LAKE WALES, FLORIDA
[Oak Hammock Resort]
We’ve been to Lake Wales before, actually we camped at the same campground we stayed at this time. And to be honest, the town was kind of forgettable back then, I didn’t think much of it. It was our first time taking the camper anywhere. We were doing a mini test run in 2022 before our big cross-country trip, making sure we weren’t making a huge mistake. (Obviously, we fell in love with the whole thing) I remember the campground owners being so kind to us. They helped us hook up the hoses, answered all our rookie questions…honestly, if you have never done it before, it can be really daunting. So, when we were trying to think of somewhere to go for my birthday this year, this campground came up in conversation. It also hosts weddings, and we have been looking for a venue…so we thought this was a perfect opportunity to both celebrate my birthday and scope it out. Then I got to thinking what city was this campground even in? I had completely forgotten, Lake Wales didn’t even ring a bell when Kevin told me.
But this time around when we drove into the town with camper in tow, me, Lilah, Luke in the backseat, Kevin and Daisy in the front, I looked around and thought to myself, how did I not remember this place? It was old Florida, big trees draping down the streets, small hilly roads, corner stores, people having conversations everywhere you turn. It felt as if I had run into an old friend from 20 years ago and they wanted to tell me all about what had happened over the years. This town felt like it had a story wanting to be told. And I was here for it. [Side note- if you’re wondering who Daisy is, we decided to adopt her from the shelter two days before we left for this trip, read on for more on that one!]
PREPPING Originally, we were supposed to stay at Oak Hammock Resort for three nights. From our last trip I really thought we could’ve used an extra night, because travel days, no matter how short they are, are still tiresome. It’s hard to fit in any real activities when so much of the day is spent just getting to your destination.
But once again…we have the worst luck trying to leave. Friday the 13th vibes going on? I’m not sure but it felt like the universe was testing our limits. Kevin’s truck stopped shifting a few days before we were supposed to leave, so we had to bring it into the shop. While it was getting worked on, we became a one car household, which meant things like going to the store and prepping at my own pace were pretty much out of the question. I focused on what I could get done at home, like packing our bags. (By the way, I packed SO much lighter this time around!) I knew it was going to be brutally hot most of the trip, so it made packing easier. It’s when the weather starts changing that I tend to go overboard, because who wants to be cold and not have enough layers?! Not me. We always keep the camper ready to go with things like towels, bed sheets, basic kitchen equipment.
The picture in my head was this: We leave Thursday (my actual birthday), get settled in, do a small trail, have my favorite birthday meal, sit by a fire. Easy. No stress.
What actually happened: The truck was ready to be picked up at 1 pm Thursday, and we still had to get the camper out of storage. We realized there was just no point in trying to rush and load up the camper, finish packing, clean up, and then drive three hours. I didn’t want my actual birthday to feel chaotic.
So instead, I picked up a gorgeous cake, we sang happy birthday, poured a glass of wine and slowly loaded up the camper! We went to bed that night prepared and ready to get on the road in the morning.
We kept meals super simple this trip, too. We didn’t want to cook inside the camper because of the heat, temperatures were in the high 90s. I had also been stressing about Lilah’s sleeping situation. The camper mattress we have is way too soft for her, and I just didn’t feel comfortable having her sleep on it. So we ended up taking her crib mattress and placing it on top of our bed. It worked great! It’s a king-size bed, so there was plenty of room. I slept next to her, and Kevin camped out on the couch in the main area with the dogs.
Oh! Don’t let me forget to tell you about Daisy! Ever since we had Lilah, Luke has been very jealous. I just haven’t been able to give him the same attention as before. We thought maybe he needed a friend. So, Tuesday late afternoon, yes two days before the trip, we visited the shelter. We saw Daisy and immediately knew we had to rescue her. She is a Great Pyrenees, and she and Luke get along so well. Was it the smartest idea to adopt a dog two days before a camping trip? Probably not. But Daisy had the best time, and we don’t regret it for a second.
TRAVELER TIP: Make sure to read the rules about bringing pets to whatever campground you’re staying at before you arrive. We’ve had some ask for proof of rabies vaccine, and most have rules about breeds and number of pets.
FUN FACT: Nature has a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety and improving focus! It’s great for kids to be outside.
ON THE ROAD This ride was quick and easy, the best kind. We stopped once to let the dogs out for a bathroom break. The campground was about two and a half hours away from our house. I timed it out perfectly with Lilah’s nap, so she slept about half of the ride in her car seat. No bottle messes this time since we didn’t need any! That said, I think we both realized we’re going to need a bigger truck in the future to comfortably fit all of us. Adding another dog to the mix, and a big dog at that, made the first 30 minutes feel like we were working on a puzzle, trying to figure out where to put everyone.
