Our First RV Meetup at Champions Run (and the Magic of Silver Springs State Park)
There is something special about meeting your people in person. We had been part of the RV world online for a while, but the Adventure Bandits Bash 2023 at Champions Run Luxury RV Resort was our first real RV meetup, and it turned a weekend in Ocala, Florida into one of our favorite trips of the year. Add in a glass-bottom boat ride over some of the clearest water we have ever seen, and this one had it all.
Here is the rundown on the resort, the meetup, and the nearby state park you should not miss.
Is Champions Run RV Resort worth it?
Yes, especially if you have a big rig. Champions Run is a luxury RV resort in Ocala, Florida, with wide streets, oversized lots, full resort amenities, and an easy hop to I-75. It is polished and friendly, just know it leans more adult-and-couples than kid-focused. For a comfortable, social home base, it is a great pick.
About Champions Run Luxury RV Resort
Champions Run sits in Ocala, about 45 minutes south of Gainesville, in Marion County, which is big horse country. The resort brings a tropical, modern-luxury feel to the RV world, with an oversized clubhouse, a sparkling pool and cabana, and a full-service tiki bar that makes you feel like you are somewhere far away. There is bocce ball, pickleball, plenty of green space, and an easy walkability to the whole place.
A few honest notes from our stay:
It is very big-rig friendly. If you are in the 40-foot-plus club, there is room for you and two vehicles. The wide streets made maneuvering easy.
Location is a win. It is just a short drive off I-75, one of Florida's main routes.
There is a dog park. It is small, more of a stretch-the-legs and potty spot than a big run, but it is flat and does the job.
Not the most kid-centric. There is a camp store and laundry, but if you are looking for kids clubs and playgrounds, this may not be the resort for you.
The Adventure Bandits Bash
The real reason we came was the Bash. We got in late thanks to work and missed the Thursday and Friday activities (our parents repped for us in the meantime), but we caught the heart of it. The clubhouse potluck gave full family-reunion energy, complete with a raffle and a group photo that tied it all together.
We got to meet so many families, including a bunch of our own subscribers and other YouTube creators. Then it was outdoor time: the pool, line dancing, a campfire, and the showstopper of the night, a Polynesian fire dancer. It was our first RV meetup and definitely not our last. If you have been on the fence about going to one, go. The community is the whole point.
Silver Springs State Park: ride the glass-bottom boats
On Saturday, the Adventure Bandits set up an outing to nearby Silver Springs State Park, and it might have been the highlight of the trip.
Silver Springs is famous for its glass-bottom boats, and for good reason. The glass-bottom boat was actually invented here back in the late 1870s, which makes this one of the oldest tourist attractions in the entire country. We waited in line (the staff warned us not to feed the gators or the wild monkeys, which, more on that in a second), boarded with a few other Bash families, and set off.
Our captain was enthusiastic for the full 30-minute ride, even when the boat started acting up and we nearly got stuck in a cove. Right as we pushed off, a manatee swam directly under the boat. We floated over five of the larger springs that feed the Silver River, including Mammoth Spring, the big head spring of the system. The water is so crystal clear that pictures genuinely cannot do it justice. Our honest review: 10 out of 10, you have to do this.
One tip: the water clarity can take a hit from runoff during the rainy season, so visit in the drier months if you can. And buy tickets ahead during busy times, because it gets crowded.
The wild monkeys (yes, really)
After the boat, we hit the walking trails, and this is where Silver Springs gets wonderfully weird. The park is home to wild rhesus monkeys. The story goes that in the late 1930s, a boat tour operator known as Colonel Tooey released a handful of monkeys on a river island to draw tourists. As anyone who paid attention in science class could guess, they thrived and multiplied, and their descendants still roam the park today.
If you run into one, the move is simple: stay calm, slowly back away, and do not make direct eye contact. We also passed several alligator paths heading toward the water (no gators that day, thankfully) and walked by a dock featured in the old TV show Sea Hunt. It is a beautiful, slightly surreal place to stretch your legs.
Tips for this trip
Bring the big rig with confidence. Champions Run is built for large RVs and easy maneuvering.
Go to the meetup if you can. The RV community is the best part of this lifestyle.
Do the glass-bottom boat in the dry season for the clearest water, and book ahead.
Keep your distance from the wildlife. Monkeys, gators, and manatees are all part of the deal here.
The Verdict
This weekend had everything we love about RV life. A gorgeous resort, a new community of friends, and a bucket-list boat ride over water so clear it looks fake. Champions Run gave us a comfortable, social home base, and Silver Springs gave us a memory we will be telling people about for years. Our first RV meetup absolutely will not be our last, and if you get the chance to do one near a spot like this, take it.
Want to feel the Bash energy and see that crystal-clear water? Watch the full video on YouTube: Our 1st RV Meetup at Champions Run, and subscribe to Finding Our Forte for more RV adventures.
