North Central Florida is probably the most varied area of the state. The foliage ranges from tropical to thick forests and the stopping points along the way mimic that diversity. From a few unspoiled beaches to 2007’s “hottest college for sports fans,” to some of the most pristine springs and rivers in the state, North Central Florida is a place to get lost in.
 

Branford
Branford is where small and friendly meet. The town boasts of its patriotism, family atmosphere and love for community, making it a hodge-podge of new and old. Set on the Suwannee River, it’s also known as the cave diving capital of the world. Ichetucknee Springs State Park is about 10 miles east of Branford on Highway 27. Don’t worry about tubes – vendors dot the highway and will be more than happy to strap the tubes to the roof of your car. But don’t forget to pack a picnic so you’ll be able to have lunch at the midway point on the river. The springs serve as a rite of passage for north Floridians – a bond you’ll understand once you’ve been able to “Tube down the Ichetucknee.”


Cedar Key
Sometimes Key West visitors complain that the destination has become too touristy and pine for the days when it was no more than a quiet little village at the end of the road. Cedar Key, in northern Florida, is the Key West of 50 or 60 years ago. Located on a spit of land in the Gulf of Mexico, it doesn’t offer much beach (little larger than a living room), but has a great fishing pier, several casual-dining spots and great accommodations. Staying in the historic Island Hotel completes the Cedar Key experience, with mosquito nets draping over beds. The offshore wildlife refuge includes an 1850s lighthouse and the state’s highest coastal elevation.

Gainesville
Gainesville was founded in 1853, but greatly accelerated its growth when it became home to the state’s flagship institution, The University of Florida, in the early 1900s. Gainesville could change its name to Titletown after the University of Florida football and basketball teams won three national championships in one year. The Florida Museum of Natural History and its four-story Butterfly Rain Forest exhibit are on campus. But there’s more than said big-time college to attract visitors. Alachua County is heaven for hikers, tubers and cyclists. Naturalist William Bartram visited the area in 1774 and pronounced Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park a natural wonder. It still is. A 50-foot-high observation tower lets visitors survey scores of wildlife habitats and glimpse the alligators native to the 21,000-acre wildlife refuge and geological oddity. Hiking, horseback-riding and cycling are all encouraged. Floating in an inner tube through an alligator-free spring is one of North’s Florida’s most sublime pleasures. Pull off U.S. 441 to admire the prairie landscape and come face-to-face with basking alligators, safely contained by a deep ditch and high roadside banks. Also visit Kanapaha Botantical Gardens, with a variety of exotic flora.

 
Hawthorne
Hawthorne hasn’t evolved much from its earliest days, and that’s a good thing. It’s a village on U.S. 301 that provides a great launching point for any one of the 400-plus lakes that provide telltale evidence of Florida’s great aquifer that lies just below in immense limestone caverns. Many people associate Hawthorne with one of Florida’s most noted authors, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Rawlings, who died in 1953, wrote the 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Yearling, about a boy in the Florida scrub who adopts an orphaned fawn. Her home is preserved by the state and open to visitors all year.
 

High Springs
Many describe High Springs as an antique lover’s paradise and a quaint artist community. It’s not without its history. Bones of prehistoric mammals and tools of Paleo-Indians have been found near the town’s springs and rivers. Hernando de Soto led an expedition through North Florida around 1539, and during the 17th century, Indian villages and a large Spanish mission bloomed near the Ichetucknee and Santa Fe Rivers. Once an important railroad junction, was originally called Santaffey. In 1888, the town’s name was changed to High Springs. Today, High Springs beckons swimmers and snorkelers to explore places like Ginnie Springs, a turquoise oasis that contrasts with the nearby tannin-stained Santa Fe River. Each day, the seven springs pump millions of gallons of water at a constant 72 degrees year ’round. Development slowed after phosphate mining ended, but eco-tourism rose to take its place. Antique stores and springs abound along with bike trails and a community theater.

Jasper
At the crossroads of I-10 and I-75, you’ll find Jasper, the seat of Hamilton County complete with a cotton gin and a 19th-century jail and hanging tower. With the Suwannee River to the east and south and the Withlacoochee River to the west, Jasper is a perfect companion for the outdoorsman with a weakness for historical tales. Besides being home to the Jennings Bridge – this is the oldest standing Pratt Pony Truss Bridge in Florida – the town is home to the first designated countywide Main Street USA in Florida. Hamilton County is also one of only two counties in Florida offering “mobility impaired” hunting.

