Special deals offered midweek at Florida State Parks

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida State Parks has initiated a new promotion to encourage weekday camping. The Two for Tuesday promotions allow visitors to purchase discounted camping packages at three state parks for Tuesday and Wednesday night stays that include admission to select nearby state parks. Packages range from $40 to $270, with savings of $30 to $36 off the value of the full package. Reservations may be made for stays from March 2 through May 26, 2010.

“Two for Tuesday is a great way to promote camping and encourage visitors to check out neighboring parks,” said Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock. “By offering ready-made packages, visitors can take the guess work out of planning their trip, all for a discounted price.”

Locations of the Two for Tuesday parks range from springs near Central Florida to beaches in the Panhandle and museums in southwest Florida. Campers can bring a tent, camper or RV, or choose to stay in a cabin or bungalow. All overnight accommodations are subject to availability. To learn more visit the Florida State Parks website.

LongView RV signs on as Florida's newest Newmar dealer

LongView RV Superstores of Dover, Florida has joined with RV maker Newmar Corp., as its newest Florida dealer.

“LongView is now selling Newmar’s highest volume and fastest selling products, which include the Bay Star and Canyon Star gas motorhomes as well as the Ventana diesel pusher brand,” said John Sammut, vice president of sales and marketing for Nappanee, Ind.-based Newmar. “Like Newmar, LongView is family owned and operated and shares our goals in terms of quality, value, and customer service. They run an excellent dealership in Florida and we are looking forward to a profitable relationship with them.”

LongView RV is carrying Newmar’s core motorhome products at its Dover, Fla., location. Established in 1959, LongView RV Superstores has locations in Connecticut and Florida. In December 2004, the current central Florida location opened on the outskirts of Tampa.

Reenactors to re-create Florida's largest Civil War battle

Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 13 and Sunday February 14. More than 2,000 living history reenactors will re-create the Battle of Olusteee at Olustee Battlefield State Park, 13 miles east of Olustee on U.S. 90. The battle was fought February 20, 1863 and was Florida's largest Civil War battle.

Full-scale artillery, mounted cavalry and three African American regiments, including the 54th Massachusetts, took part in the fighting that day. The Saturday skirmish will begin at 3:30 p.m. and the battle reenactment will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The event will feature medical demonstrations, period music concerts, military camps and drills and the lives of soldiers and civilians. Food concessions will be available. No pets are allowed.

Admission on Saturday and Sunday is $7 for adults and less for children. For additional information call 877-635-3655.

The Smartest Way to Experience A Theme Park

Is your family all excited to reach their destination theme park just to discover miles of lines? (groan) Waiting an hour or more for your opportunity to ride? (feet hurt!) Kids (and adults) getting cranky? Grrrr!

Take it from me, the original Florida tour guide to 30 years of relatives, youth groups and out of town friends. I have your tried, tested and true solution. After all, necessity is the mother of invention.

Here's the secret: most of America is right hand oriented. We drive on the right side of the road and we generally walk on the right side when we pass someone. Given a circular park (most are) the vast majority of people will begin their journey to the right. So you take the path less traveled to left. This will save you hours and your family and friends will delight in their little to no wait at their favorite and normally packed rides. They will think you a genius! You will be halfway around the park in no time so be sure to stop early for lunch, about 11 am. You will avoid the lunch rush at noon. Then, while the right hand oriented people pack the place for lunch at noon, you and your group will be up and enjoying the right side of the park now vacated by the herd. Smarter than the average bear!

Woodall's names top 45 Florida RV parks

Woodall Publications Corporation, producer of the most comprehensive and reliable campground directories available, has announced that 307 parks out of 8,000 privately owned campgrounds listed in its 2010 North American Campground Directory have earned the highest and most coveted designation of 5W/5W.
 
Woodall’s dual rating system helps RVers and campers find a park that has the facilities and amenities they want by assigning two ratings to each RV park and/or campground: 1W through 5W for facilities at the park and 1W through 5W for recreation. This state-of-the-art rating system is the backbone of Woodall’s Campground Directory, providing RVers and campers with unbiased insight in a format that is easy to use and understand. Top-ranked states this year were Arizona, followed by Florida, California and Texas.

The more Ws a park has generally reflects the presence of more development and facilities at the park; a park with a 5W/5W rating is usually highly developed in terms of its physical grounds, personnel, recreation programs and superior maintenance of the park’s facilities. Campers are also choosing campgrounds on the conveniences they offer, including everything from pull-through pads to Wi-Fi for Internet access. Woodall’s field representative teams conduct on-site inspections of every campground in the directory each year.  To purchase any of Woodall's fine 2010 directories, whether all of North America, Canada, or North America subsections with special pricing and speedy delivery, click here.
 

Woodall's picks for Florida's top 45 RV parks are: 

