We were craving some crystal clear spring water and Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon, Fla. was at the top of our list.
 
We didn’t have an entire weekend available to camp, so we took a day trip to the park to paddle and swim. We got up super early and headed north so we could get into the park as soon as it opened. We’ve heard it can get crowded and we wanted to launch our paddleboards before the wildlife got scared away.

​We were rewarded for our early efforts. Steam rose from the water and we were the first people into the park. We shoved off from the canoe launch and paddled with the current, mesmerized by how clear and deep the water was. 

We quickly learned how the Rainbow River got its name – a variety of multicolored vegetation floats on and below the surface, creating an array of color and texture. Not far from the launch, we were greeted by two bald eagles. One swooped right over our heads and landed in a nearby oak tree

​We enjoyed a lovely trip down the river, only encountering a few other paddlers and tubers. After a couple miles, we turned back upstream, paddling against the current to return to the headspring. It was a nice workout and we were rewarded with a swim in the crystal clear, 72-degree spring water.

Afterwards, we scoped out the campground, a separate entrance six miles away by car and a short float downriver, as we knew we would love to return for a longer stay. After driving around both camp loops, we decided site 51 and 6-11 would be ideal sites to return to.
 
If you go:
Rainbow Springs State Park
Headspring/day use area: 19158 S.W. 81st Place Rd., Dunnellon, Florida 34432; 352-465-8555. Activities include swimming, snorkeling, tubing, fishing, canoes/kayaks including gear available for rent, hiking/nature trail through gardens, wildlife viewing, picnicking.
 
Campground: 18185 S.W. 94th St., Dunnellon, about 1.5 miles downstream from the main headspring and day use area. All sites have water and electric (20, 30, and 50 amp) with sewer hook-ups. Maximum RV length: 103 feet. Dump station, recreation hall, showers, restrooms, laundry and playground. Pets allowed in campground; not permitted in swimming areas or buildings. Advance reservations available through ReserveAmerica.
 
Follow our adventures on Twitter @RivetedRoost, or find us on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram. We're posting lots of photos to our social media sites in real time, so follow along!
 
All photos © Kelly Beard, The Riveted Roost

{By Kelly}

Creating a closet
Before every camping trip, we try to make a repair or improvement to the Airstream. Prior to this trip, Justin finished the closet and wardrobe area, and also installed the bathroom wall in between. With this project, he created his first countertop, using leftover Formica from the kitchen area. I think it turned out quite well!​ And having more storage for clothing and gear is a big help.

Discovering Fisheating Creek
On this trip, we visited Fisheating Creek in Palmdale, Fla. March 13-15 for my belated birthday campout. It’s located just west of Lake Okeechobee in the middle of the Sunshine State.
 
I discovered an old Florida camping book that belonged to some dear friends who have since passed away. They had made notes in the margins, raving about Fisheating Creek when they visited in the 1970s.
 
I imagined much had probably changed, but it was an area of Florida we had yet to explore, so we gave it a try. It was a beautiful drive across the middle of the state through oak hammocks, cypress swamp, and orange groves. We rolled the windows down to bask in the scent of orange blossoms. Divine! 

​Fisheating Creek’s camping and recreation area is located within a Wildlife Management Area and is under the supervision of the licensed concessionaire, Fisheating Creek Outpost. While the camping area is more commercialized than your average state park, the waterway deeply resembles Old Florida.
 
We stayed in site #C-1, which was one of the few sites left when we made reservations. It was lacking in shade and privacy, but the surrounding campers were friendly. We were joined by our friends who stayed with us in the Airstream, and our neighbors who snagged a great site under the oaks (A section) for their pop-up camper. We were all ready for some R&R. 

​The next morning, we walked the dogs down to the creek to check out the scenery. It was lovely! And the tent campers have it best, with waterfront sites under giant live oaks, right along the creek. 

​We couldn’t wait to get out on the water with our paddleboards. Due to the gator population, we decided to leave the dogs in the camper during our paddle excursion. Our friends rented a canoe and we all paddled a couple miles up river, stopping to fish along the way. We saw lots of gators and birds, but unfortunately, we didn’t catch any fish in Fisheating Creek.

After our paddle, we were hot and ready for a swim, but not in the gator-infested creek. We decided to check out the swimming area located on the other side of the park. It’s supposedly a spring-fed lake, but I had my doubts about its cleanliness and gator population, so I only went in to my knees. Others enjoyed swinging into the lake from the rope swing, but we swear we saw gators, and heard the squawk of baby alligators in the tall grass along the banks. No thanks, I’ll pass. The oaks that surround the swimming area are gorgeous, and there’s a pavilion to enjoy picnics.

