The 16 Best Things to Do in Lafayette County and the Suwannee River

The Suwannee River runs through South Georgia into Florida and down to the Gulf of Mexico. The Suwannee is a 235-mile black-water river that hides artifacts and fossils. Although the river became well-known because of Stephen Foster’s “Old Folks at Home,” it remains well-known because of the wildness it discloses. You can travel for miles …

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 …

The Suwannee River and It’s Tributaries–The Beating Heart of Natural North Florida

Florida’s mighty Suwannee River represents the heart (and arteries) of our Natural North Florida region.  It flows over 200 miles from south Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico, on the border of Dixie and Levy counties.  It is fed by countless springs, each flowing from the Floridan Aquifer, as well as tributaries like …

The Wacissa River–An Unspoiled Stretch of Fishy Water in Florida’s Jefferson County

The Wacissa River begins (where else?) but near the village of Wacissa, in southern Jefferson County.  As the crow flies, the headwaters are but 20 or so miles from urban Tallahassee, but in terms of time, it may represent centuries.  The headwaters are fed by numerous springs, including several with first magnitude flows.  Depending on …

Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve

See one of  Florida’s most unique, and most threatened ecosystems at Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve.  Scrub habitats are easy to spot, because they look like a patch of beach or desert even though you’re nowhere near the water.  Scrub habitats resemble mini-islands, because when Florida was still mostly underwater, these bits of scrub are …

Float Down the Chipola River With Bear Paw

Located about an hour outside of Tallahassee, the Chipola river is a spring fed run that makes a great day trip for anyone who is looking to spend some time outside. Bear Paw is an adventure company based in Marianna, Florida that offers full service river trips including drop off and pick up. Canoes can …

Fanning Springs Voted one of Florida’s Top Parks for 2010

Located on the Suwannee river, Fanning Springs is one of North Florida’s many first magnitude springs and is one of the most popular parks in Florida.  Voted number 18 of the top 25 Florida state parks, Fanning Springs offers many activities including swimming, canoeing, camping, hiking and biking. Camping is available in both cabins and …

Alfred B. Maclay State Park: Swimming, Canoeing, Fishing and more!

While it is most famous for its gardens, Alfred B. Maclay state park has many other activities to offer.  When the weather warms up in a few months, the recreation area on the shore of Lake Hall will be a great place for residents of the Tallahassee area to visit.  The recreation area offers several …