Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Coming to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve was an adventure all its own.  Using the GPS system, we located the park.  Leaving a main road we jumped onto a bumpy, narrow, sandy street that signs beckoned us to turn down to find the park.  We traveled for several miles on the lonely street surrounded only by vast expanses of dry prairie on both sides and not a soul anywhere to be found.  Finally, we came upon a kiosk with several signs greeting us to the park and all it had to offer, but one sign in particular caught our attention first….

I hear this park is a real BLAST!  

We had reserved our site well in advance of our Florida adventure, so we knew we had spot 18.  The signage was sparse and we weren’t sure where to check in, so we turned into the family campground and found our wonderful pull through site that had an amazing view from the get go…and called the ranger, who delightfully, came out to us to check us in…and even brought with her the park stamp for our park passport and loads of information on bird species, things to expect in the park and other helpful information.

You can see the rain curtain in the distance!

After we plugged in and got set up, I saw two male deer grazing outside.  Seeing them was a true delight.  There were no other people camping with us this first night.  It was just Vincent, the cat and me…and the deer.

Out here it gets DARK.  I don’t mean a little bit, I don’t mean dim, I mean DARK.  With cloud cover and no moonlight, you couldn’t see a thing…and it was quiet.  REALLY quiet.  Like tomb quiet.  When you heard a noise, you know it wasn’t a nearby family of campers.  It was something WILD.  For a night, it was DARK, QUIET and WILD.  It was what we imagined it must have felt like for pioneers in the Florida wilderness….except we have an RV and we were surrounded by modern facilities…but we could IMAGINE. 

The land is laden with beautiful wild flowers of many different varieties… which in turn attract many different butterflies.  The ranger told us this was the “Butterfly capital of the world”.  I can attest to that.  I saw at least 15 different kinds today alone.  It is spectacular here.  I asked the ranger what they wanted others to know about the park and she said: “Just how gorgeous it is here.  It really is the REAL Florida here…no man made nothing.”  She’s absolutely right. 

We stuffed the cat in the car and went motoring through the park to get an idea about the layout here.  They have two campgrounds…a family campground and an equestrian camp.  You can camp in either one, whether you have a horse with you or not.  The family campground is more open and has the expanse of dry prairie in front of you, if you’re over in site 18 or 20.  As you travel back toward the visitor center, it gets shadier and tree filled.  The equestrian camp is lush and shady and there are plenty of places for your horse to be. 

We drove by a horse today.  The cat was initially intrigued, then he thought better of it….and was simultaneously beside himself frightened.  He’s not sure he likes horses.  Deer…yes.  Horses and cattle, NO.

The ONLY regret we have is NOT stopping to get food at the store prior to getting here.  We should have pulled into that Publix when we had the chance.  We have enough food and almost enough water to make it for four days…but the cat, he has no nibbles….and for our big boy, that’s not a good thing.  The bowl of nibbles ran out this afternoon.  We tried opening up another can of food, but he went through that already and is now taken to sitting in front of the bowl and looking woefully between his empty bowl and us…as if to say: “I did NOT sign up for head navigator to be treated like THIS!!!!”  

There doesn't seem to be any nibbles in this dish.  What kind of crap is THAT?

We would, kiddo, but the NEAREST GROCERY STORE (with a name you’ll recognize) is over 26 MILES away…he will have to make due (as will we) until Monday when we depart for Wekiwa Springs.

Tomorrow, I’m going to walk a trail.  It will be my first time out on the trails, but they are calling me.   Hopefully, they won’t be too “explosive” with wildlife… or too much of a “blast” while I’m out there.  I asked about the ordnances, and was told, “Well, one hasn’t gone off since 2003.”…Is that supposed to be comforting?  To our way of thinking, that means they’re long overdue to find another.  With my luck, it could be me.  Here’s hoping!  Until tomorrow!  Have a great night!