​We had a delicious barbecue dinner that night, despite a light rain shower. We played giant Jenga by the campfire and had some delectable gourmet s’mores. Everything is better with friends!
 
Overall, we enjoyed our stay, but if I came back, I would tent camp to capitalize on the waterfront view, like this, on our last morning at Fisheating Creek:

If you go:
Fisheating Creek Outpost
7555 U.S. Highway 27 North, Palmdale, Florida 33944
863-675-5999
52 RV sites including 48 full-hookup sites with 30 and 50 amp electric, water and sewer; 68 tent sites; picnic tables at every site
Restrooms with hot showers
Creek, camp store with firewood and necessities, kayak and canoe rentals, wi-fi
Fishing, canoeing, hunting, swimming, hiking, 

Follow our adventures on Twitter @RivetedRoost, or find us on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram. We're posting lots of photos to our social media sites in real time, so follow along!

All photos © Kelly Beard, The Riveted Roost

{By Kelly}
​
It was hard to leave New Orleans just as Mardi Gras was getting started, but we had to get back to work. 

​Our midway stop on our way home was St. Andrew’s State Park, Panama City Beach, Fla. I had picked out a primo waterfront site and was looking forward to being in a more natural setting after our city slicker site in NOLA.
 
Just before we got to the park, we stopped in the town of Seaside, Fla. along 30A where a group of seven Airstream food trucks were lined up. We had an awesome dinner at Barefoot BBQ, the only one that was still open late in the evening. If you go, try the BBQ nachos. Yum! 

​Due to our sightseeing and dinner stop, we arrived at the state park after dark. Parking was a joy. We got settled in and quickly fell asleep. Road-tripping is exhausting!
 
The next day, we learned that Krew of St. Andrews was hosting a Mardi Gras parade in Panama City, so we decided to check it out. We missed the big parades in NOLA, so this was a nice treat. There were giant floats and beads galore. We caught our fair share!

​Back at the campsite, we enjoyed our waterfront view, especially as the sun began to set. If you ever visit St. Andrews State Park, site #2 is the one to get. While there are plenty of waterfront sites, this one seemed to be the largest and had the most privacy.

​That evening, we met up some of my family who live in Panama City. We had a great dinner at Capt. Anderson’s, then headed back to the park to relax by the campfire.

The next morning, we woke to a beautiful sunrise and walked down to the beach to fully appreciate it. The white sand squeaked under our feet like snow, and we watched as deer wandered about the dunes. 

​We wished we could spend a few more days at this gorgeous park in our perfect campsite. But it was time to head home.

If you go:
St. Andrews State Park
4607 State Park Lane, Panama City Beach, FL 32408
(850) 233-5140, ext. 5141
$28/night, plus $6.70 reservation fee
Water/Electric hookups (176 sites), picnic tables, grills, dump station
Max length: 45 feet
Restrooms with hot showers, laundry facility
Beach, nature trails, boat ramp, fishing, concessions

Follow our adventures on Twitter @RivetedRoost, or find us on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram. We're posting lots of photos to our social media sites in real time, so follow along!

All photos © Kelly Beard, The Riveted Roost

{By Kelly}

We now “know what it means to miss New Orleans.” As I write this, I hear the famous Louis Armstrong tune in my head and I long to return to the Crescent City on the Big Muddy.

I reminisce about some of the greatest nights of our lives, traipsing around NOLA, eating amazing food and listening to an array of incredibly talented musicians...

Walking the dogs through City Park beneath majestic live oaks. 

A midnight snack of fresh beignets and piping hot café au lait after bar hopping on Frenchmen Street. 

Strolling along the Mississippi, watching the ferry and paddlewheel boats cross the incredible current. 

Listening to the Treme Jazz Band at the Candlelight Lounge. Streetcars... second line parades... gumbo... Abita Beer... Zapp's VooDoo potato chips... buskers... the list goes on.

Even NOLA’s local public radio station, 90.7 FM WWOZ is spectacular. I stream it from home when I need a jazz fix.

Oh NOLA, where have you been all our lives? Before this trip, New Orleans wasn't high our travel bucket list, but I'll tell you why it should be on yours, and why we CAN'T WAIT to go back.

