Cardinal RV Club

Does anyone have any good suggestions for a private campground on the Gulf side of Fla.

Thanks,
Dave & Donie
29WBLE
Coast Guard City, USA

Don't know about a 'private' campground, but we stayed at "Bonita Lake RV Resort" in Bonita Springs this past Feb, and it was one of the FRIENDLIEST parks we have ever been in! We were not even finished setting up and everyone who walked by, stopped to say 'hello' or comment on the truck or camper and we instantly felt welcomed! We call that type of campground 'Mom and Pop' parks because of the warm welcome we receive. We actually met people who were from our area and had some nice visits. Sanibel Island and Captiva are close, Naples is as well, so lots of opportunities to shop, deep sea fish, hang out at the pool or hot tub. There are the usual activities such as bingo, card games almost every night. This is the kind of park where you not only don't have to lock your door, you don't even have to SHUT the door! Everyone keeps an eye on each other's place and they know who should and should not be there. Not all of the spots are long, but your rig is basically the same length as ours and we fit fine. Concrete patios, a nice deck area right on the small lake where you can take a glass of your fave beverage and relax as you watch the sunset. Good luck in your quest and hope your weather will be as nice as ours was! Donna

Emerald Beach Campground in Destin Fla. Right on Narvare (?) beach so you can walk out the trailer door and be on the beach

Double D's wrote:Don't know about a 'private' campground, but we stayed at "Bonita Lake RV Resort" in Bonita Springs this past Feb, and it was one of the FRIENDLIEST parks we have ever been in! We were not even finished setting up and everyone who walked by, stopped to say 'hello' or comment on the truck or camper and we instantly felt welcomed! We call that type of campground 'Mom and Pop' parks because of the warm welcome we receive. We actually met people who were from our area and had some nice visits. Sanibel Island and Captiva are close, Naples is as well, so lots of opportunities to shop, deep sea fish, hang out at the pool or hot tub. There are the usual activities such as bingo, card games almost every night. This is the kind of park where you not only don't have to lock your door, you don't even have to SHUT the door! Everyone keeps an eye on each other's place and they know who should and should not be there. Not all of the spots are long, but your rig is basically the same length as ours and we fit fine. Concrete patios, a nice deck area right on the small lake where you can take a glass of your fave beverage and relax as you watch the sunset. Good luck in your quest and hope your weather will be as nice as ours was! Donna

Thanks Donna for the suggestions.
We looked at the Bonita Lake web site and think we will try to get in that one for the month of Mar.
Will you be going back there in 2010? We also noticed in the TL directory there was another campground in Bonita Springs...
it was called Imperial Bonita Estates. Sounds like a larger park. Do you know anything about it? Donie

In February we are staying at Henderson SP in Destin.

Donie, Don't know about Bonita Estates. We just kind of stumbled on Bonita Lakes park, we have a friend who lives near there and we had stayed in his empty lot next door with our travel trailer in past years, but the Cardinal was too TALL and to heavy to go back into that spot, so we tried B.L. and they had room for us. It was only about a mile or so from our friend and central for lots of our Illinois friends who winter down there in condos or motels. We got a chance to host a couple of dinner parties with 5 of our local friends down there on the patio, and it was wonderful! LOL! sorry I am not more help! We are heading for Texas this year, much to our friend's disappointment! We have also stayed at Crystal River, (now called something different, under new owners, but still a very nice park).. Stayed at the Gregory E Moore Park in Destin also! (VERY classy park, and not much more than other parks) Donna

We have stayed in Topsail Hill State Park Gregory E. Moore RV Resort in Santa Rosa Beach, FL just east of Destin/Sandestin twice and if not for taking our son to Disney next year we would be going back. It is by far one of the best campgrounds in the area. The state bought if from a private owner. All sights are paved and level, full hook ups. The campground is actually about 3/4 of a mile off the beach but they run a tram hourly during the summer, winter schedule is like every two hours. The tram route is also accessible to walkers and bikers. We take our bikes and a wagon and bike to the beach. Once at the beach you will find almost 3 miles of untouched beach and compared to the popular spots along this area where people are usually 3 to 4 deep. Here you will be one deep and can spread out all you want. Park allows you to keep items under the walk way but nothing can be left on the beach. If you do nothing else go by and do a ride through. It is by far the best value you will find in a beach campground. I thing at the first of the year they are going up on their rates to a whoppping $42/night. Just a note if you want to go in the water the earlier in the spring you go the less June grass and jellies. You need to book 11 months in advance. They do have some walk up sites but I don't know how easily available they are.

Steve, that is TRULY the nicest park we have ever stayed in! With the berms between sites, planted with nice foliage and grasses, you have a real feeling of privacy. VERY clean and close enough to Destin to be able to shop or eat at the wonderful seafood restaurants. The beach was one of the nicest we have ever been to as well, and extremely clean.
We drove into the park with no prior reservation (this was back in Feb - Actually Valentines Day!) and had NO problem getting a site. We initially signed up for just one night, and then decided to stay 4 nights, and had to be moved, as our first site was spoken for, but we had no problem with that, we think there ARE no bad sites in the park!
We give it a "10" on a list of parks!!! Donna

If you go far enough down, theres a place in Sarrsota called Sun & Fun RV Resort. We really like this place. Check it out and be safe. Merry Christmas

Hi Dave & Donie, if your retired military, they have a military campground in Destin. Destin Army Center Recreation Area. www.benningmwr.com/destin31905.htm

$14 dollars a day. Really nice campsite, concrete, 50/30/full hook=ups. We were there this past May, had a great time, almost too hot for me at that time. Jake loved swimming in the gulf every morning. All branches of military have something there. Hope this helps. John