The Wild Thornbaileys are a family of six traveling in their 44 ft Highland Ridge 395BHS Open Range. After almost losing their son to undiagnosed type one diabetes they took their second chance at life, and have prioritized family and travel, adventuring around the country for the past five years with no plan of stopping!
Fun abounds in Florida during the wintertime, and our family loves to soak up every second. So if you’re thinking of heading down south this winter, here's a fun checklist of things to do in Florida when you visit.
Our favorite one is Showcase of Citrus right down the road from Thousand Trails Orlando campground.
Florida has more than 1,000 beautiful springs, and each one has so much to offer! We love visiting Three Sister Springs. We also love swimming with manatees at Crystal River, another Florida spring. Devil's Den is another epic Florida spring, making it unique because it's underground. Bring your snorkel gear and wetsuits, as it's pretty cold without the sun, and make sure you make your reservation online ahead of time.
Venice, Florida beaches are known for having tons of shark teeth you can sift for.
Our top 3 favorite beaches are: Clearwater, Siesta, and Fort Zachary Taylor. The first two have white flour-like sand and usually have fun music and food all along the beach, the last one is located in Key West and is an amazing place to snorkel and enjoy the tropical feel of the keys. Honestly, all of the beaches in Florida are amazing for different reasons and you can't go wrong.
We absolutely love rides and roller coasters so every year we visit Universal and get Disney annual passes. There are so many amusement parks in Florida because they can be open all year long. Disney and Universal are far from the only parks in Florida—there's Legoland, Sea World, Discovery Cove, Fun Spot, and Busch Gardens.
We loved visiting the Ringling Museum. Florida has so many different museums from art to history that are full of fun and education!
Florida has three National Parks. We've only been to two with a goal of hitting the third one this year. The Everglades located in Miami has fun airboat tours to see alligators, trails that loop around the beautiful Everglades, and one of the only places you can see crocodiles and alligators in the same habitat.
Biscayne National Park has stunning crystal clear waters and is perfect for snorkeling and getting a tropical feel.
Dry Tortugas is one of the hardest National Parks to get to because you can only get there by ferry or seaplane—and neither is cheap. We had tickets to go by ferry but when the day came there was a massive storm and our trip was canceled, so be sure to keep an eye on whether when you're booking and book it ahead of time. This national park has a fort on an island in the ocean surrounded by beautiful colorful fish for snorkeling and is one of the most unique places to visit in Florida.
Popular among full-time RVers, fifth wheels are designed for easier, more stable towing. Living space is maximized with additional over-cab space. This camping trailer—affectionately nicknamed a "fiver"—is a favorite of many, especially those taking extended trips or traveling full time in their RV. The prominent overhang resting above the tow truck bed is frequently employed as a bedroom suite, a living room, even a kitchen.
Whether you're new to the world of RVing or you're ready to narrow your search, we're here to help you sort through it all and find the RV that's right for you. Explore RVs based off of your lifestyle and the features important to you.
