Visit Trenton, A Florida Town That’s All About Quilts and Murals!

Trenton, FL, the county seat of Gilchrist County, is just west of Gainesville and is home to an excellent quilting museum and has taken the art of quilting a step further by painting quilt designs on the exterior walls of some of the historic downtown buildings.

Re-Live Florida’s “Cracker” History in Perry, FL

  Florida’s Forest Capital State Museum and Cracker Homestead, located in Perry, is part of Florida’s State Park system.  Located on US19 (Byron Butler Parkway) just south of town, this 1864 home and furnishings will give visitors a taste of Florida’s past.  Open 9AM to Noon, Monday through Thursday, this place is worth a visit. …

Take Your Time and Enjoy Some Home Cooking at The Cypress Inn, Cross City, FL

If you’re like me, you sometimes forget about the finer things in life.  And in many cases, it means suffering through yet another fast food burger or breakfast when there’s a perfectly good opportunity right down the street that offers sit-down service, big smiles and some great food. The Cypress Inn in Cross City is …

Delightfully Doughy Delicacies at Johnson’s Bakery, Perry, FL

Yes, many of our larger communities have Publix Supermarkets with excellent bakeries (Gainesville has at least 10!) but I’ve never heard anyone claim that they’re better than Johnson’s Bakery in downtown Perry, Florida.  Downtown Perry, the county seat of Taylor County, is undergoing a growth spurt and remodeling, and the heart of the action and …

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 …

Paddle Alachua County’s Santa Fe River from Canoe Outpost

  Located right next to the US441 bridge over the Santa Fe River in High Springs, you’ll find Jim Woods’ Santa Fe River Canoe Outpost.  Jim’s been renting kayaks and canoes there for as long as I can remember, and he and his staff are bound and determined for you to have a great time …

Cold Air Temperatures Making You Shiver? Take a Dip In a “High Springs” Spring!

Take a short drive west from High Springs, Florida and you’ll find yourself confronted with 3 choices for swimming or snorkeling in 72-degree spring water.  Florida’s springs, fed by the constant-temperature Floridan Aquifer (the largest self-replenishing aquifer in the world), are comfortable year-round, especially when the air temperatures drop and the water is warmer than …

Put on a Sweater–and Paddle the Big Bend Saltwater Trail!

The weather’s cooling down, so it’s time to head to the coast and do some paddling.   Sea kayakers have long known of the multi-day expedition possibilities along Florida’s Big Bend Gulf Coast. The area boasts one of the longest and wildest publicly-owned coastal wetlands in the United States, and a striking array of bird …

It’s Time To Head West Towards The New and Improved Horseshoe Beach Marina!

In the past few years, Horseshoe Beach hasn’t had lots of attention from outdoorsmen who live outside the Natural North Florida region. That’s bad, as it’s a great place to fish—and to relax! This small town, billed as “Florida’s Last Frontier”, is about 25-miles west of Cross City, at the end of CR351. There are …

Catch More Fall Fish on Florida’s Big Bend, Rig “Carolina Style”!

From Capt. Rick Burns: This week I’ll share one way of how to go about catching our sometimes sluggish Autumn fish with live or cut bait. I love the thrill and challenge of fooling fish with plugs and artificial lures. But, when these times can render some fish “lockjaw lethargics”, you sometimes have to revert …