Category: Suwannee River Activities

Why an RV is the Best Road Trip Vehicle

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

When we think of road trips, we think long, uncomfortable car rides with our friends to a destination that may not be worth the trip. Road tripping in an RV is where the game is changed for the better. The beauty of riding in an RV to a vacation destination is that there are plenty of stops you can make a long your trip.

Many places in the United States off RV Camping Parks like Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort & Camping.

You Don’t Have to Pay for Hotels

Owning or renting an RV allows you to have a home on wheels when traveling on the long road. You won’t have to worry about looking for costly hotels along the way that can make a dent in your budget. You have the opportunity to make your own meals and get a good sleep comfortably in your vehicle.

Boondocking is also a great way to save money on a long road trip in an RV. The benefit of boondocking is it’s free!

An RV Makes the Drive Much Better

Just imagine being stuck in a small car packed with your family or friends. There is no seat open for comfort, so you’re stuck up against each other. This is where the misery comes out during a road trip. No one enjoys being miserable in a car ride. With an RV, you have the space and comfort to enjoy the scenery outside and the drive.

What Can Do in an RV:

  • Play Board/Card Games
  • Play Musical Instruments
  • Cook food
  • Sleep comfortably
  • Read/Watch Movies

You Can Still Enjoy the Outdoors

If you’re looking for an authentic way of traveling, camping, and enjoying the great outdoors, you still can! At Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort & Campground, we have plenty of opportunities for you and your family to stop, stay, and take in the beautiful outdoors of Florida. Don’t let the RV lifestyle fool you. Just because you can go into a comfortable vehicle to eat and sleep, does not mean you’re not roughing it.

Contact Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort & Campground at 386-294-2510 today!

Give Dad Something He’ll Remember this Father’s Day

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

When you think of presents to give dad for Father’s Day, what comes to mind? A tie? A coffee mug? Nice gestures for sure, but probably not something dad will forever cherish.

People today value experiences more than things, especially when you’re spending time with those closest to you.

Okay, so Father’s Day is coming up. What are you getting dad? How about this year you arrange for a hunting/fishing trip at Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort & Campground?

How’d you like a picture of your dad smiling as he reels in a 12-pound bass off the bank of the resort? Or maybe a picture of him capturing a wild hog in the Mallory Swamp WLR?

Located in Mayo, Florida, Suwannee River Rendezvous is a great place for dads to “escape” their everyday lives. Too many dads today “work, work, work” and are always worrying about paying bills. Dads need a break from that now and then; it’s good for their sanity! What better way for a dad to unwind his mind and have some fun than to fish off the dock at Suwannee, take a boat ride, or explore the swamp looking for hogs? It’s time to get dad back to nature where he can grunt, sweat, fart and feel free!

Meanwhile, back at the resort/campground, dad can check out the cool Convict Spring, a natural, freshwater spring that actually feeds into the Suwannee River. If the weather’s decent, dad can go for a swim in the spring. But wait…there’s more: dad can dive down into the spring to find an underwater cave system entrance. That’s something he’d be talking about for years to come, right?

Men crave adventure. They have an inner need to explore. And many men want to fish and hunt– being “out on the land” or “out on the water” is their time to enjoy being male. It’s in the DNA.

So this Father’s day, surprise your old man with a hunting/fishing trip at Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort & Campground. Call 386-294-2510 to make arrangements today.

Explore the Natural Springs of Suwannee River

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

When visiting us at Suwannee River Rendezvous, guests get to see the beautiful Suwannee River and take in the beautiful water and scenic sights of northern Florida. However, have you ever wondered where it all comes from? Well, the answer lies in the Suwannee Springs.

For those who may not know, the Suwannee network of springs covers a vast span throughout the region and feeds into the river network, providing the waters that sustain the river as it flows from the headwaters in Georgia all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

One of the most prominent places to see these springs is the Suwannee Springs State Park, managed by the Suwannee River Water Management District. Located about 40 minutes from Suwannee River Rendezvous, the site features six different springs for people to take in and enjoy.

Once you arrive, you will notice all of the springs flow outward in a southwest direction, which funnels them into the Suwannee River itself. You will also notice that all six are clustered within the same 100-foot span of sandy terrain at the base of a 35-foot high bank stretching right along the south shore of the Suwannee River. The main spring is something to behold as well with its unique location. You can’t miss the sight of this spring, notably located within rock walls constructed as part of a bathhouse from the late 19th century.

