One thing we have come to learn about traveling in an RV is that plans can change, and flexibility is good. Or, should I say, being flexible can at least reduce your stress level! After spending the end of February in the Atlanta area getting our new coach, our original plans were to head north to visit family and friends in Tennessee. But, like most of the US this winter, Tennessee was looking terribly cold and wet. Flooding was everywhere and some roads were in poor condition after weeks of rain. We made the decision not to drive the motor home into that bad weather and postpone our visit north.
Even our time in Atlanta had been cool and rainy, so we decided that we needed warm weather and sun. Where to go in the peak of Snowbird season in Florida? Our friends, Stu and Susan, told us about the quaint little place they were staying at in Wachula and we were immediately on board. We left Atlanta on I-75 and headed south into Florida on March 1st.
The Peace River RV Resort & Campground has large shady camping spots, a nice pool, and walking trails right by the river. We met so many nice people at the campground and enjoyed dinners, games, and hanging out. How nice it was to shed long pants and rain jackets for shorts and sandals! I think even the dogs enjoyed not being wet all the time. While the town of Wauchula is small, we found plenty to do within an hour’s drive or less.
Hidden away in the countryside of neighboring town, Ona, is a unique attraction called Solomon’s Castle. It includes the home, galleries, and workshop of artist Howard Solomon. You can take a guided tour of the castle, stroll through beautiful gardens, and even eat at a very good restaurant on the grounds. Check out the aerial view and find the hidden word!
I was in awe of the many fields of strawberries and orange trees in and around Wauchula. We saw some citrus processing plants and many trucks full of harvested oranges on the roads. The sweet smell of the orange blossom was heavenly and made me think of the honeysuckle I grew up with in Virginia.
We picked our own strawberries at Center Hill Farms, although Mike says I tasted as many as I picked😊. It reminded me of picking strawberries at my grandparents’ house when I was young.
I love strawberries and was so happy that we caught the last week of the Florida Strawberry Festival. There were rides, vendors, and so many types of food. We tasted strawberry shakes, strawberry crepes, chocolate covered strawberries, and even strawberry onions!
About an hour away, The Ringling is set on the grounds of legendary circus owner John Ringling’s Sarasota home. We loved the fabulous museum dedicated to the history of the circus and the world’s largest miniature circus model (over 42,000 pieces!). Who doesn’t love reminiscing about their childhood when the circus came to town?
We also visited the amazing art museum on the grounds. The collection included many of the great master painters. We spent a whole day at the Ringling and still didn’t see it all.
The grounds at The Ringling also include the oldest rose garden in continuous use in Florida and incredibly tall banyan trees. I couldn’t get over these interesting trees that were first introduced into the US by Thomas Edison.
Of course, we also found some places for more active adventures. We kayaked several times down the Peace River and saw many different wildlife species, and of course, alligators. We are talking Florida here!
The Myakka River State Park offers biking and hiking trails, as well as a canopy walkway. We biked about 14 miles round trip and enjoyed the peaceful wooded setting. Up on the suspended walkway and 74-foot tower you could look out over the trees for miles. This outdoor laboratory for research and education allows scientists to learn more about all the organisms that thrive in the treetops.
Only an hour away, Lakeland is the spring training location for the Detroit Tigers major league baseball team. Good timing was on our side when we learned our friends and former neighbors, Chuck and Mark Miller, were there with their son Brennan. Brennan is a baseball umpire and was working the game between the Tigers and Pirates. It was so much fun catching up and getting to see him work!
This was the first time we’ve stayed a month at any location. It was nice staying longer in one spot so we had time to relax more and take things at a slower pace. I was even able to get in another visit with good friend, Cheri Clare, in Tampa. We had a very nice girls’ day out—I sure do miss the times when we lived close to each other. One of the great benefits of traveling is being able to stop in and visit with friends along the way.
So…while the rest of the country was dealing with cold and wet weather, we had a lot of winter time fun in Wauchula Florida! I guess now we can call ourselves snowbirds!
The orange trees and all the strawberries looked so good especially the strawberry crepes. I’ve never seen anything like those banyan trees, they are huge and amazing. Y’all are seeing and doing so many neat things.
All of the strawberry foods were so good! Banyan trees are from India and were first brought to the US by Thomas Edison. They are so amazing to look at and so tall!
WOW so much to do and EAT on this trip 🙂 and those trees!
Florida has so much to see and do. Since I love strawberries, this was a favorite of mine. The banyon trees are so awesome–I didn’t know that Thomas Edison planted the first ones in the US right there in Sarasota Florida!