Days Three and Four: Visit Gainesville
Time from Crystal River: one and a half
hours
Gainesville’s a college town offering both
cultural and natural attractions. Don’t miss the
awesome Florida Museum of Natural History
and its Buttery Rainforest.
STOPS:
• Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park:
Birds, alligators (and possibly wild
bison and horse) viewing, a 50-
foot observation tower, hiking and
biking trails.
• Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park:
A 232-step stairway down to the bottom of a limestone sinkhole, and a
half-mile nature trail around the sinkhole’s rim.
• Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm: Admission is two
carrots to meet elderly horses retired from the police or military, or
rescued from abusive or neglectful situations. Only open on Saturday’s
from 11AM-3PM.
SLEEP:
• Sweetwater Branch Inn, or the Magnolia Plantation Bed & Breakfast
Inn and Cottages (both child-friendly)
• Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Campground
FOOD BREAKS:
• Satchel’s Pizza (cash only)
• Sweet Dreams Homemade Ice Cream
Grady House in High Springs
Days Five and Six:
Explore High Springs and Fort White
Time from Gainesville: 30 minutes up to one hour
Eco-tourism destination High Springs is thought to have some of the largest
and clearest springs on the planet.
STOPS:
• Ginnie Springs: It draws scuba and cave drivers from all over the world,
but you can also take guided canoe and kayak trips to explore the
springs and the Santa Fe River.
• Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Fort White: It’s a huge tubing destination
in summer, but the Ichetucknee River and the springs are also popular
with kayakers, canoeists and stand-up paddle-boarders. Take the halfmile
Blue Hole Trail through the Ichetucknee Forest to Blue Hole Spring,
the park’s largest spring.
SLEEP:
• Grady House Historic Bed and Breakfast (kids must be at least seven)
• Ginnie Springs Outdoors Campground
• Ichetucknee Family Canoe & Cabins Campground, or Ichetucknee
Springs Campground, both in Fort White.
FOOD BREAKS:
• The Station Bakery & Cafe
• Great Outdoors Restaurant
A view of Ichetucknee Head Spring at North Entrance.
The Head Spring is opened year-round
and features many recreational opportunities.
Ginnie Springs Family tour Santa Se River
Retirement Home for Horses
at Mill Creek
Satchels and Lightnin salvage 2016