Traveling Huntleys

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

RV Travel

Manatees at Blue Spring State Park, Florida

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Last Updated: July 6, 2026

Manatees are among our favorite animals to observe — slow, serene, and utterly unbothered by the world around them. We had encountered them several times around Florida, but always in murky, brackish coastal waters where you caught only fleeting glimpses of grey shapes drifting beneath the surface. Seeing them in the crystal-clear water of a Florida freshwater spring was something else entirely. From Lady Lake, it was a short drive northeast to Blue Spring State Park in Orange City — and it turned out to be one of the most memorable wildlife experiences of our entire journey across Florida.

Three West Indian Manatees gliding through crystal clear spring water at Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida
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Land O’Lakes & Lady Lake, Florida

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Last Updated: July 6, 2026

Land O’Lakes is a peaceful community in Pasco County, located just north of Tampa and within easy reach of Clearwater and St. Petersburg. We made it our home base for several weeks while our Newmar Dutch Star received its annual Freightliner service at the factory service center in Tampa — about an hour’s drive away. After the sun-drenched Keys and the sponge docks of Tarpon Springs, it felt wonderful to settle into a quieter rhythm for a while.

Equestrian rider jumping a horse in competition at Grand Oaks Resort, Lady Lake, Florida
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Everglades City & Big Cypress, Florida

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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
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Grassy Key- Florida Winter Escape

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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
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Key Largo & Everglades National Park

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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
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Flagler Beach, Florida Oceanfront

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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
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