The 25 Best Things to do in Levy County

Levy County, Florida, is a master at hidden jewels, like their springs. There are small towns in this county that people tend to speed through on the way somewhere else—missing out on some of the best things Florida has to offer. Slow down, stop a while, and ask a local where to go. But, please…ssshhhhh… …

Treasure Hunting (for Bay Scallops!) in Taylor County, Florida

By: Dawn V. Perez Picture the scene, you are heading out to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico by either the Keaton Beach Canal, the Steinhatchee River or the Econfina River in Taylor County,  watching the seagulls fly, the fish jump in the water and enjoying a fresh salt breeze coming from the …

Enjoy Natural North Florida’s “Pocket Beaches”

When representatives of Visit Natural North Florida speak at travel shows, we often tout the fact that we have “no crowded beaches”. That’s partly true–we have a few “pocket beaches”. And, they’re not crowded. If you take a look at a map of Florida, you’ll notice that there are no barrier islands between Hernando County’s …

The 8th Annual Christmas Train at Kirby Family Farm in Williston, Florida

Hosted by Volunteers, the entire event helps the development and programs Kirby Family Farm offers at-risk and special needs children who need a friend, or a farm, to help them through life’s challenges. The children and teens have worked hard helping prepare and setup this wonderful family holiday experience. It’s all held on-site at Kirby Family Farm in …

2020 Festival of Lights at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, FL

There will be a Festival of Lights in 2020.  The safety of our visitors, volunteers and park staff are of foremost importance.  Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there are significant changes that had to be made for this year’s festival.    You will be able to see beautiful lights and scenes that the Stephen Foster Festival of Lights is …

Big Bend Road Trip, Part 2: Natural North Florida–Suwannee Town to Panacea

Florida’s Big Bend has long been a preferred destination of travelers and tourists. This unspoiled region we call “Natural North Florida” encompasses the Gulf of Mexico coastline, and has developed largely along the spine formed by US19 and US98. On it’s interior US27, US90, US 301, US441 and Interstate Highways 75 and 10 have attracted …

Spend The Night and Spread Your Wings From Perry, Florida

Perry, in Florida’s Taylor County, is known as the “Forest Capitol of the World”. And rightly so, as for many years the smell of the local paper mill was the giveaway that this small city was more important than just a “wide spot in the highway”. But now, with the Foley mill is now turning …

The Best of The Best–Florida Stone Crabs

Crabs are a favorite of American diners. There are Dungeness crabs on the Pacific coast and blue crabs from Maryland to the Carolinas. But there’s no crab like Florida’s stone crab, Menippe mercenaria. Found off both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, stone crabs are not killed during the harvest of their claws. Harvesting is accomplished …

Megalodon–and More–at Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville

I recently saw “The Meg”, a terrible sci-fi movie based around the reemergence of an extinct super-sized shark and its proclivity for biting submarines. Fun, but fiction! 100 million years ago, the “Meg” did exist. It roamed the seas and feasted mainly on large mammals, like whale. Now, all that’s left of it is a …