Nature
The 16 Best Things to Do in Lafayette County and the Suwannee River
The Suwannee River runs through South Georgia into Florida and down to the Gulf of Mexico. The Suwannee is a 235-mile black-water river that hides artifacts and fossils. Although the river became well-known because of Stephen Foster’s “Old Folks at Home,” it remains well-known because of the wildness it discloses. You can travel for miles …
20 of the Best Ways to Play Outside in Dixie County!
There is no shortage of things to do outside in Dixie County. Located in the Big Bend region of Florida, it is the perfect spot for all types of eco-tourism activities that let you “play outside.” Natural North Florida is frequently called “Forgotten Florida.” I like to think of it as Florida like it used to be, …
11 Must-Do Activities in Historic Bradford County
One of Florida’s smallest counties, Bradford County, consists of 300 square miles. But they have packed plenty to do into their tiny spot of heaven! The county seat, Starke, is filled with historic buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. An interesting tidbit – the Arbor Day Foundation has designated Starke a Tree City. …
Art, Science and Culture–All A Part Of Gainesville’s Museum Offerings
Art, Science and Culture–All A Part Of Gainesville’s Museum Offerings There’s little argument against the fact that Gainesville is the “museum” capital of North Central Florida. Not only is the city historic, with roots into the 19th century, it’s a university town with lots of interest in science and art. ••• Gainesville’s world-class museums are …
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 …
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 …
Take A Walk On The “Wild Side”– In Gainesville’s City Limits–At Sweetwater Wetlands Park
Gainesville’s Sweetwater Wetlands Park is about more than 125 acres of protected land near the intersection of South Main Street and Williston Road. The park is not only a place to connect with nature, it’s a way to protect our environment. Featuring wetlands and ponds, the park was created to improve the water quality of …
Visit Cedar Lakes Woods & Gardens Near Williston, Florida–It’s the “Pits”!
So….what do you do with a retired hundred-plus-year-old rock quarry? If you want to create a masterpiece of flora and fauna, you move tons of rock and divert lots of water and build a park for visitors to enjoy. That, in a nutshell, is the history of Cedar Lakes Woods & Gardens, located just off …
Take a Long Bike Ride–Or a Short One–On Natural North Florida’s Cycling Routes
If you’re a bicyclist, our Natural North Florida region offers 32 excellent rides–long and short. Many are on bike-laned roads and others follow routes originally used by the railroads and logging trucks. All our routes can be accessed and ridden using the BikeWithGPS app on your smartphone. Unlock the power and utility of our routes by …
See The World’s Largest Bat Houses On The University of Florida Campus in Gainesville
Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat Yep, bats! Would you believe that one of the world’s largest bat house/barn complex is located on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville? The Bat house (R) and Bat Barn make up the Florida Museum of Natural History’s bat complex near Lake Alice, on Museum Road. A third house …