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Most individuals go to Florida for a style of subtropical sunshine, glitzy theme parks, and white sand seashores, and so they seldom go away disillusioned – however should you’re trying to get on the highway much less traveled, you may wish to solid your web additional North.

North Florida is quieter, extra rural, and endlessly lovely. It’s the place palm bushes sway with out seashore balls knocking into them, the place luminous-blue pure springs circulation into meandering rivers, and the place you possibly can catch your personal scallops off the Gulf shoreline.

There are lots of issues to do in North Florida, most of which contain getting open air and revelling in why that is known as the Sunshine State. A lot so it’s also known as Pure North Florida.

While you go to Pure North Florida, you’ll escape the standard Florida crowds and welcome in a quiet house and serenity.

Whether or not you’re in search of a weekend getaway, or embarking on a week-long highway journey, there’s at all times one thing to do in Northern Florida.

The place is Pure North Florida?

First, let’s outline the boundaries so we’re all clear on what consists of Pure North Florida.

The world encompasses unimaginable pure range in North Central Florida between Gainesville to the east, Sopchoppy to the west, Cedar Key to the South, and the Florida-Georgia state line to the north.

It’s an space that sits between the capital, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville on the Atlantic Coast.

It consists of Florida’s panhandle area, however doesn’t lengthen to Pensacola Seashore or Navarre Seashore within the Gulf.

That can assist you visualise this, right here’s a map:

Issues to do in Pure North Florida

A part of the enjoyment of our journey running a blog way of life, is we could be launched to areas we’ve by no means heard of earlier than, and so we are able to share their less-charted hidden secrets and techniques with you.

Listed here are our strategies for the most effective issues to do in North Florida.

1. Discover the Suwanee Wilderness River Path

The Suwanee River begins within the Okeefenokee Swamp in southeastern Georgia and travels 246 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Timucuan Indians felt the river was sacred to the Solar God who introduced coloration to the flowers of the earth.

Its river gives nature lovers the grandeur of unspoiled outdated Florida and the great thing about out of doors journey.

The Suwannee River Wilderness Path begins in White Springs, Florida’s first vacationer city, and is an space that provides exploration of a quaint downtown stuffed with outdated Florida allure, state parks, and pure springs.

The river continues for 170 miles by means of towering pines, stately cypress lining the riverbanks, excessive limestone outcroppings, salt marshes and gently slowing banks because it widens on its strategy to the Gulf of Mexico.

For these looking for a novel journey you possibly can get pleasure from a multi-day journey canoeing the river stopping on the river camps spaced a days’ journey aside.

We’re saving that journey for one more day, on this quick journey we visited a couple of of the star sights within the Suwanee River Wilderness Path.

Suwannee River State Park

The Suwannee River State Park is situated close to the city of Stay Oak and gives a number of the greatest backcountry canoeing alternatives within the state. 

This Florida State Park gives lovely mountaineering trails by means of the woods alongside the river and encompasses historic ghost cities, and Civil Struggle battlements, and remnants of a 19^th Century steamboat.

Take the straightforward Suwanee River Path which runs for slightly below a mile alongside the riverbank and gives lovely views of its quickly working waters and the gorgeous reside oaks with Spanish moss dripping over the banks.

You may then proceed alongside the Balanced Rock, which toppled into the water years in the past, and is now solely seen when the water is low.

Because it was excessive, we turned again through the Lime Sink Run path, which is slightly below a mile and takes you previous a novel freshwater spring and weaves out and in of a hardwood forest lush with quite a lot of crops and wildlife.

Take your mosquito repellant!

2. Swim at Madison Blue Springs

A couple of 20-minute drive from Suwannee River State Park, is what has been dubbed by USA At this time, “the most effective swimming gap within the US.”

We didn’t expertise the complete glory of Madison Blue Springs State Park and its typical luminous blue coloration because of rising river ranges and darker coloration water, however that didn’t cease us from loving this refreshing option to cool off from a sizzling Florida day.

