NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA Apalachee allies in 1704 to prevent ap-
MISSION SAN LUIS • TALLAHASSEE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER
proaching British troops from taking it over. Now much of the village and a fort have been rebuilt on the historic site in compliance with the original Spanish plans. Buildings include a massive council house replicating the one that would have been used for Apalachee tribal meetings. Interpreters in period costume describe Apalachee life and at various times during the year there are historical re-enactments (missionsanluis.org).
HERITAGE AND CULTURE Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park & campground north of Live Oak is one of Florida’s largest and best venues for music festivals. Situated on the banks of the Suwannee River, it hosts a variety of festivals featuring bigname stars of country, bluegrass, folk and western music. Covering more than 500 acres, the park has camping, cabins, fishing, birdwatching, canoeing, kayaking and an arts and crafts village (MusicLivesHere.com).
CITY LIGHTS Tallahassee has posh hotels and upscale
fresh fish. One of the resort’s most famous
in tiny Greenville, there is a monument to music
restaurants
icon, Ray Charles, who grew up there.
capital.
guests was former US President Jimmy Carter
Among them are the Governors Inn
who praised the place as a superb family get-
(thegovinn.com) and the Hotel Duval
away (steinhatcheelanding.com).
befitting
a
state
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
(hotelduval.com) with reputations as “in”
Family vacations in the North Central
The Suwannee River Wilderness Trail runs
spots for dining and nightlife. Being a college
Region primarily involve nature and the out-
about 170 miles from White Springs to the
town, Tallahassee also has an abundance of
doors. Several parks such as the Fanning
land’s-end hamlet of Suwannee where the river
pubs, clubs and sports bars and West
Springs State Park represent what family holi-
enters the Gulf of Mexico. The river weaves
Tennessee Street is where most of the “hap-
days here are all about: camping, swimming,
through long stretches of wilderness and its
pening” ones are found. The primary
fishing, snorkeling, hiking, scuba diving, ca-
banks are lined with towering pines and stately
performing arts venue is the Tallahassee-Leon
noeing and kayaking (floridastateparks.org
cypress. With adequate supplies and planning,
County Civic Center (tlccc.org), which fea-
/fanningsprings).
paddlers can camp the entire distance or spend
tures
Broadway
shows
and
musical
performances (visittallahassee.com).
nights in rustic lodges along the way. This is a
RECOMMENDED DRIVES
trail that can be navigated in its entirety or in
Driving west from Lake City to Tallahassee, US
part (floridastateparks.org/wilderness).
FUN FOR FAMILIES
Route 90 passes by communities frozen in time.
The North Central Region is known for
Steinhatchee Landing Resort is an idyllic re-
Embodying all the quiet grace of yesteryear,
some of the best cave-diving sites anywhere. Two
treat where the Steinhatchee River meets the
towns such as Monticello, with its grand old
of the most popular are Devil’s Den
Gulf of Mexico. This is a laid-back place
1890 opera house, merit exploration. In the sim-
(devilsden.com) and the Blue Grotto (florida
where families can swim, fish, canoe, kayak
ilar community of Madison, a walking tour
caves.com/bgrotto) near Williston. Located in
and wade in shallow waters to gather scallops.
reveals several blocks of homes and buildings
the southwest corner of the region, Devil’s Den
Resort accommodation consists of upscale
whose architecture dates as far back as the 1700s.
features stalactites, intricate rock formations and
cottages and nearby there are several casual
One of the buildings was actually used as a hos-
33-million-year-old fossil beds while the Blue
restaurants whose menus feature plenty of
pital during the Civil War. Just off the highway
Grotto is one of the deepest caverns in the state.
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2011 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA