Undiscovered Florida – 20 Best Things in Hamilton County

Hamilton County is full of historic places, scenic rivers, and undiscovered trails. Hamilton calls itself “Florida’s Front Porch.” Notice you can hear the quiet. And the beautiful, diverse landscape. You’ll enjoy sitting on the porch. The county has over 32,000 acres of public lands. Hamilton is encircled by the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers and split …

18 of the Best Adventures in Taylor County

Taylor County is in the Big Bend of Florida—where the state curves and wraps around the Gulf of Mexico. The county has picturesque fishing villages and towns, such as Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach. And for Heaven’s sake, call it STEEN-hatch-ee. If you say it like a German beer STEIN, you’ll be marked an outsider and …

20 of the Best Ways to Play Outside in Dixie County!

There is no shortage of things to do outside in Dixie County. Located in the Big Bend region of Florida, it is the perfect spot for all types of eco-tourism activities that let you “play outside.” Natural North Florida is frequently called “Forgotten Florida.” I like to think of it as Florida like it used to be, …

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 …

Birding and Bird Photography Opportunities in Natural North Florida

Blogger Note: Despite over fifty years as a photographer, my expertise in the art of bird photography is lacking. I thank my friend Rick Davidson, for this story and some excellent photos. I wish I had his patience! Our area is fortunate to have so many parks and wildlife management areas, but we’re also fortunate …

Birding and Bird Photography in Natural North Florida

A guest blog from local bird photographer, Dr. Richard Davidson Fifty million people in the U.S. plan birding outings each year. Our area is blessed with amazing opportunities for those who observe or photograph birds. The Great Florida Birding Trail (http://floridabirdingtrail.com/) includes over 500 locations for birding in Florida, with dozens in the Natural North …

Steinhatchee Springs WMA—Explorers and Photographers Welcome

Florida’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are a varied collection of public and private lands, managed and overseen by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).  Many include tracts of private homes and leased hunting lands, but all allow some access by the public.  The Steinhatchee Springs WMA is a narrow, 20,000+ acre parcel stretching …

Celebrate Birds–Live Birds of Prey Festival – Saturday, January 30, 2016- First Magnitude Brewery in Gainesville

Live Birds of Prey Festival – Saturday, January 30 – First Magnitude Brewery Join Wild Birds Unlimited at First Magni-tude Brewery from 12-4pm on Saturday, January 30 for an afternoon with live birds of prey from the Apopka-based Avi-an Reconditioning Center (ARC). This year’s event will feature a Bald Eagle and four other species of raptor …

Down The Less-Beaten Path Through The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

There’s nothing quite like the United States’ National Wildlife Refuge system, and Natural North Florida has three of the best– St. Marks,  Lower Suwannee and Cedar Key.  All are interesting and worth the trip, but The St. Marks Preserve, located in Wakulla County, in the middle of the Big Bend, is especially interesting to visitors …