Take A Virtual Florida Vacation To Gilchrist County’s Spring-Fed Swimming Holes

Now, while travel (local, regional, national and international) has slowed, it’s the perfect time to get out the maps, and take a “virtual vacation” to Natural North Florida. We’ve got plenty to see, and hope to see you (at a safe social distance!) once time get better. There are bigger springs along the Suwannee River …

Fun and Games! Labor Day Weekend 2019 at Suwannee River Rendezvous, in Lafayette County

                         There’s something for everyone at Lafayette County’s Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort!      Located just east of the town of Mayo, at 828 NE Primrose Rd, the resort is just about a mile off US27 on the shores of the beautiful Suwannee River.  The main feature of the original resort, opened ten years ago, is Convict …

Lazy Days and Relaxing Nights on the Suwannee River

With the warm weather at its peak, it’s time to start thinking about getting back to nature as a family. Whether you like to pitch your own tent or get a good night’s sleep in an air-conditioned cabin, we found a place that’s great for all kinds of families.  My family of three enjoyed a …

Sunsets, Seafood and Six Other Reasons to Visit Steinhatchee

It takes a little effort to reach Steinhatchee, a coastal village in Northwest Florida’s Taylor County. You’ll find it’s worth every minute of the drive along sparsely developed Highway 51 to visit this town alongside a river of the same name. As you might guess, “Steinhatchee” was derived from the Native American language: “esteen-hatchee” means …

Hart Springs Park, Gilchrist County, Florida–New and Improved For 2018!

Florida’s State Parks are excellent, but often crowded.  However, we have a number of very fine county-operated parks in Natural North Florida that are generally less crowded, with the same spring access as the bigger state parks.  Hart Springs, in rural Gilchrist County, is alongside the famous Suwannee River, and has recently been renovated. The …

Ochlockonee River State Park–A Gem on Natural North Florida’s Western “Border”

Located off US319, about 4 miles south of Sopchoppy, Florda in Wakulla County, Ochlockonee River State Park is a great place to visit–for a day trip or an extended vacation.  The State Park is bounded by the confluence of the Ochlockonee and Dead Rivers, upstream from the Gulf of Mexico and is an excellent of …

Natural North Florida’s Gilchrist Blue Springs is Now Florida’s Newest State Park, 11/1/17

Florida now has 175 State Parks, and everyone’s excited that the transition from private to public for Gilchrist Blue Springs is now  a “done deal”.  The property, which contains six natural springs and includes approximately one mile of frontage along the Santa Fe River, has been providing recreational opportunities as a private park since 1958. …

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, …

Visit Springs Along The Santa Fe River in Columbia, Gilchrist and Alachua County

The Santa Fe River traverses several counties in the Natural North Florida region.  It begins upstream of the town of  Worthington Springs in southern Union County, and eventually flows into the mighty Suwannee River at Three Rivers Estates.  The river flows downstream to O’Leno State Park in Columbia County  where it drops into the Karst …

Second To Only The MIghty Suwannee River–Natural North Florida’s “Minor” Rivers

It’s tough when you have to say that some of our Natural North Florida Rivers are “minor”, but the 240-mile-long Suwannee River is hard to keep out of first place.  It’s long, it’s free-flowing with no dams or obstructions, and it’s beautiful.  But there are others in our region that are smaller, but no less …