In January, many of us try to stick to the New Year’s resolutions we made the previous year. How many of us have the determination to see it through?
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The following places might just inspire you to live up to the promises you made to yourself as the clock ticked down to 2022. If you resolved to get more exercise, take a jog on a sandy gulf beach or paddle a kayak along the coast of a barrier island. Was a better diet on your list of resolutions? Try a healthy fish-and-greens diet found at a seaside eatery.
Find a destination below and then book a stay at a nearby RV Park (click on the links for more information).
Alabama
Alabama’s small but beautiful stretch of Gulf Coast entices beachcombers to explore sugar-white sands.
Walk Beautiful Bon Secour
Take a walk and burn off calories in one of the South’s most beautiful sanctuaries. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge has six miles of trails that lead through maritime forests and wetlands bursting with colorful flowers. Make sure you walk on the banks of Little River Lagoon Lake and Gator Lake, whose clear surfaces reflect clear southern skies.
—Sunset over Mobile Bay on the Alabama Gulf CoastAfterward, enjoy a healthy seafood meal at DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen in Gulf Shores. Try the steamed snow crab legs and flounder almondine to keep things simple. In Foley, Portabella’s serves classic Italian food along with abundant salads.
Kayak Near Mobile
Grab a paddle for a kayaking and canoeing workout. Follow the Bartram Canoe Trail from the center, exploring the Mobile-Tenslaw Delta, which is the nation’s second-largest river delta. Visitors can discover rivers, streams, lakes, sloughs and bayous found throughout the Delta. Spend evenings camping on raised platforms while exploring over 170 miles of waterways.
Off the coast, Dauphin Island thrills cyclists with trails that wind throughout the resort community. Take the 3.4-mile bike path that connects historic Fort Gaines on the eastern tip to Public Beach on the island’s west end. The trail takes cyclists to some of the island’s favorite attractions, including the Audubon Bird Sanctuary and the Estuary, the public aquarium with exhibits devoted to the diverse ecosystems of coastal Alabama.
Choose from the following Alabama RV parks:
Lake Osprey RV Resort, Elberta
Ahoy RV Resort, Foley
Florida Keys. Getty Images
Florida
Visitors will find plenty of elbow room on Florida beaches. Indulge in kayaking, cycling or simple beachcombing on this visit (the fishing’s not bad, either).
Launch Kayaks and Wear Diving Gear in the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys stretch 125 miles from the south of Miami to legendary Key West. Many travelers can’t wait to hoist a tropical drink at one of the Key West bars frequented by Ernest Hemingway, but slow your roll and enjoy some of the islands in between that are connected by the Overseas Highway. For kayakers, nothing beats Marathon, where paddlers can follow mangrove tunnels just wide enough for kayakers. Several tours lead kayakers through this environment, giving voyagers glimpses of vibrant plant and animal life.
Prefer kayaking out in the open? Closer to the mainland, John Pennekamp Park on Key Largo is home to miles of channels that lead paddlers to view of osprey, herons, egrets and more. Below the surface, explorers will glimpse stingrays and other local creatures. For those who prefer going below the surface, the park hosts several diving tours to some of the most dynamic coral reef environments on the planet. Snorkelers also will find places to dive.
Tampa Bay. Getty Images
Go Beachcombing in Fort Myers, Tampa and Other Gulf Coast Gems
Fort Myers’ long, sweeping beaches are the stuff of legend. On Estero Island, Fort Myers Beach encompasses seven miles of white sand with lots of recreation opportunities. Take a bike ride or hike through Lovers Key State Park, with trails that wind through broadleaf forest and hammocks and onto the beach. You might catch a few of manatees and dolphins. Check out the Discover Center, with exhibits explaining the diverse ecosystem.
Up the coast, Tampa Bay bustles with breweries, cultural activities and outdoor fun. At the Getaway tiki bar, patrons can choose between flavorful tropical drinks or paddleboarding: The onsite Urban Kai offers self-guided trips to the bay via kayaks, canoes or paddleboards. From here, paddles can journey to Weedon Island Preserve. Explore the protected mangroves and sandbars, which forms. 3,000-acre labyrinth. On Florida’s Panhandle, Pensacola hosts a slew of hiking and biking trails. And when it comes to fishing, you can reel in your own dinner on a charter off the coast.
