Events and Family Activities
Our Events and Family Activities expert, Tommy Thompson, tells you about upcoming and ongoing events across our ten county area.
Meet the Spring Hunters at Rum 138 in Columbia County, FL , July 8, 2016
Come and meet the wildly exciting Spring Hunters, Joe Cruz and Travis Marques: On July 8th, Friday. Rum 138, 6 – 9 pm. will be hosting Joe and Travis for a fine art show (runs through in the main gallery at Rum 138, in Columbia County. In light of the last comment. I feel compelled …
Natural North Florida’s Weather is Perfect–But Summertime Can Be Tricky!
If you’re a visitor to our part of Florida, especially in Spring and Summer, it’s important to pay attention to the weather. While we don’t have big cold fronts colliding with warm air and producing gale force winds or tornadoes, we do have in interesting climate. Obviously, we’re close to both the Gulf of Mexico …
Fishing Feature: 2016 Bay Scallop Outlook on the Big Bend
On our Natural North Florida coast, in Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson and Wakulla counties, we always seem to have a healthy “crop” bay scallops during the annual summertime harvest, which lasts from June 25 to September 25. This is no doubt due to the fact that we have crystal clear salty water under which lies …
Visit Gainesville’s Sweetwater Wetlands Park For a Close-up Look at Natural North Florida
It’s June, and it’s the perfect time to visit and hike (no bikes or horses allowed!) Gainesville’s newest park, Sweetwater Wetlands Park. Here’s a blurb from the park’s website that does a pretty good job of describing the awesome place: “Sweetwater Wetlands Park is not only a place to connect with nature, it’s a way …
Mark Your Calendars–2016 Hidden Coast Paddling Adventure, Suwannee Florida, 9/29-10/2
Now’s the time to mark your calendar for the 2016 Hidden Coast Paddling Adventure. This year’s event will be at Suwannee, Florida on the Suwannee River, and promises to be more fun than ever before. And, with the event falling on the last week of September, the air should be cooler–but not so cool to …
A Few Changes at Florida’s Ichetucknee State Park in Columbia County
Florida’s Ichetucknee State Park is a favorite of locals, as well as visitors to the State. The head spring feeds the river with clean, clear water and pushes rafters, tubers and paddlers downstream for an unequaled view of one of Florida’s most pristine natural areas. For the 2016 “season”, beginning in late May, there have …
Off The Beaten Path: Jefferson County Florida’s Short 6-Mile Gulf Shoreline
If, on a fishing trip to the Jefferson County coastline, you think you’re the first human to ever see this shoreline, you’re wrong. This rugged 6-mile stretch of our Big Bend is now, for the most part, uninhabited and relatively unfished, due in part to the fact that it’s rocky and shallow. But now we …
Doug Johnson’s Reeling For Kids Tournament, Steinhatchee, June 3 & 4, 2016
Without a doubt, the Doug Johnson Reeling For Kids Saltwater Challenge Tournament is the largest and most popular fishing event on the Big Bend, Former Gator football superstar Doug Johnson started the event about ten years ago, and it’s grown in popularity and size ever since. While it’s not inexpensive to enter your boat and …
The “Shacks” at Steinhatchee—A Cut Above The Average “Shacks”!
Not too many years ago, when they were Paces’ Cottages, what’s now the Shacks at Sea Hag Marina were exactly that–SHACKS! But since the purchase of the property by the Norwood family, and after a lengthy and elaborate upgrade, these cottages and houses are now some of the best rental lodging in Steinhatchee. That’s great, …
Four Unforgettable Pit Stops Off I-75 That Fit Your Schedule
Whether you’re trekking up north to visit friends and family, or heading to south Florida for a beachy vacation, spending hours driving on I-75 can be a real drag. Thankfully, there are some great pit stops just off the interstate that capture the beauty and culture of Natural North Florida. Our family-friendly guide to I-75 …