One Day Trips
Explore The Wonders of Florida at Gainesville’s Museum of Natural History
One of the highlights of a trip to Gainesville is always a visit to the Florida Museum of Natural History. The museum is located on the western edge of the University of Florida campus, in the same complex as the Harn Museum of Art and the Phillips Performing Arts Center. The museum is easy to …
Put On Your Walking Shoes and Tour The University of Florida’s Main Campus in Gainesville, Florida
The main campus of the University of Florida is more like a city than a college campus. Stretching miles in several directions, it’s home to over 50,000 students–plus the faculty and support staff that make the university one of the best in the country and certainly the “flagship” of Florida’s educational system. If …
Take The Slower Road…US90—Live Oak to Lake City, Florida
If you’re driving east or west along Interstate Highway 10, just south of the Florida/Georgia border, you’ve likely missed two small historic cities in our Natural North Florida region. Yes, there are signs west of I-75 directing you to Live Oak and some to the east, pointing towards Lake City. But if you just keep …
Shop ‘Til You Drop–or Just Dine and Stroll–In Beautiful Monticello, Florida
Monticello, Florida is about 20 miles east of Florida’s busy capital city, Tallahassee, at the intersection of US19 and US90. It’s also about a thousand times more laid=back and a great place to visit, shop or dine in our Natural North Florida region. Monticello is the county seat of Jefferson County and boasts one of …
Big Parks, Big Springs–Small Parks, Small Springs–A Few Suwannee River Favorites!
The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home) words and music by Stephen C. Foster (1826-1864) FIRST VERSE Way down upon de Swanee Ribber, Far, far away, Dere’s wha my heart is turning ebber, Dere’s wha de old folks stay. All up and down de whole creation Sadly I roam, Still longing for de old plantation, …
Take A Scenic Drive Along Natural North Florida’s US90–Monticello to Madison
When visitors come to Natural North Florida, they’re often surprised to find rolling hills and historic towns with no beaches or amusement parks. However, a drive across Florida’s Jefferson and Madison counties can easily change your perception of our little-known and lightly-traveled region. US90 is a major American highway. In fact, it begins in California …
Paddle Florida’s Big Bend Coastline At The 2017 Hidden Coast Paddling Adventure, October 11-14
If you’re an avid paddler, consider joining 99 others at the 2017 Hidden Coast Paddling Adventure. This year’s 4 day trip will depart the Steinhatchee River and head south to Yankeetown, on the scenic Withlacoochee River. On the trip, you’ll see wildlife and “Natural North Florida” at places like Horseshoe Beach, Suwannee, and Cedar Key. …
Jump In At These Gilchrist County Springs!
Gilchrist County has many spring-related parks along both the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers. Ginnie Springs Park, near High Springs off CR340 is private, with lots of Santa Fe River shoreline and several springs. It’s busy, but well organized and is a destination appreciated by the “younger” crowd. Blue Springs Park, just up the road …
2017 Bay Scalloping On Florida’s Nature Coast–An Abundance of Tasty Bivalves!
It’s July, and Natural North Florida’s 2017 recreational bay scallop harvest is off to a roaring start. The harvest began on June 16 for the waters from Suwannee (in Dixie County) to the Fenholloway River (in Taylor County) and ends on September 10. The remainder of Taylor County, all of Levy County, Jefferson and Wakulla …
Three Natural North Florida Springs–Free For All!
Some of the best things in our Natural North Florida region are free, and that’s especially true when it comes to three of our smaller springs. While we have the largest concentration of first and second magnitude freshwater springs in the world, these county-maintained “swimming holes” in Jefferson, Columbia and Alachua counties are fun–and FREE! …