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.
Four Spectacular Florida Springs for Beginner Scuba Divers
Scuba diving for the first time is scary. Putting trust in your knowledge and capabilities, as well as in your gear, requires courage and an adventurous attitude. But the unforgettable experiences of breathing underwater, descending to new depths, and discovering underwater worlds of plant and animal life are all absolutely worth pushing past the fear …
Day Trip Idea: “Plinking” For Free at Lake City’s Osceola Gun and Archery Range
Located near downtown Lake City, the Lewis D. Whitacre shooting range is a free and open to the public. It offers covered 25, 50 and 200 yard target ranges for rifles and pistols, as well as an archery range with a high stand. The range is open during daylight hours, but may be closed …
Fabulous, Feminine Fun at Steinhatchee’s Nauti-Girls Tournament, 6/11/16
NO BOYS ALLOWED! That’s the motto for the upcoming Steinhatchee Nauti Girls Fishing Tournament, scheduled for June 11th. Actually “boat boys”, mostly designated drivers, are allowed to chauffeur ladies’ teams around the local Steinhatchee waters. This is the 7th year of the event, and it just keeps getting more and more popular, attracting ladies from …
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 …
When The Weather Is Cool, Our Spring Waters Are “Warmish”
The Visit Natural North Florida 12-county region has more natural first-magnitude springs than anywhere else on earth. And while they’re magnets for visitors during the warmer months, folks often overlook the fact that the water flowing from our underground aquifer is a year-round, constant 72-degrees F. Some of the bigger springs are found …
Spring Warrior Fish Camp, A Great Destination on Taylor County, Florida’s Gulf Coast
Spring Warrior Fish Camp is one of the few “real” fish camps still remaining on Florida’s Gulf coast. Located about 15 miles from Perry, it sits on Spring Warrior Creek, just a short run by boat from some of the best trout and redfishing anywhere in Florida.
Sheepshead Providing Great Fishing Action and Eating on Florida’s Big Bend, Spring 2016
First, they’re officially sheepShead, but many Floridians call them sheephead, with out the “S”. and what’s more, sheepshead, found all along Florida’s Gulf coast, are notorious bait stealers. During most of the year, these small-mouthed fish inhabit coastal oyster and rock bars, docks and rock jetties searching for their favorite prey—crustaceans, including small crabs, …
15th Annual Steinhatchee Community Fishing Tournament, 3/12/16
I’ve always enjoyed fishing the Steinhatchee Community Tournament. It occurs at a great time of year, and anglers typically find lots of species, lots of action, and have lots of fun! I can’t fish this year. I’ll be representing Visit Natural North Florida at Canoecopia in Madison, Wisconsin (probably in the cold and snow!) with …
Cedar Key’s Shell Mound, a “Sea Kayaker’s Playground”
While the town of Cedar Key is 24-miles off the beaten path, at the western (Gulf) end of SR24, Shell Mound is a bit farther! “The Shell Mound Unit of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. This unique feature was created by archaic period Eastern Woodland Indian cultures …
Head to Natural North Florida For Great Paddling Adventures!
Here’s a quick look at some of the great paddling in Natural North Florida!