We arrived in FL January 2024 – stayed at a nice (albeit expensive) campground in Miramar Beach called Geronimo RV Park. Prime season rates are up to $120 a night but they do offer monthly rates. You pay for the proximity to beaches because they have no amenities like traditional RV parks or resorts. I was so excited to visit places that are near and dear to my heart. I was born at Eglin AFB in Fort Walton. My family moved away when I was one year old, but we vacationed in the area many times during my childhood and teenage years.
(you can even see the white sand at night!)
I was surprised that the Gulfarium, a Marine Adventure Park is still open in Destin. If you can picture an older, slightly run-down and much smaller SeaWorld, that’s it. We saw a very cute Sea Lion show and saw dolphins, turtles and penguins. It brought back so many great memories. We bundled up and spent some time sitting on the beach at Navarre. I have pictures of me there as a toddler and people always wonder how I’m in snow with summer clothes on – well that white is not snow, it’s sand. They call it “sugar sand” and it’s primarily composed of nearly pure quartz crystals that were carried from the Appalachian Mountains by rivers and ocean over thousands of years. The only time you’ll see real waves is in stormy weather (or colder months), it being the Gulf. Normally it’s very calm and clear water, almost like a pool. I did put my feet in the water but that was it. You know it’s cold when G is wearing a hoodie! We also walked on the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier – built in 1963 / destroyed in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan / rebuilt in 2010. It is the longest fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico. We had some of the best fish in a long time at the Back Porch and Pompano Joes – restaurants by the Gulf with great views.
After Florida we went to Biloxi, MS. We stayed at Majestic Oaks right beside Keesler AFB. This was our first time hearing 6am Reveille / 5pm Retreat / and Taps at 9pm. You get used to it after a day or two, but bugles at 6am…hard to sleep through that but I guess that’s the point on a military base. LOL Loved the lighthouse in the middle of the road in Biloxi! Enjoyed traveling to Louisiana through areas you can’t pronounce like Atchafalaya! In LA, we stayed at a great Harvest Host – Wild Cat Brothers Distilling. Loved the beautiful peacocks they have roaming around there.
We were back in Texas at the end of January – March. Lots of new things for us! New truck due to issues with our older one. We were a “Ford” family, now we’re a “GMC” family. I like the newer one better although it doesn’t massage your bum like the Ford! But the new truck has a much better turning radius and fuel mileage. We tried Boudin balls for the first time (I loved them) and we almost bought an RV site in the Hill Country. Our thought was to rent it out when we weren’t using it…but the developing company had some issues with the town and or/county. So, it didn’t work out.
At the end of March we were in Vidalia, LA, right on the banks of the Mississippi River. Loved watching the barges travel the river and our neighbors had 4 / FOUR Doxies! Can’t imagine – but I loved watching them from my office windows! We stayed at Riverview RV Park.
In April, while in Vidalia, we visited Natchez, MS (right across the river). We would highly recommend the Pilgrimage Tours in Natchez! We visited Stanton Hall. Disneyland designed The Haunted Mansion after this beauty and the interior was used in the North and South mini series. Our guide was wonderful and full of fascinating history tidbits. We tried to visit Monmouth Inn the weekend before, but couldn’t due to a wedding there – what a wedding venue that would be!
We chose to shelter in a hotel for two nights while in Vidalia due to nearby tornadoes. Storms passed about 20 miles north and south of us, but better to be safe than sorry. Bonus, nice to have breakfast made for you for a couple of days, so all good!
Next stop was Arley, AL and another Thousand Trails – Hidden Cove. If you ever wonder where the middle of no where is, it’s in Arley, AL. Be prepared to drive a ways for any amenities. They did have a nice hot tub, which is always a plus and I put my kayak in at the lake there – Lewis Smith Lake. Very nice deck in a cove. The only other site-seeing we did was a covered bridge in Cullman. But it was very cool with the old water mill.
In May we stayed at Sasquatch Farm RV Park, in South Pittsburg, TN, another private campground. Pro-tip: make sure you call and ask which direction to come up the mountain. Unless you are close to an expert driver, you don’t want to come the shorter route. On the way up we had to cross the center line with our 45 foot toy hauler in one of the tightest turns I’ve ever been on. And I’ve been on tight mountain roads in NC all my life! You can’t see what’s coming around the curve. The office told us the fire dept has been called a few times to rescue people on that curve that have ran off the road! This campground had live music on the weekend and an area with nice seating and multiple campfires for your enjoyment. Very nice! And don’t miss the Lodge Museum in town – lots of fun and interesting history. We would also recommend having a meal at Top of the Rock in Jasper, TN. Great food and great views from their deck.
The most memorable part of our stay in TN, on May 10th, was seeing a little of the Northern Lights! We thought we would have to visit Alaska or somewhere else to see them. We were on top of a mountain and there was not a lot of outside lighting so it was awesome! We saw lots of color – can’t imagine how the Northern Lights are when it looks like the sky is moving like waves! Definitely on our bucket list!
From Tennessee, we made our way to the NC mountains and stayed at Town Mountain Travel Park, in Hendersonville, NC. Mike, the host was awesome and we had a camp-wide cookout for Memorial weekend. We met some really great people, including Eric and Kim, who we hope to see down the road. We visited Randy, Garland’s brother and went to Hot Springs, NC with him and Kimberly. Always great to visit!
It was here we lost our beloved little Orso – the Alpha of the pack, even though he was the smallest. Forever in our hearts. May 29, 2024 was a hard day. Orso means “Bear” in Italian and it fit him so well.
Garland and I finally went to Dupont State Forest in NC. Even though we are both from NC, we had never been. Definitely recommend hiking to Hooker Falls (very easy hike) and Triple Falls (up a VERY steep trail) but worth it! This trail made me realize we need hiking polls. Always thought it was just “older” people who used them but on the Triple Falls hike we saw some hikers younger than us using them. And in the Summer, I would recommend taking your suit to swim at Hooker Falls. The movie “The Last of the Mohicans” was filmed there.
June found us back in our hometown area of Fuquay Varina. We stayed at Healing Green Farms in Willow Spring, NC and also parked in front of our friends house while they were in Germany. Our first “Faux” kid Nathan (our best friends’ son) graduated from High School and we had a big celebration for him. So proud! Then I took the whole family to the airport for their Germany trip. It was nice being in a house during this HOT time – always tricky keeping a camper (of any size) cool during hot and humid NC weather. Family and “Framily” are the only reasons we will be in the South during Summer months…we were supposed to be chasing 70!
We traveled to the Gastonia, NC area after this for my family’s reunion in July. Also got to celebrate my bestie, Les on her birthday since she was back home too. If you’re ever in the Gastonia or even Charlotte area, be kind to yourself and eat at RO’s Barbeque (order the minced sandwich) and go to Tony’s Ice Cream for the best milkshake of your life! Both places are legendary in that area and I was in heaven going to both while we were there! My parents met in the parking lot of Tony’s so it’s very special to me. And two of my Uncles worked at RO’s as teenagers. 🙂
