time and spent the night at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in their back parking lot.  There were three other rigs staying.  Cracker Barrel allows you to stay for free in hopes that  you will eat in their restaurant.  We ate  dinner their that night and breakfast the next morning. It was a win win for both the restaurant and us. 

We only had to drive for three hours the next day to the Orlando area.  We are staying at the Orange Grove Campground in Kissimmee.  We did not have a lot of time to find a park and our first three choices were sold out.  We would rate this park about a 5 or 6.  The office was very friendly and moved our site due to lots of rain.  There are a lot of park models and trailers that probably stay here all the time.  It gives the park a sort of run down appearance and the landscaping is poor. However, our location is close to where Ben is staying and the Disney parks. The rate is $300 for 7 days including tax and very reasonable for the area.  It will be just fine for a week.



Palm Tree at Universal Studios



We met Dan and Ben for dinner that night.  It was so wonderful to see our nephews.  Ben has an internship with the Disney Parks and Dan works for the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle.  They are so much fun and we had an enjoyable evening at a Brazilian restaurant. 

On Saturday, my friend Debbie arrived from Indianapolis.  We picked her up at the airport and Ben surprised us all with free tickets to the Disney Parks.  Through some of his contacts he got us all hopper passes that allowed us to go in and out of all the parks for one day.  We met up with the boys and a couple of their friends and off we went on our whirlwind tour. 

The Gang at EPCOT

EPCOT was our first stop.  It was about 60 degrees, blue skies, and a little chilly.  We looked around and went on a space mission to Mars.  We also signed up for a fast pass to one of the rides for later in the day.

EPCOT

We then took a Disney bus to Animal Kingdom.  Dan worked there five years ago with  the same internship that Ben is taking advantage of now.  Dan was a safari driver and he wanted to check out his old stomping grounds. Because of the cool weather we saw lots of animals. On the way to ride we also saw the parade through the park. All of the characters are dressed in safari outfits.  It's a great parade.

Animal Kingdom

We also tried the new Everest roller coaster ride.  It was a fun ride and very pretty area. The attention to detail and the culture for this area was very cool. Disney sure knows how to keep you occupied while you are waiting in line. 

Everest

We took the bus to Walt Disney World just in time for the Electric Parade (a must see) and fireworks.  This park was packed as everyone was waiting for the parade. This was Debbie's first time to be at WDW.  She could not wait to see the castle and it did not disappoint.  It was all lit up in purple lights when we first arrived.  The colors change over time.  This park is certainly very magical.  Everywhere we looked people were smiling. Seeing all the little girls in their princess costumes was fun. 

Walt Disney World

After seeing the parade and getting a little dinner we went to see Mickie and the Philharmonic Orchestra.  This is my favorite and it's a delightful 3D experience.  We came out of the theatre just in time to see the fireworks.  They were fantastic.

WDW Fireworks

We saw a new show that is different every time called Monsters Inc.  This movie somehow interacts with the audience.  It was very funny and truly amazing.  By this time we were near frozen and sort of "hitting the wall".  We reluctantly left and took the monorail back to EPCOT where our car was parked...very far away.  We were very cold and tired but it certainly was a great day. 

On Sunday the boys had plans, so John, Debbie, and I decided to drive to Daytona Beach for the day.  Debbie loves the ocean and we wanted her to be able to see one before she had to return to cold, gray Indiana.  It was about 1 1/2 hour drive and at this time of year it is not very busy.  What is great about Daytona Beach is you can drive your car right on the beach.

Daytona Beach

We had a terrific lunch at the Boondocks restaurant. We had read that this restaurant was a locals hang out and good food could be found here at reasonable prices. You'll need your GPS to find it but its so worth it. Be sure to try the spicy shrimp appetizer (peel and eat shrimp with a kick).