TRAVELER TIP: Love gas stations have dog parks/areas for your dogs to run around in! We’ve used a few and they’re great. I will remind everyone though, to pick up after your dog please!
FUN FACT: Google maps is the most used navigation app in the United States. Waze is second.
CAMPGROUND Oak Hammock Resort is a mix of RV sites, all with full hook ups, and cabins. The property sits right on Lake Pierce, so you can walk out to the dock anytime, relax on one of the benches, or swing away on the hammock while watching the water move around with wildlife.
We reserved the one site with its own private mini dock overlooking over a small pond. Every morning, I sat out there with Lilah in her camping chair while we ate breakfast, listened to the birds chirping, watched fish and even a baby alligator swim by! The campground itself was very well maintained. The office had a small store inside, which was convenient. The owners weren’t always there, but they were very good at communicating through text, so if you ever needed anything they would accommodate.
There was a short nature trail located within view of our site. It was stroller- friendly and very manageable for just about anyone. One of our favorite features was the large dog park, which we used multiple times a day. Even better, the nature trail led right to the dog park, which was super convienient.
We visited in mid-June, and the campground was quiet. Many of the sites and cabins were open. Summer in Florida isn’t ideal weather-wise, but if you’re looking to avoid crowds, it’s a great time to go. Just down the road there was a restaurant called Cherry Pocket, very classic “Old Florida” vibe, with gator on the menu, live music. Definitely worth checking out.
ACTIVITIES Of course the main thing we wanted to do in Lake Wales was visit Bok Tower Gardens. My two sisters, nieces, nephew and my best friend and her family drove up for the day to meet us there. It was really special that everyone made the trip over to spend time with us! This was my first birthday with Lilah, so my activity choice looked a little different this year.
It is a National Historic Landmark (super excited to pin this one on our map). Bok Tower is a beautiful botanical garden that has been around for almost 100 years. It was built on one of the highest points in Florida and has a 205-foot singing bell tower. Tickets were a little pricey at $20 per adult, $10 for children, under 5 years old are free. They also allow dogs for a $10 entry fee, although we decided to leave ours at the camper this time. Tours are available too for an extra cost, and they even host weddings, so it was on our list to scope it out along with the campground.
We had lunch at the on-site cafe, and it was delicious. I highly recommend stopping in there. The entire garden was stroller-friendly, and they also had a separate children’s play area which was perfect for the kids. I wish we had more time to spend there to be honest! But I suppose that means we will just have to make another trip back.
Right next to Bok Tower is a fun little roadside attraction called “Spook Hill”. It’s a “gravity hill” that creates the illusion your car is rolling uphill when it’s actually in neutral. It has a quirky folklore story behind it involving an alligator and a Native American Chief, you can read about it here!
There are also two State Parks nearby you can visit as well, Lake Kissimmee State Park and Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park.
TRAVELER’S TIP: If you’re enrolled in the WIC program, they have a “Museums for All” initiative that gives you free admissions into places, Bok Tower is one of them for example! Always check for programs with discounts, or apps to help.
FUN FACT: Bok Tower has over 500 species of native and exotic plants.
LESSONS LEARNED As we packed up to head back home, I really wished we had that extra day I originally planned. Even though the truck issues were out of our control, it just felt like we didn’t have enough time—the story wasn’t done being told.I wanted to see more of Bok Tower, explore Spook Hill, walk around the lakes, and check out the nearby state parks. I didn’t expect Bok Tower Gardens to be that big—we barely made it through half of it.
Next time, I’d definitely plan more time there and bring a little picnic, too. They had a beautiful hillside lawn where people were spread out on blankets eating lunch, and it honestly felt like a missed opportunity. The gardens do allow outside food and drink. We did sit there for a little bit with the kids; and it ended up being the perfect spot to let them run around and burn off some energy before the drive home. Even though we didn’t get to see it all, I loved how present I felt during this trip, and I think that is a lesson I learned in these past years traveling, is that being present in life is the most important. I won’t forget about Lake Wales this time around and I have learned that sometimes the best trips are the ones that leave you wanting to come back.
Silver Springs, Florida
[Silver Springs State Park]
The excitement for this trip had been building in our house for weeks. This part of Florida is so gorgeous and underrated (in my opinion), and I couldn’t wait to get there. I just knew, from the weather, the trees, and the clear water waiting for us—it was going to be an amazing time. Silver Springs, FL is fairly close to where we live, and since we were only staying two nights, I didn’t plan to pack much. But somehow, the two days before we left turned out to be wildly stressful.
