Need advise on Florida hang....

**LuvmyBonnet** · 01-28-2015, 19:17

So, I am coming down to Florida on March 14-21. I will be staying in Venice Florida. I love paddling the Myakka River. I'll do a day or 2 of paddling there as well as Oscar Scherer State Park. That's about as familiar as I am with Florida's water and parks. I will be bringing my hammock and I am renting a kayak and car so I would appreciate any advise on any great paddle/camping locations. That would be great if there were any group hangs in the area on those dates.

**WaffleBox** · 01-28-2015, 20:19

My favorite place to paddle and camp are the 10,000 Islands off the coast south of Naples. That's probably about an hour south of Venice.

**LuvmyBonnet** · 01-29-2015, 22:15

Originally Posted by WaffleBox

My favorite place to paddle and camp are the 10,000 Islands off the coast south of Naples. That's probably about an hour south of Venice.

Thanks WaffleBox this is just the stuff I'm looking for.

**FLRider** · 01-30-2015, 11:51

I'm not familiar with that area, but it's worth checking out the Southwest Water Management recreation website. Most of the water management campsites are free here in FL.

Other spots to check out:

Florida State Forests

Ocala National Forest (This is a ways--perhaps a 3 to 4 hour drive--but it's awfully pretty and has very good hiking and paddling.)

Florida State Parks (Note that you'll need 2-inch straps for both your hammock and tarp in state parks down here, and that not all parks have spots to hang. It'll behoove you to call ahead and make sure that the particular park you want to go to has spots.)

Hope it helps!

**LuvmyBonnet** · 01-30-2015, 21:26

Hey, I'll be on vacation so I've got no problems driving 3 or 4 hours for premium hang/paddle spots.
Looks like I have a bunch of research to do to decide on destinations. I'm also going to be getting a week long fishing license if that makes a difference on site choosing. Not that I know what I'm catching. I usually have to take a picture with my phone and ask a friend what it is? I guess last year I was catching some pompino. They were fun.
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Thanks for the input guys it helps!

Seriously!! 2" on tarp and hammock, damm looks like someone has got to get some webbing

**LuvmyBonnet** · 02-03-2015, 20:05

Thank you to Wafflebox and FLRider for the input. I'll look into those.
So lets see if I have this correct. FL State parks require 2" straps for Hammock and tarp?!? (That just seems ridiculous) but National parks have no regulations? Do they enforce this at the State Parks? I really don't want to buy a bunch of straps that I'm only going to use in Florida.

**FLRider** · 02-03-2015, 21:25

Originally Posted by LuvmyBonnet

Thank you to Wafflebox and FLRider for the input. I'll look into those.
So lets see if I have this correct. FL State parks require 2" straps for Hammock and tarp?!? (That just seems ridiculous) but National parks have no regulations? Do they enforce this at the State Parks? I really don't want to buy a bunch of straps that I'm only going to use in Florida.

National parks require straps for the hammock, but not the tarp--and they don't have a set rule (as far as I know) as to the width of the strap. 1" works just fine, and at least some of the campgrounds in the national forests rent straps for folks to use if needs be.

As far as I know, state parks enforce their 2" straps rule. Up until the year before last, they didn't allow hammocks at all, due to a law that prohibited tying anything to a plant in a state park (you couldn't bear bag legally in state parks). I've avoided state parks since I got burned on my cross-Florida bike trip last March (due to unannounced changes in the regulations during the week before I left on the trip), so my knowledge is what's on their web page.

However, my experience in the past has been that, yes, state park officials are definitely willing and able to enforce regs at their campgrounds. They have to be, given the number of folks that stay at those campgrounds all year round (and especially this time of year; the snowbirds have a very active RV community). It's the same issue as any large body of people: the yahoo quotient stays the same per capita, but you have so many more due to the larger total number of folks that they get noticed by those in power. So, more rules and more enforcement with less personal judgement relied upon. Unfortunate, but--as far as I can tell--inevitable.

Hope it helps!

**WaffleBox** · 02-03-2015, 21:25

Enforcement varies from park to park, but please don't use anything less than 2" in the state parks even if you think you can get away with it. The 2" rule was the compromise they came up with to end the ban on hammocks in state parks. We will be very sad if they go back to banning them because people don't follow the rule.

**LuvmyBonnet** · 02-07-2015, 16:53

I'm going to buy some 2" straps because I am looking to hang in some State Parks. I'll need 4 since they are required for the tarp also. So I'm planning on going to Strapworks and getting some 2" Polyester seatbelt webbing. What length would you suggest for Florida trees?? I'm looking at Myakka and maybe Ocala. 5ft sound about right?

**LuvmyBonnet** · 02-09-2015, 20:16

Where's the love.(just 2 of you?!?) I know there are a boat load of you FL hangers. Chime in! I'd love to hear about a good place to hang and paddle. Also any info on what you do for your 2" tree straps....