Off The Beaten Path
“Roads to Nowhere” and dead ends often lead to special places in Natural North Florida. Blogger Tommy Thompson writes about places that are interesting, out-of-the-ordinary, and “off the beaten path”
Lake Butler, Florida–One of Natural North Florida’s Hidden Treasures
Florida’s Union County isn’t big. In fact, it was originally part of several other counties, and its history can be confusing. In an effort to simplify matters and not “rewrite history”, here’s a direct quote from the county’s current website: “The area that is now Union County, Florida was originally part of St. Johns County …
Starke, Florida Is Worth A Stop On Your Way South On US301 in Natural North Florida
The old Bradford County Courthouse, which now houses Santa Fe College‘s Starke Campus, is still the most imposing sight as you head into Starke on US301. While this north/south route in Florida isn’t as popular as it used to be, it does offer an excellent shortcut for southbound travelers heading from I-95 and from Jacksonville, …
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 …
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. …
Join The Fun at The 2018 Steinhatchee Fiddler Crab Festival, February 16-18
If you’re looking for a fun event in the middle of what can be a (not necessarily cold) cool February weekend, take a ride to Natural North Florida’s Gulf coast and the fishing village of Steinhatchee. The name, Steinhatchee, is derived from the Native Timicua name, Esteenhatchee, which means “River of Life”. And Steinhatchee certainly …
Fish Taylor County’s Lonesome (and Shallow!) Gulf Coastline
Taylor County, Florida has a a long and rugged Gulf of Mexico coastline, taking up a good portion of the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the lower 48 U.S. states. Beginning at the fishing village of Steinhatchee and stretching towards the mouths of the Aucilla and Econfina rivers, it’s not only lonesome for anglers, …
Take The Slower Road…US90—Live Oak to Lake City, Florida
If you’re driving east or west along Interstate Highway 10, just south of the Florida/Georgia border, you’ve likely missed two small historic cities in our Natural North Florida region. Yes, there are signs west of I-75 directing you to Live Oak and some to the east, pointing towards Lake City. But if you just keep …
Shop ‘Til You Drop–or Just Dine and Stroll–In Beautiful Monticello, Florida
Monticello, Florida is about 20 miles east of Florida’s busy capital city, Tallahassee, at the intersection of US19 and US90. It’s also about a thousand times more laid=back and a great place to visit, shop or dine in our Natural North Florida region. Monticello is the county seat of Jefferson County and boasts one of …
Mermaids Discovered in Natural North Florida’s Freshwater Springs!
Well, sorta…. Everyone knows that mermaids and mer-men are saltwater creatures, but there’s been a recent uptick in the sighting of these half-human/half-fish in the freshwater springs in our Natural North Florida region. A recent Mermaid Meet-Up at Ginnie Springs, near High Springs, in Gilchrist County, Florida If you’re lucky, you’ll see informal “mermaid meet-ups” …
Don’t Miss Panacea’s “Cluster Shuck” Oyster Fest, October 22, 2017
The date has changed due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Nate! We hope to see you on the 22nd! There’s an “R” in “October”– –and that means it’s time to eat oysters! What a great way to spend an October afternoon than to eat oysters at one of Natural North Florida’s premiere fishing communities, Panacea. Located in …