We recently spent four nights camping at Myakka River State Park while also making day trips to…read moreVenice for some fossilized megalodon tooth scuba diving, and this park was a perfect home base for our adventures. The RV sites are spacious, well-maintained, and thoughtfully laid out. Unlike many campgrounds where you're practically sharing coffee with your neighbors, Myakka provides plenty of room and natural vegetation between sites. It felt private, peaceful, and uncrowded. If you enjoy the outdoors, you'll never run out of things to do here. There are miles of hiking and biking trails, abundant wildlife, and excellent opportunities for photography and birdwatching. For those looking for a little adventure, the canoe rental outpost offers a chance to paddle the Myakka River and lake system while getting up close and personal with about 10 bazillion alligators. (The OG Floridian!) One attraction you absolutely shouldn't miss is the Trail and Observation Tower. The suspension bridge is a fun experience, and the views from the 72-foot tower are spectacular. Looking out across miles of untouched Florida wilderness really gives you an appreciation for how wild and beautiful this state still is. One word of caution: be mindful of the poison ivy. It's everywhere around campsites, trails, and wooded areas. As a native Floridian who should know better, I managed to find it the hard way and am still paying for that mistake. Learn from my suffering and keep an eye on where you're stepping, leaning, and reaching. Whether you're camping, hiking, biking, paddling, or just looking for a peaceful getaway, Myakka River State Park delivers. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and are already "itching" to return. This time without the poison ivy. Pro Tip: Bring your camera, binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, and a healthy respect for Mother Nature. You'll be glad you did!

This is such a picturesque park. We went over the holidays, and man... was it packed. The line…read moreto enter went out onto route 72. We waited about 15 minutes to get into the park. That being said, the park didn't feel crowded. We did do the canopy walk... that was a little crowded but moved right along. The swing bridge to cross over sides is always fun. The view from the top... so pretty! There weren't as many alligators the day we went, but still a sight to see. The hikes and drives through the trees is great too!

Siesta Beach Experience…read more Overview: Siesta Beach is widely recognized as the number one beach in the United States. During our visit, we found the beach area to be exceptionally clean, featuring powdery white sand that added to the overall appeal of the location. The unique sand texture and well-maintained environment contributed significantly to our enjoyable experience. Parking and Arrival Tips: We parked near the Snack Bar and Gift Shop at the northern end of Siesta Beach. Although there is a substantial amount of parking available, the spaces tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak times. It is advisable to arrive early to secure a parking spot, as finding a vacant space can become challenging later in the day. Water Quality and Shoreline Experience: The water at Siesta Beach was exceptionally clear, offering excellent visibility. Near the shore, the depth was shallow, making it easy and comfortable to relax in the low points. The waves were gentle and calm, creating an inviting environment for lounging and wading. During our stroll along the beach, we discovered several shells, adding an enjoyable element to the shoreline experience. Beach Access and Amenities: Reaching the water requires a lengthy walk across the beach. To assist visitors, mats are placed at certain locations on the beach, making the walk easier and more comfortable. The Snack Bar offers a variety of food and drinks, providing convenient options for refreshments. Adjacent to the Snack Bar is a Gift Shop, which sells a range of beach-themed items and clothing, enhancing the Siesta Beach Experience. They do have a QR code they you can order food, drinks, beach chairs and some other items to be delivered to you behind the life guard stands on the Beach in case you forget your own, kind of cool, I think. Overall Impression and Rating: Based on my experience at Siesta Beach, I confidently rate it 5 out of 5 stars. The exceptional cleanliness, powdery white sand, clear water, and convenient amenities all contributed to an outstanding visit. After seeing firsthand why Siesta Beach holds the distinction of being the number one beach in the United States, I wholeheartedly agree with its reputation. Gulf Coast Terry

Made it to the famous beach! Beautiful and beautiful what a hot day and props to all the people…read morethat can walk in the hot beautiful sand with no shoes. Water was gorgeous.

There were four of us and what a fantastic time we had!!! It was GREAT we are planning on another…read morelocal cruise.

