florida
Lake Butler, Florida–One of Natural North Florida’s Hidden Treasures
Florida’s Union County isn’t big. In fact, it was originally part of several other counties, and its history can be confusing. In an effort to simplify matters and not “rewrite history”, here’s a direct quote from the county’s current website: “The area that is now Union County, Florida was originally part of St. Johns County …
Gainesville’s Best—2018 Festival Schedule—Save The Dates!
Gainesville is home to festivals of all kinds. They range from “medieval faires” to “punk rock” music events to curated art shows. Each year, thousands of visitors come to this North Florida college town to enjoy food, art and just to have a great time. In 2018, there are events planned almost any month. Here’s …
Starke, Florida Is Worth A Stop On Your Way South On US301 in Natural North Florida
The old Bradford County Courthouse, which now houses Santa Fe College‘s Starke Campus, is still the most imposing sight as you head into Starke on US301. While this north/south route in Florida isn’t as popular as it used to be, it does offer an excellent shortcut for southbound travelers heading from I-95 and from Jacksonville, …
Visit Panacea, Florida and The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Museum
Panacea’s Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory is the “real deal”, founded by Jack Rudloe in the early 1960s to provide marine specimens to scientists and researchers. The facility has grown over the years, to become a full-fledged tourist attraction, while still delivering sea creatures of all sorts to educators and scientists. A trip through the …
Holiday (and Everyday!) Shopping at Base and Range in Madison, Florida
Welcome to Madison, one of Natural North Florida’s most scenic small towns. Located in Madison County, just south of the Florida/Georgia line, Madison is an exciting place to spend a day of holiday (or any day!) shopping and dining. Expect bargains galore, year-round, at Madison’s many antique shops! Even if you don’t make it to …
Plan Ahead For 2018–FWC discusses regional bay scallop seasons on Big Bend
This information may not be “official”, but our guess is that it will likely become so before Florida’s recreational bay scallop season begins in 2018: At its December meeting in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed draft changes that would create regionally-specific bay scallop open seasons and would allow a trial …
Perry–Much More Than Florida’s Forest Capital!
There’s something for everyone when you visit Perry, Florida–Florida’s Forest Capital! Yes, Perry’s main industry still revolves around pine trees and the products produced by the wood harvested nearby. But there’s more to see and experience in Perry, and it’s certainly worth a visit if you’re traveling down US19/98 into our Natural North Florida region. …
Join The Fun at The 2018 Steinhatchee Fiddler Crab Festival, February 16-18
If you’re looking for a fun event in the middle of what can be a (not necessarily cold) cool February weekend, take a ride to Natural North Florida’s Gulf coast and the fishing village of Steinhatchee. The name, Steinhatchee, is derived from the Native Timicua name, Esteenhatchee, which means “River of Life”. And Steinhatchee certainly …
Catch A Suwannee Bass On The Santa Fe River
If you’ve already added largemouth, smallmouth and shoal bass to your “bass bucket list”, consider Suwannee bass. And why not? They’re local to much of Natural North Florida, and while they rarely exceed three pounds, they’re lots of fun to catch. Suwannee bass (Micropterus notius) are found mainly in the coastal rivers of the Big …
Hey, Sports Fans! There’s History at the University of Florida’s Gainesville Campus
If you’re a sports fan, you’ll definitely want to stop by the University of Florida campus in Gainesville and pay homage to one of the greatest sports programs in the world. Not only does UF excel in academics, but the sports teams are some of the best around. Start your tour by heading south on …