Camping?

not many from which to choose. Topsail State Park, Grayton Beach State Park, and I think Barrett's RV park on Hwy 98 near Peach Creek is about it in South Walton.

Grayton Beach is full up for the weekend. I just snagged a tent site at Topsail for tomorrow night! 🙂 😀

Grayton and Topsail are usually filled from Memorial Day - Labor Day so you got lucky.

If you're into primitive wilderness camping, there are a good number of primitive campgrounds on Eglin Reservation. Call or stop in the Jackson Guard office in Niceville for more info and permits.

Grayton and Topsail are usually filled from Memorial Day - Labor Day so you got lucky.

The online booking system the Florida Parks service utilizes is pretty neat, showing in real time available camp sites. I just have to go buy some supplies for tomorrow night now! Smores, steak and shrimp sound about right. lol

DTI - we had some friends come on Memorial Day weekend and they camped at Grayton. When they booked MONTHS AGO they got the last spot. We were shocked to see sooooo many vacant spots when we visited them @ the campground. A lot of places also take "walk ins" - they keep several slots open for just that.

HAVE FUN and REPORT BACK! Douglas the INTREPID camper! 😀

OK, so you're camping during yellow fly season? FTLOC! Take that cactus juice stuff with you, Douglas. I think I recall doing all kinds of tent camping in the living room and dining room........this wasn't that long ago either! 😀

OK, so you're camping during yellow fly season? FTLOC! Take that cactus juice stuff with you, Douglas. I think I recall doing all kinds of tent camping in the living room and dining room........this wasn't that long ago either! 😀

I honestly haven't even seen any yellow flies yet this year Lynnie and I have been going to the beach daily! Maybe its a swamp thing? lol

Goofing around in the house can be fun, but I want to make memories that Imygyn will always hopefully treasure. I need a real campfire and the woods for that! 😀

Be sure to ask the rangers about any bear precautions. Based on your menu, I think they would love to raid your leftovers while you are sleeping!

We had a great time camping as kids - though we tended to follow the Griswold Family method of family camping outings :blush:.

Do NOT let her whittle her own wiener/marshmallow stick unsupervised, do not put gasoline OR bug repellant on the fire, beware bikers and anyone who brings their own accordion, and you will escape most of our mistakes. 😀

When our kids were younger we used to camp a lot. Itg seemed like every other weekend in the summer. One of the best memories that our kids still talk about is the fishing. The campgrounds had a combined fishing,swimming lake. So there was always little bluegills nipping at your toes and leg hair. There was a dock at the opposite end of the swimming portion and I would sit the kids in a row and let them fish. I cut dowel rods about 3 feet long and attached fishing line and a hook to the end. This way they didn't have to try and reel in. I would use hotdogs as bait and they would just drop the line in and wait. Once the fish got the scent, I couldn't get the fish off quick enough. They had a blast and still talk about it.

Do NOT let her whittle her own wiener/marshmallow stick unsupervised, do not put gasoline OR bug repellant on the fire, beware bikers and anyone who brings their own accordion, and you will escape most of our mistakes. 😀

:blink:

Oh my, that would make a great movie right there! lol I am still trying to fit in the bikers and accordion player into that mental image... 😀

:blink:

When our kids were younger we used to camp a lot. Itg seemed like every other weekend in the summer. One of the best memories that our kids still talk about is the fishing. The campgrounds had a combined fishing,swimming lake. So there was always little bluegills nipping at your toes and leg hair. There was a dock at the opposite end of the swimming portion and I would sit the kids in a row and let them fish. I cut dowel rods about 3 feet long and attached fishing line and a hook to the end. This way they didn't have to try and reel in. I would use hotdogs as bait and they would just drop the line in and wait. Once the fish got the scent, I couldn't get the fish off quick enough. They had a blast and still talk about it.

Some of my best childhood memories are from camping when I was younger. There is fishing at Topsail, so that sounds like a nice addition! Imy was tickled pink the one time she really caught a bass on her own. She wanted to bring it home as a pet though, and I had to tell her the only place we could keep it was in her toilet and it might bite her butt if she needed to use the bathroom. Had no problem releasing it after that point! 😉

Well, we had half a camping trip. We were rained out at the end of it. Spent two hours waiting in the tent for the thunderstorm to subside and then hightailed it. The blue umbrella in the one picture was utterly destroyed after the thunderstorm. We still had fun and will try again when we have a better forecast! 🙂

Ah man, what DARLING photos!!! I can see you two were set for a wonderful weekend of camping and then................the sky fell out! :yikes: That was quite a storm. Funny thing, you'll always remember it even though things turned out differently than you planned! Good memories and yes, you can try again.

What a great dad! :wub:

Gidget

So whats the best place to legally go tent camping in the area? 😀:wave:

My home away from home is always Grayton, Henderson, or Topsail. I have always been pleased with my camping vacation experiences there.

Fred Gannon Park is very nice, too, just farther away and requiring a toll to get into Destin.

OK, so you're camping during yellow fly season? FTLOC! Take that cactus juice stuff with you, Douglas. I think I recall doing all kinds of tent camping in the living room and dining room........this wasn't that long ago either! 😀

TV-Tray-Sleeper-Train-Tents and Over-the-Table-Blanket Lodges @ Aunty Dune-ahh's continue to be an enormous hit with my nieces, nephews, and little cousins!

Be sure to ask the rangers about any bear precautions. Based on your menu, I think they would love to raid your leftovers while you are sleeping!

We had a great time camping as kids - though we tended to follow the Griswold Family method of family camping outings :blush:.

Do NOT let her whittle her own wiener/marshmallow stick unsupervised, do not put gasoline OR bug repellant on the fire, beware bikers and anyone who brings their own accordion, and you will escape most of our mistakes. 😀

OK... YOU opened the can of worms. SPILL Gullfriend! :lol:

Great Pics DtI! Thanks for the camping report!
It's totally cool that y'all take advantage of camping right here in the 'hood!! Hope the yellow flies didn't eat y'all up... if there's trees or shade those li'l buggers are there. They're extreme this year with all the rain we've had.

One more to the mix!

Camping on the Gulf/ Sandestin:wave: Imygyn's, gonna have very fond memories, with her Dad!!:clap:Some of my best child hood memories, were of camping in North AL!:wub:

not many from which to choose. Topsail State Park, Grayton Beach State Park, and I think Barrett's RV park on Hwy 98 near Peach Creek is about it in South Walton.

Douglas!!!!!!! Fabulous pictures; Imy looks adorable! Sorry Y'all had horrible storms though. Your tent held up ok?