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Alligators and the Boardwalk Talk We Give Every Trip
November 24, 2025Florida kids grow up around gators, but campgrounds are different. The short rules we repeat before every trip, and how Nico tests them.
What Renting a Pop-Up for Three Nights Cost, Delivery Included
November 18, 2025$435 for the rental with delivery and setup, $876 for the whole trip. The line items, the deposit and whether it convinced us to buy.
Myakka River State Park in a Rented Pop-Up
November 13, 2025Three nights over Veterans Day in a delivered pop-up: alligators along the river, the canopy walkway and our first nights off the ground.
One-Skillet Chili for the First Cool Night of the Year
November 4, 2025When it finally dropped to 62 degrees, we made chili in the 12-inch skillet over the backyard fire pit. The recipe, toppings and cleanup.
Park Ranger Nico and a Sea Turtle: Our Homemade Halloween
October 31, 2025A thrifted khaki shirt, a felt hat and a Junior Ranger badge pinned on crooked. Nico's homemade costume, Maya's sea turtle shell and our route.
The First Cool Front: When Camping Season Really Starts in South Florida
October 28, 2025The calendar says fall in September. The real start is the first front that drops the dew point into the 50s. What we watch for, and book.
Mosquitoes Won Until We Bought a Screen Shelter
October 21, 2025Bug spray, coils and a Thermacell only went so far. Why we paid $239 for a pop-up screen shelter and how it changed evenings at camp.
Renting a Pop-Up Before Buying One: How We Picked a Listing
October 14, 2025We wanted to try a pop-up before spending thousands. How we compared rental sites, why we chose delivery and what the protection plan covered.
When the Pilot's AC Died: A $1,640 Repair and Four Days in a Rental
October 7, 2025A compressor failure on the Turnpike, a week of waiting on parts and a rental SUV. What it cost and what it changed about our fall plans.