Families
It’s Officially “Spring-Time” In Natural North Florida’s State and County Parks
Easter weekend means lots of things to lots of people. In Natural North Florida, especially in our State and County parks, the Easter weekend and the passage into springtime really means “Spring-time”! Florida’s Karst geology has created a complex (and fragile!) underground network of rivers that course through limestone rock, occasionally popping up in the …
Visit Trenton, A Florida Town That’s All About Quilts and Murals!
Trenton, FL, the county seat of Gilchrist County, is just west of Gainesville and is home to an excellent quilting museum and has taken the art of quilting a step further by painting quilt designs on the exterior walls of some of the historic downtown buildings.
Splash Into Summertime in Natural North Florida!
by Tamara Herchel Memorial Day is approaching, and if you’re like me you’ve been planning your waterfront escape for weeks. I’ve broken in my new flippy-flops (they’re Rainbows, and they’re pink, and I love them. Just sayin’.) My favorite tote is spilling over with towels, sunscreen and sunglasses; I’ve inflated the tires on my daughter’s …
Guided Paddle Tours in Cedar Key
The stick floating in the water sure was wriggling a lot. I had thought it was a stick, anyway. Then my guide told me it was a snake. Why was a snake swimming a mile off the coast of Cedar Key? It had clearly bitten off more than it could chew (figuratively, thank goodness) and …
Putting the Green in Blueberries: Earth-friendly Farming at Monticello’s Green Meadows Farm
When longtime organic gardener Delores Green retired from teaching, she wanted to turn her hobby into a small business. “I wanted to be outside growing things,” she says. Delores and her husband, Ronny, searched for a crop they could grow organically on land they owned in Monticello. They settled on blueberries and opened Green Meadows …
U-pick Fruits and Veggies, Summer at its Finest!
In today’s world of supermarkets and mega marts, why pick your own produce when you can just go out and buy it? Well, first of all, they’re fresher. Less than 24 hours from the farm to your belly. Second of all, the produce is likely of a higher quality. When farmers pick for supermarkets, the …
Horseback Riding in Monticello: Connor Carriages and Occasions
Located just a short drive outside of Tallahassee, Connor Carriages and Occasions in Monticello is a great place to get out of thie city and play outside for the day. Trail rides are $35 per person and are available by reservation only. No previous experience with horses is necessary, as the ride is guided. If …
Alfred B. Maclay State Park: Swimming, Canoeing, Fishing and more!
While it is most famous for its gardens, Alfred B. Maclay state park has many other activities to offer. When the weather warms up in a few months, the recreation area on the shore of Lake Hall will be a great place for residents of the Tallahassee area to visit. The recreation area offers several …
Nature Coast State Trail Part 3: Fanning Springs to Trenton
Part 1: Fanning Springs to Cross City Part 2: Fanning Springs to Chiefland The Nature Coast State trail is a 32 mile trail that runs through Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy counties. For casual bikers, the trail is easily divided into three shorter pieces. The third and final chunk of the trail is a 7 mile …
Holiday Lights in Natural North Florida
Two Natural North Florida holiday events grace the list of the best Christmas lights I compiled for the St. Pete Times’ Sunday travel section. Don’t miss A Cedar Key Christmas, where Santa arrives by clam boat on Dec. 11, and Stephen Foster State Park’s Festival of Lights, which transforms the White Springs park into a …