Camping/Hiking in the Apalachicola National Forest (Florida) and Gulf Shores (Alabama): Two Extremes, both nice

 

 

We stayed two nights at the Camel Lake campground in the Apalachicola National Forest. Had a campsite right on the water, with a beautiful view out our window. Only about 10 campsites in the entire park, with lots of room between them and privacy.

Even had water and electricity at some of the sites. And showers!

We hiked one of the days on the Florida Trail, a 1400-mile trail that goes from Pensacola to the Keys. (we didn’t hike it all).

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I am reading this sign carefully, wondering why we went to all of the trouble to bring our hang glider when it isn't allowed on the trail. Now what is really puzzling is that there isn't a cliff within 100 miles. This part of Florida, like seemingly almost all of it, is flat.

 

We like the National Forests where we have camped. They are more rugged, less crowded, less RVish. This one was no exception.

Last night and tonight we are in a completely different world. We are staying at a camp ground in a state park in Alabama, next to Gulf Shores. It is the Gulf State Park. There are 468 camp sites here. That is not a typo.

The thing is huge. But, in contrast to some of the state parks we visited in Florida, here they have sites big enough to not feel like you are crammed into a trailer park. At one of the state parks in Florida, for example, our site was so small that our picnic table had to sit right on top of our neighbor’s sewage dump area.

WANNA HAVE A PICNIC?!!!

Another positive for this (Gulf State Park) place: like almost all states (except Florida) senior discounts are given even if you are not a state resident.

At this campground are hiking trails labeled “Back Country.” It’s kind of cute. The trails are all paved, with mile markers, color codes, bathrooms and water fountains along the way, and markings so you will keep on your side of the trail.

There are several miles of them, plus some other footpaths through the park, so we could get in a very nice walk/hike. The park can’t provide actual hiking, because of its location and size, but they have done a great job of doing what they could. Two thumbs up.

PLUS!!! Along the trail was a place where I could do my Miley Cyrus imitation. Look for it on YouTube.

I came in like a wrecking ball

I never hit so hard in love

All I wanted was to break your walls

All you ever did was wreck me

Yeah, you, you wreck me

 

And for reasons I could not tell you, at this park there aren’t the yapping dogs we had at every park--state, national, or national forest, in Florida.

YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP

Instead of calling itself the Sunshine State, Florida ought to call itself the Yapping Dog State. I think that would look great on their license plates.

Tomorrow we leave for a campground in Mississippi because we just have to be able to say that we have camped in Mississippi. We will be there one night before we head to New Orleans for three days.

 

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