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.
New Sportody Mobile App Simplifies Finding and Planning Outdoor Activities in Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (April 28, 2015) – Florida visitors and outdoor enthusiasts now have a comprehensive resource for the many trails, golf courses, boat launches, dive spots, skate parks and other sporting activities in the state. Gainesville-based startup, Sportody, released its new application to supplement Sportody.com, the online review network for outdoor sports. The free app …
Kick Off Your Spring Fishing at Keaton Beach, on Florida’s Big Bend
I’m not April foolin’ when I say that when the grass flats start to ‘green up’ near Keaton Beach, the fishing there is hard to beat. It’s no secret that warm weather brings new life, especially in the form of spotted sea trout, to waters everywhere along our Big Bend. Unfortunately, that warmth can …
Along the Santa Fe at Chastain-Seay
A hidden natural treasure and a local recreation area, Chastain-Seay Park sits at the bottom of a steep bluff below Worthington Springs in Union County.
It’s Officially “Spring-Time” In Natural North Florida’s State and County Parks
Easter weekend means lots of things to lots of people. In Natural North Florida, especially in our State and County parks, the Easter weekend and the passage into springtime really means “Spring-time”! Florida’s Karst geology has created a complex (and fragile!) underground network of rivers that course through limestone rock, occasionally popping up in the …
Spring time at Lafayette Blue
For an adventure along the Suwannee River, explore Lafayette Blue Springs, one of the best places in the region to see how sinkholes and springs interconnect.
Jest Fest–The Greatest Show In Gainesville, Sunday, March 29, 2015
Don’t miss this event….The Greatest Show in Gainesville, with lots of free family fun. Headliners include the famous high-wire artists, the Flying Wallendas, and Avner The Eccentric (from the movie, Jewel of the Nile). Sunday, March 29, 2015 at the Historic Thomas Center, 12–6pm. FREE ADMISSION! This is the 3rd season of Jest Fest, the …
Visit A Natural North Florida Wonder–Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park in Gainesville
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park near Gainesville, is a bowl-shaped cavity 120 feet deep leads down to a miniature rain forest. Small streams trickle down the steep slopes of the limestone sinkhole, disappearing through crevices in the ground. Lush vegetation thrives in the shade of the walls even in dry summers. A significant geological formation, …
The lovely lilies of Log Landing
Protecting an old-growth floodplain forest along the Suwannee River, Log Landing is an off-the-beaten-path destination for photographing wildflowers and wildlife
The Perfect End To A Long Bike Ride in Fanning Springs–Lunch At The BBQ Shack
Cycling Natural North Florida’s 32-mile Nature Coast State Trail is an excellent way to experience some of Florida’s Rails-To-Trails locations. The smooth paved trail follows several old railroad bed that joined at Wilcox, just north of Fanning Springs. This trail runs from Trenton, in Gilchrist County, through Fanning Springs and Old Town, in Dixie County, …
Views delight at Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve
Follow Elvis’ dreams to Yankeetown’s own 413-acre nature preserve, Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve, a sweep of panoramic beauty along the salt marshes of the Gulf of Mexico