Collier-Seminole SP - 02/28/17 - Naples, FL

Tuesday – February 28, 2017
Collier-Seminole State Park
Naples, Florida

We spent a restful night at the Midway Campground located within the Big Cypress Preserve. While on our way to the Collier-Seminole State Park we took a side trip to Everglades City for lunch at City Seafood resturant. We enjoy dining outdoors by the water, watching the airboats transporting visitors on tours through the everglades.

After enjoying our lunch of delicious grilled grouper sandwiches, we continue our travel to the Collier-Seminole State Park.

All campsites at Collier-Seminole State Park are by reservation only. We were fortunate to secure a campsite for the night that did not have a reservation for that evening. This is a nice state park that is conveniently located close to Naples (17 miles to downtown). The only downside here is the mosquitos!!! At sunset they come out in force and are absolutely unbearable! You do not dare venture out at night without plenty of protection against these pests.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Travel Details:
Departed: Ochopee, FL
Departure Time: 10:40 am
Arrived: Collier-Seminole State Park
Arrival Time: 1:00 pm

Campground: Collier-Seminole State Park
Type: State Park

GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: N 25.99145
Longitude: W 81.59540

Camping Fee: $24.20 (No Senior Discounts)
Campsite: 21
Campsite Hookups: Electric & Water
Campground Amenities:
Flush Toilets, Water Spigots, Trash Dumpster, Sewer Dump

Verizon Cellular Service: 4G-2 Bars
Verizon Internet Service: 4G-2 Bars
Dish TV Satellite Service: No Service (trees block southern sky)

Miles traveled today: 48

Big Cypress Preserve - 02/27/17 - Ochopee, FL

Monday – February 27, 2017
Big Cypress Preserve
Ochopee, Florida

We embark on our travel north through Florida as the frigid winter temperatures in the northern portion of the country begin to subside.

Midway is a small campground with 26 campsites, surrounding a small pond inhabited by a couple of alligators. All campsites are by reservation only. On rare occasions, a campsite can be secured for one night only for any campsite that has not been reserved. We were fortunate to find a campsite available for the night.

More information on camping at Midway can be found on our blog here:

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Travel Details:
Departed: Everglades National Park
Departure Time: 10:35 am
Arrived: Midway Campground
Arrival: 12:30 pm

Campground: Midway
Type: National Park Service
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: N 25.8515
Longitude: W 80.9893

Camping Fee: $30.00 ($15.00 with Senior Pass)
Campsite: 9
Campsite Hookups: Electric
Campground Amenities:
Flush Toilets, Water Spigots, Trash Dumpster, Sewer Dump

Verizon Cellular Service: No Service
Verizon Internet Service: No Service
Dish TV Satellite Service: Excellent Service

Miles traveled today: 71

Buzzards Roost - 02/24/17 - Key Largo, FL

Friday – February 24, 2017
Buzzards Roost Restaurant
Key Largo, Florida

Our biennial winter sojourns to Florida eventually bring us to the Long Pine Key Campground, which is located within the Everglades National Park. This location becomes our homebase while we explore southern Florda and the northern Keys.

On our ongoing quest to discover unique, out-of-the-way dining establishments we have enjoyed some excellent dining experiences. In the northern Keys we discovered The Buzzard's Roost, 21 Garden Cove Dr, Key Largo, Florida 33037, located near MM 106.5 on US-1.

The Buzzard’s Roost is a casual waterfront seafood restaurant situated adjacent to the Garden Cove Marina. Dining is available indoors and outdoors. A tiki bar adorns the outdoor dining area with views of the water canal and boat slips dispersed throughout the canal.

On this visit we dined outside and enjoyed the “Seared Ahi Tuna” for an appetizer and a main course of “Blackened Mahi Fsh Taco” and “Crunchy Hogfish.” We quenched our thirst with a delicious “Smashed Buzzard Rum” drink. Our dining experience was further enhanced by various sailing vessels traversing the canal to and from the Atlantic ocean.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Travel Details:
Everglades National Park
Departure Time: 1:00 pm
Arrived: Key Largo, FL
Arrival Time: 1:45 pm
Miles traveled one-way to Key Largo: 30

GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: N 25.1703
Longitude: W 80.3717

 

 

Everglades NP - 02/13/17 - Homestead, FL

Monday – February 13, 2017
Everglades National Park
Homestead, Florida

We spent a delightful 28 days visiting with my sister and her husband at their home in Naples, Florida. We departed Naples today to visit one of our favorite places in southern Florida: Everglades National Park.

Of the two campgrounds located within Everglades National Park, Flamingo and Long Pine Key, we prefer Long Pine Key and selected a campsite from several available. Long Pine Key is located 6 miles from the park entrance which makes it more convenient to visit other areas outside of the park, whereas Flamingo is located 40 miles from the park entrance.

Shoping is available in Florida City (15 miles from the park). One of our favorite places to stop is “Robert Is Here” fruit and vegetable stand (8 miles from Everglades National Park on SR-9336). We stock up on locally grown tomatoes, avocados and mangos. You will not belive the size of these fruits... they are huge! Also, we never leave without getting one of their fresh fruit smoothies!

More information on camping at Everglades National Park can be found on our blog here:

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Travel Details:
Departed: Naples, FL
Departure Time: 12:40 pm
Arrived: Everglades National Park
Arrival Time: 4:00 pm

Campground: Long Pine Key
Type: National Park
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: N 25.4009
Longitude: W 80.6005

Camping Fee: $10.00 ($20.00 without Senior Pass)
Campsite: 22
Campsite Hookups: None
Campground Amenities:
Flush Toilets, Free Hot Showers, Water Spigots, Trash Dumpster, Sewer Dump

Verizon Cellular Service: 3G-2 Bars
Verizon Internet Service: 4G-3 Bars (Jetpack)
Dish TV Satellite Service: Excellent Service

Miles traveled today: 154