Choose from the following Florida RV parks:
Fountain in Savannah’s Forsyth Park in the Historic District. Getty Images
Georgia
The Peach State welcomes travelers with modern cities and relaxing towns that echo the Old South.
Roam Tybee Island and Savannah
Located 18 miles east of Savannah, Tybee Island consistently ranks among the top East Coast beach destinations. Tybee Island boasts a scenic trail that circles the island that you can walk or bike. If you bring your kayak, or need to rent one, you can paddle on some of Georgia’s most unspoiled waterways. Stand-up paddleboarding is another popular pastime. You can take your personal watercraft out on the Savannah River or just go for a swim. Maybe you want to do some deep-sea fishing or dolphin watching as well. Back in Savannah, take a carefree stroll in one of the city’s historic squares and enjoy world-class dining.
Explore Atlanta and Stone Mountain
East of Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park occupies 3,200 acres and 15 miles of trails that connect a wide variety of attractions. When you’re not working up a sweat, enjoy attractions like the Summit Skyride, 4D Theater, Geyser Towers and Sky Hike. The centerpiece of the attraction is the giant granite rock — the largest mass of exposed granite in the world — which is five miles in circumference at its base.
A pair of tourists on Stone Mountain. Photo: Stone Mountain Park Campground
Back in Atlanta, visitors can stroll Olympic Park’s mountain biking and hiking trails. Reward yourself with a meal at a top restaurant on Peachtree Street, the city’s popular stretch of hip bars and eateries.
Choose From the following Georgia RV parks:
| Coastal Georgia RV Resort, Brunswick | Waterside at Blue Ridge Tiny Home, Morganton |
| Southern Retreat RV Park, Brunswick | Hawkins Pointe Park, Store & More, Rossville |
| Allatoona Landing Marine Resort, Cartersville | Red Gate Campground & RV Park, Savannah |
| Cecil Bay RV Park, Cecil | Savannah Oaks RV Resort, Savannah |
| Lake Pines RV Park & Campground, Columbus | Stone Mountain Park Campground, Stone Mountain |
| Jekyll Island Campground, Jekyll Island | River’s End Campground, Tybee Island |
| Scenic Mountain RV Park & Campground, Milledgeville | Southern Trails RV Resort, Unadilla |
Beach on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Getty Images
Mississippi
A day at the beach means choosing a spot along 62 miles of scenic shoreline — plenty of room for swimming, sunbathing or hunting for seashells. Work up a sweat at Buccaneer State Park in Waveland, with a 4.5-acre water park, an 18-hole disc golf course and the Pirate’s Nature Alley Trail.
In Gulfport, the Center for Marine Education & Research — also known as The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies — provides a learning experience about marine life in the area. A visit to the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum is the place to learn more about the Gulf Coast’s history and heritage.
Choose From the following Mississippi RV parks:
| Biloxi Bay RV Resort and Marina, Biloxi | Sun Roamers RV Resort, Picayune |
| Cajun RV Park, Biloxi | EZ Daze RV Park, Southaven |
| Indian Point RV Resort, Gautier |
Downtown Dallas. Getty Images
Texas
Do Dallas and Fort Worth
White Rock Lake features a scenic park with 9 miles of running, biking and walking trails. Originally built as a reservoir to supply Dallas with water, it’s become an outdoor oasis, where flatwater paddling and kayaking are commonplace. This tranquil body of water serves up excellent skyline views and supports over 200 bird species, including herons and egrets. It’s regularly stocked with largemouth bass, too, so don’t forget to bring your rod.
Get Outdoors in Houston
The fourth-largest city in America, Houston has risen to become a top Texas destination. Explore the city and its beautiful surroundings.
The most stunning views of the Houston skyline can be found along the waters of Buffalo Bayou. While you can see the skyline along the bayou’s pathways, one of the coolest Houston outdoor activities is renting a kayak and paddling through Buffalo Bayou. Extending a whole 53 miles through Houston, there’s plenty of space in the bayou to go kayaking for just an hour or an entire day!