White Springs: Florida’s Original Tourist Destination

Set among forests and a famous river in rural Hamilton County, White Springs, Florida doesn’t conjure the image of a bustling tourist town. As the town’s Vice Mayor Walter McKenzie describes it, you had to be there. “In the late 1800s and early 1900s, White Springs was the number one tourist destination in Florida because …

A High Springs Hiatus

It seems that all roads lead to High Springs, Florida, where Highways 27, 441 and 41 intersect. Located about 20 miles northwest of Gainesville in Alachua County, High Springs is a crossroads for those traveling through North Central Florida. If you find yourself near this part of the state, linger for an afternoon or weekend. …

A Weekend in Williston

How many small towns can you name where visitors can dive in underwater caverns, sit atop an elephant, ride a vintage train, wander through a botanical garden and eat the best Southern soul food you’ll find this side of Mississippi? Williston, Florida, claims all these and more. You might not realize this driving through the …

St. Marks: Where Good Things Come in Small Packages

The sun is barely up in St. Marks, Florida, as the town gently wakes to the rhythms of the day. Boaters cruise slowly toward the confluence of the St. Marks and Wakulla Rivers, on their way to Apalachee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Cyclists clad in crayon-bright gear pedal onto the shady, 16-mile stretch …

Sunsets, Seafood and Six Other Reasons to Visit Steinhatchee

It takes a little effort to reach Steinhatchee, a coastal village in Northwest Florida’s Taylor County. You’ll find it’s worth every minute of the drive along sparsely developed Highway 51 to visit this town alongside a river of the same name. As you might guess, “Steinhatchee” was derived from the Native American language: “esteen-hatchee” means …

Experience the Magic of Micanopy Minutes off I-75

  By Nancy Moreland When you see the Micanopy exit off I-75 in North Central Florida, it’s tempting to drive on by. Especially if you think it’s just another nondescript stop or small Florida town along the highway. That would be a mistake. Take exit 374 (about 20 minutes south of Gainesville) and within minutes, …