New Orleans is overflowing with history, music, food, art, culture, determination and soul. I admire everyone who fought to restore NOLA after Hurricane Katrina (and continue the effort to this day) and I’m grateful for their dedication. I know it hasn’t been easy in the Big Easy. A decade later, you can still see the high water mark on condemned buildings, empty lots where homes used to be, and reconstruction still in progress. In fact, we met a group of Habitat for Humanity volunteers from Canada while waiting in line for Preservation Hall. It warmed my heart to learn that people are still coming from many miles away to pitch in to help rebuild. Some might find the imperfections of this city unappealing, but I see hope and inspiration. 

The people of New Orleans are fighters. They have moxie and they refuse to let their city wash away. They love their home and take pride in everything they do, from music, art, cuisine and beyond. They've put their blood, sweat and tears into resurrecting their city and NOLA is experiencing a magnificent rebirth. The energy of this city is intoxicating and it literally makes you want to sing and dance.

We visited New Orleans the first week of February – which coincided with the beginning of Mardi Gras. Laissez le bon temps rouler!

Justin had a conference for work, so we decided to make a road trip camping adventure out of it, rather than fly and stay in a hotel. We stayed at state parks in the Florida panhandle on our way to/from NOLA. Our dogs were pretty stoked to tag along; they certainly seemed thrilled to explore this dog-friendly city and share our beignets. 

Here are a few of the places we visited and enjoyed...

French Quarter RV  Read our detailed review on Campendium. City Slicker camping isn't for everyone, but it was a perfect base camp for us as we explored the city.

Morning Call 
While honeymooning in NOLA, my grandparents visited this awesome diner located in the heart of City Park - right next to the grove of ancient oaks. Take in the view while enjoying some beignets and café au lait on the porch, or go inside for some live music. It's not just for mornings, open 24 hours.

Jacques-Imo’s Café 
Head Uptown for the BEST fried chicken - it's a huge portion, the two of us shared the entree. Order a watermelon mojito or sample seasonal beer from local brewers like Abita and NOLA. 
[SHOP] Be sure to visit Moonshine Nettie's before or after your meal. This sassy boutique across the street and just a few doors down has a fabulous selection of funky vintage clothing and accessories. Look for the tutus.

Café Amelie 
This restaurant was perfect in every way, we felt like we were in a movie. We sat in the beautiful courtyard underneath the twinkling lights and sampled wonderful small plates like Shrimp and Grits, as well as Cajun Poutine. Save room for the Doberge Cake… it's to die for!

Drago’s Seafood Restaurant 
You can't leave without trying their fabulous chargrilled oysters. Unbelievable.

Erin Rose 
[DRINK] This bar has the best frozen Irish coffee and a sweet little window from which to people watch.

Mister Gregory’s 
Awesome French café, we visited at both breakfast and lunch. Be sure to try the delicious brie mac and cheese, or their amazing sandwiches. 

Acme Oyster House 
Heavenly chargrilled oysters and all the local favorites like gumbo, red beans and rice, po' boys, and bread pudding. Don't worry, the line moves quickly!

Café Du Monde 
A must in the French Quarter for beignets and café au lait. We enjoyed a midnight snack after an evening of bar hopping on Frenchmen Street. Great people watching between the French Market and Jackson Square. Open 24 hours.

Loretta's Authentic Pralines 
Be sure to try some FRESH pralines from this little stand in the French Market. They are so good when they're still warm! We also bought one of their king cakes with a praline-cream cheese filling. It was still amazingly delicious a few days later when we shared it with our family back in Florida.
 
There are so many restaurants that we didn't have time to try... Commander's Palace, Dooky Chase, and Cochon Butcher, just to name a few. I guess that gives us yet another reason to return!

French Quarter:  Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, French Market, Preservation Hall, tons of restaurants, bars, jazz clubs, retail shops, street performers, and stellar people watching.

Faubourg Marigny: Frenchmen Street - legendary jazz clubs and bars like The Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, The Blue Nile and so many more! Forget Bourbon Street, head to Frenchmen! While you're there, ditch the cheesy souvenirs, support local artists and shop the Frenchmen Art Market (Mon - Sun, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.) for items that truly represent New Orleans.

Treme: Check out Congo Square in Armstrong Park, and go see the Treme Jazz Band on Wednesday nights at the Candlelight Lounge.

Garden District: Enjoy art, food, wine and retail therapy on Magazine Street.

City Park: One of the oldest urban parks in the nation and home to the oldest grove of live oaks in the world. Art, botanical gardens, recreation for all ages, amazing beignets at Morning Call, and more.

Be sure to take a trip outside of NOLA to visit the elaborate plantations along the Mississippi, like Oak Alley Plantation, pictured below.

