March 2016 Pre Trip and Trip reports

As DH and I were going over the packing list and menu for our trip, he brought to my attention that this will be our last camping trip till after the long hot summer.....that makes me a little sad, ok, maybe a lot sad:sad:.

Last trip for the Fort? Or last camping trip anywhere? That would make me sad too! So, you do a lot of cooking at the Fort?
 
Last trip for the Fort? Or last camping trip anywhere? That would make me sad too! So, you do a lot of cooking at the Fort?

Last camping anywhere until October. We live in Central Florida and it is just too hot for us to camp during the summer. We usually get one more weekend trip in April, but this year we are taking a cruise. May thru September is really hot and humid here. We camp at the Fort three times a year, March, Nov & Dec. The other months are weekend trips to state parks.

Yes, we cook most of our meals. We don't visit the parks on our March and December trips, so it just makes since to cook at the site. We always eat at Trails End once and in Dec, when we stay longer, we will eat out once or twice a a resort.
 
Just an fyi to anyone driving down and headed in on Interstate 4, The Strawberry Festival is on right now for another week or so in Plant City. It can cause traffic to stand still on weekends in the PC area. So get in the left lane around Seffner/Mango. But if there is little traffic I highly suggest getting off at Branch Forbes Road. A GREAT veggie stand is right next to the interstate. Just drive past it, turn on to the road that runs next to it and drive behind and then you can pull out straight on the other side and turn right and right back onto I-4. About now they have a flat of Strawberries for 10 bucks or cheaper.
 
Last camping anywhere until October. We live in Central Florida and it is just too hot for us to camp during the summer. We usually get one more weekend trip in April, but this year we are taking a cruise. May thru September is really hot and humid here. We camp at the Fort three times a year, March, Nov & Dec. The other months are weekend trips to state parks.

Yes, we cook most of our meals. We don't visit the parks on our March and December trips, so it just makes since to cook at the site. We always eat at Trails End once and in Dec, when we stay longer, we will eat out once or twice a a resort.

We live in Louisiana so I understand the humid hot summers. But for us, we camp a lot during this time bc kids are out of school. We have spent the last few July 4 holidays at the Fort. This year we are also going down to camp at Top Sail State Park near Destin in late July. We spend a lot of time in FL :)

As for March, we may cook a few meals. We usually go get some seafood or something and grill on the green egg. We love eating at WDW but also love to stay in at the Fort and cook, go looping in the golf cart, etc...
 

Just an fyi to anyone driving down and headed in on Interstate 4, The Strawberry Festival is on right now for another week or so in Plant City. It can cause traffic to stand still on weekends in the PC area. So get in the left lane around Seffner/Mango. But if there is little traffic I highly suggest getting off at Branch Forbes Road. A GREAT veggie stand is right next to the interstate. Just drive past it, turn on to the road that runs next to it and drive behind and then you can pull out straight on the other side and turn right and right back onto I-4. About now they have a flat of Strawberries for 10 bucks or cheaper.

My family likes to visit Parksdale Market just west of Plant City and get the "famous" strawberry shortcake. It's only about a half hour past the Tigers stadium in Lakeland so it might be worth leaving early to do.

I will have to add this to the to-do list. Thanks for the reminder, mich1073! I've only been there once before but I want to go back if possible.

Bama Ed
 
Wishing I was headed to the Fort today. We are having record rainfall in our town and horrible flooding. So many of our family and friends have lost their homes due to flooding. It's the worst in history for our town. We have had a record 25 inches of rain in less than about 36 hours.
 
Sorry to hear about the weather in your area, CruisingCamper. My boss is in Dallas and they were getting it Monday morning. It seems to be moving VERY slowly and it's pretty intense.

I just double checked my Sunpass Account. I have the mini-transponder on the windshield of my Suburban so I can roll through the toll booths in Florida just like a native. It works on all the E-pass toll road systems in the Orlando area as well.

I like not having to come to a stop to pay and then accelerate again. When coming down I75 and using Hwy429 I think there are 2 tolls to pay along the way.

Bama Ed
 
tltay2005, those pics are awesome, colors very vibrant. DD really likes the Bambi pic
 
Sorry to hear about the weather in your area, CruisingCamper. My boss is in Dallas and they were getting it Monday morning. It seems to be moving VERY slowly and it's pretty intense.

