Destin Army Infantry Recreation Campground (U.S. Military FamCamp) - Destin, Florida (September 2025)

Our first camping trip since the "bike accident" was a success. We decided we needed to go out again in Rosie, our Airstream trailer.

Becky wanted to see if we could get reservations in a campground along the Florida or Alabama Gulf Coast. Experienced campers know it is always difficult getting reservations in a prime park in that location. Starting the search less than two weeks before wanting to arrive is just about impossible to end successfully.

I had low expectations when I called Destin's Army Infantry Recreation Center. I was surprised when they said they had a "premium" site available for two weeks. Of course, I quickly grabbed that site. More than likely someone cancelled his or her reservations just before I called.

Welcome to Destin

We classify Destin as a top-tier military FamCamp. It is along the Bay in Destin and has the campground along with a hotel and cottages for guests. They also have a great swimming pool and splash pad setup for the children. The fishing pier in this park is well maintained and we enjoy walking out on it. This is a great park and it has some spectacular views of sunsets.

Entrance to the Destin Army Infantry Recreation Campground

We had a unique experience with our truck while we pulled Rosie to Destin. Our truck is equipped with the technology allowing it to drive itself. It is better at catching speed limit signs than me. Often times, I'm just another passenger in the truck. 

As we were approaching Fort Walton, I noticed that we were going very fast. We were at 75 mph and accelerating. 

It was easy to figure out what went wrong. The truck misread the sign for Florida Highway 85 as the speed limit and was dutifully trying to reach 85 mph while pulling Rosie when I took over the driving responsibilities from the truck. That was the first time the truck misread a highway sign for a speed limit.

Sites are assigned when you arrive at this FamCamp. By the luck of the draw, we were assigned a site on one of the campground’s curves. That made it easy for us to park Rosie.

Walking around the hotel section of the campground

Walking Suzy in a park near Watercolor, Florida

There was a new gadget in the office area. It was a coffee machine. We enjoyed getting a cup of coffee every morning.

A pirate ship sails past the campground 

Plants in the park 

We were not the only ones enjoying the sunset

We celebrated our 54th wedding anniversary while at this FamCamp. We went out for an authentic Gulf seafood dinner.

Enjoying lunch on our anniversary

A couple we talked to one evening during sunset recommended the Gulfarium, a marine life aquarium and show in Destin. We both enjoyed the exhibits and shows.

Enjoying the show at the Gulf Aquarium

There was a bumper crop of sandspurs in the campground area this time. We had to carefully check Suzy every time we took her out for a walk.

We always enjoyed riding our bikes at this campground on previous visits there. Since the bike accident, our bikes are staying at home. We discovered that we also enjoyed taking walks. Our watches told us we walked more than five miles a couple of days.

We constantly looked for dolphins in the bay or at the beach while at this FamCamp. We saw dolphins on our last day in the bay near the pier.

Rosie in the Destin Army FamCamp

Here are some specifics about this campground:

• We found one loop in this campground
• Our site was a back in
• Our site did not have any shade
• Typical of most FamCamps, most sites had very little space on both sides
• Our site was paved with asphalt and concrete
• Our site was level and we didn’t need use any leveling tools
• Our site had 20, 30 and 50 amp electrical service 
• Our site had a water connection
• Our site had a sewer connection 
• The trash dumpster was at the entrance of the campground. It was easy to walk there with your trash
• There was a bathhouse in the campground. It was very clean 
• There was a laundry room in this campground 
• The park provide WiFi service. 
• AT&T provided 2 bars of 5G voice and data service over our campsite 
• We were able to watch PBS using Rosie’s TV antenna
• The FamCamp provided a cable TV connection with more than 80 channels we didn’t want to watch
• The park has a swimming pool and a splash pad for children. The splash pad was closed for repairs 
• This was a military FamCamp. You must have a military ID or a VA Health ID that states you have a service-connected disability to camp in this park
• There were restaurants and shopping nearby
• This was a pet friendly park 

Enjoying the beach

Another sunset at Destin

Solo pelican flyby 

R. Shaefer Heard COE Campground - West Point, Georgia (September 2025)

What happened? Why has it been 15 months since our last Rosie adventure? (Our Airstream trailer answers to the name Rosie.)

