One Day Trips
A Weekend in Williston
How many small towns can you name where visitors can dive in underwater caverns, sit atop an elephant, ride a vintage train, wander through a botanical garden and eat the best Southern soul food you’ll find this side of Mississippi? Williston, Florida, claims all these and more. You might not realize this driving through the …
Have a “High Time” in Downtown High Springs, Florida
The small city of High Springs is considered by many to be the nexus of springs and paddling adventures in Natural North Florida. While the region has the largest concentration of freshwater springs in the US, High Springs has several within just a few miles of town. Visitors to Ginnie Springs, Poe Springs, Ruth B. …
The Suwannee River and It’s Tributaries–The Beating Heart of Natural North Florida
Florida’s mighty Suwannee River represents the heart (and arteries) of our Natural North Florida region. It flows over 200 miles from south Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico, on the border of Dixie and Levy counties. It is fed by countless springs, each flowing from the Floridan Aquifer, as well as tributaries like …
St. Marks: Where Good Things Come in Small Packages
The sun is barely up in St. Marks, Florida, as the town gently wakes to the rhythms of the day. Boaters cruise slowly toward the confluence of the St. Marks and Wakulla Rivers, on their way to Apalachee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Cyclists clad in crayon-bright gear pedal onto the shady, 16-mile stretch …
The Early Bird Gets To Swim Without The Crowds at Fanning Springs State Park!
Florida’s State Parks are some of the most popular in the U.S. and needless to say they can get crowded during the summer months, especially if they feature springs, like many in our Natural North Florida region. Fanning Springs State Park can be crowded for several reasons. One, it’s proximity to US19/98 just south of …
Sunsets, Seafood and Six Other Reasons to Visit Steinhatchee
It takes a little effort to reach Steinhatchee, a coastal village in Northwest Florida’s Taylor County. You’ll find it’s worth every minute of the drive along sparsely developed Highway 51 to visit this town alongside a river of the same name. As you might guess, “Steinhatchee” was derived from the Native American language: “esteen-hatchee” means …
Experience the Magic of Micanopy Minutes off I-75
By Nancy Moreland When you see the Micanopy exit off I-75 in North Central Florida, it’s tempting to drive on by. Especially if you think it’s just another nondescript stop or small Florida town along the highway. That would be a mistake. Take exit 374 (about 20 minutes south of Gainesville) and within minutes, …
Follow Your Dream To The Blackwater Grill in Yankeetown, FL
In the summer of 1961, Elvis Presley spent almost two months in the Yankeetown area, filming “Follow That Dream“. It’s anyone’s guess why Elvis’ producers picked this sleepy Levy County town on the banks of the Withlacoochee River, but it’s solitary location might just be the reason. Yankeetown is historic, and has grown little since …
Spend A Day At The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo—It’s Good For You!
There’s only one American Zoo Association accredited zoo on a college campus, and it’s on Gainesville‘s Santa Fe College campus. Santa Fe College offers both Associate and Bachelor’s degrees and won the 2015 Aspen Prize for Educational Excellence. It enrollment now tops 20,000 and it’s an excellent adjunct to the educational community in Gainesville, which …
Downtown Christmas Open House and Parade–Perry, Florida–December 7, 2018
Leave it up to our friends in Taylor County to come up with a new “twist” on Christmas. This year, in addition to a “Santa’s Little Helpers” parade, there will be a tribute to “Sheriff Taylor” at the “MayPerry Christmas” festivities. Perry, the vibrant County Seat of Taylor County, is the perfect place to …