History Buffs
Undiscovered Florida – 20 Best Things in Hamilton County
Hamilton County is full of historic places, scenic rivers, and undiscovered trails. Hamilton calls itself “Florida’s Front Porch.” Notice you can hear the quiet. And the beautiful, diverse landscape. You’ll enjoy sitting on the porch. The county has over 32,000 acres of public lands. Hamilton is encircled by the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers and split …
Suwannee River Rules County! 30 Fantastic Activities
Suwannee probably comes from an Indian word, “Sawani,” meaning “echo river.” Since the Suwannee River creates the northern, southern, and western borders, the county is almost an island! It is actually in the shape of half a heart (aawwww…) Even more water flows through Suwannee County; both the Ichetucknee River and the Santa Fe River …
18 of the Best Adventures in Taylor County
Taylor County is in the Big Bend of Florida—where the state curves and wraps around the Gulf of Mexico. The county has picturesque fishing villages and towns, such as Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach. And for Heaven’s sake, call it STEEN-hatch-ee. If you say it like a German beer STEIN, you’ll be marked an outsider and …
Historic Jefferson County’s 25 Must-Do Ideas
There is one county in Florida that doesn’t have a single stoplight—Jefferson—my kind of place! By Florida standards, this historic county is quite old. When it was chartered in 1827, Florida was still a territory. The county was named for the country’s third president, Thomas Jefferson. The county seat, in honor of his Virginia home, …
20 of the Best Ways to Play Outside in Dixie County!
There is no shortage of things to do outside in Dixie County. Located in the Big Bend region of Florida, it is the perfect spot for all types of eco-tourism activities that let you “play outside.” Natural North Florida is frequently called “Forgotten Florida.” I like to think of it as Florida like it used to be, …
No Sand, No Surf, No Problem!
You hear the word “Florida,” and you think beach, right? Well, not anymore! Let me tell you about the natural areas in Alachua County. You won’t find sand or surf, but you won’t miss those beaches.
The Best Things to Do in Union County Include a Lake
Natural North Florida’s Union County may be Florida’s smallest county, but it delivers big with a fantastic diversity of activities. It is a perfect day trip from Gainesville with a laid-back atmosphere, Rails-to-Trails walking trails, historic buildings, fishing, and a freshwater lake. But get there early—there’s a lot to do! Splish, Splash! Watery Fun on …
Art, Science and Culture–All A Part Of Gainesville’s Museum Offerings
Art, Science and Culture–All A Part Of Gainesville’s Museum Offerings There’s little argument against the fact that Gainesville is the “museum” capital of North Central Florida. Not only is the city historic, with roots into the 19th century, it’s a university town with lots of interest in science and art. ••• Gainesville’s world-class museums are …
O’Leno State Park and Its Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy
One of Florida’s first state parks, O’Leno State Park was first developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The park is located along the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River, and features sinkholes, hardwood hammocks, river swamps and sandhills. As the river courses through the park, …
Day Trip Idea: Florida’s Citrus History at Gainesville’s Matheson History Museum, Through 8/26/16
Although our Natural North Florida region is no longer an important player in Florida’s citrus industry, there’s still lots of history and images to remind us how valuable “liquid gold” was to the area in past decades. As “cooler” weather crept northward, freezes killed many commercial groves, and only a few remain, mostly near lakes …