We're doing FL & SE USA next winter (2022/2023) with camper (I drive) and STOL 182 (wife flies) and many RV parks require way advanced reservations- up to a year in advance. We park RV for several days, weeks or whatever and fly out from near by small airports. Worked great in Idaho with Husky but plan on 182 for this trip. That being said, I'm looking for fun/challenging strips or cool flying places to go in Florida and southeast US. Any links, suggestions or PIREPS is appreciated. Text, email, PM or on forum.

BTW, 2022 May-July: looking forward to extending ID trip into OR and WA-San Juans.

Thanks in advance for any info/advice.

Jack 303-356-7767
[email protected]

8FD3 is a cool grass RAF strip in NW Florida. Not challenging in a husky but still cool.



Also, a good stop headed that way from Colorado is 3T0, Cedar Mills. Cool grass strip on a lake with a good restaurant.



If you make it a little further north in your way out or back, stop by KGLW in Kentucky. My family owns the adjacent horse farm and we have 50Amp hookups or an airbnb apartment if you’re tired of your camper. I should be there all next winter.

Winter Haven,

Landed there to puke once. Jack Borwn's sea plane base is next door. Was worth the stop I guess.

Pete

Larger Dropzones usually have associated RV parking. Lots of them in FL.

I’d agree that 8FD3 is not “challenging”, but it’s a good place to camp and RV parking (Krul Lake) is walking distance to the airstrip, so about ideal for what your describing. It’s a Forest Service strip and requires prior permission, but the only time I’ve heard of anyone being denied is if it’s being used for official business (fire fighting). We moved away from NW FL a couple years ago, but that was a regular stop for us when we lived in the area.

Tripple Tree Aerodrome (SC) is usually a fun fly-in. It’s a private field, so not normally open, but depending on your dates, they have a winter fly-in in Feb.
https://tta.aero/aviation-events/chili-chilly-fly-in/

Great info guys, never even thought about dropzones. During mid 70s thru late 90s when wife/I skydived we flew to boogies and didn't RV except Quincy.

ASA, we'll be taking our 56" 182 (sold T210) we bought recently. We're doing the typical fix and add stuff to make it our own. It's going to be a fun plane; basically, a sideXside longer trip replacement for Husky (more room, faster and the dreaded NLG). When we get back from AZ I'll try to catch you before you head north to show it to you.

Thanks

Jack

fredy wrote:I’d agree that 8FD3 is not “challenging”, but it’s a good place to camp and RV parking (Krul Lake) is walking distance to the airstrip, so about ideal for what your describing. It’s a Forest Service strip and requires prior permission, but the only time I’ve heard of anyone being denied is if it’s being used for official business (fire fighting). We moved away from NW FL a couple years ago, but that was a regular stop for us when we lived in the area.

Tripple Tree Aerodrome (SC) is usually a fun fly-in. It’s a private field, so not normally open, but depending on your dates, they have a winter fly-in in Feb.
https://tta.aero/aviation-events/chili-chilly-fly-in/

I’m wintering in Georgia and 35 minutes from Triple Tree. Thanks for posting about the Chili fly in!

pburns wrote:Winter Haven,
Landed there to puke once. Jack Borwn's sea plane base is next door. Was worth the stop I guess.
Pete

Just down the road is Cherry Pocket. I don't know how many but there are some motorhome spots, I think.

Restaurant, bar, motorcycles, cabins, motorhomes, airboats, fishing, and seaplanes. What's not to like? Only thing missing is a place to land on wheels but Lake Wales (jump zone), Winter Haven, and Bartow are all nearby.

Even if you don't stay there it's worth a visit.

flyingjack wrote:We're doing FL & SE USA next winter (2022/2023) with camper (I drive) and STOL 182 (wife flies) and many RV parks require way advanced reservations- up to a year in advance. We park RV for several days, weeks or whatever and fly out from near by small airports. Worked great in Idaho with Husky but plan on 182 for this trip. That being said, I'm looking for fun/challenging strips or cool flying places to go in Florida and southeast US. Any links, suggestions or PIREPS is appreciated. Text, email, PM or on forum.

BTW, 2022 May-July: looking forward to extending ID trip into OR and WA-San Juans.

Thanks in advance for any info/advice.

Jack 303-356-7767
[email protected]

Your living the dream

Have a look at Cedar Key.
http://www.cedarkeyairport.org
And, Everglades City.
https://www.airnav.com/airport/X01
If you go to Everglades city, have dinner at the Rod and Gun club. Tri-ad sea foods for lunch.. This is OLD Florida.. Salt of the earth country. GREAT people.

MooseMeat wrote:Have a look at Cedar Key.
http://www.cedarkeyairport.org
And, Everglades City.
https://www.airnav.com/airport/X01
If you go to Everglades city, have dinner at the Rod and Gun club. Tri-ad sea foods for lunch.. This is OLD Florida.. Salt of the earth country. GREAT people.

I'll second the recommendation for Everglades City. I went there last year and had lunch at Triad... very good. You can rent a bicycle from the airport and ride into town if you fly in.

I stayed at Arcadia (X06)... can't say enough good about it! Nice people, camping on the airport, showers, bicycles.... short hop into town which seems to be known for antique stores. Quiet and laid back.... away from the tourist traps... if you like that sort of atmosphere. I'm not sure what facilities they have for motorhomes but I would give them a call and find out. They seemed very accommodating.

I have friends who live full time in their motorhome and they always stop at Cedar Key on their trips through the area. Airport very near town too.

