The Nature Lover’s Retreat has 7 acres of land for you to explore and have some fun. It’s easy to find; the GPS took us right to his place. (It’s located east of Sebring and west of Fort Pierce and isn’t too far from Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park.) Once you make the turn into David, the host’s drive, your eyes will start dancing all over the place, trying to take in all of the things he has placed around: seashells, large animal skulls, signs, mementos and keepsakes … there’s enough to keep you busy for quite some time! If you’re not in the mood for exploring, there are several great spots for hanging out with a book or a journal.
David’s got several different places for you to choose from as far as sleeping arrangements: the main, large house, a bunkhouse with four single bunk beds in it, a trailer with a queen sized bed in the back and of course numerous dispersed campsites. He also has on the property a couple of grills, fire pits, picnic tables, a composting toilet and even a unique bar that he built.
Oh and for all you pet lovers, David has a beautiful Catahoula, Sheba. She is super friendly and very photogenic. He welcomes pets so if you have one, he or she will have plenty of space to roam around. Unlike some of the surrounding areas we passed driving in, David has a great canopy of trees: oaks and several different varieties of pine that offer a really great bit of cover from the sun, which as you know, can be a great bonus when you’re spending all day outside.
We recommend this as a place to stay if you are just passing through or are looking to spend some time away from the coast and inland just a bit.