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Camping in Florida

Perhaps best known as the home of Disneyworld, EPCOT, Disney Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, America’s sunshine state is so much more than a global centre for theme park fun.

A family destination, with more magical moments and theme park thrills than you could possibly cram into a single holiday, Florida is also a place of beautiful beaches and an amazing variety of wildlife.

The home of stylish Miami and fashionable Ocean Drive; the incredible Florida Keys; Daytona Beach; historic Jacksonville, those gentle giants the manatees, and the Everglades National Park, this world-famous state is also the place where NASA set its sights on winning the race into space.

In fact, just touring the Kennedy Space Centre and witnessing the effort and imagination required to put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin Jnr on the moon is almost certain to give you goose bumps.

Whatever you choose to do or see on your Keycamp holiday to Florida, one thing's for certain: one trip simply won’t be enough. So buy a good quality guidebook and carefully plan out your days - because this is one holiday where you’ll want to make the most of every single minute! Plus remember to pre-book your theme park tickets with us… you could save £££s.

Camping on the East Coast of the USA

Quaint coastal towns where daily life goes by at a much slower pace, bustling cities, glorious beaches, spectacular mountains, not-to-mention a rich and varied history…

Holidaying on the East Coast of the United States (or the ‘Eastern Seaboard’ as our friends across the Atlantic prefer to call it), is a wonderful way to discover rich, diverse landscapes and sample the wealth of culture that exists in this country.

With campsites in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, we offer you the chance to explore a whole range of different locations. In fact, from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to the unspoilt beaches and amazing walking country of North Carolina, to the beautiful countryside and Myrtle Beach golf courses of South Carolina, this is a perfect destination for enjoying and exploring. There’s all that history to be discovered as well. After all, the War of Independence was a significant event in the creation of America as we know it today - and much of it took place around Virginia.

Camping in New England

The very thought of holidaying in New England delivers images of lush green farmland, historic towns with twisting streets, impressive cities, pretty villages, lovely summertime resorts and those crimson-gold autumn landscapes.

In fact, the New England countryside is so breathtakingly beautiful during the later months of the year that it is one of the few destinations where many holidaymakers plan their break to coincide with the autumn! Like most places in the USA, you’ll never have the time to see all that New England has to offer in just one holiday. So it really is worth pre-planning your sightseeing before you arrive.

With great beaches, bags of colonial history, world-famous universities, historic sea ports with strong roots in the American Revolution, miles of countryside to explore and even the chance to take a whale-watching cruise, one thing’s for certain: whatever time of year you visit New England, you’ll take home a wealth of memories.

If you’re after a relaxing break, New England’s gardens and parks are just waiting to be discovered. Love exploring cities? Then make your first stop historic Boston or take a walk around Cambridge. Situated just across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge is home to the world famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Adore the coast? Then make for the sandy beaches of Provincetown, or the contrasting coastlines of Martha’s Vineyard. Oh, and if you really want to get a taste of New England at its best, try the local seafood – particularly the fresh lobster, clambake or chowder.

Places to visit

Florida

Everglades National Park

The largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S., the Everglades National Park is home to rare and endangered species. For an amazing Everglades adventure, take an airboat ride, a guided tour or even kayak around the water trails. There’s every chance you’ll spot an alligator or two, as well as crocodiles, turtles and manatees in their natural setting. The bird life here is also rich and diverse and includes the famous pink flamingos.

Marco Island

One of the oldest inhabited areas in the United States, Marco Island is graced with miles of white-sand beaches. Take the Marco Island Trolley for a tour of Marco Island, getting back in time for a few holes on one of the superb public golf courses. Then again, why not treat the family to lunch aboard the paddle wheel cruise boat Rosie or at one of the island’s upmarket resort hotels?

St. Petersburg

Located on Florida’s West Coast and bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, St. Petersburg is home to 35 miles of beautiful white-sand beaches. ‘St Pete’s’ famous pier has several attractions including an amusement arcade, weekly festivals, live music and an aquarium. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from.

Florida Keys

A group of over 1700 islands, the Florida Keys provide the perfect base for exploring Florida’s great outdoors. Key Largo offers some of the best snorkelling and diving in Florida, and you can also explore sunken shipwrecks on a guided trip. For an extra special family treat, why not swim with dolphins and sea lions, or view the varied sea life by glass-bottomed boat? Later on in the day, head over to Mallory Square which hosts nightly entertainment at every sunset, including jugglers, clowns and musicians. Key West is the southernmost tip of the Keys, and was once home to the prolific writer, Ernest Hemingway. Visit his house and spot descendants of his 6-toed cat!

