Florida tourism typically brings to mind crowded theme parks and packed beaches. But for RVers and travelers willing to venture off the beaten path, the Sunshine State offers hidden gems that showcase its authentic charm and natural beauty. Our RV Florida adventures have taken us to many stunning locations, but these hidden Florida destinations truly captured what makes exploring by RV so special.
Discovering Chase Sanctuary: Where Conservation Meets Connection
Just outside Webster, Florida, tucked away down quiet country roads, Chase Sanctuary provides a haven for exotic animals in need. Unlike commercial zoos, this 10-acre sanctuary focuses on rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation of endangered species – the kind of hidden Florida treasure that RV travelers are perfectly positioned to discover.
What makes Chase truly exceptional is their innovative approach to animal care. The open-air habitats allow rescued primates to live in natural family troops, climbing trees and foraging just as they would in the wild. Many of these animals were once exotic pets whose owners couldn’t properly care for them as they matured – a common issue the sanctuary works to educate visitors about.
Our morning at Chase included the unforgettable experience of lemur yoga – yes, you read that correctly! While practicing gentle yoga poses, curious lemurs interacted with us, creating both a serene and joyful atmosphere. The sanctuary also offers unique experiences like painting with primates, sloth meditation, and private sanctuary tours – making it a perfect RV Florida day trip destination.
It’s worth noting that Chase Sanctuary is serious about animal welfare and has thoughtful policies regarding visitors. They don’t allow very young children on tours, with minimum age requirements of 6 years for private tours and 8-9 years for group tours. This ensures both the animals’ wellbeing and a quality experience for visitors, as it allows staff to properly monitor interactions without distractions.
For those wanting an immersive wildlife experience, the sanctuary offers a stunning Spanish-style Hacienda on the property for overnight stays. This beautiful casita features three well-appointed bedrooms accommodating up to six guests, a pool, and a remarkable 600-foot boardwalk winding through natural wetlands that border thousands of acres of state forest. Staying at the Hacienda gives visitors exclusive access to the sanctuary experience while providing beautiful accommodations.
The sanctuary offers a variety of specialty add-on tours for visitors looking to enhance their experience. During our visit, we learned you can supplement the standard tour with specialized experiences like sloth encounters, anteater interactions, and otter meetings for an additional fee. These add-on options allow visitors to create personalized wildlife experiences based on their specific interests while supporting the sanctuary’s conservation mission.
See all of the experiences at Chase Sanctuary
Peace of Mind While Exploring: How Waggle Helps Us Enjoy Day Trips
One of the challenges of full-time RV life is leaving your furry family members behind during day trips. While Hugo stayed comfortable in the RV, we were able to explore with complete peace of mind thanks to our Waggle pet monitoring system.
Throughout our sanctuary visit and winery tour, we could easily check the temperature in our RV through the Waggle app. The live camera access let us visually confirm Hugo was happy and relaxed. What we especially appreciate about Waggle is its comprehensive alert system – if there had been any power issues or temperature fluctuations, we would have received immediate notifications via text, email, and app alerts.
The system’s recent updates have made it even more valuable for RVers like us. We can now track temperature and humidity patterns over time, and the location-based alerts adjust to our environment whether we’re in sunny Florida or headed to cooler climates. The GPS and geofencing capabilities also provide security when we’re away from our rig.
For those in our Like There’s No Tomorrow community, we’ve arranged exclusive savings on both the Waggle pet monitor (60% off with code “LIKE60”) and the Waggle Mini Camera (15% off with code “HUGO”). These tools have genuinely enhanced our ability to explore hidden Florida with confidence.
Masaryk Winery: Old Florida’s Hidden Gem
Just a short drive from the sanctuary, winding through old Florida farmland and horse properties, we discovered Masaryk Winery and Farm. This family-owned establishment perfectly captures the agricultural heritage that defines authentic Florida and exemplifies why RV Florida adventures can be so rewarding.
Our timing couldn’t have been better – they were hosting one of their small festivals the day of our visit. Beyond wine tasting, the property features a farm-to-table restaurant where everything served comes directly from their fields. Their “you-pick” vegetable garden allowed us to select fresh produce to take back to the RV.
The drive alone was worth the trip – meandering through countryside that feels worlds away from Florida’s commercial tourist corridors. For those who enjoy sweet, fruit-forward wines, their tasting room offers plenty of local varieties to sample. This is hidden Florida at its finest – authentic, rustic, and far from the crowds.
Why Off-The-Beaten-Path Florida Matters in RV Life
These hidden destinations represent what we love most about full-time RV living – the opportunity to discover authentic experiences that most tourists never see. By slowing down our travels and staying in one region longer, we’ve been able to explore beyond the obvious attractions.
Both Chase Sanctuary and Masaryk Winery showcase the heart of “real Florida” – a place where conservation efforts, agricultural traditions, and genuine hospitality create unforgettable experiences. These are the memories that make our RV Florida journey worthwhile.
Planning Your Own Hidden Florida Adventure
If you’re inspired to explore beyond Florida’s theme parks and beaches, here are a few tips for your RV life adventures:
- Research local wildlife sanctuaries that focus on conservation rather than entertainment
- Look for family farms and wineries that welcome visitors
- Take the scenic routes through rural areas
- Talk to locals for recommendations
- Use RV LIFE Trip Wizard to map out day trips from your campground
Have you discovered any hidden gems during your RV Florida travels? We’d love to hear about your off-the-beaten-path finds in the comments below!
