A restored house and a farm bring literary history to life: At Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, both are preserved in the Florida Cracker style. This is where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Yearling.” The interior of the historic house is accessible only on guided tours on select days. Check the current tour schedule before your visit.
Literature, farm history and special places
Dudley Farm Historic State Park also tells the story of rural life: 18 original farm buildings, built between the 1880s and 1930s, have been preserved there. The Matheson History Museum, which is home to the Historic Matheson House, offers another way to explore the past. Each site and collection gives a cultural trip its own focus, from literary history to farm architecture.
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park offers a striking connection between nature and visitor history. It is a National Natural Landmark and has drawn visitors since the 1880s. The park contains a bowl-shaped geological depression that is 120 feet deep and 500 feet wide. These measurements make the scale of the landscape feature easy to grasp without a lengthy description.
Natural areas with different features
San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park contains 18 natural communities. They are home to, among other wildlife, bobcats, white-tailed deer, gray foxes, turkeys and numerous songbird species. The designated uses are also important for planning: the southern two-thirds of the preserve are reserved exclusively for hiking.
Four Creeks Preserve protects the headwaters of Turkey Creek, Blues Creek, Possum Creek and Hogtown Creek and helps replenish groundwater. At Little Lake Santa Fe, another preserve protects more than 800 feet of shoreline and wetlands within the waters of the Santa Fe River designated as Outstanding Florida Waters. A trail about one mile long also runs through pine uplands and along the edge of the wetlands. Check access and trail conditions before visiting.
Trails: distance, surface and scenery
The Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail is a 16-mile route through local and state conservation areas. It follows a historic railroad corridor that was converted into a greenway and features elements of railroad history. The trail is paved, and a grassy equestrian trail runs alongside it. The former railroad line thus connects the area’s history with a practical distinction when choosing a route: the surface and designated uses are not the same along every part of the trail.
At Barr Hammock Preserve, the 6.5-mile Levy Loop circles a restored marsh. The south entrance also provides 13 miles of trails for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. These figures describe different trail options; the 6.5-mile loop should not be confused with the full range of trails at the south entrance. At Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center, public amenities include walking trails, picnic areas and an 18-hole disc golf course.
Gardens, markets and experiences in High Springs
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens highlights seasonal events: its Open House with fall plant sale takes place each October. The annual Spring Garden Festival is larger in scope, featuring 100 booths with plants, landscape designs, gardening supplies, arts and crafts, educational offerings and food. Check the current calendar for specific event dates.
At farmers markets in Alachua County, you’ll find seasonal produce, arts and crafts, and local flavors. Since market dates vary, check the relevant schedule before planning your visit. From High Springs, visitors can enjoy the Santa Fe River and surrounding natural areas for hiking, diving, swimming, fishing, canoeing and tubing. Offerings from individual operators and conditions may change; check in advance. High Springs is also home to Priest Theatre, Florida’s oldest continuously operating movie theater. Check current showtimes before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Gainesville, High Springs, Alachua, Waldo, Micanopy, Duval, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa.
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