Coming Soon! Best Western Premier Hotel in Fanning Springs, Florida

The town of Fanning Springs is located in Gilchrist County, at the junction of SR26 and US19/98, and on the banks of the mighty Suwannee River. Located here, with its namesake State Park, Fanning Springs State Park, it’s the logical place to begin your explanation of the Natural North Florida Region. The 95-room Best Western …

The Early Bird Gets To Swim Without The Crowds at Fanning Springs State Park!

Florida’s State Parks are some of the most popular in the U.S. and needless to say they can get crowded during the summer months, especially if they feature springs, like many in our Natural North Florida region. Fanning Springs State Park can be crowded for several reasons.  One, it’s proximity to US19/98 just south of …

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 …

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, …

Heading to Natural North Florida With Your RV?–Set Up Alongside The Historic Suwannee River

The banks of the historic Suwannee River offer cool breezes and relaxation to RV’ers coming to enjoy Natural North Florida.  Many of the campgrounds offer tent camping as well. Yellow Jacket Resort, on CR349, between US19 and the Town of Suwannee, is a full-service RV campground, alongside the beautiful Suwannee River  

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 …

Lunch, Dinner and Country Atmosphere at Levy County’s 19/98 Grill & Country Store

When you’re traveling on US19 headed north from Inglis and the Withlacoochee River, in the lower stretches of our Natural North Florida region, you’re also traveling on US98.  The road has both names until they split at Perry, in Taylor County, with US19 heading towards Monticello (in Jefferson County) and US98 heading west towards Wakulla …

It’s Officially “Spring-Time” In Natural North Florida’s State and County Parks

Easter weekend means lots of things to lots of people.  In Natural North Florida, especially in our State and County parks, the Easter weekend and the passage into springtime really means “Spring-time”! Florida’s Karst geology has created a complex (and fragile!) underground network of rivers that course through limestone rock, occasionally popping up in the …

The Perfect End To A Long Bike Ride in Fanning Springs–Lunch At The BBQ Shack

Cycling Natural North Florida’s  32-mile Nature Coast State Trail is an excellent way to experience some of Florida’s Rails-To-Trails locations.  The smooth paved trail follows several old railroad bed that joined at Wilcox, just north of Fanning Springs.  This trail runs from Trenton, in Gilchrist County, through Fanning Springs and Old Town, in Dixie County,  …

Fanning Springs’ Lighthouse Restaurant Re-Opened and Renewed–February 2015

You remember the old Lighthouse Restaurant, don’t you?  Or did you drive by during the times when the food was not very good and the service slow and wish the restaurant would return to its former glory?  Well, fret no more.  New owner Jamie Griffin has brought The Lighthouse back and has come out swinging …