First, when we went to pick up the camper from storage, the electrical port that connects the truck to the camper stopped working, after we got it all hitched up. This controls the brake system. Then, the morning before we were supposed to leave, we finally found someone who could repair the electrical issue, only to discover the hitch was completely cracked. We had to replace it last-minute. If that wasn’t enough, there were wildfire warnings along our route, and while we were on the trip, the back window of the truck refused to roll up, so we taped it shut. [Check out the pictures of all our mishaps!]
We seriously considered canceling more than once, but we were determined not to let it stop us. With one night left to pack and prep the camper—and maybe a few tears (ha!)—we somehow got it together and hit the road the next morning.
PREPPING We gave ourselves two days to pack up the camper, clean it, and take care of everything we needed to get ready. But let’s be honest, everything takes longer when you have a baby. It’s not a bad thing, just something you have to plan for. In the end, we only had one evening and the early morning to get it all done, but somehow, we pulled it off. I packed one bag of clothes for Lilah and a shared bag for Kevin and me. I always like to bring an extra outfit for each planned one—just in case! You never know what’ll happen when you're outdoors, and with a baby. Luckily, our camper is already stocked with essentials like towels, kitchen supplies, blankets, and pillows, so we didn’t have to pack much beyond clothes and the extras we knew we’d want outside.
Some of our must-haves we did bring. (Check out the Useful Items page for links!):
Bug spray, sunscreen, outdoor towels, small grill, citronella candles, long dog leash & waste bags, camping chairs, outside playpen, firewood (We like to bring our own within state lines—it’s usually cheaper than what campgrounds charge.)
Traveler Tip: It’s illegal to transport firewood across state lines due to the risk of spreading invasive pests. Always try to use up what you have before traveling to another state. We’ve even had a campground check our firewood once! Most places sell it onsite, so when in doubt, buy local.
Fun Fact: Traveler trailers are the most popular type of RV as of 2021.
ON THE ROAD From our experience, towing a camper usually adds about two extra hours to whatever the GPS says—so I always build that into our travel time. If we get there earlier than expected, even better! This drive was super smooth. Luke sat up front with Kevin, while I rode in the back with Lilah. He’s pretty spoiled, he had the most room of all of us! We were on the highway for most of the trip and only stopped once for gas. I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but stopping for gas with a camper always makes me anxious, I have this recurring fear we’ll get stuck trying to pull out. (So far, that’s never actually happened, thankfully!) Lilah did amazing on the ride. She napped, we read books, sang songs, and she ate in her car seat when she got hungry. We also stopped at a rest area to eat lunch, let the dog stretch his legs, everyone used the bathroom, diaper change and just take a little breather. One thing I really appreciate about Florida rest areas is that they usually post how many parking spots are left for trucks and RVs right on the highway signs before you pull in. It takes so much of the guesswork out!
We went grocery shopping before we left, so the fridge was stocked with easy-to-grab meals. I made an orzo pasta salad and we had ingredients for turkey sandwiches. I also always meal prep if we’re staying at a campground without sewer hookups, so we don’t use a lot of water cleaning dishes.
Traveler Tip: You can’t stay overnight at Florida rest areas, but you’re allowed to stay for up to three hours. It’s the perfect amount of time to have lunch, refresh, and hit the road again.
CAMPGROUND Silver Springs campground was incredibly well maintained and clean, everything I look for in a campsite, it had. Finding the campground at first was a bit tricky since it’s not located at the main park entrance. It’s actually on the road just before the main entrance and, for some reason, GPS wasn’t directing us correctly. Once you know where to go, it’s easy to find and navigate. We were greeted by a very friendly ranger, she gave us maps of the campground and the main part of the park, explained how the trails were laid out, how to get to our campsite, and even gave our dog, Luke, a little treat! We arrived about an hour after check in was allowed and the whole process was fast and easy. There were two loops for RV’s and tents both. There are 59 sites total. The max length for RV’s is 50 feet. All sites had water and electric (30 + 50 amp) hookups, and only 12 sites had full hookups. A dump station was available to use when arriving or leaving. I was very impressed at how private each one seemed. There was ample space in between sites, and you were surrounded by beautiful trees. The restrooms were clean; the dumpsters easily accessible. They also have cabins to rent if you don’t have an RV or tent, our friends stayed in one recently and said if had two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a wraparound screened in porch and a firepit. They also have a playground area for children. I was just very impressed overall by our stay there; I don’t have one complaint about this campground.
