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06-11-2014, 10:56 AM
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#21
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cajun Po-Boy
In actuality, the best season to see a lot of manatees is in the winter, during the colder weeks of the year as most of them all are congregating in the warm spring holes to keep body temps in check...During the summer months they spread out due to the Gulf waters being much warmer...not that you won't see any, just much more impressive in colder months
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That makes sense. It'll be a few years before we're able to be in that area during the winter again. Thanks for the info.
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Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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06-11-2014, 11:05 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Lexington, NC
Posts: 2,621
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
That is one of our planned day trips. I figure we'll do some kind of guided company for it.
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We did a manatee snorkeling trip through the Plantation Hotel there in Crystal River. Fantastic. You watch an educational film and then their pontoon boat takes you out to the spot on the river where you can snorkel among the manatees and even touch them under certain conditions that will be explained beforehand. Very strict regulations about being around these animals, and rightly so.
Your kids will love it. If you don't already have snorkeling gear, the hotel can provide it, along with wet suits (the river water is extremely cold). We've snorkeled for years all over the Caribbean, but this was an experience of a lifetime.
__________________
2018 Coachmen Apex 249 RBS
2010 Silverado LT 5.3 V8
The world is a great book, of which those who never stir from home
read only a page. - St. Augustine
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06-11-2014, 11:10 AM
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#23
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjones12
We did a manatee snorkeling trip through the Plantation Hotel there in Crystal River. Fantastic. You watch an educational film and then their pontoon boat takes you out to the spot on the river where you can snorkel among the manatees and even touch them under certain conditions that will be explained beforehand. Very strict regulations about being around these animals, and rightly so.
Your kids will love it. If you don't already have snorkeling gear, the hotel can provide it, along with wet suits (the river water is extremely cold). We've snorkeled for years all over the Caribbean, but this was an experience of a lifetime.
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Sweet. We'll check it out:
Crystal River Manatee Tours - Swim With The Manatees in Crystal River, Florida
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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06-11-2014, 11:21 AM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 157
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If your taking truck and 5ver, I would avoid Clearwater. We like that area, never have taken the RV, just time shares. Teasure Island is more suited to the RV, and is a very nice beach. Large, plenty of beach, and parking. Clearwater, not so much (RV friendly parking, or just the dually for that matter).
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06-11-2014, 11:24 AM
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#25
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 036.6turbo
If your taking truck and 5ver, I would avoid Clearwater. We like that area, never have taken the RV, just time shares. Teasure Island is more suited to the RV, and is a very nice beach. Large, plenty of beach, and parking. Clearwater, not so much (RV friendly parking, or just the dually for that matter).
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Thanks for the tips.
It'll be just the truck (dually), the fiver will stay at the campground. We're looking at out and back trips to the beach and back in the same day.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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06-11-2014, 11:48 AM
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#26
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Camper Less Camping
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NW
Posts: 3,642
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjones12
We did a manatee snorkeling trip through the Plantation Hotel there in Crystal River. Fantastic. You watch an educational film and then their pontoon boat takes you out to the spot on the river where you can snorkel among the manatees and even touch them under certain conditions that will be explained beforehand. Very strict regulations about being around these animals, and rightly so.
Your kids will love it. If you don't already have snorkeling gear, the hotel can provide it, along with wet suits (the river water is extremely cold). We've snorkeled for years all over the Caribbean, but this was an experience of a lifetime.
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That's the manatees downfall, so curious and playful, it's hard to contain yourself from groping them!
My DW was Co manager for the federal land there in Crystal River NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) and their LE personnel had a field day with folks breaking the rules on approaching and playing with the sea cows!
When we snorkeled with them there was absolutely no reaching for, chasing or touching of them...it is hard to resist!
It'll be a great experience to check off a bucket list for anyone
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2013 Sabre 32RCTS-6 (sold)
Family of 4 whose always on the GEAUX!
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06-11-2014, 12:02 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Lexington, NC
Posts: 2,621
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cajun Po-Boy
That's the manatees downfall, so curious and playful, it's hard to contain yourself from groping them!
My DW was Co manager for the federal land there in Crystal River NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) and their LE personnel had a field day with folks breaking the rules on approaching and playing with the sea cows!