The BCP forum is making my job much easier. All I need to do is have fun.
Thanks everyone for info.
Jack

As far as just "neat" strips to visit in the airplane:

X25 Chalet Suzanne is neat and has some history. Little bumpy, but not really a problem.

TPF Peter O'Knight is in a very cool spot and is close to downtown Tampa, if you're into that. Fun approaches over the water.

SPG Albert Whitted has a great airport restaurant and is walking distance to some cool art/museum stuff.

TTS The Nasa Shuttle Approach, neat just don't touch down. Ask tower if they're open, or just go for it if not.

There's a pretty neat bombing range on the ground in R-2910A north of Orlando. Call Jax or Orlando to see if it's cold.

1J9 Ft. Walton Beach is a fun little skydiving strip on the water that can be a challenge depending on the winds.

Jack, we always stop at Cross City CTY, get fuel and call George at Gulf Cart Co. 352-543-5090 and he meets us at Cedar Key CDK with a golf cart for we keep for a day or two,

We like Crystal River CGC, has grass & asph runways, the Manatee's there are neat.

Stop at Arcidia X06 on the way down to Everglade City X01, don't miss the Stone Crab Claws, get an air-boat ride and see the gators.
Ditch the RV and fly over the islands to Marathon MYH and get car and tour the Keys.

Drive the RV to the Cherry Pocket its a great place to eat, wish I would have reserved RV spot there when I had the chance.

How the 182 coming along?

Mike, still waiting for new rt bladder- 3 weeks turning into 3 months and counting. Everything else good to go.

To add a few more to the list

- Key West
- Captiva Island [need to know an owner as its private]
- SPG - Albert Whitted airport is great, you're downtown St Pete, close to the city, great approach
- Sebring - Cool to see old 727's and stuff parked around, Food + Gas is usually reasonably priced here

More seaplane stops are
- Tavares - America's Seaplane City
- Mt Dora - great little town you can walk to after beaching
- Lake Weir - Eaton's restaurant on south end of the lake

Can't go wrong with Cherry Pocket, every Seaplane owner should go here. Also another +1 on Everglades city, especially if its Stone crab time.

nickelb wrote:To add a few more to the list

- Key West
- Captiva Island [need to know an owner as its private]
- SPG - Albert Whitted airport is great, you're downtown St Pete, close to the city, great approach
- Sebring - Cool to see old 727's and stuff parked around, Food + Gas is usually reasonably priced here

More seaplane stops are
- Tavares - America's Seaplane City
- Mt Dora - great little town you can walk to after beaching
- Lake Weir - Eaton's restaurant on south end of the lake

Can't go wrong with Cherry Pocket, every Seaplane owner should go here. Also another +1 on Everglades city, especially if its Stone crab time.

AirCam is based out of Seabring. That's where we ferried my Champ from. I didn't get to swing by the AirCam headquarters, but there were several of them flying around. That could be a fun stop. They are cool airplanes.

Pete

Planning to fly my 180 down to south Florida and maybe the Bahamas in the first couple weeks of December. Great info in this thread -- any updates or new places to check out?

I didn't see it mentioned in this thread but maybe missed. Dog Island (FA43) is a pretty cool grass runway on an island a few miles off the panhandle coast. My girlfriend and I have landed there a few times and its a 100 yard walk to pristine white sand beaches.

I managed to get the 180 down to Florida last month for a few days. I looked for Old Florida, and I found some of it. Highly recommend a trip like this. Not backcountry, but fun.

First stop was Cedar Key (CDK), the shortest public use runway in the state. I've heard about this place for years and it lived up to my expectations. It's an old Florida town at the end of the road that got its start as a wood source for pencils. Now it seems to be a refuge for those who thrive off the beaten path, and the people could not have been nicer. I got a ride into town, found a clean room, and had a great conversation at the Island hotel bar with a retired Marine and his daughter.



I walked around town the next morning and ran into the Marine again. At least four people offered me a ride to the airport but I was in a walking mood and the weather was nice, so I hoofed it. Cool look at the town after departing.



I headed down the coast past Tampa and all the built-up areas. The beaches looked clean and peaceful from 1500 AGL but I headed south to Arcadia, which has the trifecta... a gas pump and a grass strip and a campground. But I had to keep moving. I had to get to Miami for work. More good people... A CFI I met there told me to park at Hollywood and said I could use one of his parking spots. I knew I was in good hands when I tied down next to a fleet of banner-towing Pawnees.



After work I got the heck out Miami and headed across to Everglades City. I followed the road across because the swamp looked unforgiving below me. I saw lots of 172s doing flight training over the swamp just west of the MIA Class B. Not my cup of tea.

Everglades City is another cool spot. I walked into town and enjoyed a lunch of stone crabs. But this town has a different vibe than Cedar Key, and I preferred Cedar Key. Everglades City seems to cater more to tourists there to see the national park.




I had grand intentions of heading to the Keys and the Bahamas. I had a couple days open in my schedule but a huge weather system was moving in with gusty winds and heavy rain. So I bailed, heading north. A couple days later I looked and I made the right decision. This isn't what I wanted to be flying in.



My last stop was Apalachicola. This is a place I will be back to visit. Fantastic old hotel in downtown Apalachicola with cold beers and fresh oysters nearby (although not from Apalachicola Bay). It's a little touristy, but I thoroughly enjoyed my night here.



There are a few backcountry-ish strips in Florida. Dog Island (mentioned above) looks promising, and the lady that answered the phone said they request a $20 donation. I didn't stop this time but I'll be back. All in all a great trip! Like most of my 180 trips, I'm juggling the weather, my schedule, and my desires... so I didn't go everywhere I wanted to go but still thankful for the experience.