Things to do in Northwest Florida, Gainesville, Lake City and getaways to outdoor recreation, hiking, biking, trails, canoeing, kayaking, trails, RV and tent camping, places to stay, places to eat, road trips and Funky Florida.
Northwest Florida
Fanning & Manatee Springs: Hidden treasures for cabins, camping
Fanning Springs and Manatee Springs state parks offer beautiful springs, cabins, camping, kayaking & biking in Northwest Florida. Where is this Florida wonderland? Far off the beaten path.
Florida’s oldest seafood festival in Apalachicola, Nov. 1-2, 2019
56th annual Florida Seafood Festival, Apalachicola, Nov. 1-2, 2019 It’s only fitting that the oldest seafood festival in Florida calls Apalachicola its home. Folks have been fishing here since the early 1800s, although at the time, the town was established primarily as a shipping port for cotton. As railroads replaced ships for the transit of cotton, the port attracted the […]
Cedar Key Seafood Festival, Oct. 19-20, 2019
Seafood festivals are common in Florida, but Cedar Key Seafood Festival is uncommonly appealing. Not only is Cedar Key historic and charming, it’s also clam capital of America.
Cool idea: Florida’s best river for tubing, Ichetucknee Springs
All those “lazy river” water attractions at hotels and parks? They’re just trying to recreate the exhilarating experience of tubing the clear, wild Ichetucknee River in north central Florida. Try the real thing. Summer tubing season starts the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
Camp, kayak and bike at one of America’s top beaches
Grayton Beach is consistently ranked among the Top 10 beaches in America, making it a prime candidate for your bucket list. It was on mine, and we camped there this fall.
Get away from everything at Three Rivers State Park
Three Rivers State Park ranks high on our list of Florida campgrounds. Perched on the shores of Lake Seminole at the Florida-Georgia line, there’s not a bad campsite in the park, and you are in the middle of nowhere. We loved it. So will you.
More than the Rainbow River; Dunnellon is a good base for exploring
Dunnellon is known for its spectacular Rainbow Springs and River, especially during tubing season. But there are more reasons to visit in cool weather, including another exquisite river– the Withlacoochee — several good restaurants, and trails for both hiking and biking.
Rainbow River: Pure spring water makes kayaking, tubing tops
Rainbow Springs and the Rainbow River are among Florida’s top tubing and kayaking spots. People love this waterway because of the pure, clear water and the spectacular natural setting. In winter, it’s a peaceful place to kayak and perhaps see otters and birds. In summer, it’s full of tubes doing a four-hour float through a cool paradise.
Disappearing river and shady campground rise above the norm
O’Leno State Park is a Florida treasure with a scenic campground at the heart of two state parks that will take your breath away. It is here that the Santa Fe River vanishes, only to re-appear 3.5 miles later to meander many paddle-loving miles to its merger with the Suwannee River.