I just double checked my Sunpass Account. I have the mini-transponder on the windshield of my Suburban so I can roll through the toll booths in Florida just like a native. It works on all the E-pass toll road systems in the Orlando area as well.

I like not having to come to a stop to pay and then accelerate again. When coming down I75 and using Hwy429 I think there are 2 tolls to pay along the way.

Bama Ed

Can anyone buy the sun pass? As much time as we spend in FL, we should get one.

Rain is subsiding finally, so hopefully flooding will go down some tonight. But most say that it will get worse before it gets better.
 
Can anyone buy the sun pass? As much time as we spend in FL, we should get one.

Yes, anyone can. I have a mini transponder in both my truck and Corvette. You can pick them up at a the Welcome center once you enter Florida for around $5, download the SunPass app from either iTunes or the Google Play Store. Open an account with your information and the ID number on the Sunpass. It's very simple and easy. And like Ed said, it works on all toll roads in Florida, the Main Toll Road System and E-Pass toll roads. It's a lot better not stopping at the toll plazas and digging for change.
 
Yes, anyone can. I have a mini transponder in both my truck and Corvette. You can pick them up at a the Welcome center once you enter Florida for around $5, download the SunPass app from either iTunes or the Google Play Store. Open an account with your information and the ID number on the Sunpass. It's very simple and easy. And like Ed said, it works on all toll roads in Florida, the Main Toll Road System and E-Pass toll roads. It's a lot better not stopping at the toll plazas and digging for change.

Make sure to add the license plate of your vehicle and also that of the trailer for the mini that's in the tow vehicle. Way down deep in the SunPass website it says to do this.

You can also buy them on the SunPass website and set it up in advance.

What I find interesting is on the turnpike further south past West Palm when you get around Lauderdale or Miami, there are NO toll booths. Everyone must use a SunPass transponder which gets scanned at highway speeds from the sign carriage overhead or they get their license plate photographed and a fine sent to the tag owner.

I used it all the way to Key West on a past trip. Plus it works the various toll roads around Orlando towards the airport, Cocoa, and the bridges around Tampa.

Bama Ed
 
Make sure to add the license plate of your vehicle and also that of the trailer for the mini that's in the tow vehicle. Way down deep in the SunPass website it says to do this.

You can also buy them on the SunPass website and set it up in advance.

What I find interesting is on the turnpike further south past West Palm when you get around Lauderdale or Miami, there are NO toll booths. Everyone must use a SunPass transponder which gets scanned at highway speeds from the sign carriage overhead or they get their license plate photographed and a fine sent to the tag owner.

I used it all the way to Key West on a past trip. Plus it works the various toll roads around Orlando towards the airport, Cocoa, and the bridges around Tampa.

Bama Ed

We purchased one and used it coming down this trip, 95 to 528 west and like Bama Ed says, it was nice, just cruise thru, while cars are slowing to pay tolls then doing 100mph to pass you to get to the next toll booth. Even on 528 they were taking out toll booths to make it just for sunpass. Very easy to purchase online, shipped right to my house set it up and off we went. Doesn't work up here in PA, but just have to make more trip to Florida I suppose.
 
My family likes to visit Parksdale Market just west of Plant City and get the "famous" strawberry shortcake. It's only about a half hour past the Tigers stadium in Lakeland so it might be worth leaving early to do.

I will have to add this to the to-do list. Thanks for the reminder, mich1073! I've only been there once before but I want to go back if possible.

Bama Ed

Yes this time of year, its about impossible to get near Parksdale right now on weekends, one traffic to the Strawberry Festival up the street and also just people going to Parksdale :) Another easy way to get there is to take that same exit (Branch Forbes) and go past the farmers market on the left and the Circle K on the right and go to the light and turn left, its right up on the left a little ways (Parksdale). Its where I bought my Strawberry Plants this year. Can never go wrong there!!

Love my little town :)
 
I have to say, in the trips I have made to Disney (driving) only once did I hit a toll both. I actually got lost/turned around/confused and had to pay a toll. The "Booth" was unattended. It didn't take money, you HAD to use a credit Card (or the Sun Pass).

