Blog - Chickery's Travels

The World’s Greatest Road Trip is Just Around the Corner

Road tripping is one of the most fun, exhilarating, and fulfilling ways of having a good time, and getting a unique travel experience. Hitting the open road in style, wind in your hair, sun on your back, is one of the best ways to have an unforgettable travel adventure this year. But, the greatest road trip the world has ever seen will require no small amount of planning.

As such, you need to be clear about what it takes to enjoy a unique and fun road trip experience, and this means thinking about the boxes you need to tick in order to make that happen. In this blog post, we are going to look at some of the best ideas that are going to help you enjoy the perfect road trip adventure this year.

Plan Your Route

Planning your route is one of the most important parts of the process when it comes to having the best possible road trip. It starts with choosing your basic destination and the sights you want to see along the way. We’ve even created a list of the best road trips around the world to provide you with some inspiration.

Once you’ve selected your destination, you’ll want to create an itinerary that allows room for discovery and exploration, and the chance to be able to enjoy a bit of spontaneity. Careful route planning can make a road trip smoother and more enjoyable. Use mapping tools like RV Life’s Trip Wizard to plot out your main route and identify interesting stops along the way. This can break up the driving time and add fun, spontaneous adventures.

If you have the time, consider taking scenic byways that offer beautiful landscapes and charming small towns. These routes may take a bit longer but can provide memorable experiences and photo opportunities.

Finally, don’t forget to plan for overnight stops. This will make the trip more manageable and give everyone a chance to rest and recharge. See the video above to see how we select campgrounds along our route.

Choose Your Ride

Our favorite way to explore is in an RV. With transportation and lodging all wrapped up in one, what more can you ask for? Some of the benefits of RV travel include:

Comfort and Convenience

Comfort and convenience: RVs offer unparalleled comfort and convenience for family road trips. With an RV, you have the flexibility to stop and rest whenever needed, cook your own meals, and have all the amenities of home on the road.
Cost effective: Renting an RV can be more cost-effective than booking multiple hotel rooms, especially for larger families. Plus, it allows you to save on dining out by preparing meals in the RV’s kitchen.
Flexibiiity: One of the biggest advantages of traveling by RV is the freedom to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations without worrying about accommodations. This flexibility can lead to unexpected and delightful discoveries.

If you don’t have an RV, don’t worry. You can rent one RV for almost any destination.

Outdoorsy, is a great platform that allows you to rent from individual owners in the US, giving you an ever greater selection. There are many RV rental companies abroad as well, so that you can find a great option no matter where you travel. Check out our guide to understanding RV types to ensure that you choose the right RV for your needs.

Planning Your Budget

Budgeting for a road trip involves more than just gas money. Factor in costs for accommodations, food, entrance fees to attractions, and any additional activities. Creating a detailed budget can help you manage expenses and avoid surprises. Be sure to leave money in the budget for spontaneous fun. Whether it’s an impromptu visit to a local ice cream shop or a unique roadside attraction, these little extras can make the trip more memorable.

Pack Well

Packing may not be that much fun, but it is one of the most important. You don’t want to be caught out not having something essential that you need to have. This is another reason that we love to travel in an RV: you can pack it all up at home and don’t have to unpack until your trip is finished. Regardless of how you travel, here are a few packing tips:

Safety First: Always pack a first aid kit and a vehicle safety kit.
Clothing: We like to pack layers so that we’re prepared for any type of weather.
Snacks: Save yourself a few bucks and maintain your health by packing road trip snacks and drinks.
Activities/Accessories: Bring along your campfire gear and any other sporting goods you may need. For example, I live to hike and bike, so my helmet, hiking pools, and backpack are always on my list.

These are some of the best ways of being able to enjoy a great road trip, and you need to make sure you consider some of the key options that are going to help you improve this. It is vital to ensure you focus on the best choices that will help to improve your road trip, and this is something that you have to get right as much as possible.

8:27 pm by Julie Chickery

Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA (Cape Charles, Virginia)

We have come to love KOA Campgrounds for our family vacations. They offer the perfect destination for our multi-generational group with diverse campsite options, cozy cabins, excellent amenities, and engaging activities. We recently spent a long weekend at the Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA Resort and had such a great time we’re thinking of making it an annual tradition. Located on Virginia’s beautiful Eastern Shore, it boasts a fabulous beachfront location, numerous amenities, and an array of activities, ensuring that the fun never stops.

