Ring in the new year with southern hospitality and warm temperatures. These adventures will make you see the South in new ways.
Find a destination below and then book a stay at a nearby RV Park (click on the links for more information).
Alabama
See Gulf Wildlife on the Coast
Located on the Gulf Coast, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge offers 7,000 acres of lush protected park space that annually attracts more than 100,000 visitors. Like Gulf State Park, it’s a well-balanced blend of beaches and scrub forest, making it popular with hikers, bird-watchers (the refuge is a migratory bird stopover in spring and fall) and anglers. Celebrity park dwellers include loggerhead sea turtles, red foxes, armadillos and more than 370 distinct species of birds.
Getty Images
Make Waves in Mobile
Boasting a rich 300-year history, the Gulf Coast town of Mobile expertly blends long-standing traditions with trendy sophistication, lending credence to the town’s nickname, “Paris of the South.” Once the capital of colonial French Louisiana (before the establishment of the Alabama border), this midsize city is credited with hosting the first Mardi Gras in 1703, long before the Big Easy ever put on a parade. Take a boat tour at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center for a tantalizing afternoon on the water. Follow the Bartram Canoe Trail from the center, spending evenings camping on raised platforms while exploring over 170 miles of waterways. In a cypress swamp just outside of Mobile sits Alligator Alley, where over 200 formidable reptiles live and nest.
Stay here during your Alabama visit:
Lake Osprey RV Resort, Elberta
Florida
Go Boating and Angling in Fort Myers
On Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers is a boating and fishing paradise. Sailboating and powerboating out to sea are popular here, with 20 marinas in the area making it popular for boat owners (or renters) to island hop to nearby spots such as Cayo Costa State Park on Captiva Island. Fishing is also popular, particularly at Lovers Key State Park. Species found in the waters here include tarpon, grouper, cobia, Spanish mackerel and amberjack, particularly in the spring and autumn.
Kayak the Backcountry of the Florida Keys
If you prefer remote stretches of water to bustling ports, then you should check out some of the Lower Keys’ backcountry adventures. Kayakers seeking solitude will find lots of out-of-the-way paddling trails on Big Pine Keys’ interior as well as on its coast. Guides on the island will take kayakers on backcountry tours, introducing paddlers to truly wild environments. Got a Florida fishing license? Then you can drop a line into the clear waters from the convenient base of a kayak. Big Pine Kayak Adventures shows kayakers how to navigate into extremely shallow waters to stalk bonefish, sharks, barracuda, and many other species. Trips include all fishing tackle.
Photo: Lostangelino/ Pixabay
Navigate Fort Lauderdale Canals
Boasting 300 miles of inland waterways, it’s no wonder that Fort Lauderdale bears the nickname “Venice of America.” There’s no better way to explore the city’s meandering canal system than on a Jungle Queen Riverboat Cruise. Since 1935, the cruises have been entertaining guests with dinner, comedy shows, exotic animals and musical performances, as well as one-of-a-kind views of Millionaire’s Row and the mega-yachts of the rich and famous. The quirky combination food of fun has made it one of the most popular attractions in southern Florida. Top it off with iconic dockside dining at the acclaimed 15th St. Fisheries and you’ve got all the makings of an unforgettable stay.
Stay here during your Florida visit:
Travelers Campground, Alachua
Craig’s RV Park, Arcadia
Cross Creek RV Resort, Arcadia
Bonita Terra, Bonita Springs
Belle Parc RV Resort, Brooksville
Breezy Oaks RV Park, Bushnell
Southern Leisure RV Resort, Chiefland
Twin Lakes Camp Resort, Defuniak Springs
Camp Gulf, Destin
Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort & Campers Village, Flagler Beach
Paradise Island RV Resort, Fort Lauderdale
Upriver RV Resort, Fort Myers
Road Runner Travel Resort, Fort Pierce
Boardwalk RV Resort, Homestead
Boyd’s Key West Campground, Key West
Whisper Creek RV Resort, La Belle
Lake City RV Resort, Lake City
Lake Pan RV Village, Lake Panasoffkee
Sanlan RV & Golf Resort, Lakeland
Yankee Traveler RV Park, Largo
Jolly Roger RV Resort, Marathon
Aztec RV Resort, Margate
Splash! RV Resort & Waterpark, Milton
Emerald Beach RV Park, Navarre
Santa Rosa Waterfront RV Resort, Navarre
Ocala Sun RV Resort, Ocala
Coral Sands Oceanfront RV Resort, Ormond Beach
The Tides RV Resort, Palmetto
Sun N Shade RV Resort, Punta Gorda
Ocala North RV Resort, Reddick
Tampa South RV Resort, Ruskin
Vero Beach Kamp, Sebastian
Outback RV Resort At Tanglewood, Sebring
North Beach Camp Resort, St Augustine
Stagecoach RV Park, St Augustine
Tallahassee RV Park, Tallahassee
Bay Bayou RV Resort, Tampa
Fisherman’s Cove Golf & RV Resort, Tavares
The Great Outdoors RV, Nature & Golf Resort, Titusville
Quail Run RV Resort, Wesley Chapel
Wildwood RV Village, Wildwood
Williston Crossings RV Resort, Williston
Georgia
Explore the past in Savannah
Founded in 1733 by British colonists, Savannah Georgia may be the South’s most charming city, with oaks dripping with Spanish moss, antebellum architecture and a series of city squares that invite pedestrians to explore the town on foot. Chippewa Square dates to 1815 and centers on a statue of Gen. Oglethorpe. The opening “park bench” scene of the Tom Hanks classic “Forrest Gump” was filmed on the square’s north side, and it was here that the title character compares life to a “box of chocolates.” History buffs won’t want to miss a visit to Fort McAllister State Park, just 30 miles from downtown. Built in 1861, the fort fell to the Union troops in 1864 during Gen. Sherman’s “March to the Sea.”