Lake City
Welcome to the original spot of a Seminole village named Alpata Telophka. The name, which means Alligator Town, was soon shortened to being called simply “Alligator.” White settlers established the town in 1830. But when the mayor’s wife came to stay and refused to hang her lace curtains in a place called “Alligator,” the town changed its name to Lake City in 1859. There’s much more to Lake City than a mayor who wanted to keep his wife happy. Lake City was the original home of the University of Florida before it relocated 49 miles south to Gainesville, on Sept. 24, 1906. The Civil War battle of Olustee took place near Lake City in February 1864. The city continues to honor the history of the war by holding the Olustee Battle Festival & Re-enactment. And at Alligator Fest each October, the 200-year-old history of the Indian setters is celebrated.

 
Madison
Nestled along the Florida/Georgia border, Madison evokes the experience of time-travel. Some headstones in the county’s 84 graveyards have 300-year-old inscriptions. Along with respect for former residents, Madison preserves its way of life and is as close as we can come to stepping into 19th-century Florida. Must-see stops include Four Freedoms Park in downtown Madison and O’Toole’s Herb Farm, supplier of greenery for the upscale restaurants of the Southeast. Kids will enjoy visiting Fort Mack, a replica frontier town built inside an 1800s garrison. If “peace and quiet” are high on your vacation wish list, Madison belongs on your itinerary.
 
 
Micanopy
Micanopy is the state’s self-proclaimed antique capital. Dozens of antique shops are crowded together, many on tree-lined Cholokka Boulevard. Micanopy – named in honor of a Seminole Indian chief – is Florida’s oldest inland town, first settled in 1821. Antique lovers who need plenty of time and sustenance to browse have the Old Florida House for refreshment and The Herlong Mansion for overnight bed and breakfast accommodations.
 
Perry
This small town, with a population just under 7,000, is named after Civil War General Edward R. Perry who was also the 14th governor of Florida. Perry is a great place to squeeze in a chapter of Florida history with a visit to the Forest Capital Museum State Park. The museum tells the tale of more than 5,000 products that come from the state’s forests. There is a restored 1863 Florida cracker homestead situated under an awning of long-leaf pine trees. Every October the park hosts the Florida Forest Festival.
 
Steinhatchee
The coastal community set a short boat ride down the Steinhatchee River to the Gulf of Mexico is synonymous with one word – scallops. Scallop season starts July 1 and runs through September 10. The charming town offers seafood joints lining the river accompanied by a plethora of casual and eclectic lodging. For instance, at the Steinhatchee Landing, calm and serenity waft through the resort reminiscent of Old Florida. A family-welcoming place with shuffleboard, biking trails, kayaking, tennis and basketball courts, a pontoon boat, jogging trail and even a petting zoo complete the picture.
 
Tallahassee
The state capital is bursting with personalities: college town, seat of government, quiet Southern community, party central. Tallahassee is whatever you want it to be. Home to Florida State and Florida A&M Universities, autumn Saturdays generally belong to the pigskin. (Kiplinger’s magazine called it one of the Top 10 college towns for grownups.) Tallahassee is nestled into subtly rolling hills (it’s Florida, after all), a short drive from beautiful Gulf beaches often ranked among the best in the world. Rich in history, arts and culture, the city boasts a charming downtown and a variety of splendid restaurants.
 
 
Wellborn
The lovely town of Wellborn is considered part of “The Original Florida” (its location in Suwannee County surrounds the quiet locale with the natural beauty of North Florida). A perfect stopping point on your nature trek across the state, it’s as if Wellborn was made for bird watching, hiking, biking and fishing – with rivers full of bass, catfish and brim. Wellborn hosts Florida’s largest blueberry festival each June, coinciding with the peak of blueberry season, which starts late spring. Be sure to stop by the Scott Blueberry Farm, 386-963-4952, located at 4984 124th St. This blueberry farm has eight acres and nine varieties of blueberries. The U-Pick season opens the last Saturday in May. For blackberry lovers, bushes grow along the blueberry shrubs. The farm is closed Sunday.
 

White Springs
The Suwannee River flows through White Springs. Officially designated a wild river by the federal government, it originates in the Okefenokee Swamp and twists its way south to the Gulf. The area is a naturalist’s dream. Here, the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center is host of a nationally recognized folk festival each fall.