Cross Creek Country Club & RV Resort – ARCADIA, FL

Torrey Oaks RV & Golf Resort – BOWLING GREEN, FL
Encore Manatee RV Resort – BRADENTON, FL
Horseshoe Cove RV Resort – BRADENTON, FL
Holiday Cove RV Resort – CORTEZ, FL
Outdoor Resorts/Chokoloskee Island – CHOKOLOSKEE, FL
Outdoor Resorts At Orlando– CLERMONT, FL
Travelers Rest Resort – DADE CITY, FL
Deer Creek Golf & RV Resort – DAVENPORT, FL
Highbanks Marina & Campresort – DEBARY, FL
Sunset King Lake RV Resort – DEFANIAK SPRINGS, FL
Camping on the Gulf – DESTIN, FL
Everglades Isle Motorcoach Retreat – EVERGLADES CITY, FL
Cypress Woods RV Resort – FORT MYERS, FL
Raintree RV Resort – FORT MYERS, FL  
Riverbend Motorcoach Resort – FORT MYERS, FL
Indian Creek Resort – FORT MYERS BEACH, FL
Siesta Bay RV Resort – FORT MYERS BEACH, FL
Goldcoaster Mobile Home & RV Resort – HOMESTEAD, FL
Rainbow Resort – HOMESTEAD, FL
Flamingo Lake RV Resort – JACKSONVILLE, FL
Nettles Island Resort & RV Park – JENSEN BEACH, FL
Tropical Palms Resort – KISSIMMEE, FL
The Recreation Plantation RV Resort – LADY LAKE, FL
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL
Camp Florida Resort – LAKE PLACID, FL
Holiday Travel Resort – LEESBURG, FL
Crystal Lake RV Resort – NAPLES, FL
Pelican Lake Motorcoach Resort – NAPLES, FL
Signature Motorcoach Resort at Naples – NAPLES, FL
Silver Lakes RV Resort and Golf Club – NAPLES, FL

New Smyrna Beach RV Park – NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL
Encore Royal Coachman – NOKOMIS, FL
Silver Palms RV Village – OKEECHOBEE, FL
Grand Lake RV & Golf Resort (Morgan RV Resorts) – ORANGE LAKE, FL
Emerald Coast RV Beach Resort – PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL
Harbor Lakes – PORT CHARLOTTE, FL
Riverside RV Resort & Campground – PORT CHARLOTTE, FL
Sun-N-Fun RV Resort – SARASOTA, FL
The Outback RV Resort at Tanglewood – SEBRING, FL
Wilderness RV Park Estates – SILVER SPRINGS, FL
Starke/Gainesville NE KOA – STARKE, FL
Bay Bayou RV Resort – TAMPA, FL
The Great Outdoors RV-Nature & Golf Resort – TITUSVILLE, FL
Vacation Inn Resort – WEST PALM BEACH, FL

Visit a Florida State Park for 75 cents

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service has launched a new promotion, Go Play Weekday, which allows visitors to pay 75¢ admission Monday through Thursday at featured state parks during promotional months. Throughout the year, Go Play Weekday specials will highlight parks in each region of the state.

“Since 1935, millions of visitors have experienced the magnificence of Florida’s white sandy beaches, vast open prairies, lush semi-tropical forests, cultural sites and crystal clear springs at Florida State Parks and we are proud to celebrate this milestone,” said DEP Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation Bob Ballard. “Affordable family friendly activities such as swimming, hiking, bicycling, paddling, diving, fishing, camping, birding, events and ranger-led tours are just a few ways people enjoy our natural resources.”

The first of several promotions planned in celebration of Florida State Parks’ 75th Anniversary, Go Play Weekday allows residents and visitors to explore featured parks for a ‘trial size’ price. The price is right for budget watchers, home schoolers and anyone ready for some outdoor recreation.

The Panhandle is the first area to be highlighted in the Go Play Weekday promotion. The six featured state parks offer bluffs, beaches, trails, rivers and lakes that provide ideal locations to hike, camp, fish, ride bicycles and enjoy the cool weather.

Parks offering entrance for 75 cents through February 25, 2010, include:

1. Blackwater River State Park, Holt
2. Camp Helen State Park, Panama City Beach
3. Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach
4. Falling Waters State Park, Chipley
5. Three Rivers State Park, Sneads
6. Torreya State Park, Bristol

How it works: Mention ‘Go Play Weekday’ at the ranger station to get the special price. If the park has an honor box, just write ‘Go Play Weekday’ on the envelope and put in 75 cents instead of the full fee.

Plan to tailgate before Miami's SuperBowl game?

Do you plan to celebrate next month's Superbowl with a tailgate party? Then lucky you! But good luck finding a spot for your RV: tailgating is not allowed in any of the parking areas at Miami's Dolphin Stadium.

But it may not be so hard to find a place to celebrate using your RV as Tailgate-Central, even if you live in Kansas or Tucson or anywhere but the Miami area: How about celebrating in your back yard or the driveway? Invite the neighbors over. You don't need tickets to the game -- just watch on your big screen TV (and save lots of bucks over buying tickets!) Besides an RV -- the best tailgate amenity -- you'll need a good portable barbecue pit to cook your food, tailgates or tables, an ice chest for the suds, and a radio with big honkin' speakers so you can celebrate to the pre-game hype.

For those fans who will celebrate in the Miami area, there are some special treats. Morton's The Steakhouse is offering platters of filet mignon sandwiches, lamb chops, shrimp cocktail, mini-New York cheesecakes and other gourmet options for tailgaters who don't want to cook; order the platters for pick-up at the restaurant's Coral Gables, North Miami Beach and downtown Miami locations.

Or maybe you've got $4,500 (per person) to spend and no RV. In that case, Donald Trump has a deal for you. He's inviting guests to his four-star resort in Sunny Isles to party hearty Feb. 5-7 with his great "Tail-Great" package. Besides your accommodations for two for three nights in a luxurious one bedroom ocean-view Super-Suite (appointed with team colors, fan merchandise, memorabilia, accessories and game day gear), you'll get a luxury sports car rental, a personal chef to prepare all your meals for entire length of stay and cater your tailgate party, transportation to and from the game and two Super Bowl tickets.

Or maybe you're on a tighter budget. If so, enjoy the game on Sunday, but before you do, dine with a Super Bowl veteran: the South Beach Marriott is offering a private lunch with the former quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, Jim Kelly. The package includes a stay in an ocean-view room. Rates begin at $2,731 per person for four-nights.