 Camping Hot Spots
Find great places to camp and gain insights into activities to make the most of the top camping hot spots. Get the scoop on where to go next. Discover destinations that offer unique opportunities for you to experience the great outdoors through recreation activities, wildlife viewing, and unforgettable vistas.
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From Savannah to Hilton Head
Fill your senses with sun, sand, and surf this month by heading to the gorgeous southern coast of South Carolina and the historic city of Savannah, Georgia. Nestled between Interstate 95 and the Atlantic coast, this is some of the most enchanting terrain youíll find anywhere. With its rich culture, complex history, and incredible natural beauty, youíre sure to fall in love with this part of the country. Weíve designed a travel route that will take you from the brick-lined streets of Savannah to charming Beaufort, Hunting Island State Park, and to the acclaimed resort of Hilton Head Island.
Start your tour in beautiful Savannah, a city thatís been known for its Southern hospitality since 1733. This hip and happening city offer excellent golfing, carriage rides through historic neighborhoods, fantastic shopping, and outdoor adventures like dolphin cruises, fishing charters, and the Oatland Island Education Center. You can visit the Meinhardt Vineyards & Winery to sample the vintages, meander through the gorgeous Chatham County Garden Center & Botanical Gardens, or rent a kayak for a day on the water.
Savannah is known for casino boat cruises that let you enjoy gaming, dining, and dancing while you sail the nighttime waters. Try the Emerald Princess Dinner Cruise and Casino or the Diamond Casino. You can learn more about this stunning cityís past at the Georgia Historical Society museum or the Coastal Heritage Society museum. And for a day at the beach, head eighteen miles east of Savannah to 3-mile-long Tybee Island. Youíll find a lively pier, historic lighthouse, miles of strolling space, and beautiful beaches beside the surf.
For a nice side trip, visit the Fort Pulaski National Monument, the site of an important battle in April 1862. You can follow a guided tour, see re-enacted musket firings, and view living history displays. The volunteers will even demonstrate firing the fortís famous rifled cannons. The fort is set on Cockspur Island and includes more than 5,000 acres of hiking trails, coastal marsh, and wildlife viewing areas. Take a walk to the romantic lighthouse, go fishing along the Savannah River, or watch for birds like the white ibis, oriole, kingfisher, and colorful painted bunting.
From Savannah, take Highway 170 northeast to popular Beaufort and St. Helena Island. Known as the ìQueen of the Carolina Sea Islands,î Beaufort offers waterfront shopping, quaint charm, and historic homes. Youíll also find phenomenal golfing and dining, plus historic forts and museums. Pay a visit to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island or visit the Port Royal boardwalk for its incredible views and arts culture.
Leaving from Beaufort, you can make an easy jaunt to 5,000-acre Hunting Island State Park, an amazing place to watch for wildlife. Tour the sands looking for loggerhead sea turtles and sea horses, or head to the marshes for alligators, pelicans, and buntings. Dolphins swim off the five-mile-long beach, playing near the fishing pier and tidal creeks. You can spend your time fishing in the lagoon, creek, or surf, or go boating in the warm sunshine. The park has horse trails, a playground, hiking and biking trails, and a Nature Center.
After youíve toured Beaufort and Hunting Island, head south to nearby Bluffton with its moss-shaded streets and ante-bellum homes. Bluffton offers excellent golfing, year-round sunshine, and shopping in the outlet malls, boutique shops, and specialty stores. This unique South Carolina city is also home to Real Wasabi, an organic farm that specializes in this zingy-hot condiment that is surprisingly good for your health. If you havenít tried wasabi before, stop by and take a taste of the good stuff!
Wrap up your visit to South Carolina with a stop at Hilton Head, the famous golfing and vacationing resort area. Hilton Head Island offers quiet beaches, golf tournaments, tennis, lighthouse tours, and turtle viewing. You can take the kids to play at the Coastal Discovery Museum or the Sandbox, a hands-on interactive museum. Youíll find laser tag and bumper cars at Adventure Cove, water-skiing and snorkeling on the coast, and plenty of art galleries and theater events. Take a dolphin watching cruise, go kayaking around the inlets, or take part in one of the islandís many fairs and festivals.
From the old-world charm of Savannah to the golf courses of Hilton Head, youíll find a special kind of beauty on the southern coast of South Carolina. On your next camping vacation, be sure to let time slow down to a quiet rhythm while you settle back and relax, beach-style.
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Southern Florida Elsa Watson March is an ideal time to visit Southern Florida, when the weather is perfect, the ocean is sparkling, and colorful birds are everywhere. At Camping.com, weíve outlined a trek that will take you from the city lights of Miami to the beauty of Key Largo, the lush swamps of the Everglades, and the golfing and shopping highlights of Naples. Whether youíre looking for scuba diving adventures, deep sea fishing voyages, kayaking trips, or just a little relaxation on a sandy beach, youíll find a fabulous get-away in South Florida. The route outlined below can be done in a long weekend or spread out over several weeks, so set your own pace and enjoy the trip!
