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.
Explore Econfina in Taylor County
It’s spelled E-C-O-N-F-I-N-A, but the locals in western Taylor County call this river and State Park on Florida’s Big Bend, “Eco-feeny”. But despite this confusion caused to visitors, the end of County Road 14 (off US98) offers lots of opportunities for folks wanting to see Florida “as it used to be”. Expect to see all …
Begin Your Cycling Adventure at Gainesville’s New Depot Park
At first glance, Gainesville’s new Depot Park seems to be just a great big playground. It is, but for adults as well as kids. The formerly-semi-industrial site of the Gainesville train depot, located on South Main Street, is also the Trail Head for the Gainesville-Hawthorne Bike/Hike trail that follows an old railroad route. The trail …
“Hooking Up With Heroes” Tournament, Horseshoe Beach–September 17, 2016
As we all know Horseshoe Beach is certainly enjoying a bountiful scalloping season this year and everybody shares in that enthusiasm. From Denis Buckley at Horseshoe Beach Marina” “We have planned a very special event for our Veterans who we could never do enough for us on September 17th 2016.”
Anderson’s Outdoor Adventures–4 Locations on 2 Rivers in Natural North Florida
If you’re interested in exploring either the scenic Santa Fe River or the historic Suwannee River, in Natural North Florida, check out Anderson’s Outdoor Adventures. They offer rentals of canoes, kayaks, paddle boards and pontoon boats from their 4 locations. The Santa Fe location is located at the FL47 bridge. There, you can park and …
Fishing Feature: Kayaking in Fishbone Creek
If you’re camping at Shired Island, staying at Horseshoe Beach or Cross City, or just making a day trip with your kayak to the Dixie County coast, don’t miss launching at the headwaters of Fishbone Creek and heading out to the bars in Horseshoe Cove. On higher tides, these backwaters flood well into the …
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, …
Fishing Feature: Marina, Bait & Tackle Guide
The sign of a healthy fishery like the one we have in Natural North Florida is that we have lots of resources for anglers and boaters. And it’s not only hooks, sinkers and bait! All the shops and marinas listed below are staffed with anglers who are willing to direct you to the best (and …
Scallop Information For A Successful 2016 Season on Florida’s Big Bend
Scalloping on Florida’s Big Bend Here are some links to “Scalloping Basics”, as well as information on lodging and marine facilities on our Natural North Florida Big Bend coast. Recommended Reading: Bay Scallops—The Gulf of Mexico’s Tastiest Treat www.saltwateranglersguide.com/?page_id=2215 Scalloping 101 www.saltwateranglersguide.com/?s=scalloping+101 Lodging Recommendations Seahorse Landing Condos, Cedar Key (seahorselanding.com) …
Florida’s Big Bend Waters are Clean and Clear, July 2016
There’s been lots of news lately about the condition of Florida’s waters, both Gulf and Atlantic. Yes, in the southeast, where the St. Lucie River empties into the Indian River (at Stuart) and in the southwest, where the Caloosahatchee River empties into the Gulf of Mexico, there is green algae as a result of pumping …