Tag: Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina

Visit These Spots for Love Your Pet Day

While National Love Your Pet Day, celebrated on February 20, is relatively new (dating to the early 2000s), humans’ love of pets goes back thousand and thousands of years, with evidence of humans, dogs, and cats co-existing from more than 12,000 years ago. So, if you have furry friends, the best thing you can do on February 20, or any day for that matter, is to do something special for them.

How about taking them glamping to enjoy the outdoors and see the pet-friendly sights of several cities that are considered some of the best for traveling with pets?  And, while birds, fish, and cats fall among the most popular pets along with dogs, we’ll focus on the canine kind for this feature.

Rent a pet-friendly cabin, cottage, or yurt at Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver RV Campground and get ready to explore Bend, Oregon, one of the Ten Best Outdoor Towns, according to thediscoverer.com. Fun on this paws-itively great getaway can include shopping (dogs are welcome at the local Patagonia store); cider and brewery visits (Tumalo Cider Company and 10 Barrel Brewing Company Eastside welcomes furry friends) and outdoor adventure on the Deschutes River (Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe offer dog-friendly rentals); hiking trails at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort and several pet-friendly trails in the Deschutes National Forest. For a bit of nostalgia, browse the selection of videos available at the last Blockbuster store in North America, which is located in Bend and is pet-friendly.

Vacation Camper at Encore Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina

A Florida getaway for Fido is a good idea considering not only is the weather going to cooperate, but there are plenty of hiking trails, parks, and attractions that allow dogs. The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanic Garden welcomes leashed dogs to walk the 15-plus-acre native garden and forest. If a walk on the beach is on your pup’s agenda, check out Anne’s Beach in Islamorada and Key West’s Dog Beach. And should your Key West beach outing last toward evening, head over to Island Dogs, a pet friendly bar that features live music. Other dog-friendly attractions in the Florida Keys include the Key West Aquarium; Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (trails only; no dogs allowed on the beach); and National Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key. Rent a fun (and pet-friendly) vacation camper at Encore Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina for this dog-gone great getaway.

Cabin at Medina Lake RV Campground
Cabin at Medina Lake RV Campground

A pet-friendly cabin at Thousand Trails Medina Lake RV Campground, scenic countryside, and plenty of things to do combine to make a glamping trip with your pet one you’ll both remember fur-ever! Take a history lesson and visit the home of our 36th President and Texas native, Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson’s birthplace can be seen at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site and leashed dogs and their humans can enjoy a 1.2-mile trail with glimpses of other historic buildings on site. A scenic trip while riding in the car is an option if you choose to take the 13-mile loop drive, known as the Windy City Loop, or the 85-mile Swiss Alps of Texas, to view some gorgeous Hill Country scenery. Take to the water with the pet-friendly outfitter Whitewater Sports (floattheguadalupe.com) and enjoy water fun on the Guadalupe River. If it’s patio weather, consider a meal true to the German roots of the area at The Auslander in Fredericksburg which has a pet-friendly outdoor patio and some tasty schnitzel.

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Last Minute Trips for Your 2021 Bucket List

It’s been awhile, but think back to early January 2021. What resolutions did you make then? What about that 2021 Bucket List? Is everything crossed off? If not, we’ve got a few ideas on how to clear the slate to get ready for your 2022 list. 

  1. See a National Landmark: In a list of the Top 10 National Landmarks compiled by flightcentre.com, two are nearby to our locations that enjoy year-round visitors. Those include Hoover Dam (less than 35 miles from cozy cabins at our Las Vegas location); and the iconic Space Needle in Seattle (less than 30 miles from the yurts and cabins at Tall Chief RV & Camping Resort). Another must-see landmark is the historic Alamo, in San Antonio, Texas, which is less than an hour from the cabins at Medina Lake.

