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01-09-2016, 07:12 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ON THE ROAD...SOMEWHERE
Posts: 6,973
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Everglades Area - Suggestions
Sandee wants to go down to the "Everglades" for 4-5 days to take some airboat and other tours. Frankly, I don't know too much about the area and I know it is HUGE.
My first thought was to locate a place somewhere south of Naples and avoid the east side. That would be an fairly easy 4 hour drive from Lakeland, FL. We wold probably make this trip in the next 2 weeks.
OK folks...any suggestions for activities and RV parks/resorts for a 43' MH?
As always...THANKS IN ADVANCE
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Don, Sandee & GSD Zeus. Guardian GSDs Gunny (7/11/15) & Thor (5/5/15)
2006 2015 DSDP 4320 4369, FL Chassis, 2013 CR-V 2020 Jeep Overland, Blue Ox Avail, SMI AF1.
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01-09-2016, 08:02 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake County, IL
Posts: 1,584
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There are several airboat tours to e found along U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail). There is one just west if Big Cypress National Preserve, and several east of the preserve. There are also some out of Everglades City.
The Trail Lakes Campground is on U.S. 41, within the preserve, near the town of Ochopee. It is old, but nicely kept up, with unusually large sites for a commercial campground. They also have a s,all zoo of native animals. See
Joel
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Retired electronics engineer. Avid paddler & birder.
2011 Silverado 2500HD, diesel, 4x4,crew cab, 8' bed
Palomino Puma 253FBS (27' 5er) & '94 19' Class B
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01-09-2016, 08:15 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,310
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2012 Essex 4544 2011 Jeep JK, M&G Braking, 2014 MTI 27' Hog Hauler, Wireless brake control, 2006 Ultra & 1989 Springer, 2003 Harley-Davidson
FLHR Road King Anniversary
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01-09-2016, 08:24 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake County, IL
Posts: 1,584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by palehorse89
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We have been there many times in Jan. & Feb., and have never been bothered y mosquitos.
The campgrounds in Chokoloskee and Everglades City tend to be overly expensive, and the sites are rather cramped.
Joel
__________________
Retired electronics engineer. Avid paddler & birder.
2011 Silverado 2500HD, diesel, 4x4,crew cab, 8' bed
Palomino Puma 253FBS (27' 5er) & '94 19' Class B
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01-09-2016, 08:40 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 5 miles south of Lakeville, Mn
Posts: 3,047
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We stayed at the Federal Park in Flamingo a few years back. We rented a cottage right on the water. The mosquitoes were HORRIBLE! Also the No See Ems bit my Wife's ankles till they were swollen!
There didn't seem to be any problems during the day if you did not walk in the grass, but when the sun went down......................
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Jim and Carol Cooper with Oreo the Kitty
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US Army Aviation, MACV Vietnam 65-66
2012 Journey 36M, Cummings 360hp
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01-09-2016, 12:17 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wandering below the Gnat Line
Posts: 2,012
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__________________
-jbh-
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01-09-2016, 12:38 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake County, IL
Posts: 1,584
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Somebody mentioned camping at Flamingo. i haven't checked recently, but as of last week, much of the campground was closed due to flooding. Also, that is one area that tends to have a mosquito problem even in the winter.
BTW, I will be camped at Monument Lake (Big Cypress National Preserve), site #4 from 1/13 through 1/17, stop by and say hello.
Joel
__________________
Retired electronics engineer. Avid paddler & birder.
2011 Silverado 2500HD, diesel, 4x4,crew cab, 8' bed
Palomino Puma 253FBS (27' 5er) & '94 19' Class B
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01-09-2016, 01:53 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Apollo Beach & Key West , FL
Posts: 3,839
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If you can find an appropriate sized space in Collier-Seminole, that will work out as a good stay over, otherwise, Everglades City/Chokoloskee will be an option at the commercial cg's. Stop at the Info Center on US 412 in Carnestown for ideas. Corrie Billie's airboats are right outside the Collier-Seminole park and he offers a pretty good tour. Shark Valley makes for a nice walking/tram tour. I also suggest driving your toad down loop road. When you get on it, there may or may not be a sign saying local traffic only-- well that's all there is as it loops from US 41 back to US 41. Outstanding scenery. It is a bit scary as the road doesn't look too good, but you'll have no problems. Another interesting drive on Scenic Drive-- at Carnestown, turn north and go till you see Scenic drive on the left.... you'll see gators and may panthers. The boardwalk at Big Cypress (right on US41) is a nice walk into the "swamp". There are many kayaking/canoe areas if you are so inclined. I personally haven't had issues with bugs in Jan/Feb... but with our weird weather this year, who knows. I was just outside and the lovebugs were all over the place. That shouldn't happen till April. Oh yeah, stop at Stans' bar in Goodland on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon .... big party !
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2013 DS 4338
2015 F-150 toad with kayaks,bicycles and a Harley in the back
new toad 2023 Sprinter with all the toys inside
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01-09-2016, 09:39 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,982
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I will suggest to you one place NOT to visit: Billie Swamp Safari. We first visited this place in 2005, great place, lots to see and very fast air-boat rides. FF to 2014; place run-down, not many animal exhibits but lots of empty cages, air-boat ride was slow and uninteresting due to low water and very few alligators to see during the ride.
Just North of Ft. Myers are lots of lakes offering air-boat rides, with lots of gators to photograph.
Now if you wish to drive further South, on US 41, close to the center of the state are several air-boat rides advertised, some with camping facilities or large parking lots. You'll need to look at the FL tourism website to locate them, as I've forgotten everything else.
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2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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01-10-2016, 06:44 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ON THE ROAD...SOMEWHERE
Posts: 6,973
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Thanks to all!
After calling around to a few places "in" the Everglades that were suggested, I could only find a couple could that had sites big enough to hold us but they were booked. The one place that I thought would work was the Outdoor Resorts of Chokoloskee but after showing Sandee the location she decided for us to be closer to Naples. She is a tad more city than country. LOL
So...finding a place that we could find for 4 nights in the time frame we had available but we went with the KOA. (YA...I know. ) However, that will give us a fairly easy drive for a couple days down to the Everglades City/Chokoloskee area to get in some of those attractions. Of course, we may find some other good ones closer to Naples.
__________________
Don, Sandee & GSD Zeus. Guardian GSDs Gunny (7/11/15) & Thor (5/5/15)
2006 2015 DSDP 4320 4369, FL Chassis, 2013 CR-V 2020 Jeep Overland, Blue Ox Avail, SMI AF1.
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