Outdoors and Nature
Our Outdoor and Nature experts, Sandra Friend and John Keatley, travel around the region exploring the fabulous springs, rivers, trails, and hidden treasures that make up our ten county Natural North Florida region.
Fiddlefest and Cane Boil at Gainesville’s Morningside Nature Center, November 28, 2015
This event is held each year the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and combines traditions of giving thanks and fall harvest with live fiddle, banjo and string-band music, which were major influences on American entertainment for more than 150 years. Bring your holiday guests, friends and family out to Morningside’s beautiful Living History Farm to experience the …
Visit The La Chua Trail and Alachua Sink at Payne’s Prairie State Park
Paynes Prairie is biologically, geologically and historically unique. This park became Florida´s first state preserve in 1971 and is now designated as a National Natural Landmark. Noted artist and naturalist William Bartram called it the great Alachua Savannah when he wrote about his visit to the prairie in 1774. Depending on the season you visit …
Natural North Florida Springs–Cool in Summer, Warm in Winter
Our Natural North Florida counties (Alachua, Gilchrist, Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Madison, Jefferson, Union, Lafayette and Wakulla) have the largest concentration of natural freshwater springs in the world. And, when the weather gets hot, they’re the perfect place to cool off. However, visitors and residents flock to the springs, and their contant 72-degree water temperatures, when …
Visit Gainesville’s Kanapaha Botanical Gardens–You’ll Be Surprised!
While the names Bellingrath, Callaway and Selby bring to mind some of the south’s great botanical gardens, Gainesville’s Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is often overlooked by even the most enthusiastic garden lovers. Florida’s climate is generally tropical, and Gainesville can be hot, but being north of Tampa Bay, where the “tropics” start and it really …
3-Day Trip: North Florida’s Natural Must-Sees
North Florida is a playground for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. This region offers tourists and residents a different side of Florida nature, and is home to some of the nation’s most desired recreational areas. North Florida is known for its nature reserves, prehistoric caves and biking trails; however, its natural springs, wildlife sanctuaries …
Take a Ride in Bicycle-Friendly Lake Butler, in Union County, Florida
If you’re looking for a quiet, low-key place to have a leisurely bicycle ride, head to Lake Butler, in Florida’s Union County. Union County is small and rural, but there are plenty of sights to see from either the Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail or the not-very-busy city streets. The trail’s western terminus is in downtown …
Visit Fanning Springs, A Natural North Florida Paradise!
Fanning Springs State Park, located on the Suwannee River, this inviting source of cool, clear water has attracted people for thousands of years. Fanning Springs now produces less than 65 million gallons of water daily, making it a second magnitude spring. Historically, Fanning Spring was a first-magnitude springs as recently as the 1990s. Swimming or …
Swim, Snorkel, SCUBA, Paddle, Camp, Play at Florida’s Manatee Springs State Park
The first-magnitude spring at Manatee Springs State Park produces an average of 100 million gallons of clear, cool water daily. In winter, West Indian manatees swim upriver to the warmer waters of the springs. Popular for snorkeling and scuba diving, the headwaters of the spring are also a great spot for swimming. The spring run …
Paddle With PaddleFlorida on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail: October 22 – 27, 2015
Natural North Florida’s Suwannee River Wilderness Trail offers a unique opportunity to see and paddle one of America’s great rivers. The Suwannee River starts its journey in Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp and meanders through north central Florida until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico at the town of Suwannee. One important yearly kayak event is the …
“Meat and Three” at Bett’s Big T Restaurant in Chiefland, Florida
“Meat and Three” restaurants are a southern tradition. In many parts of Florida, they’re dying out and being replaced by fast-food enterprises, especially in the more urbanized areas. But if you’re traveling through (or hopefully stopping in) our 11 county Natural North Florida region, you’ll find several of these classic eateries. A good example is …