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.
Don’t Miss Gainesville On Your Next Visit to Natural North Florida–It’s Where Nature and Culture Meet!
While Gainesville is our region’s largest city, it’s still relatively small compared to Florida’s “mega-cities” like Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater. Gainesville’s size is largely due to its central location, its access to US Interstate 75 and to the fact that it’s home to the University of Florida, our “flagship” university. Gainesville is the …
The Suwannee River and It’s Tributaries–The Beating Heart of Natural North Florida
Florida’s mighty Suwannee River represents the heart (and arteries) of our Natural North Florida region. It flows over 200 miles from south Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico, on the border of Dixie and Levy counties. It is fed by countless springs, each flowing from the Floridan Aquifer, as well as tributaries like …
Florida’s Big Bend Recreational Bay Scallop Harvest Underway, June 2019
Tiny bay scallops “rule” the waters of Natural North Florida’s Big Bend during the summer months. The harvest brings visitors from all over the state, as well as many internationals wishing to snorkel for these tasty treats. Snorkeling for bay scallops isn’t about filling the freezer, but it’s about having fun one the water, followed …
A Sinkhole Like No Other–Devils Millhopper Geological State Park, in Gainesville, Florida
When there’s a news story about a sinkhole in Florida, it’s mostly about one “eating” a house or a car dealership. But there are thousands more, and none at quite the scale of Devils Millhopper, just west of downtown Gainesville.. This huge, 120-foot deep, sink, no doubt opened eons ago by a cave-in of the …
Have A Ball—At Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
By many accounts (and opinions), Edward C. Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, located just 17 miles south of Tallahassee, is the largest and deepest natural spring in the world. Prehistoric humans thrived there, and for many years, modern man has taken advantage of this natural wonder. Open daily from 8AM to sundown, the park is …
The Early Bird Gets To Swim Without The Crowds at Fanning Springs State Park!
Florida’s State Parks are some of the most popular in the U.S. and needless to say they can get crowded during the summer months, especially if they feature springs, like many in our Natural North Florida region. Fanning Springs State Park can be crowded for several reasons. One, it’s proximity to US19/98 just south of …
Scallop Seminar 2019–Jump The Gun on the Big Bend’s Recreational Scallop Season!
The 2019 recreational bay scallop season begins June 15 for Dixie and most of Taylor counties. If you’re headed to the coast and are interested in knowing a) how to scallop, b) the rules that apply to the harvest and c) where to find scallops this season, be sure to head over to the Steinhatchee …
Celebrate Fathers’ Day 2019 –Take The Kids to Family Fishing Day on June 15, at UF Fisheries, Gainesville
Why not start your Fathers’ Day weekend with a fishing trip? If you”re lucky enough to be near Gainesville and the University of Florida/IFAS Fisheries complex off Millhopper Road, head on over on Saturday morning, June 15, and take the kids fishing. This special Fathers Day fishing day will feature a great give-away to all …
Follow Your Dream To The Blackwater Grill in Yankeetown, FL
In the summer of 1961, Elvis Presley spent almost two months in the Yankeetown area, filming “Follow That Dream“. It’s anyone’s guess why Elvis’ producers picked this sleepy Levy County town on the banks of the Withlacoochee River, but it’s solitary location might just be the reason. Yankeetown is historic, and has grown little since …
Red, White and BLUEBERRIES–Head to Williston, Florida For A Day of Family Fun and Good Eats
Located just north of Williston, in Levy County off US27, Red, White and Blue Farms is a destination worthy of lots of family fun. There’s something for every member of the family–playgrounds for the kids, picking blueberries for the grownups, and even some blueberry beer for Dad! It’s hard to say just what I …