Give your lymphatic system time to regulate to the 68-degree year-round temperature. After the preliminary shock it’s divine.

There’s a robust present that can push you out to the sting of the Withlacoochee River and you’ll stroll again across the perimeter of the spring and benefit from the views.

Take your float and simply relax. There are picnic tables within the space should you wished to make a complete day of it. This was certainly one of our favourite issues to do in North Florida.

3. Go Spring Hopping from Excessive Springs

One of many largest attracts to this area is for North Florida’s pure springs.

In the event you loved the Madison Blue Spring, you is perhaps eager to take a look at some others.

From the city of Excessive Springs, there are three in style springs inside a brief drive: Poe Springs Park, Ginnie Springs, Rum Island Springs, and Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park.

Additional south in North Florida are three different in style springs, should you’re not all springed out:

4. Camp at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and Campground

The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and Campground is 800 acres of outside tenting enjoyable located alongside the banks of the Suwannee River.

Not solely does it provide primitive and powered tenting, it has miles of mountaineering and horseback using trails, disc golf course, and canoeing and kayaking on the river.

You too can keep in cabins right here like we did in our 2-bedroom cottage.

Suwannee isn’t just a spot to pitch your tent, it’s rated as one of many US’s prime out of doors music venues.

It hosts a number of out of doors music festivals every year, plus common concert events, and campfire pickin’ session.

You understand we love our reside music right here and so have pegged this as a spot to return to as soon as the reside occasions begin once more.

We beloved our little self-driving tour of the huge property and discovering issues like out of doors amphitheater and levels, lovely fishing lakes, hidden campgrounds, the river, and this gigantic troll.

Is that this not the best paintings you’ve ever seen?

Associates let’s meet up right here one yr for tenting and reside music and troll hunts!

In the event you’re in search of a spot to eat, whereas based mostly close to or at Stay Oak, the next two locations are really helpful.

5. Eat at Large Wooden BBQ & Grill, Stay Oak

We had been impressed by the dimensions and high quality of the meals at Large Wooden BBQ & Grill.

All of us selected one thing completely different: blackened shrimp, child again ribs, and rib eye steak, and sliders – all had been unbelievable.

I used to be impressed by the standard of the grilled greens and baked potato – the seasoning on it was good.

6. Get pleasure from Southern meals at Dixie Grill

In the event you love pleasant Southern allure, you’ll love eating at Dixie Grill.

The proprietor Charles walked round to greet every particular person with a fist pump, a coupon chat catch-up, or a dialog to find extra about you (should you’re clearly not from spherical right here).

You’ll discover good home-cooked southern meals and beneficiant parts to get you thru the day.

7. Chill out by Steinhatchee River

“Gradual. Manatees round right here.”

The signal on the dock exterior my resort room immediately informed me I used to be in a cool place.

I hustled everybody out of the room to wander the superbly manicured lawns of the Fiddler’s Resort on the banks of the Steinhatchee River.

We quickly discovered that swimming alongside the manatees are alligators and bull sharks and we’d not be becoming a member of them!

We definitely wished to hitch the Key West boats cruising up and down the Steinhatchee River with music blaring and laughter ringing out.

This place will get me.

Scalloping within the Gulf of Mexico

In Steinhatchee, we had what the ladies dubbed, “probably the most enjoyable ever!’

We went scalloping out within the Gulf of Mexico with Captain Mike, a non-public constitution captain.

This is without doubt one of the greatest locations in Florida to go to for scalloping, an space referred to as the scallop capital of the US.

Yearly from June to August, folks can free dive for scallops within the grassy shallows.

We spent 4 hours snorkeling among the many turtle grass, spying the scallops camouflaged and grabbing them with our fingers.

Fairly quickly you get the dangle of it and may spy their mouths opening and shutting.

There are limits on what number of every particular person can catch, and we didn’t even come near that, ensuring we solely grabbed as a lot as we may eat.

I beloved the nearer connection it gave me to nature. You’ve a a lot deeper appreciation for the place meals comes from while you go to the trouble of catching it your self.

