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12-27-2014, 06:24 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Topsail Hill Preserve State Park -- Florida
Has anyone been there? It sounds like a beautiful place with great swimming.
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12-30-2014, 07:19 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Trailer: 21' Escape (June 2014)
Posts: 325
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12-31-2014, 04:12 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Olympia wa, Washington
Trailer: 5.0TA 2017
Posts: 2,255
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Any good snorkeling there? Dogs allowed?
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01-01-2015, 07:46 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Trailer: 21' Escape (June 2014)
Posts: 325
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox hunt
Any good snorkeling there? Dogs allowed?
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It looks like pets are allowed, as long as you follow the typical rules which are explained here, in the link to the Florida State Park pet policy: Welcome to Florida State Parks
I'm not familiar with the snorkeling at Topsail, but it's probably typical for the NW Florida area, that is, a gradual sandy beach without much in the way of underwater features.
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01-01-2015, 08:04 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Trailer: 21' Escape (June 2014)
Posts: 325
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Ruthe,
Our favorite place to stay while on the beach in the Florida Panhandle is St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, described here: Welcome to Florida State Parks
It's quite a bit further off the interstate but gives a lot more feel for camping in the woods, instead of staying at a resort, like Topsail. If the full hook-ups, paved sites, pool, cable TV and well manicured lawns are your style, and you won't miss having a campfire in the woods, then Topsail is definitely the place to go. Another interesting place to camp is at Fort Pickens, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
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01-01-2015, 08:13 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Thanks Ray. It looks like the place I've been searching for. Ocean, bay, snorkeling kayaking. Now I have to figure out when we can go.
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01-04-2015, 09:01 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Covington, Louisiana
Trailer: Escape 21 pick up on 5/26/15.
Posts: 104
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I believe Topsail is on Santa Rosa island where ft. Walton Beach, Destin are. Great place to camp. It can be cool during the winter months, 40s to high 50s at night, but high sixties or even 70s during the day. Quite a few Canadiens stay for the winter because of the large amount of beach front condos, restaurants etc. you will not be disappointed. You will also be only 4 1/2 hours from New Orleans. Also, Biloxi Ms. Is only 3 hours if casinos and beach entertainment is your gig.
__________________
Steve & Julie
Covington, Louisiana
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!
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01-04-2015, 09:12 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Thanks Steve and Julie. I think we would go during the warmer weather so that the water would be warm. I'm reading lots of good things about the gulf coast.
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01-05-2015, 12:10 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Olympia wa, Washington
Trailer: 5.0TA 2017
Posts: 2,255
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When is the best time to go if you want it warm and good swimming weather?
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01-05-2015, 09:43 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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From what I can figure out, it would be starting in April through the summer, when it will be really hot. Correct me someone if I am wrong.
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01-05-2015, 10:19 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Trailer: 21' Escape (June 2014)
Posts: 325
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Here are the average water and air temperatures for Destin, near Topsail. Being fair-weather campers ourselves, we don't like to camp if the high is going to be above 90 or lower than 60. Also, we won't go in the water if it's cooler than about 77 degrees, (being from NJ you are probably used to much cooler water than that). Being right on the coast, Destin does not have the extremely uncomfortable hot weather found in the interior of the state.
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01-05-2015, 10:49 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Covington, Louisiana
Trailer: Escape 21 pick up on 5/26/15.
Posts: 104
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The Florida panhandle is the best kept secret in Florida. The beaches are spectacular and there are many things to do. I have been going there for many years. Best time to go when the water is warm and rates are low is after Labor Day and before November. Spring( after mid April is good too, but water is not as warm. It's always a great place to go. I give it it 5 stars😎
__________________
Steve & Julie
Covington, Louisiana
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!
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01-05-2015, 11:35 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 895
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My wife and I camped in a tent @ Fort Pickens NP near Pensacola a few years ago in September. Although the day time highs were bearable, the humidity was really high. The only way that we could "attempt" to sleep in a tent was to purchase a fan and run it on us! We constantly looked for "air conditioned places" to handle the heat & humidity. So, to make a long story shorter, consider pushing your dates into October or later.
__________________
Kevin
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything - Charles Kuralt
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01-05-2015, 01:22 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Trailer: 21' Escape (June 2014)
Posts: 325
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Yes, if I could choose any one month, it would be October - especially if you don't have air conditioning.
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01-05-2015, 01:25 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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We were looking at Fl for the moth of Feb next year, 2 weeks in Vero Beach and 2 weeks in the panhandle. This thread is making me think about pushing it back a bit more. Thanks for the charts Ray.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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01-05-2015, 09:46 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Covington, Louisiana
Trailer: Escape 21 pick up on 5/26/15.
Posts: 104
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The panhandle will be cold/cool in Feb/Mar. Even late April can be cool, but it's still a great trip. Even spring break does not attract the college crowd. They are all down the beach in Panama City, so the Destin area is always a great stay. If you go when it's hot, well, it will be hot! Make sure you have A/c if you go in summer, otherwise get a condo. You will love it. I have been going for over 45 years. Julie and I met there when I was in the Air Force.
__________________
Steve & Julie
Covington, Louisiana
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!
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01-06-2015, 02:05 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Thanks Steve, spent a year at Keesler, long ago. Think the kids fill the campgrounds too? I was looking at St Joesph and Henderson SP's, either side of Panama City.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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01-06-2015, 06:27 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
Thanks Steve, spent a year at Keesler, long ago. Think the kids fill the campgrounds too? I was looking at St Joesph and Henderson SP's, either side of Panama City.
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Hi: padlin... We're booked into St. Andrews State Pk. @ Panama City Mar. 4th. to 18th.
I gave Ray N. explicit instructions to have it warmed up for our time there. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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01-06-2015, 06:55 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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A year too soon Alf, I'm looking to book for 2015. Let me know how spring break is. Party hardy.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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01-06-2015, 09:12 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
A year too soon Alf, I'm looking to book for 2015. Let me know how spring break is. Party hardy.
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Hi: padlin... What'dya mean a year too soon!!! This is 2015 Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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