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January Regional Travel — Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions in These Southern States

New Year's Resolutions— bridge over water

MARATHON, Florida Keys — The contemporary Seven Mile Bridge, at left, was completed in 1982 after four years of construction and connects Marathon and the Lower Florida Keys. The Old Seven Mile Bridge paralleling it, regarded as engineering miracle when it was completed in 1912, was the centerpiece of the iconic Florida Keys Overseas Railroad that operated until 1935. (Rob O'Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau)

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?

See our Regional Travel Calendar for more year-round destinations.

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:

Travelers Campground, Alachua Avalon Landing RV Park, Milton
Craig’s RV Park, Arcadia Splash! RV Resort & Waterpark, Milton
Bonita Terra, Bonita Springs Northtide Naples RV Resort, Naples
Belle Parc RV Resort, Brooksville The Tides RV Resort, Palmetto
Breezy Oaks RV Park, Bushnell Pensacola RV Park, Pensacola
Orange Lake RV Resort, Citra Sun N Shade RV Resort, Punta Gorda
Twin Lakes Camp Resort, Defuniak Springs Ocala North RV Resort, Reddick
Camping on the Gulf, Destin Vero Beach Kamp, Sebastian
Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort, Flagler Beach Outback RV Resort At Tanglewood, Sebring
Paradise Island RV Resort, Fort Lauderdale North Beach Camp Resort, St Augustine
Upriver RV Resort, Fort Myers Stagecoach RV Park, St Augustine
Road Runner Travel Resort, Fort Pierce Sunkissed Village RV Resort, Summerfield
Boardwalk RV Resort, Homestead Tallahassee RV Park, Tallahassee
Boyd’s Key West Campground, Key West Bay Bayou RV Resort, Tampa
Keystone Heights RV Resort, Keystone Heights Fisherman’s Cove Golf & RV Resort, Tavares
Whisper Creek RV Resort, LaBelle The Great Outdoors RV Nature & Golf Resort, Titusville
Lake City RV Resort, Lake City Quail Run RV Resort, Wesley Chapel
Lake Pan RV Village, Lake Panasoffkee Wildwood RV Village, Wildwood
Sanlan RV & Golf Resort, Lakeland Williston Crossings RV Resort, Williston
Yankee Traveler RV Park, Largo
Jolly Roger RV Resort, Marathon
Florida Caverns RV Resort, Marianna

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!

Stay at the following Texas RV parks:

Whistle Stop RV Resort, Abilene Loyd Park Camping Cabins & Lodge, Grand Prairie
Fort Amarillo RV Resort, Amarillo Traders Village RV Park, Grand Prairie
Oasis RV Resort, Amarillo The Vineyards Campground & Cabins, Grapevine
Shady Creek RV Park and Storage, Aubrey Traders Village RV Park, Houston
Oak Forest RV Resort, Austin Katy Lake RV Resort, Katy
Summer Breeze USA Katy, Brookshire Buckhorn Lake Resort, Kerrville
Hardy’s Resort, Bryan Colorado Landing RV Park, La Grange
Hidden Creek RV Resort, Bryan Stay A While RV Park, Murchison
Bushman’s RV Park, Bullard Island RV Resort, Port Aransas
Mill Creek Ranch Resort, Canton Sea Breeze RV Community Resort, Portland
Parkview Riverside RV Park, Concan Northlake Village RV Park, Roanoke
Colonia Del Rey RV Park, Corpus Christi Bar J Hitchin Post RV, Sweetwater
Jamaica Beach RV Resort, Galveston Bluebonnet Ridge RV Park & Cottages, Terrell
Lakeshore RV Resort, Garland Rayford Crossing RV Resort, The Woodlands
Shallow Creek RV Resort, Gladewater
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