It additionally gave me a deeper sense of gratitude and honor for the scallop that gave me one thing to eat.

This can be a apply indigenous cultures have around the globe – taking time to bless and honor every animal that gave its life so we could eat.

Captain Mike was a unbelievable information with a simple going, pleasant nature.

He took us to a sand bar on the way in which residence – once more waist deep, the place we may swim and hunt although the sand for sand {dollars}.

Fortunately, he was capable of finding a pair and we acquired a more in-depth have a look at these superbly designed animals.

Captain Mike organized for our sea scallop bootie to be shucked again on the marina, after which Fiddler’s Restaurant at our resort cooked them up or us and we loved them with a chilly drink and reside music on the newly constructed deck overlooking the river.

Leisure scalloping begins on June 15 and ends on Labor Day.

That is undoubtedly top-of-the-line issues to do in Florida with children!

8. Eat at McDavid’s Cafe

Seize your conventional Southern breakfast at native’s favourite McDavid’s Cafe.

Be sure you seize a field of heat cinnamon donuts in your manner out.

The women had been delighted to have these to snack on throughout our scalloping journey. (And okay, the subsequent day too as we drove to Wakulla Springs!)

Video: Scalloping in Steinhatchee, Gulf Coast Florida

9. Keep on the Fiddler’s Resort

We loved the simplicity of our keep at Fiddler’s Resort. The resort is laid-back and blends in lovely with the gorgeous pure setting of its Steinhatchee River location.

Rooms have a screened in porch and grassed sections exterior stuffed with big jenga, corn gap, swinging chairs and fireplace pits.

Employees are pleasant and accommodating and have a lot of insights on the encompassing space.

One other should not miss in Steinhatchee is the nightly reside music exterior on their new, spacious deck overlooking the water.

Each artists we noticed had been unimaginable and the proper option to finish an excellent day in North Florida having fun with the sunshine and pure magnificence.

10. Discover Wakulla Springs State Park

Wakulla Springs is without doubt one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs on this planet. Its sapphire waters are plentiful with wildlife together with manatees, alligators, turtles, deer, and birds.

The cypress mangroves rising out of the swamp offers it an eerie and ethereal really feel and it’ll really feel acquainted to you.

Hollywood beloved its primeval setting and filmed scenes from Tarzan and the Creature of the Black Lagoon right here.

We had been so disillusioned we couldn’t take the glass backside boat to tour the springs, really helpful as one of many prime issues to do right here.

There’s a small swimming part out the entrance of the historic Wakulla Lodge, which was in-built 1937.

The water is a refreshing 70 levels and there’s a diving platform for additional enjoyable. We selected to swim in our personal quiet space. The jungled canopied views surrounding it had been gorgeous.

Staying at Wakulla Lodge for a few nights was a tranquil expertise and the meals of their eating corridor was wonderful.

11. Chill out on a Gulf Seashore: Alligator Level

If you would like a hotter ocean swim, a thirty-minute drive from Wakulla Springs will take you to Alligator Level with this white sandy seashore on the Gulf Shore.

The water is the standard brown coloration this area is understood for, however nonetheless great for swimming and snorkeling among the many grassy beds.

It’s not one of the crucial lovely seashores in Florida however this area just isn’t famed for the ocean.

Tiki bar lovers will get pleasure from grabbing a day drink from the Oasis Tiki Hut simply down the highway on the small marina.

We extremely suggest stopping in at The Sieneyard Rock Touchdown on the way in which residence for scrumptious seafood on the water.

Time it for sundown and make sure you reserve a desk!

12. Discover the historic and charming Monticello

Monticello was the proper finish to our pure North Florida highway journey and a chance for us to get to know the historic and cultural heartbeats that make up this lovely area.

This charming, historic city is situated 24 miles east of the state capitol, Tallahassee and has a inhabitants of simply 2,000.

It’s the seat of Jefferson County, which is named the Keystone County for its unspoiled magnificence and gentle local weather providing the ‘keys to high quality residing.’