Boondocks (Debbie with some yummy shrimp)

Our last full day was spent at Universal Studios. There are two parks at this area and we decided to go to the Islands of Adventure.  There is a new Harry Potter area at this park and most of us are fans of the  books and movies. It was very crowded in this area and we heard later to visit it in the afternoon.  The boys loved the dragon roller coaster ride (passed on that one...you go upside down). The ride through the castle was very cool. It simulated riding on a broom and it was very exciting. The line was long (75 minutes) but they did a good job of keeping you entertained while you waited.

Universal Islands of Adventure



Harry Potter

 Sadly, our time together came to an end. We took Debbie to the airport the next day and Dan left this morning.  We plan on getting back together with Ben before we leave on Friday.  It's been a fun packed few days.  I think we will all need a little time to recover.  :) 

There is a lot to like about Topsail State Park

(Destin, FL)  A camper recommended to us several months ago to be sure to check out Topsail State Park.  So, yesterday we decided for our last day in the area to spend the day at this park.  We stopped for lunch at Wendy's and found this "car" parked next to ours.  We didn't see it driving down the road.  Hopefully, it just keeps on the sidewalks.  It was tiny!

We arrived around noon at the park.  You cannot drive down to the beach to protect the dunes and area.  Instead there is a tram that will take you down or you can bike or walk to the beach (approximately 1/2 mile).  We decided to take the Turpentine Trail that is about 2 miles long.  It stops along the way at Campbell Lake and the beach. It was a very pretty trail. The paths are wide and well maintained.   

Jimmy came along too. Dog's are not allowed on the beach but he could go on the trails. Check out his new hair cut. We took him to the groomers this week and got a "summer cut". He is a whole new dog. It will be much easier now to get out all the stickers and stuff he manages to get in his coat.

The trail stopped at a Campbell Lake.  There were canoes that could be rented and a picnic area.  I liked it  but became a little nervous when I saw the beware of alligators sign. 

Eventually the mulch turned into sand on the trail.  The terrain changed quite a bit.  Here are a couple of pictures of the area just before arriving at the beach. 

We were the only people on this wonderful trail.  Where is everyone?  Seriously, people really should  get out of their cars and see these beautiful parks.  There were not any footprints on the beach except for ours.  Not complaining, mind you, just observing.

On the way back we walked through the area where the cabins are located.  They are very nice and all have a screened in porch with rocking chairs and table.  The average cost is about $125-145 per night.  These appear to be very new.  There were some older ones as you came closer to the park entrance that also looked very nice and had more landscaping.  

After our hike we drove through the campground  It is first class and the sites are full hook up (very unusual for a state park) with cable.  The sites are very nicely landscaped with some privacy between sites.  Rates are higher @ $45 per night.  For a special treat we would highly recommend this park.  It is very special. 

Site #15

Today we left the Emerald Coast,.  We really enjoyed this area and will certainly return soon.  Orlando is our next destination.  John's two nephews (Ben and Dan) will be in Orlando  So, we are heading down there to join in all the fun.  We have not seen them in a while.  Ben lives in Sao Paulo Brazil and Dan lives in Seattle.  My girl friend, Debbie, from Indianapolis is also flying down to see us.    Lots of plans are in the works.  It should be fun...come along and join us.

Touring Military Campgrounds in the Destin Area

(Destin, FL)  There are four military bases in the Emerald Coast area.  Yesterday we toured two of them and also one recreation area.  Our first stop was the Maxwell-Gunter Recreation Area (Air Force) in Niceville  (what a great name for a city).  We took the Mid-Bay toll bridge ($3) over to this area.  The road leading to the campground was in disrepair and very rough. The sites look over the Choctawhatchee Bay and are a good size.  However, the park looks run down and a lot of bridge and traffic noise could be heard  We were not very impressed and probably would not stay here in the future. 

Maxwell-Gunter Campsite

We drove further inland to the Eglin Air Force Base.  This is the largest Air Force Base in the world covering over 463,000 acres.  It is huge!  It prides itself on providing "war winning capabilities on time and on cost".   There are two very nice campgrounds on this base.  One (Camp Robbins) offers full hook ups, good size sites and some privacy.

