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.
Adventure Outpost in High Springs Offers More Than Paddling!
High Springs, in northern Alachua County (just a quick trip from Gainesville) is a quaint village that attracts visitors for lots of reasons. Of course, there are great restaurants, galleries and even a hardware store with an excellent selection of fishing tackle. But don’t miss stopping by Adventure Outpost–even if you don’t need to rent …
Paddle Alachua County’s Santa Fe River from Canoe Outpost
Located right next to the US441 bridge over the Santa Fe River in High Springs, you’ll find Jim Woods’ Santa Fe River Canoe Outpost. Jim’s been renting kayaks and canoes there for as long as I can remember, and he and his staff are bound and determined for you to have a great time …
Kate’s Fish Camp–Alachua County’s Newnans Lake Is Not Just For Fishin’
Whether you want to go fishing, cycling, canoeing, or camping, Kate’s Fish Camp is the place to be for outdoor fun for the whole family. Kate’s Fish Camp is conveniently located on State Road 20 near Prairie Creek, Newnan’s Lake, and the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail so it is the perfect place for camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing …
Cold Air Temperatures Making You Shiver? Take a Dip In a “High Springs” Spring!
Take a short drive west from High Springs, Florida and you’ll find yourself confronted with 3 choices for swimming or snorkeling in 72-degree spring water. Florida’s springs, fed by the constant-temperature Floridan Aquifer (the largest self-replenishing aquifer in the world), are comfortable year-round, especially when the air temperatures drop and the water is warmer than …
Put on a Sweater–and Paddle the Big Bend Saltwater Trail!
The weather’s cooling down, so it’s time to head to the coast and do some paddling. Sea kayakers have long known of the multi-day expedition possibilities along Florida’s Big Bend Gulf Coast. The area boasts one of the longest and wildest publicly-owned coastal wetlands in the United States, and a striking array of bird …
Paddle Natural North Florida’s Springs and Spring-Fed Rivers
With our abundant springs, spring runs and spring-fed rivers, the Natural North Florida region is the perfect place to spend a lazy day paddling. In the southern regions, there are several springs that feed the mighty Suwannee River. County parks at Otter Springs and Hart Springs attract paddlers to their quiet waters. The State Parks …
Kayak (and fish!) Cedar Key’s Backwaters
I admit it. I’m guilty of telling anglers heading to Cedar Key to avoid these Big Bend backwaters. Of course, many of them are taking powerboats with them, and likely appreciate my advice after they see the structure there. While Cedar Key is the name of the town that actually sits on Cedar Key and …
Suwannee River Sturgeon Safety–Don’t Get Hit By a Jumping Fish!
Yes, the Suwannee River is a great place to boat and fish, but during the summer months, the sturgeon are jumping. So take it easy and heed this advice from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: It’s an ugly fish with a face only another sturgeon could love. It’s the prehistoric-looking, sucker-mouthed, scute-covered Gulf …
Try Kayak Fishing in the Wakulla Backwaters
Last weekend I left my flats skiff behind in Steinhatchee and joined a couple of other outdoor writers in Wakulla County for a kayak-fishing adventure. Of course, over the years, I’ve made numerous trips out of St. Marks, Panacea and Spring Creek, but never had much chance to fish the shallow, close-in flats and inshore …
Successful Fishing and Boating Depends on Your Understanding of Weather
This is NOT what you want to see if you’re headed to our Big Bend coastline to boat or fish! A fun day on the Gulf or local rivers is very dependent on weather. And in Florida, in all seasons, it’s important to keep a “weather eye” peeled for weather approaching from the west. In …