Nondiving Activities
Deco activities and family outings.
Paddling and Tubing
Adventure Outpost
Lars Anderson leads most Adventure Outpost tours and wrote The Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail which is available at Amigos Dive Center.
Ginnie Springs
Rents canoes and tubes to float down the Santa Fe River
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Down the road from Amigos Dive Center, it has the most beautiful tubing run in Florida
Santa Fe Canoe Outpost
Canoe and kayak rentals; pick ups and drop offs.
Suwannee River Rendezvous
Lodging, dining and canoe/kayak rentals located at Convict Springs.
Suwannee Guides
Located at Manatee Springs and Fanning Springs. They provide rentals, shuttle services and will even take you to local airports.
American Canoe Adventures
Upper Suwannee outfitters. This section includes the only Class III white water rapids in Florida.
>Nature Walks
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Down the road from Amigos Dive Center, it has three unique hiking trails.
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
One of the largest river-delta estuarine systems in the US
O'Leno State Park
The park is located along the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River and features sinkholes, hardwood hammocks, river swamps and sandhills. As the river courses through the park, it disappears underground and reemerges over three miles away in River Rise Preserve State Park.
River Rise Preserve State Park
Equestrians, hikers and fat-tire cyclists can explore over 35 miles of trails. Equestrians can end the day camping overnight at the park's primitive equestrian camp consisting of primitive campsites, a bathhouse, and a 20-stall horse barn available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Paynes Prairie Preserve
Over 20 distinct biological communities provide a rich array of habitats for wildlife, including alligators, bison, wild horses and over 270 species of birds.
Biking
Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail
A 16-mile paved trail bordering Paynes Prairie.
Madison Loop
Starts in downtown Madison and provides 100 miles of country road riding.
Nature Coast State Trail
Over 31 miles of paved hiking, biking trails that connect the communities of Cross City, Trenton, Fanning Springs and Chiefland.
Suwannee River Greenway
A rail-trail that stretches from the Suwannee River to the Ichetucknee River and includes 12 miles of paved trail with beautiful Florida scenery.
Horseback Riding
Old Wire Stables
Horseback rides by alone or combine with a paddle down the Santa Fe.
Two Hawk Hammock
Horseback riding, horse hotel, scuba diving, camping, arts and crafts.
Museums and Zoos
Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History
The Center features a 6,400-square-foot Butterfly Rainforest exhibit, a screened enclosure of lush subtropical and tropical trees and plants that supports hundreds of living butterflies and moths from all corners of the globe with waterfalls and a walking trail.
Kanapaha Botanical Garden
Features the state’s largest public display of bamboos and the largest herb garden in the Southeast.
Retirement Home for Horses
Alachua, FL; Saturdays 11-3; admission: 2 carrots.
Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
One of only two teaching zoos in the USA.
Two Tails Ranch
A working elephant and exotic animal ranch in Williston offering educational tours by appointment.