2. Drive an Iconic Highway: A drive on the 100-mile-plus engineering marvel known as Florida’s Overseas Highway will take you from the southern tip of Florida down to the Florida Keys with the beautiful waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico all around you. Choose to stay two hours north of the road’s starting point in a cabin at our Miami Everglades Resort or stay at one of our Keys locations, Sunshine Key or Fiesta Key. Enjoy a glamping experience in a cottage or glamping tent at California’s Marina Dunes and enjoy an equally glamorous experience along the 17-Mile Drive that includes charming towns, woodlands, and ocean views along the Monterey Peninsula. 

3. Learn a new skill: ‘Tis the season to don a pair of snowshoes and tackle this winter sport. Consider a stay in a snow covered cabin at Tahoe Valley in California’s Lake Tahoe area and learn how to traverse and glissade with the best of them. Stalk the striper and try your hand at catching hybrid striper bass in the winter waters of Texas’ Lake Conroe. Book a stay in a cabin at Lake Conroe RV & Camping Resort in Willis and see what you can catch. How about hopping on a “fat bike” and tooling around the snowy trails available near Leavenworth, Washington. Book a tiny house at Leavenworth Tiny House Village to go along with your fat bike experience!

Family Trip at Thousand Trails Lake Conroe Campground
Family Trip at Lake Conroe Camping & RV Resort

4. Girls’ Trip, Guys’ Trip, Family Trip, Couples’ Trip: Whichever one remains on your list unchecked, Petite Retreats has locations that can satisfy any of them (or all if you’ve got the time). Perfect family trip locations can include Orlando and all the theme park fun (book a stay in a colorful cottage at Tropical Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Florida) or Yosemite National Park in winter with all its activities (try a yurt at Yosemite Lakes RV Resort in Groveland, California); California’s wine country and a girl’s trip are a perfect match and a cabin or cottage accommodation at Russian River is the perfect wine country girl’s getaway home base. Nashville is great for girls, guys, and family fun depending on the activities you choose – there are bars and honky tonks, historic sites, museums, and outdoor adventure to be found here – and any of the rental cabins at nearby Natchez Trace work for all of these groups. Guys trip options could include the casinos and nightlife of Las Vegas (stay in a cabin or cottage at our Las Vegas location) or deep-sea fishing charters in the Florida Keys (Sunshine Key Tiny House Village is a great option as they run charters from the resort). Looking for romance? Check out the tiny house and cabin accommodations at Verde Valley in Arizona’s scenic and transformative Red Rocks country or a cozy cabin at Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort in Santa Barbara and explore this charming California oceanside town with its wineries, architectural tours, and romantic sunsets. 

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Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina: Tiny Homes, Big Adventure

Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina
Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina

Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina has always been a popular destination for travelers seeking a convenient and idyllic location from which to explore the nearby Florida Keys and all their attractions. The resort itself sits on the 75-acre Ohio Key in the Lower Florida Keys. The resort has a host of amenities and activities for both land and water lovers, which includes a marina, swimming pool, fishing opportunities, an outdoor pavilion, game room, horseshoe courts, pickleball courts and of course, the scenery. Think: scenery that includes plenty of palm trees, blue skies, and ocean views.

What makes a stay at Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina even more exciting these days is the addition of a tiny house village which offers unique accommodations for your Floridian getaway. Located on Ohio Key, these colorful tiny houses are just 30 miles from Key West and minutes from Bahia Honda State Park. Each house is full of personality and charm and makes for the ultimate relaxation destination.

Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina
Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina

Bahia Honda State Park, at over 500 acres, has a fabulous beach (named one of the best for sunbathing), the historic Bahia Honda Rail Bridge (perfect for photo ops and scenic views), and swimming, kayaking and snorkeling opportunities. Stay all day and catch the sunset – it’s well worth it!

While on Big Pine Key, don’t miss the National Key Deer Refuge, which was established in 1957 to protect the Key deer and other Keys wildlife. The Refuge includes freshwater wetland and mangrove forests and is home to 23 endangered plant and animal species. The Key Deer can only be found in the Florida Keys.

