Arcadia is a small city located in Florida's DeSoto County. The community was founded during the mid-19th century, and it was named in honor of Arcadia Albritton. She was the daughter of two pioneer settlers in the area named Thomas H. and Fannie Albritton. Arcadia once baked a birthday cake for Rev. James Madison Hendry, and he named the town after her out of appreciation. The city of Arcadia grew significantly after the Florida Southern Railway was built through town in 1886. This led to it being officially incorporated only a year later. Arcadia was destroyed by a fire on Thanksgiving Day in 1905, but it would recover and be rebuilt several years later.
Arcadia has remained a relatively small community throughout its history. Today, the population is approximately 7,500. Like much of Florida, the city is surrounded by natural beauty. If you want to get out and enjoy the gorgeous weather, you could spend the day picnicking or observing the wildlife at Morgan Park. Another good option is to go for a scenic hike along the Platt Branch Wildlife and Environmental Area Trails. If you enjoy golfing, the Arcadia Municipal Golf Course is an excellent place to play a few rounds.
There are plenty of quality indoor attractions around Arcadia, too. One popular spot is the Cultural Center of Charlotte County, where you could catch a musical performance or comedy show. You may want to take some time to visit the DeSoto County Courthouse, a fascinating building that has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. When you're ready to eat, some of the tastiest food in town can be found at Slim’s BBQ & Grill. The locally-owned, family-run business offers fantastic ribs, brisket, and chicken.
DeSoto County Watermelon Festival - The annual DeSoto County Watermelon Festival takes place every May in Veterans Park. In addition to lots of tasty watermelons, the festival features a beauty pageant, boat races, live entertainment, and much more.
DeSoto County Fair - Taking place at the DeSoto County Fairgrounds in January, the annual DeSoto County Fair features lots of family-friendly activities. There will be great food, live music, livestock events, games, bull riding, and more!
Greek Festival - Come celebrate Greek culture at the annual Greek Festival in late February. The event is taking place at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox in Port Charlotte and will feature food, dancing, grape stomping, and shopping.
One of the most amazing natural areas in Florida is Everglades National Park, which comprises roughly 1.5 million acres in the southern part of the state. Consisting of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes, and pine flatwoods, the park is home to rare creatures like Florida panthers, American crocodiles, and manatees. During your visit, you can embark on an airboat tour through the wetlands, hike through the tropical wilderness, and observe the area's fascinating birds. The park also offers great opportunities for backcountry camping.
If you're looking for a more traditional Florida experience, you could make your way to the beautiful Biscayne National Park. The 172,000-acre park features crystal-blue ocean waters and sparkling coral reefs. The water wonderland offers world-class opportunities for activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and boating. If you go diving, you can even check out some of the incredible shipwrecks in the area in addition to the awesome sea life.
If you don't mind a longer journey, you can travel to the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. Located about 70 miles west of Key West, the tranquil park can only be reached by boat or seaplane. Comprising seven islands in the Gulf of Mexico, the park is most known for its historic fortress and lighthouse. While you're there, you may be lucky enough to observe the many sea turtles that call the islands home. You can also enjoy activities like fishing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, and paddling.
Situated along the beautiful Myakka River, Myakka River State Park features wetlands, prairies, pinelands, and palm trees. The park is a great destination to see alligators, turtles, and other interesting wildlife. It's also an excellent spot for boating, fishing, canoeing, hiking, and biking.
Highlands Hammock State Park is located on the shores of Lake Wales Ridge. The park is home to lovely trails, unique flora and fauna, and towering oak trees. Popular activities for visitors include hiking, fishing, biking, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, and boating.
Another wonderful natural area near Arcadia is Lake Manatee State Park. The park is a popular spot for water-based recreation, such as freshwater fishing, boating, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, and canoeing. There are also several miles of hiking trails and off-road biking trails to explore in the area.
There are many interesting monuments and landmarks that you can visit while you're exploring Florida. If you head down to Key West, you can check out the Southernmost Point in the Continental United States. At the site, you'll find a large, multicolored buoy that you can pose beside when you commemorate the visit with a photo.
You can also stop by the Kennedy Space Center, which is located east of Orlando. The site is famous for hosting rocket launches. There are also many awesome exhibits and displays where visitors can learn all about the fascinating history of space exploration.
Near Tampa, it's worth taking some time to browse The Dalí. The museum, which is most known for its distinctive architecture, houses the world's largest collection of Salvador Dalí's paintings and sculptures. Plus, the museum offers events like yoga, lectures, and live music regularly.
There are some lovely spots to camp near Arcadia, and one example is The Tides RV Resort. There, you can stay at one of the 389 full-hookup RV campsites and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. You'll also have access to amenities like a huge clubhouse, pickleball courts, heated pools, spas, a fitness center, and many more.
Another quality campground to consider is the Jasmine Breeze RV Park, which is home to 18 RV campsites with full hookups. The park is a great choice for those who enjoy outdoor recreation. There are nearby opportunities for fishing, scalloping, biking, fishing, and kayaking.
You could also stay at the Torrey Trails RV & Golf Resort, which features 368 full-hookup RV campsites available for $79 per night. The campground offers a nine-hole golf course, a heated pool, a nature preserve, and a three-mile hiking trail. There's also a fitness center, laundry facilities, and showers.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Arcadia, FL, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Arcadia?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Arcadia from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Arcadia?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.