The Summit Skyride takes visitors to the top of Stone Mountain.
See Stone Mountain
Some 20 miles northeast of Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park is Georgia’s most-visited attraction. A theme park and myriad outdoor pursuits complement the park’s centerpiece 1,686-foot granite-dome peak. Agile hikers can take the 1-mile trail to the top, but most visitors opt for the Summit Skyride cable car with breathtaking panoramas of the Appalachian Mountains. The Confederate Memorial Carving, at the base of the mountain, is the world’s largest bas-relief sculpture, standing 90 feet high and 190 feet wide.
Stay here during your Georgia visit:
Coastal Georgia RV Resort, Brunswick
Southern Retreat RV Park, Brunswick
Allatoona Landing Marine Resort, Cartersville
Cecil Bay RV Park, Cecil
Lake Pines RV Park & Campground, Columbus
Iron Mountain Resort, Dahlonega
Jekyll Island Campground, Jekyll Island
Atlanta South RV Resort, McDonough
Scenic Mountain RV Park & Campground, Milledgeville
Hawkins Pointe Park, Store & More, Rossville
CreekFire RV Resort, Savannah
Red Gate Campground & RV Park, Savannah
Savannah Oaks RV Resort, Savannah
Stone Mountain Park Campground, Stone Mountain
River’s End Campground, Tybee Island
Mississippi
Gaming on the Gulf Coast
When King Louis XIV of France sent explorers to establish a French colony on what is now Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, he could never have imagined the palatial casino resorts holding court there today. About a dozen Gulf Coast gaming establishments in varying size offer blackjack, poker, slot machines and 24 hours of nonstop gaming. Thousands of visitors come each year, earning the region a spot among the top ten gaming destinations in the country. In addition to thrilling at the prospect of a big jackpot, visitors can enjoy star-studded entertainment and innumerable restaurant choices, serving everything from basic fare to fine dining. Order a drink, sit at a poker machine or belly up to a blackjack or craps table — the choice is yours.
A statue of Elvis at his birthplace.
Commune with the King in Tupelo
People travel from around the world to visit the place where it all began for the superstar known as the Tupelo Tornado. The two-room shotgun house where Elvis Presley was born is now part of a 15-acre park that includes his childhood church, a memorial chapel, a museum, a theater and an events center, along with several statues of the rock ’n’ roll icon. A story wall narrates Elvis’s life from birth to age 13, when his family moved to Memphis. Wander the Elvis Guitar Trail and explore 12 additional sites on the Elvis Driving Tour, including the Tupelo Hardware Store, where his mother, Gladys, purchased that first guitar.
Stay here during your Mississippi visit:
Cajun RV Park, Biloxi
Indian Point RV Resort, Gautier
Sun Roamers RV Resort, Picayune
EZ Daze RV Park, Southaven
Texas
Angling Adventures on the Gulf
Dubbed the “Fishing Capital of Texas,” Port Aransas gives you the chance to reel in the big one from the Gulf of Mexico’s mighty waters. Hire a charter and set off for the deep sea in search of marlin, tuna and kingfish, or dunk your line from the town’s four public piers if you prefer to keep your feet dry. The waterways around Mustang Island also boast healthy populations of redfish, flounder and trout. After a day on the water, lug your fresh catch to a local restaurant — the chefs are more than happy to cook it any way you like.
Airstream at Barton Springs. Photo: Lars Frazier
Tap Your Toes in Austin
Texas’s capital city of Austin is a progressive college town (Texas University is home here) known for its thriving music scene (including the world-famous South by Southwest festival). When you’re not tapping your toes, wing over to Congress Bridge, home to one of the biggest urban bat colonies in North America. Learn about the Lone Star past at the Bullock Texas State History Museum, or listen to live music at Emo’s, one of the many music venues spread across the city.
Stay here during your Texas visit:
Whistle Stop RV Resort, Abilene
Fort Amarillo RV Resort, Amarillo
Oasis RV Resort, Amarillo
Shady Creek RV Park and Storage, Aubrey
Oak Forest RV Resort, Austin
Summer Breeze USA Katy, Brookshire
Hidden Creek RV Resort, Bryan
Bushman’s RV Park, Bullard
Mill Creek Ranch Resort, Canton
Summit Vacation & RV Resort, Canyon Lake
Parkview Riverside RV Park, Concan
Colonia Del Rey RV Park, Corpus Christi
Shallow Creek RV Resort, Gladewater
Loyd Park Camping Cabins & Lodge, Grand Prairie
The Vineyards Campground & Cabins, Grapevine
Advanced RV Resort, Houston
Katy Lake RV Resort, Katy
Buckhorn Lake Resort, Kerrville
Colorado Landing RV Park, La Grange
Midessa Oil Patch RV Park, Midland
Barefoot Bay Marina and Resort, Pittsburg
Island RV Resort, Port Aransas
Sea Breeze RV Community Resort, Portland
Northlake Village RV Park, Roanoke
Ancient Oaks RV Park, Rockport
Bar J Hitchin Post RV, Sweetwater
Bluebonnet Ridge RV Park & Cottages, Terrell
Rayford Crossing RV Resort, The Woodlands
Tyler Oaks RV Resort, Tyler
Boomtown USA RV Resort, Vidor