other than wdw ot of wdw, what are your fav. photography spots in FL

[jann1033]

not being able to afford wdw and get a new camera body we may just go to camp somewhere in fl this Nov...thinking Sebastian inlet/Vero Beach...but what nice photo spots/ camping areas do you know of in Fl in case we are missing someplace nicer. I like oceanfront camping but waterfront would be ok as long as i don't have to worry about an alligator trying to climb in my tent and it can't be much farther south on either coast than vero due to time constraints/driving from Oh. i asked on the camping board but don't know how many photographers are there.
thanks

 

[ukcatfan]

Have you considered camping at/near WDW? You might be able to get the best of both Worlds (pun intended ). As for specific FL camping sites, I have no personal experience, but have heard that the beaches and tourist attractions are very nice at Clearwater on the West and St. Augustine on the East. For inland on the water, some co-workers camp in Arcadia, but that is probably getting too far down for you.

I will offer some advice that was given to me when I moved down here. If a body of water in FL is more than a rain puddle, then you should assume that there are gators in it. Gators will also travel in salt water. There was a report recently of a large gator sunning himself on a Sanibel beach and there was no freshwater around. They are not the only animals to worry about. There are also biting turtles, snakes, panthers, hammerhead sharks, etc. Also, be sure to bring some bug spray b/c being near water means that either mosquitoes and/or sand fleas will be nearby.

Basically, just be careful wherever you pick b/c camping down here can be more dangerous than the Midwest/Ohio Valley area. That could mean more photo opportunities though!

Kevin

 

[DVC Jen]

I have never been camping and or around vero but we love staying at the DVC resort there.

The sunrises are amazing.

 

[Metallicat]

Of course I haven't been to every single beach in florida, but I will say that the northwest florida panhandle area has the prettiest, whitest sand beaches that I have ever seen. and most of the time the water is crystal clear. even if you get out waist deep in the water, you can still see your toenail polish. I love any of the areas from Gulf shores alabama to panama city beach florida. and Destin is just absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. plus lots of dolphins swimming around. I have a picture of my DH on his jet ski out in the bay and a dolphin came right up to him and stuck its head out of the water just about 3 inches from his hand.

as for camping areas, I highly recommend St. Andrews state park in panama city beach. its gorgeous! its on the bay side but very close to the beach and shell island is just a boat ride down the bay. theres no houses or anything out there on shell island, just sugar white sand beach and you must take a boat to get out there though. we found lots of sand dollars and shells too.

 

[boBQuincy]

I am partial to the area between Jacksonville and Daytona, including Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine.
This photo is from Faver-Dykes park, overlooking the Intracoastal South of St. Augustine.

 

[safetymom]

St. Augustine is a great place for pictures.

 

[Gdad]

For birds I have heard Merritt Island is very nice- there are a lot of Florida state parks listed here by region also.

 

[jann1033]

Have you considered camping at/near WDW? You might be able to get the best of both Worlds (pun intended ). As for specific FL camping sites, I have no personal experience, but have heard that the beaches and tourist attractions are very nice at Clearwater on the West and St. Augustine on the East. For inland on the water, some co-workers camp in Arcadia, but that is probably getting too far down for you.

I will offer some advice that was given to me when I moved down here. If a body of water in FL is more than a rain puddle, then you should assume that there are gators in it. Gators will also travel in salt water. There was a report recently of a large gator sunning himself on a Sanibel beach and there was no freshwater around. They are not the only animals to worry about. There are also biting turtles, snakes, panthers, hammerhead sharks, etc. Also, be sure to bring some bug spray b/c being near water means that either mosquitoes and/or sand fleas will be nearby.

Basically, just be careful wherever you pick b/c camping down here can be more dangerous than the Midwest/Ohio Valley area. That could mean more photo opportunities though!

Kevin

we camped in the everglades once ( can't remember the name, collier something i think) and it poured and flooded the walkways,,,nothing like wading through snake infested swamp water to get to the potty! ...but the only time i know we were near a poisionous snake was the timber rattler i narrowly missed stepping on in a campground about 20 miles from home right here in OH..go figure! ( i heard it first and just stood frozen , not hard to do when you hear the rattle till it got away)

we've tent camped in Fort Wilderness before ,which is a fantastic campground and not all that much more expensive than the surrounding ones, but usually that is the only stop we make ( except the trip we took to the keys/everglades)this yr husband wants a relaxing beach vacation first, disney maybe if we can scrounge up the time and money and make it 2 weeks. he was taking a class when we stayed a vero disney so he really didn't get to do anything but eat dinner and sit in the hot tub when he got home and i think wants to know what he missed which is why i was contemplating sebastian

 

[ukcatfan]

I have actually never seen a poisonous snake once since living in FL, but I do see many snakes here (and that does not include our pet snake). I saw my share of rattlers and copperheads in KY. Here in Cape Coral, the original land developers basically cleared all vegetation from the land about fifty years ago, so we really do not have a wide diversity of animals in town. We do have a nasty population of monitor lizards that got established from released pets though. They take out small cats and dogs every once in a while and make the news. We definitely have our fair share of gators though with all our canals. The one thing I never expected down here were all the spiders. We have a bunch of brown and black widows and tons of other not as dangerous species. Then you always have a little worry in the back of your mind that you could be carried out to sea by a pack of ravenous mosquitoes! I actually love living here even though I paint such a scary picture of the place. You just have to be on your guard for wildlife more than when I lived in KY.

I hope you have a great trip.

Kevin