East Coast USA

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Continually being re-shaped by tides, currents and winds, Cape Hatteras is the first National Seashore in the USA and includes a combination of natural and historic attractions. A wonderfully unspoilt area of salt marshes, sandy beaches and narrow barrier islands, Cape Hatteras also has one pretty big attraction – ‘The Big Barber Pole’, the tallest lighthouse in the nation. From April to October, visitors can climb the 268 steps to the top, from where the views are breathtaking. The waters of Hatteras are thought to hold one of the highest densities of shipwrecked vessels in the world. At The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, you can learn about the ships and sailors that lost the battle against piracy, war and the sea itself.

Roanoke Island

This 12-mile long island is where the English first settled in America. It is also where you will find the fishing village of Wanchese, a great place to hire a boat for an afternoon’s exploring and a perfect spot to try the local seafood. The island also has a festival park where you can go back to the days of the early settlers, meet the friendly natives and have a great time. It’s here that you will find ‘Elizabeth II’, a replica of a 16th Century ship that would have been used to transport colonists to the New World in 1585. On board, you can meet sailors who will tell you about their experiences in Elizabethan times.

Williamsburg

The Historic Triangle of Virginia, which also includes nearby Jamestown and Yorktown, is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with Williamsburg located in the centre. At Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum, you can experience the lifestyles and culture of 18th Century colonial life.

Charleston

A trip to Charleston is the perfect way to mix old with new, enjoying sightseeing and shopping in this vibrant city, all while seeing how daily life used to be. There are lovely beaches, plus a wide range of guided tours are available locally. Charleston’s historic downtown district is the Cultural capital of the South. You can take a tour of historic landmarks including 18th and 19th Century homes. One to look out for is the Aiken-Rhett house, filled with amazing antiques from Europe, including crystal, bronze chandeliers as well as classical sculptures and paintings. The original outbuildings remain and include the kitchen, slave quarters and stables. The city’s flea market dates back to 1841 and is the perfect place to pick up everything from antiques to local produce. Also visit the world famous Boone Hall Plantation. One of America's oldest working plantations, cotton, pecans and strawberries are grown here. Boone Hall has also been the site of many movies.

New England

Bar Harbor

There she blows! This is your chance to shoot the magnificent mammals of the deep with your camera. And what a memory that will be! You can take a whale-watching tour from Bar Harbor that will take you around a wildlife refuge island (home to several species of seabird) and give you a glimpse of Humpback and Finback whales as well as dolphins, sharks and porpoises. Afterwards, take a free tour of Bar Harbor's premier microbrewery, the Atlantic Brewing Company. You’ll be able to sample the beer, which is also available for sale.

Boston

New England’s oldest, largest and perhaps most significant city, Boston is also home to the legendary baseball team, the Red Sox. (For an all-American family treat, why not visit the Red Sox website to see if a game coincides with your holiday?) If you’re a bit of a culture buff, explore the city’s many museums, including the JFK Museum and the Museum of Science which houses dozens of exhibits, a planetarium and a butterfly garden. Then again, you could just relax in a local eatery and sample the seafood that Boston is famous for. One sight not to be missed is ‘Cheers’ (formerly the Bull & Finch pub) on Beacon Hill. This place was the basis for the TV show ‘Cheers’ and was also where many outdoor scenes for the series were filmed. If you want a look inside the famous bar, you can see a replica at Faneuil Hall.

Mystic

This is a charming town in ‘the quiet corner of the state’ which hosts festivals and events all year round. It has plenty of museums, including the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, a history of Native American culture, and the Children’s Museum, a wonderful place for children to learn and explore. The film Mystic Pizza was shot here – plus the kids will love the fact that you can even get pizza delivered to your campsite!

Cape Cod

This peninsular has stunning beaches, quaint shops and is easy to explore by bike. The shoreline has easy to follow nature trails for walking and hiking, with numerous traditional buildings along the way. On the way to the Cape, stop off in Plymouth and walk the decks of the famous Mayflower.

Nantucket

Once the world’s leading whaling port and still home to a small fishing industry, Nantucket is a ‘National Historic District’. This is due to the considerable proof of 17th Century life and because it has one of the highest numbers of pre-Civil War buildings in the country. Nantucket has a very laid-back feel and is a popular spot for shoppers thanks to its independent boutiques and art galleries.

Martha’s Vineyard

A short ferry ride from Nantucket is Martha’s Vineyard, one of the leading vacation spots in the USA. Martha’s Vineyard has neat towns, peaceful wildlife reserves and lovely beaches. For crashing breakers, head for the southern side of the island; for gentler waters, visit the north or east coasts. If you have the time, take a look at the town of Oak Bluffs, where the locals hold a colourful lantern festival in mid August. And head over to the pretty little island of Chappaquiddick. By the way, as its name suggests, Martha’s Vineyard is famous for its wine, so make sure to visit one of its many vineyards and sample the produce.