"Over 785 Acres of Peace and Relaxation” is exactly what this Lakeland, Fla. campground offers its guests. Containing more than 500 full hookup sites, this pet-friendly resort offers easy access to the Central Florida’s top attractions as well as the award-winning beaches of the Gulf Coast, but guests don’t ever have to leave the campground to find plenty to do.

“Sanlan RV & Golf Resort includes 8 ½ miles of nature trails, a butterfly garden and the Sanlan Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary,” says Laura Smith, the park’s manager. “The spacious sites are built with recreation and leisure in mind. While here, one feels as though they are miles away from everything, yet we are conveniently located to shops, restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters and other services. We also have a golf course with three nine-hole courses and a driving range.”

These courses offer plenty of challenges, including narrow and wide fairways, doglegs, water hazards, sand traps, elevation changes, wetlands and wooded boundaries. There’s also a three-mile jogging trail that circles the course.

 

The campground offers a full list of activities and amenities to keep guests busy, including heated swimming pools, 18 lighted shuffleboard courts, four recreation halls and church services during the winter. There are also pickleball, bocce and horseshoe games, ladies’ fitness classes, crafts and board games and a dog walk area. Guests can also fish along the creeks that lead to a lake nearby. Alligators and otters are frequently seen in the campground’s lakes and ponds as well as other animals, including bobcats and raccoons.

Sanlan Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the property, is said to rival many state parks in terms of its natural beauty. On the south, the property is bordered by Banana Lake, home to water birds, ospreys, and even bald eagles. This area is included annually in the Audubon bird count, so it’s a haven for bird watchers.

The Takeaway Tours are always one of the most popular experiences offered at OHCE—the outdoor hospitality industry’s premier event. The tours will take place on Monday, November 7 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and will also include Wekiva Falls RV Resort, Stage Stop Campground and Johnston Springs Resort. Reservations for the tours must be purchased as an add-on when registering for OHCE. For more information, including a complete schedule of events and to register, visit arvc.org/ohce