Summertime in the Swamp
Gainesville in the summer is a playground, with warm weather and enjoyable outdoor activities. People of all ages float down the Ichetucknee Springs. Visitors’ experience Dudley Farm Historic State Park and enjoy an authentic working farm. Cavern divers explore the natural environment while diving at Ginnie Springs. Hikers benefit from the beautiful surroundings of Manatee Springs State Park. Whatever your pleasure—camping, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, snorkeling, fishing or playing sports—you can find it here.
The information below was gathered from the Florida State Park guide online at www.floridastateparks.org.
Blue Springs, a family-owned and operated park since 1958, features 250 acres of “real Florida.” Stroll along a quarter-mile boardwalk as it follows the springs and then runs into the scenic Santa Fe River.
7450 NE 60th St., High Springs. 386-454-1369.
Cedar Key Museum State Park was established in 1962 and is dedicated to St. Clair Whitman, who operated the town’s first museum. Whitman’s collections on display include exhibits on the Timucuan Indians, antique glassware and bottles, a complete seashell collection, historic Cedar Key photos and items from the pencil, fiber broom and brush-manufacturing days. 12231 SW 166th Ct., Cedar Key. 352-543-5350.
Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve/Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park is only a small remnant of the area’s once vast “Gulf Hammock.” The 32,128-acre preserve borders Florida’s Gulf Coast between Cedar Key and Yankeetown. Most of the area consists of salt marsh dotted with picturesque wooded islands interlaced with numerous tidal creeks. Six miles east of Cedar Key on State Road 24, Cedar Key. 352-543-5567.
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is a sinkhole that formed when an underground cavern roof collapsed, creating a bowl-shaped cavity 120 feet deep. Small streams tumble down the steep slopes of the sink, disappearing through crevices at the bottom. The lush growth of plants and park animals is similar to those of the Appalachian Mountains region. Explore this sinkhole from the boardwalks and stairways or from the four-foot wide nature trail that follows the rim. 4732 Millhopper Road, Gainesville. 352-955-2008
Dudley Farm Historic State Park was donated to the Florida Park Service in 1983. Eighteen historic structures make up an authentic – not recreated – farm complex. The park presents a living history, working farm encompassing 325 of the Dudley’s original 640 acres. 18730 W. Newberry Road, Gainesville. 352-472-1142.
Fanning Springs offers swimming during the hot days of summer while housing manatees during the winter months. Visitors can drive to the park by car or enter it by boat from the Suwannee River. The park features a nature trail and boardwalk that overlook the spring and river. On U.S. 19/98 in Fanning Springs. 352-463-3420.
Florida Fish Management Lakes and Rivers are abundant in the area, offering world-class fishing and recreational opportunities. Orange Lake is North-Central Florida’s largest lake at 12,500 acres, receiving inflow from Newnan’s
Lake (through River Styx) and from Lochloosa Lake (through Cross Creek). Other nearby lakes include Wauberg,
SantaFe and Sampson, with the Santa Fe, Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers in the area. For information on locations, fishing regulations and amenities available, visit www.floridafisheries.com.
In addition, the City of Gainesville’s Parks Division is responsible for 15 city parks and a host of recreational facilities. For more information, visit www.recparks.cityofgainesville.org. Alachua County is also home to 25 county parks. For more information, visit www.parksandrec.Alachua.fl.us.
Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park stretches 16 miles from Boulware Springs Park (located at Southeast 15th Street) to Hawthorne (near U.S. 301). The park extends through the Paynes Prairie and the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area. The recreational trail is designed for walking, cycling and horseback riding. 4801 SE 17th St., Gainesville. 352-466-3397.
Ginnie Springs is a mecca for scuba divers, snorkelers and swimmers. Nine springs, including the incredible Devil’s Eye, well up in sparkling abundance. 7300 NE Ginnie Springs Road, High Springs. 386-454-7188.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a favorite among tubing enthusiasts, with more than 200,000 visitors annually. This first magnitude spring discharges more than 240 million gallons of crystal-clear water into the river daily, at a constant 72 degrees. 12087 S.W. US Hwy 27, Fort White. 386-497-4690.
Manatee Springs State Park, located on the banks of the Suwannee River, is one of Florida’s premier parks. Manatee Springs is a first-magnitude spring, pumping as much as 117 million gallons of water into the Suwannee River daily. This 2,444-acre park offers excellent swimming, diving, canoeing, kayaking and hiking. 11650 NW
115th St., Chiefland. 352-493-6072.
Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park was developed on a 2,000-acre site by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. It rests on rolling sand hills in an area known as Florida’s central ridge. A deep ravine with springs issuing from its side bisects the area and forms Gold Head Branch. Marshes, lakes and scrub provide a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. 6239 SR 21, Keystone Heights. 352-473-4701.
O’Leno State Park features sinkholes, hard- wood hammocks, swamps and sand hills. As the river travels through the park, it disappears underground and re-emerges more than three miles away in the River Rise State Preserve. Developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, O’Leno is one of Florida’s first state parks, and the suspension bridge still spans the river. 410 SE O'leno Park Road, High Springs. 386-454-1853.
Olustee Battlefield Historic Site is open year round, with re-enactors commemorating the historic battle every February, attracting thousands of visitors. Each September, the Olustee Civil War Expo features military drills and historic talks. A trail and signs along the battle lines mark the battlefield. Two miles east of Olustee on U.S. 90. 386-758-0400.
Paynes Prairie State Preserve, a 21,000-acre preserve, is among Florida’s most significant natural and historical areas. In 1774, naturalist William Bartram wrote a detailed description of the area, calling it the “great
Alachua Savannah.” Within this natural landmark, 20 distinct ecosystems such as wet prairie, pine flat woods, hammocks and ponds provide a rich array of habitats for animals such as bison, alligators, wild horses and more than 270 species of birds. Eight trails are provided for hiking, horseback riding and cycling. A 50-foot-high
observation tower near the visitor center offers a panoramic view of the preserve. 100 Savannah Blvd., Micanopy. 352-466-3397.
Poe Springs Park offers tubing, canoeing, camping, diving, snorkeling and other water sports on the Santa Fe River. With a daily flow of 45-million gallons of water, Poe Springs stands as Alachua County’s largest spring. Recently renovated, it has been a popular attraction for decades. 28800 NW 182nd Ave., High Springs. 386-454-1992.
San Felasco Hammock State Preserve is named for the historic Spanish mission San Francisco de Potano, which was ministered to the Indians living in the area centuries ago. The lower two-thirds of San Felasco have been set aside for hiking only, but other areas are used for horseback riding, offroad bicycling and hiking. 12720 NW 109 Lane, Alachua. 352-955-2008.
Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center is situated on the Suwannee River and is a gathering place for those who perpetuate Florida crafts, music and legends. This 247- acre center honors the memory of Stephen Foster, whose song “Old Folks at Home” became Florida’s state song. Off U.S. 41 North in White Springs. 386-397-2733.
Suwannee River State Park is where the scenic Withlacoochee River joins the Suwannee River, located near Fanning Springs. The park is also the site of earthworks built by Confederate troops during the Civil War. 20185 C.R. 132, Live Oak. 386-362-2746.
The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park offers visitors a walk back in time to 1930s Florida farm life. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived and worked in the tiny community of Cross Creek, where she wrote her Pulitzer prize-winning novel, “The Yearling.” Carefully restored and preserved, her cracker-style home, farm, grove and nature trails are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Picnic facilities are located in the adjacent county park. 18700
S. CR 325, Cross Creek. 352-466-3672.