At night we had a campfire, Lilah’s first! We seemed to be the only ones in the campground still awake at 8 p.m. We ate dinner together on the picnic table, and I put Lilah to bed and came back out to enjoy the fire (while obsessively staring at the baby camera, ha!) Fireflies lit up in between the trees all around us and it felt magical. We took family walks around the campground as much as we could. It was chilly in the mornings, we needed a coat, and it was mid-April!
Traveler tip: Make sure you have the ID of the person whose name is on the reservation handy because most state parks will ask to see it!
Fun Fact: Silver Springs was Florida’s first tourist attraction dating back to 1870.
ACTIVITIES This park offers a variety of trails separated by use: hiking, equestrian, and water. I loved how easy it was to read the map of trails, and on their website, it describes each one so well, you know exactly what you’re getting into. Sometimes I feel like we can find a trail but then no useful information about it and we have to go search for it on AllTrails. This was definitely not the case. All the hiking trails intertwined together, and you can choose your path at the crossroads. There were benches, a picnic table, and a station with a map where the trails met—super convenient. The color-coded markers along the paths made it easy to navigate.
We hiked the River Trail (1.3 miles) and the Sandhill Trail (1.7 miles), which are the two shortest out the seven trails. We figured those would be best for Lilah since this was our first “real” hike away from home. I was so impressed with her, she did amazing! She got a little fussy towards the end on both trails, but I knew her wake window was coming to an end and bottle and nap time were calling her name! (I mean, I would get fussy as well if I was tired!). The trailheads were all in the campground area, so we only had a two-minute drive back to our site, super easy! l would recommend doing any of these trails before noon just because of the heat. Florida can get HOT!
The Sandhill Trail did not have much shade the entire time and the River Trail had a stretch of it with no shade. I must say I thought these two trails were so beautiful and they both exceeded my expectations. It made me sad we didn’t have time to do the other trails. When we first stepped onto the River Trail it felt like we entered a jungle and the warning sign about the monkeys definitely added to that. There were also two overlook points of the springs that were a really nice surprise on the River Trail. It was one of those hikes that made me fall in love with Florida all over again.
The next day we headed over to the day use area, and honestly, it felt like we were pulling up to a theme park—ha-ha! From the moment we parked everything had that big attraction energy: the layout of the parking lot, the large banner like sign that said “Florida’s Silver Springs” welcoming you in, to the giant trees towering the entrance, to the ticket booth and even the kiosks selling merchandise. It felt exciting and gave off fun theme park vibes.
We got into the park for free because we were staying there but otherwise it was a reasonable $2 fee. They are famous for their glass bottom boat tours, which we sadly did not go on. I wasn’t too sure if it was a good fit for Lilah just yet, being on a boat with strangers, but it looked beautiful, and we would definitely go next time.
We walked the Allen Ross boardwalk trail, very stroller friendly by the way! Parts of it were closed for renovation, but we still got to see the clear spring water and guests that were kayaking and paddleboarding on it. I was actually shocked at how blue the water was. Spring was the perfect time to go as everything was bright green and blooming. It was breathtaking. A person paddleboarding by told of the manatees he had just passed. Kayak and canoe rentals were reasonably priced as well. We can’t wait for Lilah to be old enough to get out on the water with us!
The day use area also has a restaurant on site, an ice cream shop and a gift store. There’s also a museum that was closed that looked really fun for kids. We had a picnic at one of their tables strewn across the area with lunch we brought form the camper. We people watched as we ate our food, then drove a short distance back to our lovely campsite for the last night.
Traveler Trip: You can still get sunburnt when its cloudy outside, sunscreen is a MUST especially in Florida.
Fun Facts: In the 1930’s monkeys were brought into the park to attract more tourism, and they thrived in the environment and are still there today. Also, the early Tarzan movies were shot at Silver Springs!
LESSONS LEARNED One thing I wish I had figured out beforehand is a better system for making bottles on the road. It’s tricky—there’s no way to warm them up while driving, it gets messy fast, and I didn’t have a designated spot for the dirty ones. If anyone has tips for that, I’m all ears!
This was a much-needed trip for our family, and I am so glad we went. Florida state parks are notoriously hard to book because they fill up out months in advance. Residents do get to reserve sites a month earlier than out-of-state visitors, which helps—but even then, it’s not easy to get a spot at the more popular campgrounds. This campground randomly had a couple nights open, and I jumped on it. I’m so glad I did. I wanted Lilah’s first camping experience to be something special, and honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better one. Next time, I’ll be more prepared for bottle duty on the go—but hey, we’re learning as we go! I’ll be sharing more of our stories this summer, I love being able to spend quiet moments with my family, and if you have anything to share too—feel free to let me know!
KEY LARGO, FL
It all begins with an idea.