🌟 Southern Loop Adventure Begins: From Savannah Lakes to Disney Magic & Onward to the Forgotten Coast

Our Southern Loop trip is officially underway, and like any good adventure… it started with a little chaos, a lot of laughs, and a whole bunch of memories already in the making.

🏕️ First Stop: Savannah Lakes RV Resort — Hardeeville, SC

Before we ever reached Disney, our very first stop was Savannah Lakes RV Resort in Hardeeville, South Carolina — right on the cusp of Savannah, Georgia.

This place was beautiful. Wide, clean sites, tons of amenities, and the kind of peaceful atmosphere that makes you instantly say, “We need to come back here for a longer stay.” It was the perfect overnight stop to ease into the trip… even if the universe decided to throw us a curveball right out of the gate.

🔧 The Hot Water Heater Saga

Just as we were settling in, we discovered that our hot water heater cap had broken, which meant we couldn’t get water into the coach. At all.

Cue the adventure.

From South Carolina all the way down through Florida, we spent two days stopping at multiple RV stores, hardware shops, and supply centers — and nobody had the part we needed. Not one.

So we rolled into Disney’s Fort Wilderness with no running water, relying on the campground restrooms and showers. Thankfully, Fort Wilderness has some of the nicest facilities you’ll ever find, but still… it wasn’t exactly the plan.

Then, in a moment of pure RV‑owner magic, I was flipping through the manual and decided to dig through the parts bag that came with the coach when we bought it. And there it was — the exact replacement part we needed.

Two days of searching, and the solution was sitting in our own storage compartment the whole time.

But hey… that’s RV life. A little unpredictable, a little chaotic, and always a good story later. The important thing is: we have running water again, and the rest of the trip should be smooth sailing. Fingers crossed.

🐾 Disney’s Fort Wilderness: A Special Kind of Magic

Once the water situation was fixed, we could finally settle in and enjoy our stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground — one of my favorite places on earth.

I’ve been coming to Disney since I was about ten years old, every two years like clockwork, so we’re talking thirty‑plus years of memories. But in all that time, I’ve only stayed on Disney property twice.

There’s just something different about being inside the Disney bubble.

And for us, the biggest blessing is that Disney has a campground where we can bring our home — and our dogs — with us. Our dogs are family, and having them by our side makes every trip feel complete.

Fort Wilderness was gorgeous as always: towering trees, peaceful paths, golf cart rides, and that warm Florida sunshine we desperately needed after leaving behind freezing temperatures in South Carolina.

🌴 Next Stop: Eastpoint, Florida — The Forgotten Coast

Now we’re rolling west toward Eastpoint, Florida, a place we’ve never visited before. It sits on the panhandle and is part of what’s known as the Forgotten Coast — a stretch of Old Florida that escaped the heavy development seen elsewhere.

A few things that make Eastpoint special:

A Working Waterfront With History

Eastpoint has long been the heart of the Apalachicola Bay seafood industry. Generations of families have harvested oysters, shrimp, and blue crabs from these waters.

Gateway to St. George Island

Before the bridge was built in the 1960s, Eastpoint was the supply hub for the island — and that heritage is still felt today.

Unspoiled Old Florida

Quiet roads, wide‑open water views, and a slower pace that invites you to breathe deeper and stay a little longer.

We’re staying at a coastal RV resort right across the street from the ocean, and I can’t wait to see the views. After weeks of cold weather, the warm Florida air feels like heaven. And since we live in the Upstate — where fresh seafood is a rare treat — we’re definitely looking forward to enjoying the local catch.

We’ll be here for two nights, soaking in the scenery and sharing plenty of photos.

🏖️ Then Onward to Alabama

After Eastpoint, we’ll make our way to Orange Beach, Alabama, marking our very first time in the state — another one checked off the map. We’ll be staying at the Heritage Motorcoach Resort, and that stop will get its own post because it deserves the spotlight.

For now, we’re just grateful:

Warm weather.

Running water.

Happy dogs.

And the open road ahead.

Stay tuned — the Southern Loop adventure is just getting started.