St Marks

St Marks and Wakulla Springs are two nearby places that are worth taking a day trip. You can check out the links I have posted to get indepth information on both locations, but both places have a strong place in early Florida history. The Spanish landed at St Marks and strategically built a fort where the St Marks and Wakulla Rivers meet. Out from St Marks is the National Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse. If you want to see a real gator in the wild, a trip into the park will almost guarantee at least one sighting.

Near the fort is the world's famous Posey's Oyster Bar. I'd recommend sticking to the "R" months on the oysters. It has been a couple years since my visit, but my buddy Wayne got a bad oyster when I was last there. Fortunately it all came out before we got to Woodville.


Wakulla Springs is known for being the largest freshwater spring in the world, or at least in terms of gallons of water that it pumps out on a daily basis. It is also the location where the old Tarzan movies were made as well as "Creature from the Black Lagoon". The Jungle Boat ride is always entertaining and well worth the ticket price. If we are lucky, the guide Christa and I had will still be giving the tour... "Ice cococola"

Wakulla Springs was also a home for St Joe Paper Company Founder Ed Ball. I guess Ed Ball really enjoyed the wild natural beauty of Florida. Too bad St Joe and Arvada don't see it that way today.