Campsites and Cabins

Collage of the Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA resort

One of the standout features of KOA campgrounds is the wide array of sites available to accommodate a range of preferences. Whether you are pitching a tent, renting one of their glamping tents, or bringing your camper, this campground has a place for you. I found the photos on the website to be very realistic. All of the sites had a wooden picnic table and metal fire ring, except the KOA patio sites which had upgraded furniture.

Back In Full Hook Up Sites – These sites are the most affordable. They range in price depending on the location in the campground, but honestly, we didn’t think anything was too far to walk. The Blue Point and Half Shell sites appeared to be slightly wider than Pearl Point.
Pull Thru Full Hook Up Sites – We were in the Skipjack section closest to the beach and pool. It had plenty of room for us.
Pull Thru Full Hook Up KOA Patio Sites – These sites have a gravel pad for your RV, as well as stone fire ring and patio furniture in addition to the picnic table.
Tent Sites – Pearl Point Tent sites are large enough for small campers and vans, but designed to accommodate tent guests with all the perks of a full hookup site.

If you don’t have an RV, the great thing about KOAs is that they offer cabins and other accommodations as well. They come in various sizes and styles, complete with essential amenities that ensure a relaxing and comfortable stay.

Cabins – The cabins also vary in price based on location. Our family stayed in the Oyster Point Cabins, which had a kitchen, full bathroom, living room with sleeper sofa, and two bedrooms. One of the bedrooms had a queen bed and the other had bunk beds with a full-sized bed on the bottom and a twin on top. The thing we really appreciated about the cabin was the screened-in porch that was perfect for avoiding bugs during dinner. The cabin also had an outdoor area with a grill, picnic table, and fire pit. Some of them are pet-friendly for an additional fee.
Safari Tent – This KOA had six glamping tents with power, two queen beds, and a full-size sleeper futon.
Sunset Beach Hotel – Also on site is a sister hotel. I didn’t look at any of the rooms, but on the website, they appear to be standard. The campground check-in and large camp store are located in the hotel lobby.

Resort Amenities

Collage of the beach and pool and Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA resort

One of the things we like about KOA campgrounds is the amenities. All of the ones we’ve stayed at had well-maintained restrooms, coin-operated laundry facilities, a large dog park, and a convenient camp store with friendly and helpful staff members who are always ready to assist. Bu this KOA has even more amazing amenities:

Private Beach – Cape Charles Chesapeake Bay KOA offers a private beach exclusively for its guests, so you can enjoy the sun, sand, and sea without the usual tourist crowds. The calm waters of the Chesapeake Bay make this beach a safe choice for family members of all ages to splash, swim, and create sandcastles for hours on end. The best part was that it is pet friendly too!
Family Friendly Pool – One end of this large pool has fountains and a zero-entry or walk-in section (sloping without steps). There are also numerous lounge chairs, as well as cabanas available to rent. The only drawback to us was the lack of shade if you didn’t get a cabana. We took our canopy down to the beach during the day and enjoyed the pool after dinner when the sun was lower in the sky.
Sunset Beach Bar & Grill – One thing that made this KOA a true resort was the beachside bar & grill. boasts an on-site restaurant, the Dockside, where you can satisfy your hunger while enjoying marvelous views of the bay. It offers local seafood dishes as well as family favorites like burgers and wings. At the bar, you can enjoy music along with the gorgeous bay views.
Happy Jack’s Cafe – Located in the hotel lobby with the large camp store is Happy Jack’s Cafe where you can get pizza and ice cream. They also have some arcade games.

Local Area

If you can drag yourself away from the campground, Cape Charles is a quaint and picturesque town. Founded in the late 19th century, Cape Charles boasts a rich history that comes alive along the tree-lined streets of the town’s Historic District. Remarkable Victorian homes and commercial buildings showcase the unique architectural styles from the period. Be sure to visit the Cape Charles Museum to learn more about the town’s intriguing past and its railroad connection.

If you’re more of an outdoors enthusiast, the nearby Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge and Kiptopeke State Park present trails perfect for hiking and biking, as well as guided nature tours that will expose you to the region’s breathtaking scenery and wildlife.

Finally, Cape Charles also has a mouthwatering culinary scene that’s sure to satisfy your cravings. Numerous local restaurants serve delectable dishes showcasing Virginia’s Eastern Shore’s fresh seafood and farm-to-table produce. And don’t forget to sample a glass of wine at the local wineries or enjoy a craft beer at Cape Charles Brewing Co.

