Florida Traveler ◊ Florida Day Trips, Discounts and Discoveries

Rainbow River Tubing: An Existential Adventure

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They say that any dead fish can float downstream. But so what? If we discovered a live fish that managed to float downstream of its own volition, choosing the simple pleasure of idleness on a sunny afternoon above the sisyphean drudgery of fighting the ceaseless current, we’d applaud that fish as a first-rate existentialist. That [...]

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Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

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CHIEFLAND, FL — When naturalist William Bartram visited Manatee Springs in the  late 1700s, he said the place was astonishing: “This charming nymphaeum is the product of primitive nature, not to be imitated, much less equaled, by the united effort of human power and ingenuity!” Two centuries later, much of that beauty remains. “Two hundred [...]

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Kayak the Ocklawaha River for a Scenic Glimpse of Old Florida

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SILVER SPRINGS, FL — Deep under the shade of cypress, swamp maple and sable palms, central Florida’s Ocklawaha River runs clear and cool, even now in the stifling heat of summer. Out here on a weekday afternoon, far removed from the sound of civilization, you can kayak through a forest so thick you’ll wonder if  [...]

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Alexander Springs – Ocala’s Pre-Historic Swimming Hole

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You won’t be the first to discover the delightful swimming hole at Alexander Springs. People have been enjoying this idyllic and refreshing spring form at least 10,000 years. Its ancient residents, the Timucuan Indians, enjoyed the springs for the same reason people go today: “It was a place where they would go swimming and recreate,” [...]

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Silver Glen Springs: A Scenic Jewel of Ocala National Forest

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If you can manage to get the place to yourself — and it is possible, but not on busy weekends or holidays — there are few better places to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of Ocala National Forest than Silver Glen Springs. From the comfortable lawn surrounding the spring, under a gentle shade of Spanish moss, [...]

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Dade’s Massacre Recalls Seminole History

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BUSHNELL — During the first weekend of January, hundreds gather from around the country to re-create an event that forever changed the face of Florida. It was late December 1835, and the U.S. government planned to begin its Indian removal in just a few days. One hundred and eight soldiers, under the command of Major [...]

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Ozello Trail: A Scenic End of the Road on Florida’s Nature Coast

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Sometimes, if the journey is pleasant enough, it’s nice to go no place in particular. And while the fishing village of Ozello is certainly someplace in general, the road to Ozello is well worth investigating for its own sake. From US 19 south of Crystal River, take a right turn onto 494 (Ozello Trail) and [...]

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Florida’s Best Shelling Beaches

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On a recent morning at Cedar Key, the thrill of discovery and the simple beauty of seashells bridged the gap between four generations. For the space of a single morning, L.J. Springer, her daughter and great granddaughter shared a common goal–finding a perfect specimen of Florida’s fighting conch. The enduring fascination of shell collecting may [...]

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The Ice Maker’s Maker: John Gorrie of Apalachicola

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“We feel compelled to warn our readers about this crank in Apalachicola who thinks he can make ice as good as the Lord Almighty.” –New York Globe You may not know the name John Gorrie, but you’ve no doubt given thanks for the product of his imagination time and again this summer: every time you [...]

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Paynes Prairie Wildlife Hike: LaChua Trail

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GAINESVILLE, FL — For a short hike with guaranteed wildlife sightings, you can’t beat the La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie State Preserve south of Gainesville. This trail (3 miles round trip) is just teeming with critters: dozens of alligators, a myriad of birds, even an occasional herd of wild bison or Spanish horses. The [...]

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