Traveling Huntleys

Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.

Florida

Tarpon Springs, Florida’s West Coast

by

Last Updated: July 6, 2026

From Everglades City we drove a few hours north along congested city streets to reach Tarpon Springs on Florida’s Gulf Coast — a town unlike any other in Florida. While most of the state’s tourist towns lean on beaches and theme parks, Tarpon Springs leans on something far more distinctive: a thriving Greek-American community, a working sponge industry, and a waterfront that feels more like a Greek island village than the American South. It is one of the most culturally interesting stops on Florida’s west coast, and paired with the nearby towns of Dunedin and Clearwater, it made for a memorable few days.

Golden sunset over the Anclote River at Tarpon Springs, Florida
[Read more…] about Tarpon Springs, Florida’s West Coast

Everglades City & Big Cypress, Florida

by

Last Updated: July 4, 2026

From Grassy Key it was a few hours’ drive northwest to Everglades City, where we set up at Everglades Isle Motorcoach Resort for the next stretch of our winter travels. Everglades City turned out to be an ideal base for exploring Big Cypress National Preserve — one of the largest national preserves in the United States and one of the most remarkable wildlife habitats in North America. We had visited the area once before and stayed on Chokoloskee Island, but that trip was cut short when we were evacuated due to flooding from storm surge. This time, we wanted higher ground — and the wildlife did not disappoint.

American Alligator resting in cloud-reflected water in the marshes near Everglades City, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
[Read more…] about Everglades City & Big Cypress, Florida

Grassy Key- Florida Winter Escape

by

Last Updated: July 4, 2026

Grassy Key is one of approximately 1,700 islands that make up the Florida Keys. Located in the Middle Keys just northeast of Marathon, it sits at roughly mile marker 58 on the Overseas Highway — far enough from Key Largo to feel genuinely remote, close enough to Marathon to have access to restaurants, groceries, and activities. In the past we stayed at Big Pine Key, which is southwest of Marathon, but at the time we made our reservations, they were still rebuilding the RV park there from Hurricane Irma. Grassy Key turned out to be a wonderful alternative — a peaceful, waterfront retreat that we ended up staying at for two full weeks.

A retired small wooden boat resting beside the Gulf of America, Grassy Key, Florida
[Read more…] about Grassy Key- Florida Winter Escape

Key Largo & Everglades National Park

by

Last Updated: July 4, 2026

Key Largo was about a 3-hour drive south from Jupiter, Florida. The Florida Keys offer something unlike anywhere else in the continental United States — an island chain stretching 120 miles into the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, connected by 42 bridges along the Overseas Highway. We were looking forward to being in the Florida Keys again, even though they can be warm and humid in December. For us, the wildlife and scenery more than made up for the weather.

A Snowy Egret facing the Gulf at sunset in Key Largo, Florida
[Read more…] about Key Largo & Everglades National Park

Jupiter, West Palm, and Cape Canaveral, Florida

by

Last Updated: July 4, 2026

Jupiter, Florida was a wonderful location to spend a week and visit my brother Jeff. Three years earlier, when we first bought our motorhome, we had stayed at the Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach — it was a memorable experience, and while we would have loved to hear the lions again, we wanted something a little quieter this time around. We found it, and then some.

Spectacular sunset over a calm lake with a crescent moon at Palm Beach Motorcoach Resort, Jupiter, Florida
[Read more…] about Jupiter, West Palm, and Cape Canaveral, Florida

Flagler Beach, Florida Oceanfront

by

Last Updated: July 4, 2026

Flagler Beach was only a 30-minute drive south from St. Augustine, Florida. We were looking forward to this destination for a very specific reason — our coach would face directly at the Atlantic Ocean, with that huge front window providing all-day tranquil views and the constant sound of waves breaking day and night. It turned out to be one of the most peaceful stretches of the entire trip.

Sandy Huntley collecting seashells on the wide sandy beach at Flagler Beach, Florida during the Huntleys' oceanfront RV stay
[Read more…] about Flagler Beach, Florida Oceanfront