I’m writing this from a family vacation at Vilano Beach.
The ocean is right outside. The weather is great, by Florida’s standards. The kind of trip that reminds you why getting away matters.
Watching people enjoy the beach got me thinking about something from when I was a kid. Most people come to Florida for the beaches. Or the amusement parks. And for good reason.
But growing up in North Florida, I was always more excited about going to the springs. Honestly, I thought they were better than amusement parks. The water was clear enough to see the bottom. The rivers felt wild. And every trip felt like discovering something most people didn’t know about.
I remember being convinced that someday everyone else would figure it out too. I thought there would eventually be resorts lining the roads to my favorite springs. Hotels. Traffic. Gift shops. The whole thing.
Looking back, it’s kind of funny. Many of those roads still wind through pastures where the cows outnumber the people.
And while millions of visitors are heading for the beaches and theme parks, they’re often driving right past some of the most beautiful places in the state without ever knowing they’re there.
That’s one of the things I love most about North Florida. Not because there’s nothing to do. But because so much of what makes it special hasn’t been turned into an attraction.
So now I’m curious. What’s a place you’ve visited that still feels undiscovered? Could be in Florida or anywhere else.
I’d love to hear about it.
Dion