Field Notes is where we share the stories of North Florida—the springs and rivers, old roads and forgotten towns, people who came before us, and the little things you might pass without ever knowing they were there.
Some are stories from the past. Others are simply reasons to take the long way, follow a backroad, or look a little closer.
Together, they’re our way of exploring North Florida, and helping you discover more of it while you’re here.
- The Towns That DisappearedOn opposite sides of the Suwannee River, two towns once faced each other. One sat on the east side of the Suwannee, near what is now Suwannee River State Park. The other grew across the river, near the meeting of the Suwannee and Withlacoochee. Columbus came first. Then Ellaville rose. For a time, both existed …
- I Knew Sheck Exley Before I Knew Who He WasFor years, Sheck Exley existed in my memory as one of my high school math teachers. He was eccentric, interesting, and hard to forget. He had sayings he seemed to keep ready for almost any situation, including one I still remember clearly: “It’s my way or the highway.” I knew he was involved in karate. …
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- The Spring That Feels Like HomeMy dad took my sister and me to Telford Spring so often when we were kids that it almost felt like our backyard pool. I can still picture the old oak tree overlooking the spring, with my boombox propped against it playing cassette tapes filled with whatever 80s music I was into at the time. …
- The Name in the WoodsMy dad started taking me to Peacock Springs long before it became a state park. Back then, at least in my memory, it felt like little more than a dirt road disappearing into the woods. That road was part of the adventure. It rolled up and down enough that my sister and I treated it …
- When the Stars Come OutIf you live in or near a city, you can go a long time without really seeing the night sky. There are always lights somewhere. Streetlights line the roads, houses glow through the trees, parking lots stay illuminated long after dark, and the city itself throws enough light into the sky that many of the …
- Baptizing SpringI had driven past Baptizing Spring more times than I could count before I ever saw it. It sits in an undeveloped part of Peacock Springs State Park, across the road from Peacock Springs and Orange Grove Sink. Those places are destinations, drawing people to swim, dive, and explore some of North Florida’s remarkable waters. …
- Charles FerrySome of my earliest memories of Charles Spring have nothing to do with history. When I was growing up, my dad used to take me there to fish for catfish. We’d climb out onto a large, flat limestone rock overlooking the Suwannee River, bait our hooks, and settle in for the afternoon. It was always …
- Crossing the SuwanneeEvery time I cross the Suwannee River, I do the same thing. It usually starts with the highway signs. If you’ve driven across the Suwannee in Florida, you’ve probably noticed them, the signs with musical notes, a nod to the song that made this river famous. And almost without fail, I start singing: Way down …
- Maybe she was paying attention all alongA few days ago, I was walking into a doctor’s appointment when my phone buzzed. It was my daughter, Kendall. She’s in her first semester at FSU (Go Noles!) and she wanted to share something she workshopped in class. I’ll admit it, I found myself wiping away tears in the hallway. Not because it was …
- The Rivers That DisappearA few weeks ago, I wrote about the Cody Scarp. Millions of years ago, it was Florida’s coastline. Today, in many places, it’s little more than a subtle change in elevation. If you didn’t know it was there, you could drive across it without ever noticing. But the more I learn about North Florida, the …
- The Railroads That DisappearedI grew up around the remains of railroads I never really knew were there. When I was a child, an old steam locomotive sat beside the Luraville Country Store. I knew it had been pulled from the Suwannee River. I knew it was old. But I don’t think I understood just how old it was, …
- The Forgotten Resort on the SuwanneeThere was a time when people traveled from all over the country to visit Suwannee Springs. Today, most people drive right past it without realizing it’s there. The springs sit beneath a canopy of oaks along the Suwannee River, tucked away at the end of a quiet road. If you visit today, you’ll find the …
- The Coastline That DisappearedFIELD NOTES FROM NORTH FLORIDA One of the most important features in North Florida is something most people never even notice. In fact, if you didn’t know it was there, you could drive past it a hundred times and never give it a second thought. Just like I did. Millions of years ago, it was …
- I Thought There Would Be Resorts HereAs a kid, I was convinced this road would someday be lined with resorts. If you’ve ever been to the springs along the Suwannee River, you might know the turn I’m talking about. You leave Highway 51 at the flashing light by the Luraville Country Store and turn left. Even then, it felt like you …
- Most people drive right past some of Florida’s most beautiful placesI’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 …
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