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”
Take A “Day-Cation” on Florida’s Santa Fe River at Ellie-Ray’s
If you’re boating on Natural North Florida’s Santa Fe River or just touring US129 in Gilchrist County, stop by Ellie Ray’s for lunch–or a fun weekend. With plenty of RV sites, a huge boat dock, a restaurant as well as a beautiful swimming pool, Ellie Ray’s is a must-see place on the Santa Fe River. …
Get Lost (Or Not!) At Dixie County Florida’s Shired Island
Dixie County has a few “roads to nowhere”, but Hwy 357 actually goes “somewhere”. It runs from about the mid-point of Hwy 351 between Cross City and Horseshoe Beach to Shired Island. Shired Island is bounded by Shired Creek and Johnson Creek and connected to “land” by a short bridge over Shired Creek. Once you …
“Mainline”: The Back Roads of Dixie County, Florida
Originally cleared years ago as logging roads in rural Dixie County, the Dixie Mainline and the Bowlegs Mainline are still a functional, albeit sometimes rough, set of roads. Now they shortcut the long travel between Steinhatchee and Horseshoe Beach and Horseshoe Beach and Suwannee. And they cross some beautiful backwaters and forests. For many years, …
Take a Houseboat Trip on Florida’s Mighty Suwannee River
One of Natural North Florida’s truly great adventures begins at Gateway Marina in the village of Suwannee, at the mouth of the mighty Suwannee River. The river begins some 260 miles north, in the Okeefenokee Swamp of south Georgia, and is navigable about 70 miles from its southern end, at the Gulf of Mexico. Gateway’s …
Off the Beaten Path: Scalloping in Horseshoe Beach, Dixie County
If you’re contemplating a trip to our Natural North Florida coast to snorkel for scallops this 2016 recreational harvest season, be aware that our main ports of St. Marks, Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach are crowded. It was estimated that there were 1500 boats leaving the river on opening day and while there were likely less …
Don’t Miss Suwannee’s Independence Day Celebration, July 2, 2016
Suwannee’s Annual Independence Day Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, July 2. There will be vendors beginning at 10AM at the vacant lot beside the Post Office, and a Golf Cart/ATV (no cars or trucks!) Parade at 4:00. And finally–“The Best Show on the Hidden Coast”–Fireworks beginning at dark. The town of Suwannee is located at …
Experience Year-Round Fun at Suwannee River Rendezvous RV Resort and Camping Park in Mayo
If you’re interested in a first-class RV resort with easy access to the cooling waters of Florida’s Suwannee River, you can’t do much better than Frank and Susie Page’s Suwannee River Rendezvous, near Mayo in Lafayette County. Lafayette County is located in North Central Florida, just east of Taylor County and Perry. The main route …
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 …
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 …