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.
Ellaville: Walking with ghosts
Where the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers meet, discover the ghost town of Ellaville along the trails of Twin Rivers State Forest and Suwannee River State Park
Florida State Parks Get New Website
Plan your next visit to a Florida state park or trail using the redesigned online park guide found at FloridaStateParks.org. The new website assists visitors with planning their next trip by providing better maps, a variety of breathtaking images highlighting Florida’s beautiful natural and historic treasures and search tools to help you find activities and …
Florida’s Governor Scott Announces $1.6 Billion Plan to Restore Florida Springs, February 2015
From The Fishing Wire: ORLANDO –Governor Rick Scott highlighted a dedicated source of revenue that will provide $1.6 billion for Florida springs restoration over the next 20 years as part of his proposed 2015-2016 “KEEP FLORIDA WORKING” budget. If passed by the Legislature, $50 million will go toward springs restoration next year. Governor Scott said, …
The Green Giants of Goethe State Forest
Deep in the heart of more than 53,500 acres of forested preserve, a stand of ancient trees is crowned by the Goethe Giant, one of Florida’s largest cypresses
Among the Aucilla Sinks
In Florida’s own “Land of the Lost,” the Aucilla River gets swallowed by the earth to emerge in vast rocky cauldrons where mastodons roamed: the Aucilla Sinks.
Walking Wakulla’s Wild Shores
Enjoy a beach walk on the wild shores of Wakulla County at several spots in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and at two county parks.
Drive Florida’s Dixie Mainline–Hardly A Road To Nowhere!
If you’re driving from the Dixie County Big Bend coastal community of Suwannee to Horseshoe Beach (or vice-versa), you have two options. The first involves traveling at least a 20-mile trip back to US19/98, heading to either Cross City or Old Town and then another 20-plus miles to your destination. The other is a simple, …
Gainesville’s gigantic gators at Paynes Prairie
Looking for enormous alligators? You’ll find them in the home of the Gators, Gainesville, along the La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park.
Nature’s bounty at Wacissa Springs
Weekdays are the best days to savor the natural beauty of Wacissa Springs, a step back in time to Florida’s past, a panorama perfect for birding and photography.
Cold Outside? Paddle Natural North Florida Springs–They’re “Warm” Year-Round
Most of us in North Florida are chickens! Not about getting outdoors, but about cold weather. Yes, we have a decidedly cooler climate in winter than our neighbors in the central and southern parts of the state, but we also have over 200 constant-temperature (72-degrees) springs that actually feel warm in winter. Several of our …