Q: Hello! My girlfriend and I live in Switzerland and will be visiting the Florida state parks in June. Are the state parks very busy during that time of the year? We have made campsite reservations for the first few nights (John Pennekamp & Everglades), but not for the whole period of our vacation (3 weeks) because we actually did not want to plan every single detail. Now we are a bit worried that we will have trouble finding free campsites on the state parks. Would you recommend to make reservations for the whole time, or should we be able to find free campsites on short notice without having lots of trouble? Thanks a lot in advance for your help! -- Bye from Switzerland, Christoph Borer

A: Christoph, thanks for giving us our first international question!

June is within Florida's wet season. Our dry season is roughly between November and April, and that's also the cooler season -- and the season when most tourists come to the state. (Lately, Florida hasn't had its usual rain and is experiencing a drought, but Floridians are hoping for the normal rain to return this coming wet season.)

Depending on which state parks you travel to, the state parks aren't typically as busy in June as they are in our dry season. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is busy year-round, however, and it's also the most-visited state park in Florida. June is an excellent time to go snorkeling at John Pennekamp. It will likely be crowded on the weekends.

As far as camping goes, it's good that you made reservations to stay at John Pennekamp and Everglades National Park because these are popular destinations. I always recommend making reservations for campsites. But I also appreciate your wanting to have the freedom to decide what you'd like to do when you get here. The chances are good that you'll find available campsites in June because not that many people camp in June. So I'd say to stick with your plan and be free!

If you haven't been to Florida before, you may be wondering why so few people camp in Florida in June. Well, I mentioned that June is during our wet season. It's also summer in our subtropical climate. Together, these conditions make for very humid weather in which it can be hard to breathe outdoors unless you're fit. It will be hot, and you will perspire just by sitting down. Mosquitoes and other insects will appear and bite you.

I don't want to scare you from coming to visit, but you should be prepared with insect repellent, clothing for rain, sunscreen, hats and lots of drinking water. One or 2 battery-operated fans should also be among your equipment. If you can, work some time for rest into the hottest part of each day: 11-3.

Also be prepared for a hurricane because the wet season is also hurricane season. Hurricanes in Florida in June are rare, but just be prepared. One way to be prepared is to find alternative shelter wherever you plan to go. For example, if after you visit John Pennekamp and the Everglades you decide to go to Tampa, find a hostel or inexpensive motel you can stay in just in case. Park rangers close their campgrounds if flooding is a danger, even if there isn't a hurricane. (It has happened to me!) So a back-up plan is a good idea whenever you consider camping during the wet season. If a hurricane does threaten and you're asked to leave, a ranger should tell you how to get to the nearest hurricane shelter (often a school or other government building), where you can stay for free.

Experiencing Florida in June can be a great time, and you can see wildlife that the dry-season tourists won't see. You may even be lucky enough to see the beauty of lightning over the Everglades during a thunderstorm. You'll have an adventurous 3 weeks. If you need help with directions or anything else, just let us know!

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