Sandy beaches. Disney World. The Kennedy Space Center.
I know what you're thinking. You've already been there, done that.
And you can't really afford the pricey beach hotels, or the plane fare, so why not just skip Florida altogether?
Now hold on a second. Did you know there are some really great places to stay, that only cost between $14 to $30 a night? I'm not talking about those places that rent by the hour in south Tampa. I'm talking about Florida's state parks, which have earned a dubious distinction in this land, proud and free: Best state parks in the country.
We've been trucking around the interstates here in Florida, trying to find the best of the best, and we can tell you one thing:
Disappointment is a rarity.
So here's the start of our list -- top to bottom -- and we'll do our best to re-rank, re-file and continually add to it.
Number One: Fort DeSoto, Saint Petersburg
OK - just because I live 40 minutes from here doesn't mean I have a right to brag about it. But I do. Fort DeSoto is truly a gem, with every site uncomparable to no other. Check out my previous columns, because I truly ramble on about this one.
Not So Hot Award: Lake Griffin
Maybe I'm comparing this to my top choice, but this park needs a little work. Sure, the bathrooms were clean enough, and the boat launch was truly a bonus. In fact, that was the highlight of the park. The camping area had a lot of limitations, like the sites were too small in most areas, and many we're out in the middle with no barriers and no privacy to speak of. We also got chased down by a ranger because we had a trailer, a truck and an extra car - oh my!
If you ask for the right site numbers, Lake Griffin is an excellent choice. But if you get stuck out in the open, you go home an unhappy camper.
We decided to book a place for Memorial Day, so I made sure I called way in advance.
There's one thing I've learned about making reservations in Florida. See, I think everyone is sick of the beach, so they beg, cajole and plead for anything -- anything that can get us next to a tree for cat's sake.
So, whenever I make reservations, I have to make sure the clerks understand the phrase:
W-O-O-D-E-D-W-I-T-H-T-R-E-E-S.
We booked our spot at Lake Griffin well in advance, and told them we wanted a place that was wooded, maybe a little secluded than the rest. Of course, when we got there, we were smack dab next to the woodpile, across from the rest rooms. Nothing but a Charlie Brown shade tree.
Luckily I got there early enough to change my reservations. They moved us to site #2, which we totally loved. Backed by woods and overhanging trees, it had plenty of room on both sides. If you can get sites 1 through 4, those are the best sites in the park.
We also discovered this was the first time the state parks had relaxed their rules about bringing pets. Our neighbors next to us brought two big dogs, who were friendly enough, and well taken care of. As long as you camp with folks who pick up after their pets, you should get along just fine with the dogs tramping in on your territory.
Now that we were in and amongst the trees, this was turning out to be a great weekend. Friday night, we headed down to the boat dock to see if we could catch some fish. On Saturday, we decided to rent some canoes and head out onto Lake Griffin.
