Hi,
Well I can finally say that I have broaden my camping experience. For years DH and our two BT's have only stayed at Disney, first in our travel trailer and now in our 5th wheel. But now, I can say I've been to another camp ground that wasn't here in my hometown and we loved it! I think Disney maybe in trouble with us especially if I can keep conviencing myself to go further than a 2 hr drive. Plus, it was sooooo much less expensive than paying the Disney rates!
We went to Holiday Cove RV Resort in Bradenton Beach, Fl. I am a researcher and I must say Disney has spoiled me so I wanted to find somewhere to go for my birthday weekend that had ammenities and the surrounding area had entertainment and good food. Luckily, one of the girls I work with stays in Anna Maria at a cottage every year, so I had a in on the inside information on the island so I felt comfortable staying there. The RV park is kinda small and the sites are really pretty tight (and people complain about Disney's 1900 Loop), these are smaller! Some sites had crushed shell with a cement patio, but most were just completely shell or grass. Despite that the resort was well maintained and was on a huge canal with over hanging trees that lead to the ocean. Fish jumped like crazy in there the whole time we were there, but DH's frozen shrimp that he picked up at the bait store around the corner didn't catch him anything. Oh well, it was realxing sitting out on the dock with my two kids reading a book and watching him try to catch a fish. I swear it felt like it was at least 10 degrees cooler over there on the water than it did here at home near Tampa. Making reservations at the resort was a little different than Disney we had emailed them and then called to make a reservation, but we never got anything in the mail or a confirmation. So, 2 weeks before our trip I emailed them and asked for one. Course' at check-in I realized why it wasn't a big deal. They actually knew who we were and didn't anything from us other than a signature. Very friendly people and the others that seem to be staying there all seem to know each other and were staying for months at a time. We were only there two nights and had met and spoke with our neighsbors and was greeted all the time while walking our kids by the other campers. The resort has several new boat docks that back up to the canal sites so feel free to bring your boats and they even have a row boat that you can use if you don't have your own. DH and I brought our bikes and rode all the way upto Holmes Beach (2 hr ride there and back). Plenty of shopping, beautiful beaches and free maps of places to see and eat at were available everywhere. We found ourselves looking at one everytime we went out to ride. While back at the campground we enjoyed free internet service and I had no challenges connecting on my laptop and more cable channels than Disney offered for free as well. We did miss having a BBQ at the site, but all the great food in the area made up for it. I highly reccomend the Star Fish Grill. We ate there every night after our bike ride for dinner. I forwarn you though it's really rustic. Matter of fact, it's a working seafood dock so you know it's fresh, but theirs no servers, no table clothes etc. It's picnic tables and a small bar that seats like 6 people on a covered dock. Fido is welcome, but they would need to be very well behavied as you'll be sharing a picnic table with strangers that may not like pets. We didn't take our kids cause' even though it's only three streets down from the camp ground it's too far for our kids to walk and depending upon when you go it can be upto an hour wait for food. The locals all eat there, so you know it's good and it came highly reccomended by my co-worker. We got there at a quarter to eight every night right before it was suppose to close and only waited for as long as it took to down one beer before we got our food to take back to the camper. DH had claim strips and I had the grilled grouper sandwich and we both got hush puppies which were so good they were like candy! UMMM!!!!
We'll defintly be going back as we still have lots more places to ride too and places to eat at and I still want to get to Anna Maria even if it means ditching the bikes and taking the free trolley.