The Suwannee Springs are more than just a historic site. Visitors can also enjoy swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and canoeing, hiking, a picnic area and trails for horse riding. All of these activities offer the perfect opportunity to get out and explore the area. Along with those great activities, the Suwannee Springs also are home to a wide variety of wildlife as well. Some of the animals you may see while there include gopher tortoise, gopher frog, Suwannee cooter, deer, turkeys and squirrels.

The river itself is also lined with rich history tracing back through generations of settlers in the region. As the state park’s brochure notes, Native American tribes in the region relied on the river for fresh water and access to game as far back as 12,000 years ago. In the 1500s, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto passed through the region, and in the 1800s, the region became populated by American settlers. There are also remnants of the Civil War that can be seen in places, including earthworks and other constructions that formerly were part of bridges and defense positions manned by Confederate troops.

If you want to explore the Suwannee River area and it’s great history, make your reservations at Suwannee River Rendezvous today. We have one of the springs that feed the river right here on site – Convict Spring – and several more within a short drive from the resort. We have plenty of space for RV and tent camping as well as a range of cabins and lodges for guests. For more information or to book your stay, call us at 386-294-2510!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding on the Suwannee River

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

Stand up paddle boarding (or “SUP) is one of the world’s fastest-growing water sports, and the Sunshine State is a top-ranked place to paddle. The state of Florida has an abundance of amazing paddle boarding spots, and one of them is right here on our very own Suwannee River!

So why is the relatively new sport of paddle boarding catching on like wildfire? There are several reasons, and in this article we’ll take a look at a few of them.

Reason #1: It’s easy.

Stand up paddle boarding is a sport that is very beginner-friendly. There really isn’t much of a learning curve, and literally anyone can be up and paddling in no time at all.

Reason #2: It’s for all ages.

Paddlers of all ages are enjoying this wonderful sport. It’s a low-impact activity that is safe and can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Reason #3: It’s a great way to meet new people.

SUP is a social sport, and there are an abundance of local paddling meetups that you can attend. Most paddle boarding enthusiasts are laid-back and friendly, and it won’t take long for you to make plenty of new paddling friends.

Reason #4: It’s dog-friendly.

Many paddle boarders enjoy bringing their dogs along when they go out on the water. It’s a great way to get your pup out of the house, and most dogs absolutely love coming along for the ride!

Reason #5: It’s healthy.

Stand up paddle boarding is a great way to get into shape, and it’s an excellent activity for increasing strength and overall conditioning. Whether your goal is muscle toning, weight loss, or simply some tranquil time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life — SUP is something that will have a positive impact on your overall health and well-being.

As you can see, stand up paddle boarding is a sport that has a lot going for it. It’s something that anyone can enjoy, and can have a very positive impact on your social, mental, and physical well-being. If you haven’t already tried paddle boarding, we encourage you to give it a shot!

If you want to learn more, our friends at InflatableBoarder.com have a free guide about Florida paddle boarding that we would recommend checking out. It covers the top spots in the state for paddle boarding, and even lists the Suwannee River as one of them! They also have a lot of inflatable SUP reviews published on their website, if you’re interested in buying a board of your own.

Happy paddling!

The History of Convict Spring

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

More than a hundred years ago, the serene site of Convict Spring looked mighty different, and not just because there were no cars, no planes overhead, no cellphones and certainly no TVs.
Instead, right here at the Suwannee River Rendezvous, if you were taking in the sights, there’s a very high probability you were working on a chain gang.

Back in the early 1900s, our spring was used by Lafayette County’s incarceration system, notes Florida Caves. Their prisoners worked on road construction projects – often called chain gangs – and when it was too late or too far to get the inmates back to the county jail, they would spend the night at remote camps scattered throughout the county, and Convict Springs was one of those remote camps.

It’s hard to imagine grizzled criminals gathered around campfires, the light reflecting in the spring, but history doesn’t lie. Every once in a while, someone will turn up an artifact of one kind or another that further confirms the property’s colorful past.

Convict Spring sits atop a fascinating underwater cave system as well, one we’re certain the convicts didn’t spend any time exploring. This particular cave system is a dangerous one, with a restricted entrance and the need for a side-mounted style of diving through extremely narrow passages, notes Cave Survey in its assessment of the spring.

In 2001, Dell Moats, John Moseley, Michael Poucher and Bill Rennaker swam through Convict Spring Cave to take a full survey. They captured extraordinary video footage showing the beautiful yet dangerous conditions inside the cave. We have DVD footage of their excursion, and in the lodge.

We invite you to come enjoy the spring – from the surface, of course – for swimming during the sultry summertime at Suwannee River Rendezvous. In the evening, over the sound of crickets and frogs, you might just hear the faint rhythm of a chain gang.

