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.
Fin-Fishing Options To Bay Scalloping on the Natural North Florida Gulf Coast
There’s a common misconception that all fin fishing comes to a screeching halt when recreational scallop season opens June 25 on Florida’s Big Bend. Yes, sleepy fishing villages like Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee, Horseshoe Beach, and St. Marks come to life as multitudes of visitors pump much-needed dollars into the local economies. But while scalloping is …
Take a Relaxing Fishing Vacation in Suwannee
If you’re a fisherman, pack your bags. Pack your rods and reels. Get the boat out of the garage and head out Hwy349 from US19/98 to the end of the road, and the town of Suwannee, Florida! There are places to eat in Suwannee. There are rental condos and homes (Suwannee Vacation Rentals). There is …
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 …
Fishing Feature: Trophy Creek Outfitters in Monticello
Lots of folks living in and visiting our Natural North Florida region don’t think of rural Jefferson County as a Mecca for fishermen, in fresh or salt water. Of course, there’s lots of great hunting land, but we need to consider that Jefferson County stretches all the way from it’s short Gulf of Mexico coastline …
Natural North Florida’s Bay Scallop Season Opens 6/25/16…
…and it promises to be a banner year for scallopers at Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach and St. Marks! The official abundance survey for bay scallops was released on June 24, and the numbers for Dixie and Taylor counties (Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach) showed a near 300% increase since last year. Wakulla County’s numbers …
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 …
Meet the Spring Hunters at Rum 138 in Columbia County, FL , July 8, 2016
Come and meet the wildly exciting Spring Hunters, Joe Cruz and Travis Marques: On July 8th, Friday. Rum 138, 6 – 9 pm. will be hosting Joe and Travis for a fine art show (runs through in the main gallery at Rum 138, in Columbia County. In light of the last comment. I feel compelled …
Natural North Florida’s Weather is Perfect–But Summertime Can Be Tricky!
If you’re a visitor to our part of Florida, especially in Spring and Summer, it’s important to pay attention to the weather. While we don’t have big cold fronts colliding with warm air and producing gale force winds or tornadoes, we do have in interesting climate. Obviously, we’re close to both the Gulf of Mexico …
Fishing Feature: 2016 Bay Scallop Outlook on the Big Bend
On our Natural North Florida coast, in Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson and Wakulla counties, we always seem to have a healthy “crop” bay scallops during the annual summertime harvest, which lasts from June 25 to September 25. This is no doubt due to the fact that we have crystal clear salty water under which lies …
Visit Gainesville’s Sweetwater Wetlands Park For a Close-up Look at Natural North Florida
It’s June, and it’s the perfect time to visit and hike (no bikes or horses allowed!) Gainesville’s newest park, Sweetwater Wetlands Park. Here’s a blurb from the park’s website that does a pretty good job of describing the awesome place: “Sweetwater Wetlands Park is not only a place to connect with nature, it’s a way …