With Christmas fast approaching and about to embark on another winter RVing season my head is filled with memories of our 2011 Christmas spent relaxing at Sunshine Key RV Resort. We were about midway on our 1 year journey circumnavigating the US and decided to spend the extra dough and treat ourselves to a week long stay in a resort style RV park smack in the middle of the Florida Keys. We were able to as Thousand Trails members snag a weekly special price of $399 plus tax. I know, I know seems expensive still but these are the Keys at high season and there isn’t much land down there! That is actually a pretty decent deal. The park is in an amazing location at the end of the famous Seven Mile Bridge and just before Bahia Honda State Park.
It didn’t take long to get into the laid back lifestyle of the Keys. Soon we were setup and enjoying the fantastic weather. Blue skies, palm trees, turquoise water and warm tropical nights. I was amazed at how little the temperature changed from day to night, the swing was maybe ten degrees, 80-85F during the day and a very comfortable 70-75F at night.
Sunshine Key is situated around 30 miles or so from Key West. We headed in and took a trolley bus tour of the main touristy sites and walked around doing some site seeing and shopping. My favorite spot on the Keys though was Bahia Honda State Park just a few miles down the road from our RV park. Spectacular white sand beaches! We did some snorkeling, kayaking and strolled up and down the miles of gorgeous beach. There was also a nature preserve called the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key. We visited one afternoon to get a look at the native Key Deer and other local wildlife like alligators.
Back at the RV park they hosted a “Feliz Navidad” party at the resorts large pool area. Free food and drink attracted a huge crowd and we enjoyed a fun-filled day on Xmas eve. The RV park was all lit up at night and many of the seasonal folks had there RV sites decked out for the holidays. Even the many golf carts were decorated up for Christmas. I had brought along our tree, but being tight for space it is a little small but I think it’s pretty cute!
Couple video highlights from our visit
I’m not sure what this Christmas season holds in store but I hope it is half as good as our time spent in the Florida Keys that year. Memories I’ll have forever.
Beautiful pics and video. We were at Sunshine Key for Christmas of 2012. Nice place but expensive as we don’t have Thousand Trails membership. Would love to stay at Bahia Honda, but you have to book a yr ahead or luck up on last minute cancellations. Thanks for sharing.
Love the pics also,especially the Charlie Brown Christmas tree …..LOL. Thats what makes great memories. This just make me want to retire, but i still have a few years to go
Beautiful! We are planning on spending next Christmas in Florida, just outside Tampa, and are taking our trailer down with our pets. It will be the first US trip for us and we are very excited!
Nice, great place to go for a first trip. Loved the white sand beaches along the gulf coast there.
Thanks for sharing, Ray!
Nice place . We tried to get into Bahia Honda for March 2015 but it was booked up 11 months ago. Will try again for next year. I am going to take a look at Sunshine Key . Thanks for sharing those lovely photos.
Your welcome, Gord. Bahia Honda has a gorgeous beach, loved it. One of the only beaches in the Keys. It books up fast that’s for sure, but sometimes you can snag a cancellation maybe. Cheers Ray
fantastic