best tent camping florida keys image
Ashley
Its just a short drive for my boyfriend and I to make it down to the keys and we are looking to spend a weekend camping down there. I have done a lot of research and the two main places that we wanted to stay are booked (Bahia Honda State Park and John PenneKamp Park). Does anyone know of any places to just get off the beaten path and set up a tent for a few days?? It doesn't have to be fancy and we don't need many amenities. I'd kind of like to find a quiet little place that you can't find on google... Please help.
Answer
bahia natural campgrounds, tents and rvs welcome
bahia natural campgrounds, tents and rvs welcome
What should i bring when canoeing down the river and camping there for the weekend?
trixi44030
I want to go camping down the Peace River in Florida for the weekend but I'm not sure what I would need to bring because my friends and I would be canoeing most of the way. So I have to be careful about getting our stuff wet. Is there any advice on what items to bring and how not to get everything wet (although it'll probably happen because you're in water lol).
Answer
The Peace River is one of my all-time favorite canoe/camping trips. I have done the overnighter at least four or five times in the past six years! We usually put in at Zolfo Springs and take out at Gardner. You can bring whatever you want..depending on what you wish to carry with you. We like comfort when we camp, so we load up with gear...but you can also pack like a backpacker if you like. We usually go in November, when the weather tends to be cool or even COLD at night..but this time of year it is nice and warm so you will not have that problem.
For security...everything that cannot get wet is placed in a dry bag and then we tie down the dry bag to the canoe. We have a couple that are similar to this
http://www.rei.com/product/684856
The top folds over three times and is very tight. We put our sleeping bags and our change of clothes and other personal items in this. We also run the rope through items that are not placed in the dry bag and tie them to the canoe as well..the tent carrying strap, chairs, cooler handles, etc., just in case. They might get wet, but at least they will not float away if we turn over. Using those XXX-Large Ziplock bags AND Hefty-type garbage bags, double or triple bagging and tying shut will probably be fine for splashing or a quick dunk instead..but the dry bag is your best insurance policy.
Cell phones, Ipods, keys, matches, lighters, flashlights, etc., should also go in a ziplock and in the dry bag, tied to the canoe, while you are in the water. Most of the time we do lose cell reception in places while traveling down the river...but seem to get cell reception once we pull over and set up camp.
Speaking of turning over, the portion of the Peace River you will be canoeing down is not very deep. In most places, if you tip, just stand up! The water most likely will not even reach your waist. You are protecting your gear more from water pooling in the canoe than you are from it falling and sinking down into the river.
For gear, of course you will probably want a tent and sleeping bag. If you feel comfortable you can probably do without the tent...but I feel more comfortable and protected in one. You can also look into bringing a hammock instead! As I mentioned, we like our stuff, so we do bring an air mattress and a small pump (all in the dry bag) to go with it.
Other Basic Essentials: Knife, small saw, flashlight. whistle, canoe seatpads for comfort, toilet paper (NOT an optional item!!!--and keep it in a ziplock, in the dry bag!), small trowel for making your "cat holes," duct tape.
Next, we will cover food and cooking: You can cook over the open fire or pack a simple one-burner stove and a form of fuel (again in the ziplock/Hefty combo or dry bag). We do both. We usually collect dead wood on the river as we go down it and put it right in the canoe. Most likely you will be able to find some around your site. You can pretty much eat whatever you like. We have had chili, spaghetti with meat sauce and salad, roast pork with rice and beans, grilled chicken, etc. on our trips. Some of this we have cooked before we left...or marinated and froze. We always have bacon, eggs, and toast with coffee and juice on Sunday mornings before we break camp. Just make your grocery list, include fruit and snacks, freeze what you can for extra cold, and pack in your coolers!
As far as water...we will freeze water bottles and those will help keep food items cold, as well as be used for drinking water (you will need to drink a lot of water out there). We also bring a large (ours is 7 gallons, but you can bring individual gallon jugs) container of water for cooking. You should plan on 1-2 gallons of water per person per day.
Other Kitchen equipment: Cooking pot and/or pan; kitchen tools (spatula, can opener); biodegradable soap and scrubber; mess kits, etc.
Finally, again, remember this is a very hot time of year so protect yourself well from the sun. Hats, sunscreen, bug spray, and lots and lots of water!!! Of course..a bathing suit and towel.
Bring a small colander or sieve...with the water being low you should be able to pan for fossilized sharks teeth. We have found many, many of these!