Islamorada, which is about 45 miles from Sunshine Key, is home to the History of Diving Museum where visitors can see one of the largest collections of diving gear, including helmets, armored suits, as well as photos and other diving-related memorabilia. The museum’s mission is to tell man’s story of exploring the sea and they do a great job through the exhibits, collections, and videos.

If feeding a tarpon is on your bucket list, head over to Robbie’s of Islamorada. Schools of tarpon, numbering upwards of 100, like to congregate around the marina providing the perfect opportunity for visitors to toss a snack or two to these “silver kings.” For just the price of admission ($2.25 per person) and $4 for a bucket of fish, you can experience this unique, aquatic, must-do.

On an Island in the Sun
On an Island in the Sun

Robbie’s is also the perfect place to schedule other water adventures including parasailing, snorkeling, jet-skiing, and deep-sea fishing excursions. Robbie’s also has an open-air market that sells jewelry, beachwear, art and more. Grab a bite to eat at the Hungry Tarpon restaurant and relax and enjoy Robbie’s experience.  

After exploring the Keys, come back to your colorful and cozy tiny home, settle in and say goodnight to a great day!

Make your reservations for the Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina today!

On an Island in the Sun

On an Island in the Sun
On an Island in the Sun

There’s a popular song that talks playing and having fun on an island in the sun. We think it’s all about the Florida Keys which actually offers several islands of choice to play and have some fun!

First, a bit of history and some fun facts about this series of islands that extend from the southern tip of Florida down into the deep blue ocean. The Keys are part of an archipelago and there are hundreds and hundreds of islands but a little over 40 of them are actually inhabited. Because there are so many and they stretch over such a long distance, they are divided into groups, the Upper Keys, the Middle Keys, and the Lower Keys. The most famous is Key West thanks to Ernest Hemingway who made his home here from 1931 to 1939. The largest is Key Largo. The populous Keys are connected via the Overseas Highway which links the Keys through a series of 42 bridges.  

Temperatures range from hottest in July at an average of 86 degrees and coolest in January at an average temperature of 70 degrees. On average, there are 256 days of sunshine in the Keys which is plenty of time to have some fun in the sun.

In all, if you start at Key Largo and drive south to Key West, it’s a total of 97 miles and roughly a two-hour drive. But take your time and stay awhile, there’s a lot to see and do in the Keys this winter.

The Humphrey Bogart Film Festival happens on Key Largo, of course, and is scheduled this year for October 17-21. It’s a good year to attend this event as it is the 70th anniversary of Bogart’s famous film, Key Largo. Key West will also host the Key West Film Festival from November 14-18.

Celebrate fall island-style at Marathon Key’s Third Annual Fall Harvest at Crane Point Museum that promises a day of family fun with hay rides, trail mazes, lives music and all things autumn on October 28.

Art lovers make note of the Big Pine & The Lowers Keys Island Art Festival on November 24 which features locally produced arts and crafts, plus live music and food.

Other popular Keys activities include snorkeling, deep sea fishing, visiting the key deer at Deer Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, the historic bridge at Bahia Honda State Park and the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.  

Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park

From a sheer relaxation perspective, there are the beaches. Some notable and regular best beach list-makers include Sandspur Beach and Calusa Beach on Big Pine Key, Higgs Beach in Key West and the beach at Long Key State Park on Long Key.

Chart your course for a Keys vacation and use the conveniently located Fiesta Key RV Resort & Marina or Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina as your place to stay. The cottages offered at both of these resorts add to the perfect island getaway. Imagine…your own private cottage just steps from the beach!

Fiesta Key RV Resort & Marina
Fiesta Key RV Resort & Marina

Fiesta Key RV Resort & Marina  sits on 28 acres where you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and a fabulous Tiki Bar and Cantina. Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina has a marina, fishing opportunities and is just a mile away from Bahia Honda State Park with its historic bridge and great beaches.

Make your reservations to retreat to the Keys, today!