The Santa Fe River near Gainesville is a treasure for its many clear bubbling springs and its unspoiled beauty. It’s one of Florida’s most beautiful places to kayak, canoe, snorkel and swim. It’s way north, but worth making part of a trip.
Northeast Florida
Gamble Rogers: A celebration of song and sea
By doubling the size of its campground, this oceanfront state park in Flagler Beach has expanded its reach — and its appeal.
Oak Hill: Outpost on Mosquito Lagoon for history, classic seafood shack
Driving U.S. 1 north of Titusville, you would never know Oak Hill even existed. But this gateway to the Mosquito Lagoon is worth finding. There’s fascinating history, a great fishing pier and the sort of atmospheric, out-of-the-way waterfront seafood shack that we love to discover.
The Talbot Islands: Paradise on the edge
Windswept beaches, pristine back country waterways, a mile-long fishing bridge and a shady, scenic campground.
Exploring New Smyrna waterways by kayak or SUP: Wildlife, mangroves & sandbars
The waterways along the Intracoastal in New Smyrna Beach are a terrific place to explore by kayak or SUP. Richard Barrett shares some of his favorite routes — places you might overlook when going to the popular beaches in the area.
Marineland: Surprising story of legendary ‘oceanarium’
Marineland was the original oceanarium and the first to discover you could train dolphins to perform. Read its fascinating history, an excerpt from the new book, “A New Guide to Old Florida Attractions: From Mermaids to Singing Towers,” by Doug Alderson.
JB’s Fish Camp: Running with the crabs in New Smyrna Beach
JB’s is your original crab shack, a funky Florida kind of place where blue crabs are served steaming from the kitchen and dumped onto sheets of brown kraft paper that serve as your tablecloth. There’s an outdoor dining deck with a tiki bar overlooking Mosquito Lagoon.
Bike Week: Camping info, scenic rides, things to do
Bikers converge on Daytona Beach every March for Bike Week, but visitors often have a tough time finding a place to stay or camp and get lost in a sea of things-to-do. Our Bike Week guide helps sort it out.