We found a spot stuffed with journey, distinctive and pristine magnificence, historic and academic experiences, and a neighborhood targeted on supporting native companies and a vibrant way of life.

Wander across the quiet downtown, dip into vintage retailers and boutiques, and sit again with a superb ebook in a quiet cafe. It’s the proper place to easily chill and let life’s stresses ebb away.

You may learn extra in regards to the great issues we did in Monticello.

13. Airboat Trip on the Wicassa River

The Wacissa River is a primary magnitude clear, spring-fed stream that’s fed by about 20 springs at its headwaters at Wakulla Springs.

Simply seeing the great thing about this area is sufficient to fulfill you, however we extremely suggest exploring the springs and the river by kayak or, as we did, airboat.

We joined Captain Brad Cooley from 5 Rivers Journey who took us on an 11-mile airboat journey zig zagging over the eelgrass and brilliant inexperienced lilies overlaying river, navigating by means of slender channels canopied by Spanish moss cypress and oak bushes, chasing egrets and bald eagles, and quick diving alligators.

It was an exhilarating journey made all that a lot better by Savannah’s tight grip on my arm and squeals of equal terror and delight. The Wacissa River captured my coronary heart.

It’s really one of the crucial pristine and delightful locations in Florida (and the USA) I’ve visited.

You may learn extra of this journey, and the subsequent one, in our in-depth publish on Exploring the Wacissa River and take a look at this different superb airboat tour in Sebring, Fl.

14. Kayaking the Slave Canal

We traded our airboats for kayaks and set off on an exhilarating and difficult journey by means of the Slave Canal, which connects the Wacissa to the Aucilla River.

The Slave Canal was initially constructed by the slaves for plantation homeowners to move cotton right down to the Gulf.

Blocks of limestone stay and are a reminder alongside the way in which of the arduous work pressured by slaves.

It’s greatest to take this journey with an skilled information.

The Slave Canal is marked however you might simply get misplaced and regardless of the shortly transferring water helping your paddling.

It’s fairly a technical paddle as you navigate slender areas, fallen logs and the overhanging branches of historical oaks, cypress and palmettos draped with Spanish Moss.

Hold an eye fixed out of the alligators poking their eyes above the water watching you!

Watch the video beneath of our Wacissa River adventures:

15. Discover Cedar Key

Step again into the times Hemingway roamed by means of Key West. Cedar Key on the Gulf Shore is without doubt one of the most unusual north Florida seashores experiences that retains outdated world allure.

There’s no bling or over-development right here. It doesn’t want it. It’s plentiful with quiet, pure magnificence and journey.

We beloved its small city, fishing village vibe and sloth-like tempo. It’s about sluggish morning dawn begins, mild day time paddles, scrumptious seafood, and sundown views.

Listed here are the do-not miss issues to do Cedar Key.

Kayaking the Cedar Keys Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Islands

The Cedar Key Nationwide Refuge is an space composed of 13 offshore islands jutting into the Gulf Coast.

Cedar Key’s nestled amongst many of those small islands 4 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico and about half a mile out from Cedar Key’s Atsena Otie, which was the unique village till a hurricane blew it down.

You may kayak over to discover the island. It’s a simple paddle over, and if fortunate, you could have dolphins as your companions.

There’s a small seashore for swimming and remnants of the outdated pencil manufacturing unit and cemetery.

These wishing for an extended journey can paddle the additional 1.5 miles across the island and thru the interior marshes.

Formidable paddlers can go on to different close by islands of the Cedar Key Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. They’re stated to have good seashores.

You too can discover these islands by boat.

Seafood at Steamers, Cedar Key

Florida is the place to eat contemporary native seafood.

Since 95% of farm-raised clams are harvested within the clear waters of Cedar Key, we suggest grabbing your self a bowl of steamed clams in a white wine sauce at Steamers, a seafood restaurant.

Suspended on stilts over the water, you get prime Gulf views over Atsena Otie and different islands of the Cedar Key Nationwide Refuge.

There are giant home windows that enable for views should you want to sit inside.

