Outdoors and Nature
Our Outdoor and Nature experts, Sandra Friend and John Keatley, travel around the region exploring the fabulous springs, rivers, trails, and hidden treasures that make up our ten county Natural North Florida region.
Take a Lazy Paddle on Natural North Florida’s Springs, Lakes, Rivers or Gulf Coast
On our vast network of springs, lakes, rivers and Gulf of Mexico coastline, paddling a kayak or canoe is an excellent way to slowly take in the sights and sounds of Natural North Florida. Whether you intend to putter around the spring run at Blue Springs in Gilchrist County or take 10 days to paddle …
Way Down Upon The Santa Fe River–A Suwannee River Alternative!
Spring has “sprung” and while our Natural North Florida region is largely rural, crowds flock to our rivers to boat, fish, or simply float. The Suwannee River begins in south Georgia’s Okeefenokee Swamp and meanders downstream to the Gulf of Mexico for over 240 miles. About 170 of those final miles are in our region …
Don’t Miss These Two Levy County State Parks and Their First Magnitude Springs
Our Natural North Florida region has one of the largest concentration of freshwater springs on Earth, and two are located in Florida State Parks alongside the mighty Suwannee River in Levy County. Famous for their flow of clean fresh water that’s a temperate 72-degrees Fahrenheit all year long, Manatee and Fanning springs are the centerpieces …
Fun, Food and Festivities in Wonderful Wakulla County, Florida
North Florida’s Wakulla County offers a variety of events, activities and natural wonders to delight even the most discriminating visitor. To the west, there’s the mouth of the Ochlockonee River, which winds from Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico. There are coastal villages worth exploring, too. The settlement at St. Marks and Panacea offers excellent …
New “User-Friendly” Dates Announced For Big Bend 2017 Recreational Bay Scallop Season
In recent years, Florida’s Recreational Bay Scallop harvest rules were fairly simple. You could “catch” your limit of these tasty morsels from the Pasco/Hernando County line to the Mexico Beach Canal from July 1 until September 24th. Some places were better than others with regards to the size and number of scallops available. But now, …
See The World’s Largest Bat Houses On The University of Florida Campus in Gainesville
Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat Yep, bats! Would you believe that one of the world’s largest bat house/barn complex is located on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville? The Bat house (R) and Bat Barn make up the Florida Museum of Natural History’s bat complex near Lake Alice, on Museum Road. A third house …
How To Spend an Amazing Weekend in Wakulla County, Florida
Looking for vacation away from the noise and buzz of the city? Visit Wakulla County! There are so many great ways to spend your time in Wakulla. Here’s a quick guide on how to have a great Wakulla weekend. Wakulla Welcome Center Come on in and get acquainted! The Wakulla County Welcome Center in Panacea …
Your Guide to 55 Miles of Fun Along Natural North Florida’s Gilchrist Blueway
For a Natural North Florida county that has no Gulf of Mexico coastline, Gilchrist County sure has lots of waterfront! In fact, few of our area’s coastal counties have shoreline to match Gilchrist’s 55 miles along the Suwannee, Santa Fe and Ichetucknee rivers. The Suwannee River begins several hundred miles from the Gulf in Georgia’s …
Levy County Florida’s State Parks Springs Are Worth A Wintertime Visit
Florida’s Levy County is mostly rural and is bounded by the Gulf of Mexico (on the west), the Suwannee River (on the north) and the Withlacoochee River (on the south). There are 4 major Florida State Parks in the county–Manatee Springs, Fanning Springs, Waccasassa Bay Preserve and Cedar Key Museum. All are worth a day …
North Central Florida’s Newest Sporting Destination–Bass Pro Shops, Gainesville
Bass Pro Shops is more than an outdoor retail store. It’s a destination! The average visitor spends about 2 hours walking the aisles and experiencing the great outdoors–INDOORS! Florida’s 11th Bass Pro Shops store opened recently in Gainesville, just off Archer Road west of the intersection of I-75. It’s planned as the anchor store of …