PLACES WITHIN 3 HOURS OF

NORTHWEST FLORIDA

PALATKA

Nestled within a bend of the St. Johns River, one of the few rivers that flow north, Palatka is a historic Northeast Florida city that proudly showcases its past. You can experience Old Florida charm in Palatka while you celebrate Florida’s heritage at the Florida Azalea Festival, St. Johns River Catfish Festival, Blue Crab Festival or Bostwick Blueberry Festival. Bass fishing? Why, certainly. Also camping, canoeing, kayaking the area's eight blueway trails, playing golf, touring historic homes and churches built in the 1800s, hiking or bicycling, and visiting birding sites listed in the Great Florida Birding Trail. Also, don’t miss the Palatka Mural Tour, featuring more than 30 artistic renderings that depict the historical, cultural and natural riches of Palatka and Putnam County.

RAVINE GARDENS STATE PARK

Ravine Gardens State Park is a hidden gem tucked away in Palatka, just off the St Johns River.

The lush park has 60 acres accessible for exploring, including two ravines up to 120 feet deep with steep banks at 45-degree angles.

The ravines were formed over thousands of years through natural processes of erosion, by natural springs located in the park.

The underground water bubbling up cuts into the bank and carries the sand and soil downstream to the St. Johns River. Over thousands of years, the ravines have widened and deepened.

Tallahassee

Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, is a genteel town with good manners, rolling hills, oak-canopied roads, plantation homes, and genuine Southern hospitality.

Tallahassee is home to Florida State University, Florida A&M University and, of course, Florida's Legislature.

The New Capitol building rises at the center of Tallahassee's downtown, next to the more classic Old Capitol. A gallery atop the 22-story New Capitol provides a sweeping view of the hilly city and its tree-lined streets.

A 10-block historic district preserves Tallahassee's gracious old homes along a linear park, along with a historic inn, bars and restaurants patronized by legislators, students and everyone in between.

Museums, parks, art galleries, a natural-habitat zoo – Tallahassee offers it all.

High Springs

The casual tempo of High Springs, the north central Florida town of 3,600, entices travelers. Located about 20 miles northwest of Gainesville, High Springs tempts visitors with diverse and unique offerings of art, antiques and outdoor adventures that make it a refreshing getaway. Surrounded by natural attractions, the town attracts canoeists, cave divers, and campers heading to the nearby Santa Fe River. Yes, High Springs is a place for snorkeling, diving, tubing or swimming in freshwater springs that flow at a steady 72 degrees all year long.

Destin

The Florida destination dubbed the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” is also the crown jewel of the Emerald Coast. When your feet touch the sugar-white sand, know that you are walking on Florida Gulf-coast beaches that rank among the best in the world. Here are some of the things to do in Destin.

Harborwalk Village is a one-stop-fits-all for rentals of paddle boards, kayaks, pontoon, jet skis, parasailing, glass bottom boats, dolphin cruises and pirate ship excursions. It also is loaded with restaurants and shops.

Adventures are available by sea, land, and sky, from leisurely to a degree of difficulty. Calm waters and shallow depths make the perfect runway for kiteboarding, a viewfinder lens for snorkeling, and a playground for rookie paddleboarders.

Between Destin and Fort Walton Beach, there are 24 miles of soft white sand beaches that are blessed by surf that transitions in color from pale green glass to emerald, and all of it is backed by blue sky.