There was a clue in one of our last postings from more than a year ago. I briefly mentioned a bicycle accident at a campground last June. I wasn’t aware of how that statement would affect our camping plans for the remainder of the year. 

Yes, I injured my back in that bike accident. It turned out to be a compression fracture in my spine and it was very painful. That accident abruptly ended our camping season and we had to cancel our camping reservations in four different campgrounds so that I could have back surgery. 

While in the process of those medical treatments, my physician found a few more medical “surprises.” My fragile physical and emotional mental states were introduced to the “C” word. If there is a positive spin to this, the cancer was found early and the treatments  have been successful. There were other medical issues and we are dealing with them. 

Rosie, our Airstream trailer, in storage for more than a year

Then there is Rosie. Rosie sat idle for more than a year while I was being treated by an army of doctors. We knew that health reasons kept us home during prime camping season, but we were not prepared for how much we missed our Rosie adventures. We were not ready to give up camping in our Airstream trailer. 

After several encouraging medical appointments, we started looking at the calendar to see if we could squeeze in a potential Rosie trip. Our target date was after Labor Day because we knew the number of families camping would dip then.  To be practical, we wanted to find a campsite no more than 100 miles away. That way we could be home in a flash if I had a problem. 

There were several campground candidates, but we were able to reserve 10 days in R. Shaefer Heard Corp of Engineers Campground near LaGrange, Georgia. We camped in this park several times before and always enjoyed being there. 

The sign at R. Shaefer Heard COE Campground

We noticed a problem while loading Rosie. We filled the fresh water tank and turned on the pump to make sure it worked. Becky noticed that the shower head was leaking water even when it was off. 

From past experience, I knew the shower water cartridge needed to be replaced. I had to go to three stores before I found the correct cartridge and that put us behind schedule. We decided to replace the cartridge at the campground. 

Rosie in our site at R Shaefer Heard COE Campground

We found our site and setup before sunset. Yes, it was great to be back camping in Rosie. 

We always enjoyed riding our bikes in this and most campgrounds we visited. After my accident last year, the bikes were left home. We still enjoyed walking around this campground. In fact, I think we wore our dog out taking so many walks. 

We decided to work on replacing the shower cartridge our first day in the park. We quickly realized we were in over our heads and drove up to talk to the camp hosts. They recommended a couple of Mobile RV Repair people, but both were on vacation and couldn’t help. We finally found a service that could help us in three days, but he wanted $300 just to show up. Repairs were in addition to that fee. 

Changing Rosie's shower cartridge

We decided to tackle the shower problem again and were able to successfully fix it. I think the camp host was surprised and impressed that we did it. By the way, the camp hosts were very friendly and helpful during our time there. 

We did have a unique problem while camping at R Shaefer Heard COE Campground. Wasps were very insistent on building nests by one window and in the ball-hitch receiver area of Rosie. I don’t think any of our neighbors had that problem. We now carry wasp spray along with ant insecticide. 

Rosie's site in R Shaefer Heard COE Campground

We have to rate this adventure as a success. The ten days flew by and we started talking about going out again in a few weeks. 

Here are some specifics about this campground:

• There were multiple loops in the campground
• Our site was a back in. It had a moderate access slope, but the parking pad for Rosie was level 
• Our site had shade
• Most sites had some space on both sides
• Our site was paved with asphalt and the actual RV pad was concrete. Out site was level and we did not need to use any leveling tools
• Our site had 20, 30 and 50 amp electrical service. The entire campground lost power for two hours one day
• Our site had a water connection
• Our site did not have a sewer connection 
• There was a dump station in this park 
• There were several trash dumpsters in this campground. The one closest to our site was a long walk away
• There were multiple heated bathhouses in the campground 
• The park did not provide WiFi service 
• AT&T provided 3 bars of 5G voice and data service over our campsite 
• We were able to watch CBS using Rosie’s TV antenna. Digital channels seen were ION, Laff and an all crime channel we were not paranoid enough to watch. 
• There were restaurants and shopping within 10 miles of the campground 
• This was a pet friendly park 

Just prior to sunset

Suzy posing for this photo

A family of deer visited our site daily

Rosie from the bathhouse path

Suzy on a walk

Sunset

Cypress tree with knees

Becky's watercolor interpretation of Cypress tree with knees

Sitting at the picnic table outside Rosie

Sunset at the campground

Breakfast at a nearby restaurant

Sunset

Another sunset