Begin your adventure in Miami, that vibrant city on Biscayne Bay, located on the eastern side of Floridaís southern tip. Known as the ìmagic city,î Miami is home to outstanding museums, family attractions like the Parrot Jungle and Miami Seaquarium, and sporting events with Dolphins football, Marlins baseball, and Miami Heat basketball. As home to the University of Miami's Hurricanes, this is a great place to enjoy a collegiate sporting event, a picnic in Bayfront Park, a play at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, or boating from one of the city marinas. You'll find incredible shopping in the city's downtown, amazing restaurants with Cuban flare, and unforgettable swimming and snorkeling at nearby Biscayne National Park.
From Miami, head south on Highway 1 through Homestead to Key Largo, the northernmost of the Florida Keys. Since this watery wonderland is near North Americaís only living coral barrier reef, it's natural that scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming are all popular activities here. You can plan a diving tour of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, exploring the Spiegel Grove, a 510-foot sunken Navy ship that provides habitat for coral and schools of fish. You can spend a day sport fishing for sailfish, redfish, and tarpon in Florida Bay and further offshore or go bird watching, kayaking, or wildlife viewing. Don't forget to watch for the elusive and gentle manatees while youíre here! If you have a little extra time, a visit to Key West makes an excellent side trip.
Heading back to the north, Highway 41 will take you through Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the country. Home to animals like crocodiles, panthers, and West Indian manatees, this is a must-see destination for wildlife lovers. Take a ranger-led tour to watch for alligators, view flamingos, or enjoy hiking through this 1.5-million acre wilderness. Since a third of the park is covered in water, this is a fantastic place to fish for snapper, sea trout, redfish, bass, and bluegill. You can take a side-trip to explore the Ten Thousand Islands, take photographs of wild orchids, or explore the world of the mangroves. Birders will love the colorful spoonbills, ibises, herons, pelicans, and other amazing water birds.
After your visit to the Everglades, follow Highway 41 north to Naples on Florida's Gulf Coast. With its calm seas and white sandy beaches, Naples is a paradise for water-sports enthusiasts. The area is also a haven for golfers, with more than seventy challenging courses that are open year-round. Nature lovers will enjoy a canoe trip through the Ten Thousand Islands, a visit to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, and the Babcock Wilderness Adventures where you can see panthers, bison, ospreys, and wild alligators. Whether you stroll along the beaches looking for seashells or take a sailing trip through the turquoise waters, you'll have a thrilling time in Naples.
From a day of boating beside wild dolphins to shopping for treasures in boutiques and gift shops, Southern Florida has everything you need for a fun-filled camping vacation. Enjoy the nightlife of Miami, the sun and surf of the Keys, and the amazing natural beauty of the Everglades! With its sunny skies and tropical waters, a visit to Florida is a perfect way to welcome spring and start looking ahead to the joys of summer.
North Carolina For a last glimpse of fall color, visit the charming Asheville area in Western North Carolina. Nestled amid the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains, this is the place to watch the leaves change. Try a scenic drive through the Mount Pisgah National Forest or tromp across the swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain. In Asheville, youíll find plenty of places to stay and dine. A trip to the North Carolina Arboretum lets you study the trees on a closer level. Nearby, at Hickory Nut Gorge, the oak and hickory trees shift from bronze to brown, providing a stunning frame to the 404-foot waterfalls that made the backdrop for the film, ìThe Last of the Mohicans.î The gorge is a perfect place for hiking and bird watching, or for an afternoon picnic on the shores of Lake Lure. For a more unique November experience, head eastward to the coastal plains. Explore the beauty of the shore without the crowds and capture a special set of memories to last throughout the winter.
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Texas With its bright blue skies and golden grasses, you might forget that itís fall in Texas. Even in this land of honest beauty, where the land and sky stretch out for miles, November is a time of harvest. Make this the destination for your family outing. Meet up for a meal at Dinosaur Valley State Park (located in North Texas) and stay to view the hillside blazing in red, orange, and yellow foliage. Kids will enjoy investigating the dinosaur tracks and models at the park. From there, visit the Dallas-Ft. Worth area for unsurpassed dining, museums, and sporting events. Not far south, in the rolling hills of Central Texas, youíll find rural beauty at its finest. The vineyards and farms, lined with rolls of harvested hay, are sure to put you in a holiday mood.
Arizona Pastel-pale Arizona shines in November like no other place. Where else can you still enjoy warm days and clear skies, this close to the holiday season? This is the time to see Arizonaís premiere sights, when the crowds are small and the temperatures are mild. Make a memorable visit to the Grand Canyon by visiting the spectacular South Rim this month. Located eighty miles north of Flagstaff, this southern side of the park offers outstanding views of the 4,000-foot deep canyon. For maximum viewing, park your car and take one of the shuttle buses to the information center. Peer down through geologic time, hike along the rim, or watch for wildlife. From the Grand Canyon you can plan a side trip Flagstaff or head south to the red rocks of Sedona. The amazing beauty of these towering rock formations will amaze you, as will the excellent dining opportunities you can find in this hidden resort town.
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