Nonetheless, to make your meal right here a memorable expertise, we suggest grabbing one of many nooks on the deck.

The surface deck is a well-liked spot for sundown views.

It’s slender so there are about 4 non-public nook areas the place you possibly can sit with entrance row seats of the view, the balmy breeze in your pores and skin, and dolphins frolicking in entrance of you.

Cedar Key Sundown

It’s possible you’ll get colours within the sky at Steamers for sundown.

In any other case you possibly can run across the nook to the pink Seashore motel for the most effective sundown views in the principle space,

The native’s tip for the last word sundown was the Tiki Bar just a little out of city.

It’s an adults solely bar, which is why its on our checklist for a future go to to Cedar Key (with babysitters!)

And Savannah has put her foot down and demanded we come again to Cedar Key for a for much longer Florida Island seashore trip.

16. Keep at Harbor Grasp Suites with superb dawn views

Harbor Grasp Suites has entrance row stilted place on D Avenue with straightforward strolling distance to in all places.

We stayed within the two-bedroom, Pearl Suite with a residing space and kitchen. We couldn’t consider we had all the prime deck to ourselves.

We had a spot for morning espresso and dawn views over the Gulf, a spot for afternoon drinks, after which one other hidden screened in porch that missed the road for later at night time when the ocean views had been gone and the folks watching simply began.

See extra in our video of Cedar Key:

17. Micanopy

If you would like extra rural Florida, head to Micanopy, a tiny city in Alachua County, which has a inhabitants of 648 as of 2020.

It’s recognized for its quaint environment and vintage retailers, it’s an important place to spend a day looking for treasures in Shady Oak Gallery or Delectable Collectables, an vintage store recognized for having an eclectic assortment of issues.

It’s additionally the gateway to Paynes Prairie Protect State Park, which has a wild colony of horses and bison, together with deer, alligators, and greater than 300 species of birds.

Hike the 16-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Path for an entire view of the park.

18. Scuba dive in Satan’s Den Prehistoric Spring and Campground

The title doesn’t fill you with confidence, I do know, however Satan’s Den is a novel attraction to not miss!

Satan’s Den Prehistoric Spring, is an underground spring buried beneath the floor inside a 120-foot large cave.

Scuba divers can dive into this refreshing pool and discover an underwater cave system that dates again to the Pleistocene Age.

19. Satan’s Millhopper Geological State Park

A unusual pure phenomenon in the USA that may solely be present in Florida, is Satan’s Millhopper Geological State Park.

The park is legendary for its sinkhole which has been stuffed with a miniature rain forest.

This bowl-shaped panorama is filled with thriving and plush vegetation – it’s really distinctive.

Giving again to Pure North Florida

As a part of the marketing campaign partnerships we do with native tourism boards, we donate again to native non-profits or native companies that help the setting or native communities we journey by means of.

As so lots of our superb reminiscences from our Pure North Florida highway journey got here from our interactions with the beautiful magnificence we discovered right here, we donated to a few causes that touched our hearts.

• The Tall Timbers Analysis works to guard to preserve land within the Monticello/ Tallahassee Area. No Wal-Marts and subdivisions allowed! Solely pure pure magnificence.
• The Fish and Wildlife Basis of Florida works to guard the area’s excellent animals and crops and the lands and waters they should survive.
• The North Florida Wildlife Middle in Monticello companions with animal conservation tasks around the globe.
• Our ladies fell in love with the endangered lemurs because of our go to right here and wish to assist shield them. You may be taught extra about that have in our Monticello publish.

Last Ideas

Regardless of touring the globe for 22 years, I nonetheless handle to search out locations that amaze me and maintain me tapped into the magic of newness, awe, and surprise.

This area of Florida had me in shocked by its pure magnificence, allure, and contemporary native delicacies thrown in.

We hope this information helped you propose a visit to this lovely area and gave you some inspiration for issues to do.

Click on right here for extra Florida journey concepts in our Florida Bucket Checklist publish!

Video: Watch our Pure North Florida Highlights

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