We are so fortunate to have several State Parks in this part of North Central Florida.
Rainbow Springs State Park is one of the closest to our house.
The campground is right near the Rainbow River with it's sapphire colored water.
So I walked down to the river a couple of times each day to see what birds and wildlife I might see.
It was a beautiful walk with palm trees along the path.
Anhinga
We've camped there twice now and one thing we learned is how different each experience can be, depending on where you are camped.
The first time we stayed there, we backed into our camp space and opened the back on the van up, pulled the screen down and our view from the back and from every window, was the forest.
That's my kind of camping!
I love to be surrounded by nature.
Little Blue Heron
The next time we camped, our space had other campers close by, even behind us. It was interesting but I gave higher ratings to the secluded campsite.
This is the second campsite and it still looks beautiful!
One of the unusual sightings was the scuba diver.
You can see he has a float with a flag out front to signal that he is underwater to boats and kayaks.
It sure is fun to research State Parks in Florida and get away for a few days!
42 comments:
...glamping at its finest! Be well, my friend.
What a beautiful state park and so nice to go camping and see nature. Those photos are beautiful and it looks like beautiful weather. Have a nice weekend. :)
Thanks for showing me a Florida I had no idea excisted. It's very interesting and lovely to go camping in my mind with you guys.
beautiful camping sites, and I don't think anyone living in FL is very far from a state park, we sure have a lot of them. I love your camper van, its the perfect size and now is the best weather for camping, not freezing not HOT.
I love your camper. :-)
That is fun to see a scuba diver. I wonder if he found any treasures down under that water.
Thanks for taking us along!! Great photos!
I remember how beautiful the parks are in Florida. I hope to get to explore them again one day. Great photos! How wonderful to open up the back of your van and have a view of a forest!
I remember how beautiful the parks are in Florida. I hope to get to explore them again one day. Great photos! How wonderful to open up the back of your van and have a view of a forest!
I've heard Rainbow Springs is beautiful! Glad yall got to go, love the pretty pictures. Do you know anything about Debbie at " it's all about purple"? She was in the hospital and hasn't posted in 3 weeks, worried about her.
Your camper van is bringing you so much joy. I'm enjoying your travels too, you really are showing me a Florida I had no idea excisted
I love the pictures and you are quiet the adventurer. Good for you girl as it keeps you young and fit. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
We are headed to Florida for 4 nights. My youngest sister rented an AirBnB for a month and invited us to come visit. We will be in Cape Coral. Hope to get to Sanibel Island too.
What a beautiful place to spend time hiking.
It looks a fantastic camping ground
You are clearly enjoying getting out and about in your camper van.
Lovely photographs you've shared here and that blue sky is very nice to see.
Happy February Wishes.
All the best Jan
How lovely to be able to pick up and go camp in your camper van in such beautiful parks. Blue sky and water is lovely.
What a beautiful series of photos.
It is great to camp in nature.
I wish you a nice weekend.
Greetings Irma
I would rather have the first camp site with no one around. It could be fun with other campers but then depending on what they are like it could be a nightmare as well.
It’s many years since I did any camping, but seclusion was always my preference.
This is a beautiful park and your are maximizing your new vehicle! I love the idea of the full forest view!
Florida has some fabulous state parks. Thanks for sharing this one with your beautiful photos. I only camped once in my life and that was in Girl Scout camp when I was a kid. I too love nature and enjoy your posts.
Hello,
You did pick a beautiful spot for camping. The park scenes and the birds are beautiful. Great flight captures. The flowers are pretty too. I wonder if the scuba diver comes across any gators. Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter post. Take care, have a great weekend.
Sounds like a wonderful camping trip! The pics are beautiful and the weather looks fine.
That really looks beautiful. I always think of beaches but there’s much more in your state.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thank you for the lovely images. We haven't been there in a long while. It's time we fixed that!
This looks like a wonderful trip!!!
And thank you for sharing.
When we were young we slept for months in the car, traveling.
Now... your camper looks like a good alternative and I´ll keep that in mind (no more sleeping in the car!).
It looks like you had wonderful weather with such blue skies to go with the blue water. Lovely.
How neat it is for you all to have the state parks near by and to be able to get out and enjoy so much nature. The pictures are all so good. Would you believe that we have never been camping. I know we must be missing out on a lot of beauty...
Florida looks wonderful. It must be lovely to have your warm climate. Beautiful pictures!
We alternate between all of our parks here in Naples, Florida. Yesterday we walked in Serenity Park. Lovely bloom in your last photo.
I love your camper and I am so jealous! What nice weather you are having right now---compared to the cold spellyou just went through.
We have scuba divers here that practice in our little lakes to prepare for the big waters. xo Diana
Esos parques son preciosos y hay mucho para ver. Besos.
This is a nice campground. That little blue heron was a special sight. And those last wildflowers are pretty as ever. Looks like Spring weather. We have had lots of rain this weekend after a sunny January, and more to come in the days ahead. It is always welcome here.
Wishing you beautiful February days, Diane.
~Sheri
What a pretty place to camp and it is so nice that it is close to where you live! I am back from a blog break with a short update about my husband's surgery.
So wonderful to have such a lovely state park close to you. I love your new van! It looks so fun to get out and explore in! And like you, we like secluded spots so we can enjoy more of the wildlife and scenery. Your pictures are always amazing, and there is so much to see around us! Many blessings to you :)
What a beautiful place to camp. Glad you seeing many birds and beautiful trails to hike on. Sounds like lots of fun. Enjoy and thanks for sharing.
Beautiful photos of bountiful nature. Good to see the scuba diver alerting boats to his presence!
Dear Diane, like you, I would prefer the campsite with a view of the forest. I'm particularly happy about your sighting of the Anhinga - we got to know this bird in Costa Rica and it brings back fond memories!
Hugs & all the best from Austria, Traude
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The second campsite is really beautiful.
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this looks and sounds wonderful!! you are lucky to have such a nice camper, so you can come and go as you please and "discover the real florida"!!
the waterways and skies are so blue, it is a little gray right here now!!
Such a beautiful spot! I love the idea of being surrounded by nature while camping. Your experience with the secluded campsite sounds perfect, and the scuba diver is a fun surprise!
Boy, I hadn't seen you for a while and I went to check on you today. Surprised you have been writing! I am so dumb - I don't have you on my feed. I do now tho. Sorry.
Really a beautiful area and it looks like spring for you.
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