All photos © Kelly Beard, The Riveted Roost

Follow our adventures on Twitter @RivetedRoost, or find us on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram. We're posting lots of photos to our social media sites in real time, so follow along!

{By Kelly}
 
Justin had a conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. He could have flown me out to join him, but I decided a camping road trip with the pups would be much more fun. However, we had a few chores to do on the Airstream before our departure.

Plumbing marathon
Things don’t always go as planned, especially when restoring a vintage Airstream. We expected to have our black tank and toilet installed before we embarked on our trip to New Orleans. It’s February, and it’s cold (yes, even here in the South – we’re wimps). Trudging to the camp restroom in the middle of the night is less than desirable. But due to a winter storm in the northeast, our tank shipment was delayed. It arrived at 11 a.m. the day we were supposed to leave. So much for an early start!

​Justin worked feverishly to install the tank and pipe, build the subfloor and laminate flooring around it, and install the toilet. It was a plumbing marathon. Despite his haste, it turned out quite nice. And it worked! Hallelujah! 

​We finally got on the road, after 9 p.m. Since Justin worked his tail off, I volunteered to drive the entire way, taking the scenic route we had mapped out. Let me tell you, it’s not nearly as scenic at night. We were looking at an 8+ hour drive. Meh. At least traffic is light at night.
 
Oh, deer!
It was all good until we got to St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge in the panhandle, where the National Deer Convention was apparently taking place. I’ve never had such a white-knuckle driving experience in my life. Deer everywhere! Herd upon herd, upon herd, grazing on both sides of the road. I thought for sure one of those dumb does would dart in front of the truck. So, I drove below the speed limit with my high beam lights on, eyes darting back and forth, willing the deer to stay put. We made it through “Deer Alley” without injury or casualty to our rig, or the deer, an absolute miracle in my opinion!

St. George Island
We arrived at our campsite (Loop A, site #45) at St. George Island State Park in Eastpoint, Fla. in 8.5 hours (approx. 431 miles from Stuart, Fla.). It was about 5 a.m. and pretty darn cold (30s) when we arrived. Finding our site and parking the Airstream in the dark after a long night of driving was a delight. Ha. Try not to yell at each other and wake the neighbors as you’re backing in! We’ve finally begun to use our cell phones when parking – it helps, especially during “quiet time” hours. We walked the dogs and did a minimal set up, wanting desperately to just go to sleep. When we finally settled into bed, we noticed we could hear the sound of the Gulf waves coming to shore. Aaaahhhhh.

​We awoke just after sunrise and walked to the beach, excited to see it in daylight. It was ranked #3 on Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches List in 2014. We were impressed by the large sand dunes not just on the beach, but strewn throughout the park amongst the pine trees, palmettos, and coastal scrub. 

Normally, we’re water warriors, but we headed inland due to the wind and colder weather. This would be a great park for swimming, paddling, and fishing on a calm, summer day. Instead, we went for a walk with the pups through the pine flatwoods and out to the bay. There’s a nice 2.5-mile trail off the campground – not bad for Florida “hiking.”

​Oyster excursion
Later that afternoon, we set out to find a dog-friendly restaurant with oysters. Because when in Apalachicola, you must eat their world-famous oysters. It’s a rule. Look it up. We ended up at Eddy Teach’s Raw Bar, just the kind of divey joint we like, with live music, picnic tables, and pitchers of beer. It was on the island, bayside, close to the park. Rumor is it has since closed, but there are plenty of oyster joints on the island, including the Blue Parrot Café, also pet-friendly, and right on the beach.

Super Bowl data debacle
It also happened to be Super Bowl Sunday (Patriots vs. Seahawks). It was our first time spending the Super Bowl in the Airstream and since we didn’t have a TV or a satellite, we decided to watch it on our iPad. Well, that was a terrible idea. It ate up our entire data plan and the NFL broadcast didn’t even show the commercials! To top it off, the Patriots won. We HATE the Pats! What a waste. We ended up paying several increments of $15 throughout the course of our trip to boost our data plan. We’re so used to having a decent WIFI connection. Lesson learned!

The next morning, we hitched up the Airstream and headed toward the Crescent City on the Big Muddy Mississippi. So long, St. George!

If you go:
Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
1900 E. Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island, FL 32328
(850) 927-2111
$24/night, plus $6.70 reservation fee
Water/Electric hookups (60 sites), dump station
Max length: 43 feet
Restrooms with hot showers
Playground, beach, nature trails, boat ramp, canoe rentals, fishing