Florida State Bluegrass Festival, April 5-7, 2018, in Perry, Florida

One of the best events in the Southeast…The Florida State Bluegrass Festival.   Featuring three days of awesome bluegrass music by some of the most renowned artists in the country…a grand Chili Cook-off hosted by the Perry Police Department with all proceeds benefitting Special Olympics and the Shop with a Cop program. There will also …

Don’t Miss the Inaugural (First, Premiere, First Annual!) Big Bend Brewfest in Perry, FL, March 3, 2018

Join us for the Annual Big Bend Brewfest Event at Rosehead Park in Perry Florida. This is an annual fundraising festival, featuring beer, food, and music at Rosehead Park in Perry, FL. This event is held by the Perry Rotary Club, with the proceeds to benefit the Rotary Club and the City of Perry Police …

Learn About North Florida’s Flora and Fauna At Gainesville’s Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Whether Gainesville is your Natural North Florida destination or if you’re just passing through on I-75, don’t miss the opportunity to explore Kanapaha Botanical Gardens.  It’s located about a mile west of the Archer Road exit (SR24) on the expressway. Named for Lake Kanapaha (Timicuan tramslation: palmetto leaf and house, referring to the typical Timicua …

Gainesville’s Morningside Nature Center–Take A Walk In Our Woods

With over 7 miles of trails and one of the last-remaining examples of a fire-dependent longleaf pine forest, Morningside Nature Center is an excellent outdoor destination–within the city limits of Natural North Florida’s largest city.  The largest of Gainesville’s nature parks, Morningside covers 278 acres and is easily accessed from East University Avenue and SR20. …

Relax, Hike, Camp–and Enjoy Florida’s Suwannee River State Park

Located just off US90, between the towns of Live Oak and Madison, in Natural North Florida, Suwannee River State Park isn’t one of our largest parks, but it certainly is one of the most scenic.  It’s upstream of the confluence of the mighty Suwannee River and the lesser “upper” Withlacoochee River, right where the highway …

Gainesville’s Best—2018 Festival Schedule—Save The Dates!

Gainesville is home to festivals of all kinds.  They range from “medieval faires” to “punk rock” music events to curated art shows.  Each year, thousands of visitors come to this North Florida college town to enjoy food, art and just to have a great time.  In 2018, there are events planned almost any month.  Here’s …

Visit Panacea, Florida and The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Museum

  Panacea’s Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory is the “real deal”, founded by Jack Rudloe in the early 1960s to provide marine specimens to scientists and researchers.  The facility has grown over the years, to become a full-fledged tourist attraction, while still delivering sea creatures of all sorts to educators and scientists.  A trip through the …

Holiday (and Everyday!) Shopping at Base and Range in Madison, Florida

Welcome to Madison, one of Natural North Florida’s most scenic small towns.  Located in Madison County, just south of the Florida/Georgia line, Madison is an exciting place to spend a day of holiday (or any day!) shopping and dining. Expect bargains galore, year-round, at Madison’s many antique shops! Even if you don’t make it to …

Wild Florida Adventures, December 2017 Events

Greetings Outside Enthusiasts! I’ve just updated the Wild Florida Adventures event calendar for the rest of the month of December with the link here www.localendar.com/public/bbarker This weekend we’re planning two fresh water paddles as the coastal tides aren’t that conducive to good water levels. Plus with the lower temps, its better to paddle venues that …

Perry–Much More Than Florida’s Forest Capital!

There’s something for everyone when you visit Perry, Florida–Florida’s Forest Capital! Yes, Perry’s main industry still revolves around pine trees and the products produced by the wood harvested nearby.  But there’s more to see and experience in Perry, and it’s certainly worth a visit if you’re traveling down US19/98 into our Natural North Florida region. …