Convict Spring is just one of the many amenities and conveniences that makes our resort and campground such a popular destination for visitors from all across the country. To plan your trip, call us today at 386-294-2510.

4 Must Have Travel Games This Summer

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

If you are heading out on the open road this summer and are always trying to come up with the next best game for your kids to play, we have a few ideas for you.

If you are on your way to visit us at Suwanee River, even better! We can’t wait to see you this summer.

Travel Bingo – this themed game is great for time spent on the road. It keeps your kids focused on the trip, and not on how many minutes till they get to the destination.

This game will have road signs and other common items that people will see while on the road.

Movie and Name Games – this will test your and your children’s knowledge of pop culture. You will start by naming a movie for example “Finding Nemo” and then the next person would name a movie that starts with the last letter of the previous movie so a correct answer would be “Oliver and Company”.

You can do the same thing with celebrity names and go on for hours on end.

KanJam – this will get everyone up and out of the lawn chairs and out of the RV. If you have not heard of this game, it is so easy to setup – there are two goals and a Frisbee. The objective of the game is to score 21 points by throwing the Frisbee into the goals. Check out KanJam’s website or watch this video:

Farkle – if you are faced with a rainy day or a cold night and are looking for something that everyone will enjoy indoors, you should try Farkle, it is a dice game where the goal is to be the first player to get 10,000 points. Buy Farkle for your trip now.

At Suwannee River Rendezvous, we know how to have fun this summer with games, kayaking, fishing, entertainment and more. Contact us at 386-294-2510 and reserve your vacation spot today!

Looking To Vacation During Spring Break? Head out to the Suwannee River Rendezvous

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

With the spring semester just about half-way over, that means spring break isn’t too far away.

During this time, many will simply head home for some rest and relaxation while others will be looking to get away and enjoy themselves.

If you are a part of the latter, then the Suwannee River Rendezvous might be just what you’re looking for.

Now, at first, heading out to the wilderness might not be the first choice for college students but we offer a wide variety of fun activities that are sure to keep you and your friends more than entertained.

If you want to hit the water, we offer canoe and kayak rentals that will allow you to travel along the river. While on the river, you will be able to take in all of the beautiful sights that surround it.

There is also a great deal of wildlife around the river as well-meaning you might be able to get a glimpse of some of the animals that call the area home.

We also offer fishing for anyone looking for something more adventurous during their break.

While on the boat you will have an opportunity to catch numerous different fish including Large Mouth Bass, Suwannee Bass, Mullet, Bream and Channel Catfish.

We also offer affordable lodging as well. Whereas booking a hotel in tropical location might cost an arm and a leg, our pricing won’t cause you to break the bank just for a little fun on spring break. This will allow you more money for extra activities will on break, creating an overall more memorable experience.

Suwannee River Rendezvous is a resort and campground in Mayo, Florida with numerous activities that will make any vacation, including spring break, unforgettable.

If you would like more information on our campground or would like to book a stay with us, then call us today at 386-294-2510!

Suwannee River Rendezvous is a resort & campground offering a wide variety of attractions and activities to make your vacation great!

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

With summer not too far away, many families will be hitting the road in their RV for a nice vacation.

It could truly be a great time but if you don’t come prepared your trip might turn into quite the nightmare.

Bedding

Depending on the RV you’re traveling in will depend on what kind of bedding you bring. If it is strictly for traveling, then you will need a sleeping back and even a tent to sleep in. However, if it comes equipped with a bed, then a few sets of sheets should be more than enough.

Cooking Equipment

Again, this depends on what kind of RV you have, but some pots and pans should be able to handle anything you’re going to cook no matter where you do it. Be sure to bring along utensils like can openers and tongs also. If you can’t eat everything you’re bringing with your hands then bring along enough forks, spoons, and knives to last the trip.

Entertainment

Even though it’s a vacation, the travel can become quite redundant and boring after a while. So bringing along items such as board games and sports equipment will help keep things fun and exciting.

Clothing

If you’re traveling the country, be sure to have clothing for any situation you may encounter. Also, be sure to bring enough to last the whole trip as well because running out of fresh clothes will not be fun for you or your fellow travelers.

RV Essentials

Just as if you were traveling by car, it would be smart to bring some automotive essentials with you just in case. Bring a tire gauge, jumper cables, and tools such as wrenches or screwdrivers because out on the road anything could happen.

Suwannee River Rendezvous is a resort & campground in Mayo, Florida, offering a wide variety of attractions and activities to make your vacation great!

With so much to see and do, you won’t ever want to leave!

If you would like more information on our campground or would like to book a stay with us, feel free to contact us today or call us at 386-294-2510!