St Augustine ~ Gainesville Family Blog

St Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the United States. It is rich in history (and ghost stories). It also boasts the Oldest Wood School House in the USA.

In Alachua County, all public school fourth graders make a field trip to St Augustine and visit, among other things, the Oldest School House.

This sign briefly explains the history of the earliest St Augustine settlers.

(click to see it full-size)

St Augustine is just a short drive from Gainesville.  It makes a great day or weekend trip!

Manatee Springs ~ Gainesville Family Blog

On Labor Day, my family went to Manatee Springs.  

It was a beautiful day, and far less crowded than we anticipated.  

We swam, grilled burgers & hot dogs, and hiked the trails.  We saw several deer along the paths.

 

It was a great time!  What did you do for Labor Day? 

 

Labor Day Weekend - Gainesville Family Blog

From what I can see, there aren't a whole lot of exciting things going on around Gainesville this Labor Day Weekend.  So I think my family and I are going to head to the Springs!
In case you don't know, we have some beautiful and amazing springs in the area.   They're not just for divers.  They're tons of fun for swimming and snorkeling, as well as cookouts, if you're lucky enough to grab a grill that's not in use.
In High Springs, Florida there are several beautiful springs.  Ginnie Springs,  Poe Springs, and Blue Springs are all located off of State Road 27/41 in High Springs.  Manatee Springs is another favorite of my family, located in Chiefland, Florida.  Visit their respective websites for directions, hours, admission prices, and beautiful pictures. 
These springs are also great for camping, but of course it's too late to reserve a campsite for this weekend.  Many of the springs also offer canoeing and kayaking.
Speaking of which, if you're interested in paddling the Santa Fe River, check out Santa Fe Canoe Outpost,
also located in High Springs.

Manatee Springs

Ginnie Springs

                                                       

And seriously, you have not lived if you have not yet tubed down the Ichetucknee.   It's like a rite of passage for kids who grow up in this area, and it's a ton of fun for adults as well. 

Ichetucknee Springs

I hope you find a fun way to beat the heat this 

Labor Day Weekend! 

Autumn - Gainesville Family Blog

I think the beginning of Autumn was the perfect time to start this blog.  I love fall.  I know, we don't get real fall weather until later in the year....and sometimes not at all.  But we still have a lot of great fall activities.
School just started, with all of the fun activities that go along with that.
Football and other sports seasons are beginning.
There are fall festivals, pumpkin patches, corn maizes, haunted houses....all in the next couple of months.
Have you checked out the CSI: Crime Scene Insects exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History yet?  I love that place, and this looks like a really cool exhibit. 
Every Friday night, there are Free Friday concerts at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza.  These are so low-key and fun.  Just bring some lawn chairs or a blanket and settle down to enjoy live music.  We also like to bring a picnic-style dinner.  The kids can run around and dance while you relax and enjoy the band!  It's located at 111 E University Avenue, near the Main Library.
Speaking of the library, there are always fun events for kids and adults going on at your nearest library.  They also offer exercise classes like Zumba and Yoga.  They even have gardening classes....as a novice, I need those!  Just go to www.aclib.us to find out what's going on at your local branch!
I'd love it if you leave me a comment, or share this blog with your friends.  I hope to become a valuable resource for local families!