Destination: August Road Trips

If you are itching to hit the road this summer, here are three drivable trips for your family.

By Karen T. Bartlett

Photos by Cristy Nielsen Photography

A girl shows off her catch from a houseboat on the St. Johns River.

Cristy Nielsen Photography

This sheltering-in-place thing hasn’t been all that different for me, space-wise. My sunny home office doesn’t have to double as a breakfast nook. But here’s the thing: I’m an explorer by trade, and I haven’t clutched a boarding pass or seen a snow-capped mountain in so long it feels like another lifetime. The Japanese shrines and fairy tale castles will have to wait till next year, but for minimal social interaction, stunning scenery, and memory-book experiences in mind, here’s my plan for right now.

Houseboating on St. Johns River

I’ve plied the waters by Zodiac, river barge, Nordic icebreaker, bareboat charter, seaplane, cruise ship, shrimp boat, stone crab boat, and even an African Queen lookalike, but one vessel missing from my wish list is a houseboat. Luckily, one of the most picturesque houseboat destinations in the United States is a little more than four hours up the road, bordering the Ocala National Forest just north of Orlando. The St. Johns River is long and lazy, flowing north (true!) through stunning ecosystems of bird-populated marshes, swamps, quiet coves, oak and cypress forests, and the sites of ancient Timucuan Indian mounds.

For local charm and authentic Old Florida cuisine, there are fish camp restaurants (and even a fancy marina restaurant). Houseboaters spend a lot of time catching their own freshwater bass and catfish and grilling on their decks. The best-loved destination on the houseboat itinerary is Blue Springs State Park, where a large population of West Indian manatees winter in the crystal clear water.

The houseboats for rent at Holly Bluff Marina (Deland) range from 38 to 63 feet and sleep from 4 to 10 with living rooms, queen beds, full baths, and all the essentials, starting at $1,100 for four days/ three nights. Go for the midweek special for a free extra day. Houseboating.org/ St-Johns-River-Houseboats-for-Rent.

The Dolphin Connection at Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key.

Photo courtesy of Hawks Cay Resort

Yurt Camping in Cloudland Canyon

It’s true! A 10-hour drive from Naples is a 1,000-foot deep gorge, where not one but two stunning waterfalls plunge down its rocky face to the canyon floor; where sunrises and sunsets paint the sandstone cliffs in brilliant hues, and hiking trails both gentle and really strenuous wind through dense hardwood forests.

The place is Cloudland Canyon State Park, atop Lookout Mountain on Georgia’s northwest corner bordering Tennessee. For families who want the mountain ambiance but prefer a teeny bit of comfort to the cold hard ground (you can guess where I stand on this), a yurt is ideal. The round, high ceilinged wood and canvas Mongolian-style structures are charming, with actual beds, hand-carved furniture, heaters, ceiling fans, lockable doors and – sorry, purists – even electrical outlets. You get a deck, a picnic table, and a fire ring, and there are hot showers nearby.

Besides hiking, there’s horseback riding, bike trails and bike rentals, disc golf, geocaching, and many picnic areas. You can take the 600 steep stairs down to the spot where Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls plunge spectacularly onto the canyon floor, but beware: what goes down must climb back up!

Rates are $100 per night. Other camping options, from pioneer backcountry tent sites to cabins, are available. www. GaStateParks.ReserveAmerica.com. Learn more about the park at www.GaStateParks.org/CloudlandCanyon.

Dolphin Connection on Duck Key

Three hours and 20 minutes from Naples, give or take a few depending on whether you stop for a supply of Key lime pie, lies Duck Key at Mile Marker 61 Oceanside, smack between the Middle and Upper Keys. The jewel of the island cluster is the AAA Four Diamond Hawks Cay Resort, where you can socially isolate at any level you choose. Kids can interact with Priscilla the Pirate Queen, Clarence the First Mate, and Koral the Mermaid, who perform daily; hand-feed the giant tarpon that hang out at dockside; and splash around in huge freshwater pools with fountains and slides.

The resort’s 30-year-old nationally accredited Dolphin Connection program puts you as up close and personal with the friendly mammals as you wish to be, from kissing, hugging, and feeding them at dockside to actually cavorting with the pod in their own saltwater lagoon. Serious dolphin-lovers can even sign up to be Trainer for a Day.

Families can book a private deep-sea fishing trip or go flyfishing in the saltwater flats; they can paddle among the mangroves, enjoy outdoor musical entertainment without the crowds, and pick from a gazillion other ways to savor the iconic Keys ambiance.

After Hawks Cay got slammed by Hurricane Irma in 2017, it received a $50 million upgrade, so everything’s sparkly fresh and new. Check out the super-cute three- and four-bedroom cottage-style villas at Sanctuary Village, with full kitchens, private splash pools, and even Publix grocery delivery. www.HawksCay.com.