The Florida Keys by Camper Van, With Baby

Nice read. Must be a fun and enjoyable roadtrip esp with kid

Staying organized when traveling with kids is key. These are some really good tips to create space in an RV / motorhome: http://blog.quickrvinsurancequotes.com/979-2/

We owned our own VW camper van until 5 years ago and we did this trip several times--with no baby-on-board--we're seniors! We stayed at Boyd's each time and really enjoyed the atmosphere, despite it being a very busy place. The clientele was varied and included people from up north who came down just to go fishing, bringing a freezer along for their catch. The pelicans hung out in droves where the fisherman came in to clean the fish. And it was an easy drive into Key West daily for the scene there. The information regarding rentals of camper vans listed some outside the U.S. I would like to add a company in The Netherlands that we used 3 times for camping in Europe. http://www.bwcampers.com/en/rent They used to be close to the Central Station in Amsterdam but have moved. We absolutely loved our van camping in Europe. You really feel apart of things when you are in a campground surrounded by Europeans. People approached us and spoke to us in Dutch because of our license plates but were very friendly when they discovered we were American. I highly recommend this way to see Europe. And the campgrounds are sensational and inexpensive.

I love reading about road trips and you are brave to travel in a van with a 9 month old. Anyway, sounds like a fun adventure!! After spending a lot of time traveling across and down Florida over the past year, I think Publix has replaced Whole Foods as my supermarket of choice.

How did the author get reservations at three state parks on the keys. We have been trying for years to no avail.

All that, the words "camper van" in the title and no photo of the van? I am so disappointed.

Very enjoyable article. I think I stayed at that South Beach hotel once!
Since the next article which extols the wonder of camper vans doesn't mention the downside, I will have to do it here.
For folks who are considering camper vans,there is a downside. I speak as a mom who started camping with a child when the child was two. We had a pop up trailer, not a camper van. First of all, we could not afford one and secondly I have never found them to be very usable when you have children. The only benefit seems to be having a place you can put the child down for a nap while the vehicle is moving. And I think most modern moms would prefer to have the child in the car seat anytime the van is moving.
But the downside to camper vans is tremendous, and that is the fact that you have to pack up the van any time you need to move it more than a few feet. So, if the child has a need for something in the middle of the night, like more diapers because space is tight when you are camping, someone must either walk to the nearest store or you must stow everything for the trip to the store. There are plenty of other downsides, but it has just occurred to me that the reason this article is in the Times today is because many people think camper vans are cool. Silly me, I thought they really wanted to go camping.

Thanks. Realistic and intelligent.

Wonderful way to explore and relax with the family. Serendipity intervenes, and I love it when a plan comes together.

Yes, uncomfortable, bugs, gators and sometimes the buggy man. Please stay away, pretty, pretty please wink wink

What naivety. The Keys were essentially coral rock islands with scrubby vegetation and swamps filled with mosquitoes and other nasties. Humans have drained, channelized, and added beach sand throughout portions of the Keys, but Freda clearly expected some sort of paradise that does not exist in spite of man's interventions. On the other hand, it is refreshing to see a travel piece with a bit of realism rather than relentless positivism.

Nice article-I always enjoy maps. As an RV'er I been to the Key's, probably will never go back, the thrill is gone.
I'd like to know how they got their reservations at the parks. Fl. parks allow reservations to be made 11 months ahead. One has to be on the internet exactly when the time opens to secure a site. Almost impossible.
I applaud the family for traveling with the child...start them young to enjoy the wonderful people and places we are blessed with! Also, do not allow our national parks and lands to be taken from 'we, the people' and sold via the states to extractors!

Should we be concerned about Zeka in the Keys?

As you drove down to Key West you must have noticed a parallel roadway now used mostly for fishing and whatnot. That used to be *the* road - the southernmost stretch of US 1. A two-lane built on top of the old railway embankment with rails used as guardrails in spots. Real white-knuckle stuff when a semi passed coming the other way. My wife and I had time off in the summer of 1971 so we decided to drive down from the DC area. Out of the frying pan into the fire. Interesting trip. Our car had AC; not much else down there did. A night in the Turbeville Motel in Turbeville, SC was $8. In the HoJo in Fort Lauderdale it was $15 with AC and a pool. Times have changed.

Nice story about the Keys. Last week, the Miami Herald published a story with pictures about crocs in the Keys. It was an amazing photo of this huge croc in someone's pool..then departing the pool walking slowly down to the beach swimming off into the Keys sunset.

The link: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article5579...