So for me, I guess I am just not seeing the value in the sun pass. I guess if I drove around more in Orlando, it might make a difference.
 
Those of us coming down I75 to get to WDW get the benefit of a SunPass for the most part. If you come down I95 and I4, there is little benefit, agreed.

Bama Ed
 
Snowmedic,

I checked out the Manatee Hammock website and it looks really nice. A pool too? Is it in good shape?

I was aware of the Jetty Park campground in the general area near where the cruise ships go in/out but it looks like that has very little if any shade. Whereas MH appears to have lots of trees/shade.

How far in advance did you reserve? Looks like the sites are unpaved and they have some tent sites with only 20A electrical but would my popup do okay in their rv sites, ya think? In the sites that have power/water/sewer? I'm thinking about booking a week sometime and checking out the area, KSC again, and possibly catch a launch.

Bama Ed

PS - I see MH is a county campground. I visited Fort De Soto two years ago over in the Tampa/St Pete area and it is a county campground. Apparently I need to do more investigating into these hidden gems (and others like them). Maybe hit both in one trip to make it a coast-to-coast (FL) vacation and visit the Fort for a day like you did. See, that's what makes you that guy....:cool2:
 
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I have to say, in the trips I have made to Disney (driving) only once did I hit a toll both. I actually got lost/turned around/confused and had to pay a toll. The "Booth" was unattended. It didn't take money, you HAD to use a credit Card (or the Sun Pass).

So for me, I guess I am just not seeing the value in the sun pass. I guess if I drove around more in Orlando, it might make a difference.

Avoiding the mess on I4 is well worth the price of the Sunpass to me. Coming in on the Western Way avoids a lot of the congestion. Which way do you come in Paul?
 
A pool too? Is it in good shape?
Yes, they do have a pool. It is not heated, it is not as big as the pool at the Fort, but it is a decent size. It is 6 ft. at the deep end. No hot tube either.

How far in advance did you reserve?
I believe I reserved one week in advance. You can do it online or call.

It is a nice campground. There are no paved sites. There are pull thru sites available for bigger rigs. They have a little camp store. Wally weird is about 10 minutes away, and there is a Publix about 3 minutes up the road. Here are a few pics of the campground that I took the other day.

Manatee Hammock 3-16 013 copy.jpg
The pool hrs. are from 9 a.m. til dusk.
Manatee Hammock 3-16 003 copy.jpg
The 190 foot fishing pier. Looking back to the campground.
Manatee Hammock 3-16 004 copy.jpg
Fishing pier looking out over the Indian river, yes, river, toward NASA.
 
More pics from Manatee Hammock campground in Titusville.
Manatee Hammock 3-16 006 copy.jpg
Dog Park
Manatee Hammock 3-16 007 copy.jpg
Manatee Hammock 3-16 009 copy.jpg
Fishing pier looking out over to NASAManatee Hammock 3-16 010 copy.jpg
Manatee Hammock 3-16 012 copy.jpg Manatee Hammock 3-16 015 copy.jpg
Little Medic with Side Show Bob.
Manatee Hammock 3-16 016 copy.jpg
Some of the full hook up sites.
 
Bama Ed, Your A liner will do good in one of the full hook up sites. I didn't look at electric panel that good on the tent sites. All sites are 25.00 a night, there is a 11.50 early check in fee to check-in around 9 if they have a site available. The bathhouses aren't to bad. There is two of them. Each one has 3 showers with low flow shower heads. We used on near our site, then switched to the other bathhouse because water pressure was better.


Back to the trip report.

After spending 4 nights in Titusville, we woke up early Thursday morning and watched the sunrise, we broke camp and drove the 6 hrs to visit my parents in Destin. We spent a few hrs visiting, then went and watched the sun set from the beach.

Today we went to Destin harbour walk and then to Baytowne wharf to see all the big expensive boats. :worship:

After an hour of drooling, I wiped my chin and we headed back to my parents for a soak in the hot tub. Tomorrow has us going out for appetizers and drinks with my sister and her husband to AJ's, ( yes the one that caught fire last month ). We will be leaving my parents house Monday night around 11 and making the drive to the Fort for a 6:05 check-in. Will post site number when we have internet.
 















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