Fabulous Florida
In February we left negative temperatures in Kansas City to enjoy an Adventure Caravan tour around Florida.
Our “Fabulous Florida” RV Vacation with Adventure Caravans was a 42-day guided journey that took us around the Sunshine State from the Panhandle to the Keys and up the Atlantic Coast. We traveled in our own RV, while the tour leaders handled campground reservations, logistics, and group activities, letting us focus on enjoying the experience.
We began in Pensacola, exploring the National Naval Aviation Museum and the city’s historic district before heading east through Tallahassee and Ocala, where we visited Silver Springs and toured a thoroughbred horse farm. Continuing south through Tampa, Sarasota, and Fort Myers, we enjoyed Gulf-coast beaches, a visit to the Ringling Museum, and tours of the Edison-Ford Winter Estates.
In the Everglades, we rode airboats through sawgrass marshes, visited the Miccosukee Indian Village, and explored tropical gardens near Homestead. From there, we made our way to the Florida Keys for several days in Key West, where we toured the Hemingway Home, saw Truman’s Little White House, and took a sunset dinner cruise.
Turning north, we explored Miami and Fort Lauderdale, cruising the canals aboard the Jungle Queen and visiting neighborhoods like Little Havana and Wynwood. In Orlando and Central Florida, we toured the Citrus Tower, visited a local winery, and took in an evening dinner show before moving on to Titusville and the Kennedy Space Center, where we stood beneath the massive Saturn V rocket.
Our final stretch took us through Daytona Beach and St. Augustine, exploring historic forts, cobblestone streets, and the nation’s oldest city. We ended in Jacksonville and Amelia Island, where we toured museums, took a scenic river cruise, and enjoyed a festive farewell dinner with our fellow travelers.
Over six weeks, we experienced Florida’s full range of beauty—sunny beaches, lush wetlands, historic towns, and lively cities. The trip combined sightseeing, local flavor, and camaraderie, giving us an unforgettable RV adventure from the Gulf to the Atlantic and everywhere in between.
Spring
After several days in Savannah and Charleston, we head home to prepare for our next trip.
After leaving the caravan, we began our journey home with stops in the charming Southern cities of Savannah and Charleston. In Savannah, we spent a couple of days exploring the city’s historic downtown, shaded by live oaks and draped in Spanish moss. We took a side trip to Tybee Island, where we walked the beach and toured Fort Pulaski, one of the best-preserved Civil War forts on the coast.
From there, we continued to Charleston, where we explored the city by foot, carriage, and bus, taking in the cobblestone streets, pastel homes, and waterfront views. We toured a nearby plantation, cruised out to Fort Sumter, and spent time at Patriots Point, exploring the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier and its naval exhibits.
Heading inland, we made an overnight stop near Kinards, South Carolina, which gave us the chance to visit Greenville’s revitalized downtown and the Ninety Six National Historic Site, where we walked the trails around the Revolutionary War battlefield.
Continuing west, we stopped in Knoxville, Tennessee, for a couple of delightful days visiting my sister, catching up over meals and enjoying the foothills scenery. Our final stretch home included overnight stops near Paducah, Kentucky, and St. Louis, Missouri, where we found a few fun roadside attractions along the way—like the whimsical Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland and several nostalgic Route 66 landmarks that made for a perfect finish to our long journey.
Fall 2025
After a busy summer at home, we set out in September for a month-long loop to Michigan and back. Our first stop was Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where we attended the Retiree Appreciation Day events—an enjoyable start to the trip that let us reconnect with other veterans and prepare the camper.
We then headed east to a Corps of Engineers campground at Carlyle Lake, Illinois, where we biked the shoreline trails and explored local attractions such as Marcoot Jersey Creamery, The Milk House, DeMoulin Museum, Excel Bottling Company, and Taphorn’s Orchard. Along the way, we found quirky stops like the Vandalia Dragon and the mini Gateway Arch.
Next came Red Hills State Park, where we visited Olney’s white squirrels and explored Vincennes, Indiana, seeing the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy. Our next stop took us to Clifty Falls State Park near Madison, the waterfalls were reduced to trickles by drought, but we enjoyed the town’s charm and the Canaan Fall Festival.
Heading north, we stayed at Ouabache State Park where we visited Fort Wayne and Huntington, highlights including Johnny Appleseed’s gravesite, the Quayle Vice Presidential Learning Center, and classic Coney Island hot dogs. Crossing into Michigan, we camped at Waterloo Recreation Area, explored Hell and Jackson. We finally made it to Hersey to meet up with my brother. After an enjoyable visit we traveled to Bay City State Park on Lake Huron where we biked the Riverwalk, and toured Saginaw and Frankenmuth.
Traveling further south, we stayed at Yankee Springs Recreation Area and toured Battle Creek, visiting Leila Arboretum, Fantasy Forest, and Clara’s on the River. At Potato Creek State Park near South Bend, we explored Notre Dame, toured the Studebaker Museum, and biked the Pumpkinvine Trail through Amish country.
Our final Indiana stop was Prophetstown State Park, where we visited the Tippecanoe Battlefield, Farm at Prophetstown, and nearby covered bridges of Parke County, as well as Crawfordsville’s Rotary Jail Museum. As our travels turned west, we stayed at Lake Shelbyville and enjoyed the Scarecrow Festival. Our final stop before returning home was an overnight stay at Mark Twain Lake.