Book Your Stay

Whether you are looking for a quick getaway or family vacation, you can’t go wrong with this amazing KOA resort! Before you make reservations, don’t forget to sign up for the rewards program to get 10% off every KOA stay. We love using the rewards program and earning points to use towards discounts on future stays. We were able to get $50 off our weekend here using accumulated rewards points. And if you’re looking for other great campgrounds we’ve enjoyed, see our campground reviews here.

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2:48 pm by Julie Chickery Leave a Comment

Florida National Parks Road Trip Guide

Exploring the wilderness and untamed beauty of national parks is a time-honored tradition for many travelers. Florida, despite its bustling urban centers, harbors some of the most unique ecological reserves in the world. For those seeking an adventure that’s part road trip, part wildlife expedition, and all about soaking up sun and solitude, a journey through Florida’s chain of National Parks is a must.

In this guide, we’ll start in Miami and provide suggestions for a 1-week journey through Florida’s National Parks: Biscayne, the Everglades, and Dry Tortugas. You can adjust the timeline to spend more or less time at each stop based on your interests.

Table of Contents

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN MIAMI
DAY 2: BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK
- Boat Tours at Biscayne
DAY 3: EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
DAY 4: EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK – EVERGLADES CITY
DAY 5: TRAVEL TO KEY WEST
DAY 6: DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK
- Explore Fort Jefferson
DAY 7: RETURN TO MIAMI

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN MIAMI

Image of South Beach miami with palm trees and sand beaches.

The gateway to your exploration is Miami, a vibrant metropolis where the siren call of the coast is never far away. Palm-fringed beaches, pulsating nightlife, and a melting pot of cultures set the tone for what lies ahead. If you stay in Miami as your base for your visits to Biscayne National Park and the eastern side of Everglades, National Park, you’ll have time to explore this exciting city.

We stayed in a one-bedroom suite at Hilton’s McAlpin Ocean Plaza in South Beach. It allowed us to enjoy the Art Deco district and dine on Cuban delicacies before heading out for our day’s adventures. Each evening, we had time to stroll on the beach before enjoying another fabulous meal.

DAY 2: BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK

The first leg of your national park circuit is Biscayne, an underwater wonderland lying just a stone’s throw from Miami’s glittering skyline.

Established as part of the conservation efforts of the mid-20th century, its origin story harks back to 1968 when Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed the area a national monument. Four years later, in ’72, it was christened as the protected parkland it is today, encompassing 173,000 acres of predominantly underwater territory.

Home to evidence of more than 10,000 years of human history, the parks’ archaeological sites and shipwrecks continue to intrigue historians and divers, giving the park a cultural depth as vast as its marine landscapes.

Boat Tours at Biscayne

Lighthouse on Boca Chica Key surrounded by turquoise blue water

The unparalleled beauty of Biscayne is locked behind an aquatic gateway, and the best way to explore its wonders is by boat. With 95% of the park consisting of water, there’s a mosaic of coral reefs, crustacean-rich sea beds, and a kaleidoscope of marine life stretching as far as the eye can see. To view the park in its entirety, a boat tour—a mainstay of the Biscayne experience—is a must. These guided excursions provide commentary on the park’s history and ecology, wrapping it within the context of a pristine stage for nature’s intricate dance.

The Biscayne National Park Institute offers an array of boat trips around the various islands of Biscayne. From snorkeling, scuba diving, and paddling adventures, to Heritage tours focused on the area’s rich history, there is something for everyone. We enjoyed the Heritage of Biscayne Cruise that leaves from the visitor center. We were taken across Biscayne Bay and along the northernmost islands of the Florida Keys with a 1-hour stop at Boca Chita Key. The boat tour (including our stop at Boca Chita) was about 3 1/2 hours long.

Some boat tours also leave from Coconut Grove, just north of South Beach, but the advantage of leaving from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center is that you will have time to explore their displays that teach you more about the park. We always enjoy the films at national park visitor centers and this one, Connections, was exceptional. In addition, you can walk around Convoy Point and stroll the Jetty Trail. Just under one mile long, this trail is a short and easy walk along a mangrove-lined shore that leads to the Colonial Bird Protection Area at the end of a jetty. Informational panels can be found along the trail that discuss the environment and wildlife in the area.

