The next time you find yourself traveling through Florida's Big Bend territory, partway between the majestic panhandle and the main peninsula, carve out some time for a visit to Forest Capital Museum State Park.  Located right on Highway 98, just outside of the town of Perry, Forest Capital is that lovely little pit stop on your way here or there that you never knew you needed.  

It all begins with an idea.

Do you have a love for the rich history and culture of oldFlorida? The Florida prior to mouse ears, sky high condominiums and endless seas of golf resorts?  We do!

Oh man… Have you ever had to pinch yourself multiple times in the same setting to be sure that you were really awake and weren’t dreaming some perfect, realistic, but too-good-to-be-true dream?  That was me on the day of our visit to Bald Point State Park, just south of Panacea, Florida.  This oh-so-dreamy state park rests on an unincorporated part of Florida’s Forgotten Coast called Alligator Point, right where the Ochlockonee and Apalachee Bays meet

This Park is located on a broad stretch of upland habitat at the confluence of the Dead and Ochlockonee Rivers.  It's claim-to-fame is the meticulously preserved longleaf pine forests, as well as the endemic flora and fauna, including several endangered species, it protects.

Unlike the pristine gulf side beach of Perdido Key, Big Lagoon State Park’s beach area (as the name suggests) faces an intracoastal waterway, where the Perdido River runs into Big Lagoon. It is home to not only a busy boat launch into the lagoon, but also to 704 gorgeous acres of natural coastal upland habitat.

This is one of many state parks we have stopped to visit while on our way to other destinations.  We take the long way when we can… and usually try to avoid major highways if at all possible.

 We are a couple months into summer here in Florida... and that means tubing season is in full effect on many spring-fed creeks, rivers and spring runs. There are a number of wonderful places to enjoy this fun summer pastime, but today we’re talking about the river that has long been the state’s most famous tubing run: the iconic Ichetucknee River. 

Hey there wild Florida friends!  Welcome back for day three of our “3 Rivers in 3 Days'' series.  This post is a continuation of our series we started a few of weeks ago about our recent  EPIC three day adventure out to the Springs Coast of Florida to paddle three of the most popular, manatee-filled, spring-fed rivers in the area.  We paddled The Chaz, the Crystal River, and the Weeki Wachee with our kids and some of our friends.  If you missed the first two posts, be sure to catch up by reading about the Chassahowitzka River and the The Crystal River.  Now let's move on to epic day number three and talk about one of our favorite experiences in Florida yet. 

Welcome back for day two of our 3 Rivers in 3 Days series of posts about our recent  EPIC three day adventure out to the Springs Coast of Florida to paddle three of the most popular, manatee-filled, spring-fed rivers in the area.  We paddled The Chaz, the Crystal River, and the Weeki Wachee with our kids and some of our friends.  If you missed the first post on our paddle of the Chassahowitzka River, you can read that here.  Now let's move on to epic day number two. 

A few weeks ago we posted about our moms trip to Blue Springs State Park to kayak and paddleboard with the kiddos for the day.  What an incredible time we had!  The kids did so well on the little paddle we took, and even got to see manatees within the first few minutes of leaving the boat launch.  Ever since, they have all been asking to get back out on our kayaks and paddleboards and do it again.  I also felt a little bad that the hubs missed the last adventure and have been itching to get us out together as a family.  

Have you ever wondered if there were still places in Florida that could take your breath away?  Leave you speechless in your tracks?  Make you think maybe, just maybe, the heat, humidity, mosquitos, billboards, I4 traffic, golf courses are all hiding something deeper, sweeter, more rare and more precious than anything you’ve ever laid your eyes on?   Have you wondered if places like that exist here, in the very state you call home?  There are. And they do.

Nestled on the banks of the Santa Fe River is one of the best kept secrets of Columbia County, FL: O’Leno State Park.  If you haven’t yet heard of it, I’m not surprised. (That’s what makes it a secret!)  Located just 6 miles north of High Springs, this underrated gem of a destination is often overshadowed by it’s more showy (and crowded) neighbors, including the famed Ichetucknee and Gilchrist Blue Springs State Parks, and Ginnie Springs (privately owned).

Springtime has been in full effect for a couple of months now and if you get out and about anywhere away from the crowded cities and theme parks of Florida, you may have been wondering: 

Because of Covid, our first big trip of 2020 was not until the beginning of July.  We managed to book 6 nights at Torreya State Park surrounding the 4th of July, and let me tell you, it was LUCKY that we got in, because by the time we booked, it was slim pickin’s, chickens.  Whew!  We booked with two of our immediate neighbors/friends since: a) they were already part of our quarantine crew, and b) we alllll needed a little vacay to escape the crazy of the summer of 2020, amiright?  Right.  So we teamed up and got outta dodge.  (More about camping with other families in a future post -- the good, the bad, the ugly, why it's absolutely necessary, and the best thing EVER, from time to time.) 

Happy Tuesday everyone!  I had planned to get out a different blog post today about our epic trip last year to Torreya State Park in the middle panhandle but…  plans have changed my friends.  I just have to tell you about this past weekend’s last-minute, impromptu adventure instead. (Keep your eye out for the Torreya post.. It’ll be a good one!) 

If you are a Florida resident, snowbird, or frequent visitor to this great state and you do not yet have a Florida State Park Passport, you need to get on it and get yours TODAY.  In fact, Every single family in Florida should have a State Park Passport, and here's why:

Hello friends! My name is Jen, and my husband and I are training up our two precious kiddos to love and appreciate all things wild and free in natural Florida.  We invite you to come along with us as we explore, learn, and teach our family and friends about all there is to love about the wild side of Florida.