Tent camping in The Everglades next weekend. AmInuts?
July 3, 2011 7:43 AM Subscribe
Tent camping in The Everglades next weekend. AmInuts?
Have you done this before - camped in the wet season? What should I expect, or should I drop the idea?
Driving from Michigan to see the shuttle launch this coming week. Considering driving down to see The Everglades after the launch & would like to camp to save money. I'm the dad, & will be traveling with my two adventure-loving sons, 11 & 13.
Nps.gov says camping in the wet season can be "uncomfortable."
We're only looking at staying two nights, or maybe just one if it is truly uncomfortable.
Have researched the national park campgrounds & would like to stay in the park if possible.
Have you done this before - camped in the wet season? What should I expect, or should I drop the idea?
Thanks in advance.
Driving from Michigan to see the shuttle launch this coming week. Considering driving down to see The Everglades after the launch & would like to camp to save money. I'm the dad, & will be traveling with my two adventure-loving sons, 11 & 13.
Nps.gov says camping in the wet season can be "uncomfortable."
We're only looking at staying two nights, or maybe just one if it is truly uncomfortable.
Have researched the national park campgrounds & would like to stay in the park if possible.
Have you done this before - camped in the wet season? What should I expect, or should I drop the idea?
Thanks in advance.
Ditto on the mosquitos. Also *hot* and probably pretty humid.
posted by PJMoore at 8:10 AM on July 3, 2011
posted by PJMoore at 8:10 AM on July 3, 2011
Best answer: It's not an exaggeration to wake up in your tent and believe it's the middle of the night when, in fact, mosquitoes are covering the tent and blocking out the sun.
posted by Acton at 8:36 AM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Acton at 8:36 AM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh, also, I don't know what your schedule is like, but Cape Canaveral is in North Florida and the Everglades is at the bottom of South Florida, so it'll be quite a drive; have you considered maybe getting a cheap hotel in the Orlando/Kissimmee area and maybe going to see the Okefenokee Swamp or maybe the Ocala National Forest?
posted by Comrade_robot at 8:49 AM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Comrade_robot at 8:49 AM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
nthing mosquitoes. Though i was able to survive a few hours of hiking in Flamingo at the end of May a few years ago (with bloody legs), they chased me out come nightfall.
posted by maximum sensing at 9:00 AM on July 3, 2011
posted by maximum sensing at 9:00 AM on July 3, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks all. I get the picture. Good thing my plans are fluid.
Driving to Homestead after the launch, looks like we'll be getting a room.
Cheers!
posted by bricksNmortar at 9:24 AM on July 3, 2011
Driving to Homestead after the launch, looks like we'll be getting a room.
Cheers!
posted by bricksNmortar at 9:24 AM on July 3, 2011
If you do get a chance, the Everglades at dawn is a beautiful place to be. If you can get up one morning early and listen to the birds, you won't regret it.
I agree with everyone, though. You would regret camping. I was a Boy Scout growing up in the Everglades. It doesn't matter if you cover all your skin with clothing and coat yourself with bug repellant -- the mosquitos don't care. You are the tastiest thing for miles and they are going to drink your blood if it kills them.
posted by the jam at 12:48 PM on July 3, 2011
I agree with everyone, though. You would regret camping. I was a Boy Scout growing up in the Everglades. It doesn't matter if you cover all your skin with clothing and coat yourself with bug repellant -- the mosquitos don't care. You are the tastiest thing for miles and they are going to drink your blood if it kills them.
posted by the jam at 12:48 PM on July 3, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
An outdoorsy friend of mine came to visit me in South Florida. He'd heard about Everglades National Park, and thought it might be nice to go hiking. We got about twenty feet and he looked over at my shirt, which was literally covered in mosquitoes, and decided that we should go back to the car.
Some of the beach sites may be more comfortable.
posted by Comrade_robot at 8:02 AM on July 3, 2011