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We had the pleasure of speaking with Allison Conboy who is the Park Services Specialist at Little Talbot Island State Park. When asked which campsite she should choose to spend just 1 night camping at – her choice was quick and obvious. To hear her answer, listen to our full interview here:
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Camping Little Talbot Island State Park
Camp Florida: I’m talking Allison Conboy today. She’s a Park Services Specialist at Little Talbot Island State Park, in Florida. How’s it going, Allison?
Allison: It’s good. Nice, and sunny and warm down here.
CF: Warmer than what we have in Minnesota here.
Allison: I would imagine.
CF: So, let’s start with how long Little Talbot Island State Park has been there and how it got started.
Little Talbot Island State Park
Allison: I think it’s been here since 1952 or 1953, (Allison later told us that it’s 1951) and I’m sorry I can’t remember exactly which year, but it was setup as a State Park to use as a recreation area for the people of Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach, which are the two closest cities.
CF: Okay. How big is it?
Allison: It is a little longer than five miles, and a half a mile to three-quarters of a mile across.
CF: So, really pretty good size.
Allison: Yeah, it’s a big Island.
CF: And what are the most popular activities there?
Allison: Basically anything to do with the beach. We’ve got, like I said, over five miles of pristine beach. It’s a totally undeveloped barrier Island. So, surfing is really popular. We have a good break about a mile north of our North Beach area. We get lots of surfers in at the low tide, which is kind of unusual. Then we have a lot of recreational fishermen. They fish for whiting or redfish, flounder, pompano, sea trout.
CF: Okay.
Allison: We get a lot of swimmers, families, recreators for family picnics, and then of course camping. We have a campground.
CF: So, tell me a little bit about the campground.
Allison: Yeah, we’ve got forty sites. Forty campsites that are family friendly. All of our sites have water and electricity. Also, a fire ring and picnic table. Some of our sites are tent only, because we do also allow RVs in our Park. We do reserve sites one through eight as tent-only sites.
Tent camping area
CF: Okay. Do you guys have hookups for RVs?
Allison: Yes, we do have hookups for RVs.
CF: Okay. And so, there are 30amp hookups. Is there 50?
Allison: 30.
CF: 30amp hookups, and then is there are dump station around there?
Allison: Yeah, there’s a dump station as you leave.
CF: Cool.
Allison: And then we’ve got two bathhouses too with hot showers.
CF: Okay.
Allison: And laundry facilities.
CF: Okay, great. And so, what are some of the more popular attractions in the area? If I was camping there for the weekend and wanted to head out for an afternoon in the car, what are some places I might go to?
Allison: Little Talbot is kind of nestled in between a bunch of other State Parks that we manage. Big Talbot Island is known for its skeleton beaches, where a bunch of live oaks have been eroded right on the shoreline, so we call it Boneyard Beach. There’s just these huge oaks washed up right on the shoreline.
CF: Cool.
Allison: It’s really pretty. And then, if you keep driving north, you get to Amelia Island. Fernandina Beach is really popular. It’s got a historic town, shopping, and ice cream, and restaurants – all that kind of stuff.
CF: Okay.
Allison: And if you head south from Little Talbot, Fort George Island is full of history. There’s Kingsley Plantation, which is a National Park Service site with the oldest, continuously standing plantation in Florida.
CF: Wow.
Allison: And then there’s also the Ribault Club on Fort George Island, which was built in the 1920s and is now a museum.
CF: Okay, two more questions for you, Allison. If you could spend just one hour in Little Talbot Island State Park, how would you spend your time?
Allison: I would rent a bike from the Ranger Station – they’re only two dollars an hour – and bike up to the North end of Little Tablot Island. It’s just beautiful up there.
CF: That sounds awesome. And if you could spend just one night in Little Talbot Island State Park, which specific campsite would you choose and why?
Allison: 37.
CF: What do you like about 37?
Allison: It’s awesome. It’s right on the marsh, so you get a view of the water, and then it’s pretty much next door to our nature trail loop.
CF: Okay, perfect. Well, thank you so much, Allison, for taking some time out of your day to chat with us and give us some more information about Little Talbot Island State Park in Florida.