Eglin Air Force Campground-Camp Robbins

The second campground (Postl Point) look over the bay and many sites are along the water.  There is 50 amp service and cable  However, no sewer service and very few trees or privacy.  It is next to the recreation center that rents all types of equipment including boats, canoes, kayaks, and even campers.  Neither campground accepts reservations and are on first come, first served basis. 

We did our grocery shopping at the commissary.  It was a very nice store with a lot of variety.  There also is a huge base exchange.  This is not surprising since the base employees over 22,000 people (civilian and military combined).  We are going to Orlando next and bought our Universal tickets at the ticket (ITT)office.  It is a full service travel agency and the staff were very helpful. 

Eglin also has their own beach in Destin for the military.  It is not open this time of year.  It only costs $2 per car load and is a great location. It would probably be about a 20 minute drive from the campground to the beach.  

Our last stop was Hurlburt Field.  This is the home of the Air Force Special Operation Command and the 16th Special Operation Wing.  They also have a very nice campground.  It is rustic with lots of privacy.  Each site offers  full hook with a concrete pad. Reservations are not accepted. We would definitely stay here in the future.  It is close to the Fort Walton Beach area. 



Hulbert Field Campground



All of these campgrounds are about $20 per night.  A monthly rate is also available.  Here is a map to show you where each one is located.  It was an interesting day trip.  Being able to see Eglin Air Force Base was a thrill. This trip today will certainly help us with planning our future trips to this wonderful area.

View Military Campgrounds-Destin Area in a larger map

Gulf Islands National Seashore and Fort Pickens

Traveling along the National Seashore was a treat.  There are long stretches of pristine beaches, sea grasses, and ocean.  Right now you could walk for miles and rarely see a soul.  Last  evening we were on Osaloosa Island and walked along the shore watching the sun set.  It certainlywas good for the soul.

We saw an interesting site.  A helicopter was followng this boat at a high rate of speed.  There was some amazing maneuvering done by the helicopter.  We thought maybe they were filming, but were not able to verify.  It was fun to watch.  They traveled back and forth across the coast for quite awhile.

The next day we decided to go further down the National Seashore to Fort Pikens.  It is a National Park and on Martin Luther King Day admission was free.  We luckily arrived in time to take a tour led by the ranger.  It was very informative.  Like Fort Sumpter, earlier seen in Charleston, this fort along with two others were built to protect Pensacola from invaders.   Unfortunately, the only battles held at this fort were with the North and South during the Civil War.  This fort was held by the North throughout the war.

It was a large fort and the ranger showed us many of the details about its architecture  There were over 24 million bricks made in Pensacola and transported here for its construction, 

This fort is also famous for being where the Apache warrior Geronimo was imprisoned along with 14 other warriors.  They became Pensacola's first tourist attraction and were imprisoned here for about 14 months. 

Afterwards we went to the state campground. It has recently been updated. There is a lack of trees and vegetation due to hurricane damage.  The sites are all level with water and electric and cost about $24/night,.  A spectacular beach is just down the street from the campground,.  It would be a nice stay for a few days. 

It was a very nice day trip and we had great weather.

24 Miles of Beautiful Beaches - Exploring the Emerald Coast

(Destin, FL) We arrived in Destin a couple of days ago.  It is the centerpiece of a string of lovely beaches for about 24 miles along the Emerald Coast. Destin was such a change from the very rural and sleepy Carrebelle.  It is a vibrant city with tall condominium skyscrapers, shopping malls, numerous restaurants, and yes, lots of traffic.  



Emerald Coast



The Emerald Coast extends from Panama City through Pensacola.  It was a very pretty drive along the coast and through the small beach towns.  At times we did encounter bumper to bumper traffic which could be avoided on a less scenic route. 

We were not able to stay at St. George State Park as planned and spent two additional days at the Ho Hum RV Park..  Unfortunately I got the flu and was not up to traveling anywhere.  I even had a flu shot! I read that it was still possible to get the flu but  the symptoms would be reduced. Seriously, I don't think it could have been much worse.  I'm starting to feel like the "living" again and plan on  taking it easy for a few more days. 

