I Thought This Campground Was Too Expensive. Then I Stayed There.

Before we ever pulled into Otter Springs, I had already made up my mind about one thing: I thought it was a little expensive for camping. I had heard plenty of good things about the place, but I was still wondering whether it could really be worth the cost.

Then we got there.

The campground was clean and well kept, and it didn't take long to realize there was a lot more to the place than just a campsite. There's a beautiful clear spring, a covered pool, rustic cabins, RV and primitive camping, heated showers, a general store, a lodge, a playground for the kids, and access for getting a kayak on the water.

There was one catch for me: no hammocks. So this trip meant tent camping. That's part of getting outside, though. You adapt to the place instead of expecting every place to adapt to you.

And because this is Florida, naturally a thunderstorm decided to join us. There's something about sitting under cover while rain pounds the campsite that can turn an ordinary evening into one of those memories you actually keep.

Dinner didn't hurt either. We fired up the Blackstone and cooked garlic-and-jalapeño-brined chicken with roasted jalapeños. Nothing fancy—just really good camp food after a day outside.

By the end of the stay, the question I had when we arrived had pretty much answered itself. Was Otter Springs the cheapest place we could have camped? No. But after seeing the spring, the facilities, the campground and everything there was to do, I understood the price a lot better.

More importantly, I left wanting to come back.

That's the funny thing about first impressions. Sometimes you've got to actually pitch the tent, weather the storm, cook dinner and spend a little time somewhere before you know what a place is really worth.