We selected the cruise to Cabbage Key on 6/21 with the King Fisher Fleet. It was fantastic. The…read morecrew Alan, Glen, and Jill provided safety instructions and shared lots of history about the Punta Gorda area. They are very knowledgeable and answered any questions. I learned that this fleet is family owned which shows the investment and support to the area and to Fisherman's Village. Our crew was 5 star and certainly gave us reason to return and go on another cruise with this company. Cudos to our crew, the KingFisher Fleet, and Fisherman's Village for rebuilding the Wharf to enhance the community and give visitors and locals a place to eat, shop, take cruises that is part of Florida vacation destinations.

Love it here. One of our favorites for sure!! This essentially sits right on the beach. Well…read morecared for. Picnic area and grills available. Nice camp host met us when we arrived. Good email communication from Sarasota County. Gated. This is a very tiny campground so it's difficult to get a reservation unfortunately. There's a size limit on the campers as it is fairly tight getting into your site. You must pack your patience when coming in and going out due to there being only one single road with the sites situated on each side of the road. Your vehicle is a tight fit as well. Tents welcome. Safe for kids. Bathhouse used to be available and it was quite nice but they had to remove it after hurricane damage. Now there are bath/shower trailers. There's a very lovely park next door with a new playground, kayak rentals and a boat ramp.

Beautiful place to relax sunset is gorgeous. Take some chairs and something to munch on sit back…read moreand enjoy

If you like looking for shells on the beach you will love looking for shark teeth! What a great…read moretime for both children and adults! It keeps the hands and mind busy. Remember sunblock! These are little pieces of history because they are actually fossilized shark teeth.

Now the road is closed down after the Hurricane but from Venice you can walk down to this beach and…read moreit's a nice walking and along the way you can definitely find shark teeth and beautiful sea shells. PS: if you come during midday, please be prepared that the sand is extremely hot walking towards the ocean. Especially in the summer!! We came here this past weekend and stayed until sunset it was a beautiful view, and the water was perfect. Probably found about 50 short teeth, sifting, and walking on land. It's a great beach for the kids as long as the water is not too rough.

Great beach! Amazing views. Not too crowded beautiful sea shells perfect area with family to go.read more

Bowman's Beach is a beautiful beach on the tip of Sanibel Island that's left greatly untouched by…read morehuman hand. You'll also definitely get your steps in here as the parking lot of property ~.5 miles to the actual beachfront & water, disclosing walking around to stake out a spot. The biggest reason to come here is for the shelling, which can be fortuitous during the right time of year and even the right area on the shoreline. Honestly, were it not for the shelling it probably wouldn't be a beach I'd come back to. It's nice, of course, but doesn't have that gorgeous cerulean water and ultra soft sand that some of the gulf coast beaches are known for. It does have a lot of amenities on the walk between the parking lot & beach shore, such as bathrooms & changing rooms, rinse stations, a picnic area, educational signs, and even a playground. You also have to pay for parking- and the lot has quite a lot of parking, but if you don't get there early enough on the wrong weekend it could still be tough to find a spot.

Beautiful park. Relaxing. A lot of nature and don't forget the beach. I really enjoyedread more

Very well thought out…read more What I camped here for one night with friends. Environment The campsite was fairly large, we were able to fit 2 cars in comfortably. There is a table and plenty of space to set-up tents. There is an outlet and water access. There are lots facing water, but some places can be spotty as there are mangroves. There are also various spots where you can launch kayak/paddleboards which makes it convenient. The bathroom and shower area was very clean and big. The showers I thought was a little inconvenient. (Maybe I am not to this). There are no hooks to hang my towel.. or even clothes.. There is also a dayroom nearby where you can rest if it is too hot in the campsites. In terms of accessibility - everything was easily accessible. I like that there is a bike path that you can ride from the campsite to the North beach. Niceness of all I haven't had a bad encounter, everyone was nice.

Do Not Stay Here! They dont deserve a single dollar of your money! It seems that even if you break…read moredown, get stuck in traffic, or go into labor, you CANNOT arrive past 5PM, so your screwed, period! And oh yeah, no refund! What kind of policy is that? I dont need a babysitter to walk me to my spot and not having an afterhours option at 6pm is an absolute joke!

This is a beautiful resort. The sites are spacious, with great landscaping. They have so many…read morethings to do at the resort. The staff are friendly and helpful. We recommend this place.