The recent rains have caused us to cancel a couple of planned camping trips. It also reminded us of our first camping experience. I'm sharing the rather embarrassing story in this sixth week of my Camping in Florida summer series. While you will see that the trip was mostly a disaster, we still made memories. And, despite our rocky start, we've turned out to be pretty savvy travelers who also enjoy camping. So, don't be afraid to try camping. To keep you from making the same mistakes we did, I shared not only our story, but some tips for those traveling for the first time with an RV or travel trailer.

Also, if you think the whole camping thing sounds good, but you've never camped and you're thinking, "Where do I start?" About.com's expert Camping Guide, David Sweet, has the answers in his Five Lesson Camping for Beginners. Or, maybe you already have camping gear, but could use some advice and tips, he's got that too! He's even got reader submitted camping recipes that will be a hit with the entire family.

Camping in Florida is a summer series that will be announced each week in my free newsletter About Florida on Thursdays and right here in my blog every Friday through the end of August. If you've missed any of the series, catch up with these links:

• Week 1: Camping in Florida
• Week 2: Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground & Fort Wilderness Photo Gallery
• Week 3: Camping in Florida's State Parks
• Week 4: Fort Summit KOA & ThemeWorld RV Resort
• Week 5: Florida Keys Camping, Florida Keys Camping Directory & Florida Keys Camping Photo Gallery

^{Photo © Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com}

What could be better on the budget than getting something for free? This summer the National Park Service is waiving admission fees on one weekend each month — July 18 & 19 and August 15 & 16 — to more than 100 parks nationwide. About.com's National and State Parks Guide, Lauren Himiak, has great overviews and planners on the Florida parks that are participating in the fee-free weekends:

• Canaveral National Seashore
• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
• Dry Tortugas National Park
• Everglades National Park
• Gulf Islands National Seashore

Fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Additional fees for camping, reservations, tours and use of concessions are still in effect.

Of course, some national parks never charge an entrance fee, so you can plan your fee-free visit any time to these Florida National Parks:

• Big Cypress National Preserve
• Fort Matanzas National Monument
• Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and Fort Caroline National Memorial

Photo opportunities are plentiful in Florida. This is one of my favorite photos that I took a few years ago during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. The favorite backdrop for many Florida images are the theme parks and beaches, but let your imagination run wild and you might win one of these photo contests:

• Florida Wildlife Magazine is accepting submissions until August 7, 2009 for its 2009 Photo Contest. The winning entry will appear in the January/February 2010 issue of Florida Wildlife and on the magazine's Web site. The grand prize winner will receive $300 with the first, second and third place winners receiving $125, $100 and $75. Awards of merit may be given with a $50 prize.
• You'll have to hurry to get your entry in for the annual Show Us Your Ron Jon T-Shirt Contest because the deadline is July 26, 2009. Just go to www.wftv.com, click on “Contest” and email a photo of yourself wearing a Ron Jon T-Shirt in an exotic (not limited to Florida) location. You could win a $200 Ron Jon gift certificate.
• The Florida Wildlife Federation in conjunction with MyParkPhotos.com is holding its Annual Photography Contest with daily, monthly and annual winners chosen from entries. Deadline for submissions is July 31, 2009.
• The 2009 Florida State Park Photo Contest is conducted monthly and submissions must be received by the 20th of each month to quality. Monthly winners will win a copy of "Florida State Parks... The Real Florida Passport" and qualify for the annual top prize - a two-night stay in a park cabin at the park of their choice (based on availability). Read the 2009 Contest Rules carefully for image size and other qualifying information.
• Enter the 2009 Wild Shots Photo Contest with any photo taken at the Naples Zoo. The annual contest is sponsored by Ritz Camera. You might win a digital camera from Ritz Camera and year-round membership to the Naples Zoo! Be sure to use the official entry form and read the contest rules. Submission must be received by September 8, 2009.

Related resources:

• Digital Cameras Guide, Michael Carr, offers these great tips so that you'll Take Better Family Vacation Pictures.
• Honeymoons Guide, Susan Breslow Sardone, says its all about knowing the travel photo do's and don'ts to Take Great Vacation Pictures

^{Photo © Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com}

Disney World's 14.7-mile monorail system has reopened after being closed for most of two days due to a fatal accident about 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Two monorail trains collided as they returned guests to the Ticket and Transportation Center, killing one monorail train operator and slightly injuring the second. A handful of passengers were treated by EMT's at the scene and released. An investigation by OSHA as to the cause of the accident is expected to take up to six months.

Disney World's monorail system has a remarkable safety record, operating since 1971 without any previous fatalities. Learn more about Disney's Monorail.