Also, pack plenty of garbage bags...you don't want to leave any trash at your site or on the river.
Finally...don't wait until too late to start looking for your campsite. While not packed crowded...you will not be isolated either and the best locations will start to be taken early. We usually start looking for our spot around 4:00 pm so that we are definitely pulled over by about 5. You don't want to be hunting for a spot and then setting up in the dark out there if you can help it.
If I missed anything you needed to know...or you just come up with more questions, feel free to email me.
Have a great time!!!!!
The Peace River is one of my all-time favorite canoe/camping trips. I have done the overnighter at least four or five times in the past six years! We usually put in at Zolfo Springs and take out at Gardner. You can bring whatever you want..depending on what you wish to carry with you. We like comfort when we camp, so we load up with gear...but you can also pack like a backpacker if you like. We usually go in November, when the weather tends to be cool or even COLD at night..but this time of year it is nice and warm so you will not have that problem.
For security...everything that cannot get wet is placed in a dry bag and then we tie down the dry bag to the canoe. We have a couple that are similar to this
http://www.rei.com/product/684856
The top folds over three times and is very tight. We put our sleeping bags and our change of clothes and other personal items in this. We also run the rope through items that are not placed in the dry bag and tie them to the canoe as well..the tent carrying strap, chairs, cooler handles, etc., just in case. They might get wet, but at least they will not float away if we turn over. Using those XXX-Large Ziplock bags AND Hefty-type garbage bags, double or triple bagging and tying shut will probably be fine for splashing or a quick dunk instead..but the dry bag is your best insurance policy.
Cell phones, Ipods, keys, matches, lighters, flashlights, etc., should also go in a ziplock and in the dry bag, tied to the canoe, while you are in the water. Most of the time we do lose cell reception in places while traveling down the river...but seem to get cell reception once we pull over and set up camp.
Speaking of turning over, the portion of the Peace River you will be canoeing down is not very deep. In most places, if you tip, just stand up! The water most likely will not even reach your waist. You are protecting your gear more from water pooling in the canoe than you are from it falling and sinking down into the river.
For gear, of course you will probably want a tent and sleeping bag. If you feel comfortable you can probably do without the tent...but I feel more comfortable and protected in one. You can also look into bringing a hammock instead! As I mentioned, we like our stuff, so we do bring an air mattress and a small pump (all in the dry bag) to go with it.
Other Basic Essentials: Knife, small saw, flashlight. whistle, canoe seatpads for comfort, toilet paper (NOT an optional item!!!--and keep it in a ziplock, in the dry bag!), small trowel for making your "cat holes," duct tape.
Next, we will cover food and cooking: You can cook over the open fire or pack a simple one-burner stove and a form of fuel (again in the ziplock/Hefty combo or dry bag). We do both. We usually collect dead wood on the river as we go down it and put it right in the canoe. Most likely you will be able to find some around your site. You can pretty much eat whatever you like. We have had chili, spaghetti with meat sauce and salad, roast pork with rice and beans, grilled chicken, etc. on our trips. Some of this we have cooked before we left...or marinated and froze. We always have bacon, eggs, and toast with coffee and juice on Sunday mornings before we break camp. Just make your grocery list, include fruit and snacks, freeze what you can for extra cold, and pack in your coolers!
As far as water...we will freeze water bottles and those will help keep food items cold, as well as be used for drinking water (you will need to drink a lot of water out there). We also bring a large (ours is 7 gallons, but you can bring individual gallon jugs) container of water for cooking. You should plan on 1-2 gallons of water per person per day.
Other Kitchen equipment: Cooking pot and/or pan; kitchen tools (spatula, can opener); biodegradable soap and scrubber; mess kits, etc.
Finally, again, remember this is a very hot time of year so protect yourself well from the sun. Hats, sunscreen, bug spray, and lots and lots of water!!! Of course..a bathing suit and towel.
Bring a small colander or sieve...with the water being low you should be able to pan for fossilized sharks teeth. We have found many, many of these!
Also, pack plenty of garbage bags...you don't want to leave any trash at your site or on the river.
Finally...don't wait until too late to start looking for your campsite. While not packed crowded...you will not be isolated either and the best locations will start to be taken early. We usually start looking for our spot around 4:00 pm so that we are definitely pulled over by about 5. You don't want to be hunting for a spot and then setting up in the dark out there if you can help it.
If I missed anything you needed to know...or you just come up with more questions, feel free to email me.
Have a great time!!!!!
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