When we snorkeled with them there was absolutely no reaching for, chasing or touching of them...it is hard to resist!
It'll be a great experience to check off a bucket list for anyone
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Right. We were allowed to touch them (this was probably in the late 90's) but only if THEY approached us. No pursuing them in order to touch them. Feds were right there on-site watching every move we made, for which we are thankful. Yes, a bucket list item for the ages.
__________________
2018 Coachmen Apex 249 RBS
2010 Silverado LT 5.3 V8
The world is a great book, of which those who never stir from home
read only a page. - St. Augustine
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06-15-2014, 09:01 PM
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#28
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Clermont, FL
Posts: 35
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I understand you are just taking a day trip, and as a native Floridian from Fort Lauderdale I prefer "real" Florida beaches as opposed to the hustle and bustle of Ft. Lauderdale beach... those are big beaches with wide stretches of sand, natural sand dunes and enough room to sprawl out without being on top of people. My problem with beaches in Volusia County (Daytona, New Smyrna) is that there are cars on the beach - literally on the beach sand. And, there are inherent dangers with kids - a beach patrol officer ran over a child not that long ago. I'm not too familiar with the gulf coast, most of my personal experience is on the Atlantic side. And, one of my favorite places is Jetty Park in Cocoa Beach. If you were camping I would highly recommend that campground. We just purchased our first TT in February and we have already stayed there twice for a total of 5 nights. But, even before the TT we would go to Jetty Park. There is an air conditioned snack bar, clean bathrooms, plenty of parking, and nice Florida beaches with plenty of sand and nice big sand dunes. Of course you also have a front row seat when the ships come in and out of Port Canaveral - that is quite a sight to see those ships when they are pushing out to sea. Here is a pic from the adjacent playground. We stayed at the campground just two weeks ago. We live in Clermont, FL now. Whatever you do - enjoy it and have fun!!!
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--Vic, Clermont, FL
2013 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT w/ e2
2014 Coachman Viking 17BH
Nights Out YTD - 17 (6 Trips)
Travel Companions - DW, DS (5) & DS (1)
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06-15-2014, 11:42 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 306
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Beaches
East coast...Canaveral National Seashore
West Coast...Fort Desoto Park in Pinellas County, just south of St. Pete
Trust me, these are beautiful beaches.
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06-16-2014, 06:47 PM
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#30
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Bradenton, FL
Posts: 24
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I am from Bradenton, and lived on Anna Maria Island which has gorgeous beaches. Traffic can be heavy times but if you go early and enjoy dinner watching the sunset, it's beautiful. if you are a moose lodge member, ours is directly on the gulf. The area is very laid back, old Florida.
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Wig and Sue Luzier
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06-16-2014, 07:07 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 514
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For Gulf beaches, you can go to St Pete beaches. if you want a camp near the beach, Ft Desoto Beach is a state park that has camping as well, and it is on the gulf with some pretty decent beaches. a 3rd choice would be Bradenton beach (Cortez) just a few miles south of Tampa on the gulf.
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06-16-2014, 07:20 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Central, Fl.
Posts: 1,330
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Day trips from Orlando, I would go to New Smyrna Beach! I-4 east to SR 44 and go east to the beach. Not allot of traffic and as stated before you can drive on the beach.
No carrying of coolers, chairs, towels, boards, etc. You park and unload....relax!
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2018 Forester 3011DS (Purchased 04/26/17)
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2012 Ford F-150 Ecoboost, Screw, H/D, 3.73
1930 lbs CCC
2014 Jeep Rubicon JK
Going where the weather suits my clothes.
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06-16-2014, 09:15 PM
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#33
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 15
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x2 on St. Pete Beaches & Ft. Desoto Beach. They are farther than Cocoa beach, but they'd be my first choice. Lived in St. Petersburg for 9 years, and still miss the beaches.
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06-16-2014, 09:29 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Lexington, Ky
Posts: 451
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Another vote for Cocoa Beach. We were adjacent to.Jetty Park for spring break this year. Great beach, surf and very cool to see the cruise ships go in and out.
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2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Charleston
2008 Ford F350 King Ranch CC DRW 6.4l, 4.10 diff
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