Experience the Magic of Micanopy Minutes off I-75

  By Nancy Moreland When you see the Micanopy exit off I-75 in North Central Florida, it’s tempting to drive on by. Especially if you think it’s just another nondescript stop or small Florida town along the highway. That would be a mistake. Take exit 374 (about 20 minutes south of Gainesville) and within minutes, …

Serenola Forest Preserve–Gainesville’s Latest Hiking Destination

Officially opened in April, 2019 after acquisition in 2018, the Serenola Forest Preserve is the latest addition to the lands overseen by the Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT). Located south of the University of Florida, just off Williston Road, the preserve consists of 111-acres of hardwood forest, open to the public for an in-town hiking experience. Here’s …

Take A Kid (or a Grownup!) Fishing—Family Fishing Days, Gainesville

UF/IFAS’ School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC) has a big, long name, and even though it doesn’t say “fish” or “fishing”, its programs include Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (FAS) programs, including Family Fishing Days.  This outreach program hosts monthly events (March through November) that provide families the opportunity to fish together in a safe …

Spend A Day At The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo—It’s Good For You!

There’s only one American Zoo Association accredited zoo on a  college campus,  and it’s on Gainesville‘s Santa Fe College campus.  Santa Fe College offers both Associate and Bachelor’s degrees and won the 2015 Aspen Prize for Educational Excellence.  It enrollment now tops 20,000 and it’s an excellent adjunct to the educational community in Gainesville, which …

2019 Gainesville Native American Festival, Gainesville, March 29-31

The 2019 Gainesville Native American Festival is new and it’s destined to be a great time for folks of all ages.  The event will be held at the Alachua County Fairgrounds and will feature traditional music and dances, handmade arts and crafts, native foods and a living history village.  Hours are 9-3 Friday, 10-6 Saturday …

Ask A Seafood Specialist About “Reel Variety” at Florida’s Largest Supermarket Chain (Recipe Included!)

“Florida Food” is all about seafood.  And  sources of fresh, healthy seafood can be found throughout our Natural North Florida region.  In small coastal towns like Steinhatchee (Kathi’s Krabs), Cedar Key (Robinson‘s), Cross City (Rick’s)  there are some great seafood stores.  And in Gainesville, you can’t do much better than Northwest Seafood‘s two locations–one in …

50th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Drag Races, Gainesville, March 14-17, 2019

One of the highlights of the year for the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) is Gatornationals.  This year, the event will be held March 14-17 at the Gainesville Raceway, on N. County Road 225, just north of Gainesville.  Race enthusiasts from all over the US gather in Gainesville, located in North Central Florida.  Gainesville is …

Tom Petty Birthday Bash….Great Music in Gainesville, October 19 & 20, 2018

Gainesville, the largest city in our Natural North Florida region, has been known as a music hub.  Names like Bo Diddley, Sister Hazel, Gram Parsons, Bernie Leadon,  the Peyton Brothers, and Stephen Stills all come to mind.  But most famous was likely “outlaw” musician Tom Petty.  Since his death in October of 2017, Gainesville  has …

Natural North Florida–Music and Fun–There’s Country, Western and More!

There’s a great line in the movie, “The Blues Brothers”, where the owner of Bob’s Country Bunker explains to the band that they play all kinds of music—“Country…AND Western”!  Well, despite the fact that our region made up of 14 mostly-rural north Florida counties furnish America lots of cattle, soybeans, peanuts and seafood, we enjoy …