DAY 3: EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

Images of sawgrass, a boardwalk and an alligator on the Anhinga Trail at Everglades National Park

Your next destination is the iconic River of Grass, the Everglades, where a unique blend of wetlands and swamps present a wilderness teeming with life. The park houses a myriad of flora and fauna starring the American alligator and crocodile, the West Indian manatee, the rare Florida panther, and an array of bird species like the Roseate Spoonbill and Great Blue Heron. The significance of the Everglades is often attributed to its role in water purification, flood control, and preservation of a balanced ecosystem.

The Everglades is a very large park with three different sections:

Main Entrance – Located off State Road 9336 in Homestead, southwest of Miami. This is home to the Earnest Coe Visitor Center, as well as the Anhinga Trail, which is a fabulous boardwalk loop where you’ll have one of the greatest chances of seeing an Alligator and many of the birds who make the Everglades home. After a stop at the Visitor Center and Anhinga Trail, we took a ranger-led tour of the Nike Missile Site in the park. As military veterans, we really enjoyed learning about this relic of the Cold War. The Everglades National Park Institute offers a variety of naturalist-led ecoadventures like paddling through the park’s sawgrass prairie or wading among the cypress domes.

Shark Valley Entrance – Located off U.S. 41 Tamiami Trail just west of Miami. This is also a great place to spot alligators and has the added benefit of a narrated tram tour along a 15-mile loop. The tour stops at a 65-foot observation tower that you can climb for a panoramic vista that captures the essence of the Everglades. If you’d rather, the visitor center also rents bikes for this loop as well.

65-foot tall Shark Valley observation tower at Everglades National Park

Gulf Coast Entrance – Located on Oyster Bar Lane in Everglades City. We’ll cover this more for Day 4 below.

If you only have one day to spend in the Everglades, we recommend choosing between the Main Entrance or Shark Valley as they are closest to Miami and provide that iconic Everglades experience.

DAY 4: EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK – EVERGLADES CITY

sunset over the bay in Everglades National Park

If you have the time, travel to the southwest edge of the park. It’s the perfect starting point for activities like backcountry boating and paddle sports. Embark on the Ten Thousand Islands boat tour through a labyrinthine maze of brackish water that is home to an array of coastal critters, from manatees to bottlenose dolphins.

DAY 5: TRAVEL TO KEY WEST

Leave the mainland behind and set your sights on Key West, the southernmost city in the continental United States. The 113-mile drive along the Overseas Highway is an attraction in itself. Known for its expansive ocean views, the Overseas Highway is a wonder of infrastructure, having repurposed the Overseas Railroad into a highway that spans the ocean, offering an otherworldly drive.

Be sure to get an early start on your way to Key West so that you have time to explore this cute town before embarking on your Dry Tortugas trip. Spend the evening strolling along the bougainvillea-lined streets, sampling fresh seafood, and catching the sunset at Mallory Square—a daily ritual accompanied by street performers.

If you are authorized to use military facilities, there are three military recreation lodging and camping options in Key West. We especially enjoyed our stay at Sigsbee Campground.

DAY 6: DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK

Sea plane on the shores of Dry Tortugas National Park

The climax of your Florida national park escapade isn’t just about the destination, but the journey. A ferry or seaplane from Key West carries you over the turquoise expanse of the Gulf of Mexico to Dry Tortugas—arguably one of the most remote and least-visited national parks in the U.S. The seaplane is more expensive, but it was the highlight of our trip and worth the added cost.

Explore Fort Jefferson

Red brick walkway and fort at Dry Tortugas National Park

History and nature converge at the colossal Fort Jefferson, a Civil War-era coastal fortress that lends a surreal presence to this isolated patch of land. Embark on a self-guided tour through the fort’s shadowed halls to gain insight into the strategic importance and the imprisoned lives that echo within its walls.

We absolutely loved snorkeling at Dry Tortugas! Visitors can siscover the treasure trove that lies beneath the clear moat waters—remains of old structures cradle vibrant coral gardens and a mosaic of marine life.

DAY 7: RETURN TO MIAMI

The trip back to Miami serves as a decompression chamber, allowing you to mull over the countless memories amassed on your whirlwind national park road trip. Take your time along the Overseas Highway, savoring those vistas one last time. Stop at Bahia Honda State Park, aptly named for the splendid bay once harboring Spanish treasure ships, and take a moment to watch the pelicans and ospreys that foster the park’s paradise-like ambiance.

If you have more than a week for this trip, we highly recommend staying in Key West for at least a few days to explore all it has to offer.

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