Lafayette County, FL

Rural Lafayette County is a good place to relax, spend a few days and lower your stress level.  The county is named in honor of the American Revolutionary War hero, the Marquise de Lafayette.  The locals pronounce it La-FAY-ette, with a long A, like Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

With a population of approximately 8,600, Lafayette County is the second-smallest county in Florida measured by population.  The eastern border of this rural county is formed by the Suwannee River.  As such, numerous springs are located here and are popular locations for swimming, camping and diving.  Fishing and paddling the Suwannee River are also popular activities.

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park, home to the first magnitude Lafayette Blue Springs, also serves as the headquarters of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail.  Camping and several cabins are available.  Further south along the river is Troy Spring State Park.  There are also the smaller Ruth Springs Park and Owens Spring, both of which are open to the public.  Convict Springs, located at the Suwannee River Rendezvous RV Park, is also open to the public.

The county has two nice on-road bicycle trails.  There is the 21-mile Mayo to R.O. Ranch out-and-back along State Road 51.  In addition, there is the 24-mile Mayo Loop, which connects Mayo to Convict Springs and nearby Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park.

Mayo, the only town in Lafayette County, is home to several nice restaurants, a locally-owned grocery store, a bed and breakfast as well as a motel/RV park.  Rural Lafayette County is be a good place to relax, spend a few days and lower your stress.  Just be sure to pronounce it La-FAY-ette.