We arrived on Friday at the Destin U.S. Army Recreation Area campground.  This is a called a MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) Center.  It is not a base, but rather a place where the military can get away for a vacation.  There is a small campground with 46 sites.  Cost is $18 per night for a full hook up site.  We initially had planned to stay here for a month but have shortened our stay for a week in order to visit with some family.  The sites are very close together and offer zero "it" factor.  However, the park is very clean and each site has a concrete pad with a picnic table. 

Note our cozy picnic area!

The facility on the other side of the campground overlooks the pretty Choctawahatchee Bay. During peak season there is a nice pool, marina with boat rentals and deep sea fishing tours.

There are a variety of very reasonable accommodations that can also be rented including hotel rooms and cottages. 

Yesterday we started exploring the Destin area and did quite a bit of shopping.  We made some quick stops at Best Buy,  book store, auto part shop, and Bass Pro Shop.  John said it's probably good we are not spending a month here because we would quickly blow our budget.  We took Jimmy to PetSmart and set up a grooming appointment.  He definitely needs a summer cut.  There are these little thistles in the grass that get in his long coat and cause him a lot of torment.  A shorter cut would be helpful.  

Afterwards we went for a long walk along one of the beaches.  The sand  is white and very soft.  We found a public access and enjoyed a long walk.  The Emerald Coast gets its name from the color of the water.  The unique color is not quite captured in these pictures.  It really is a lovely color and quite different from anything I have seen before.  

 

Later in the evening we had dinner at Fridays and watched some of the playoffs with the boisterous crowd.  Afterwards we went to see the movie The Kings Speech.  We both really liked it and would highly recommend seeing it soon. It is based on a true story about England's King George VI (Queen Elizabeth's father).  He unexpectedly became King due to his brothers abdication.  and  suffered from a severe stutter. The story is about how he overcame it with the help of a very eccentric speech therapist.  Be sure to check it out. 

Tomorrow will be a day of completing a lot of tasks on the honey do list.  Plus, I'm sure some more football will be involved 

Camping Along the Forgotten Coast

(Carrabelle, FL) Just as we leaving Pelican Roost yesterday we saw a Cost Guard Cutter go past our site. 

We are traveling across the Panhandle of Florida also known as the Forgotten Coast.  It was an easy five hour drive to our campground, Ho Hum RV Park.  We had read about this campground on a great blog called Semi True Tales of our Life on the Road.  Laurie gives some very helpful reviews of campgrounds.  We were warmly greeted by the campground hosts and had reserved site #35 per Laurie's recommendation.  The camphosts called it the honeymoon site.  It is the last site on the water and your patio faces a pretty beach with a little bit of privacy. 

The weather is rather chilly and a freeze warning has been given for tonight.  However, it beats the alternative in Indiana right now :).

Today we decided to explore a couple state parks in the area.  Our first stop was Ochlockonee River State Park in Sopchoppy Florida.  Certainly a mouthful of a name but it is a very pretty park.  The ranger had called us several month ago to see if we wanted to be camphosts  We had applied as volunteers through the state website.  We had to decline at the time since we were still working.  We drove around the park and liked the campground, especially site #8.  There are trails behind each site that lead out to the river. 

There is also a canoe trail and a small swimming beach. 

We talked to the ranger and their camphost positions are reserved through 2013.  However, he will let us know of any availability.  Afterwards we headed out to St. George Island State Park.  There is a long bridge that leads out to the island.  It was a nice drive and a very pretty island.. 

The park has the prettiest beach we have seen so far.  The sand was powdery white with lots of sand dunes .

The campsites were closer together and currently easy to obtain.  The ranger told us peak time was mid April - June and suggested reservations during that time. 

We took Jimmy for a long walk on the beach by the lighthouse 

Here is a map showing the area we traveled today.  It was a great road trip. 

View The Forgotten Coast in a larger map

We returned to our campground and found this blue heron keeping guard over our site.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Tomorrow we are heading for St. Andrews State Park.