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.
Nature Coast State Trail Part 3: Fanning Springs to Trenton
Part 1: Fanning Springs to Cross City Part 2: Fanning Springs to Chiefland The Nature Coast State trail is a 32 mile trail that runs through Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy counties. For casual bikers, the trail is easily divided into three shorter pieces. The third and final chunk of the trail is a 7 mile …
Nature Coast State Trail Part 2: Fanning Springs to Chiefland
Part 1: Fanning Springs to Cross City The Nature Coast State Trail follows the track of a former railroad, and the 32 mile trail can be divided up into three separate mini-trails perfect for casual bikers and hikers. Part one of this series covers the 12 mile track from Fanning Springs to Cross City and can …
The Nature Coast State Trail, Part 1: Fanning Springs to Cross City
In the late part of the fall, the weather in North Florida becomes perfect for hiking and biking. The temperature stays mild, and rainy days are few and far between. The Nature Coast State Trail, formerly known as the Nature Coast Greenway, is a 32 mile trail that winds its way through Gilchrist, Dixie, and Levy …
Post-Thanksgiving Family Fun: The Gainesville-Hawthorne trail
Thanksgiving, a day of indulgence, a huge feast with friends and family where the average American eats nearly three times as much as they normally would. The day before is usually spent in half-starved anticipation, and the day after is usually spent rolling around in regret and thinking that perhaps that extra serving of sweet-potato casserole wasn’t …
Devil’s Millhopper State Geological Site
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is located in Alachua County just outside of Gainesville, Florida and is an amazing place to visit year round. It is one of the largest sinkholes in the state, at 120 feet deep and 500 feet across at the top. A wooden boardwalk provides access to the bottom of the sink, and …
Capt. Tommy Thompson, Natural North Florida’s Fishing, Food and Family Events Expert
Capt. Tommy Thompson is a licensed USCG boat captain and outdoor writer. He was previously executive director of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association and as an outdoor journalist specializing in saltwater fishing, he frequently contributes to such magazines as Florida Sportsman and Shallow Water Angler. He currently writes the monthly Big Bend Action Spotter column …
Welcome to Natural North Florida!
Our twelve-county region is rich in natural beauty, geologic wonders, rivers, springs and miles of untouched Gulf of Mexico coastline. And for those of you less inclined to head outdoors, there are events and activities almost every day, and in almost any corner of the region, for visitors of all ages. We hope you’ll enjoy …