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SOUTHERN CHARM AND ADVENTURE AWAIT IN "THE ORIGINAL FLORIDA"

FLORIDA'S NORTH CENTRAL REGION

The North Central Region consists of 16 counties and extends from Gadsden and Wakulla Counties in the west to Alachua County in the east. The group consists of "The Original Florida and "The Nature Coast." It is here where you will find Florida's capital city - Tallahassee. Southern charm and hospitality greet visitors to this region. Tourism activities center on the rich history of the area and the vast wilderness, which is an excellent backdrop for outdoor activities.

Families will be entertained for days in Florida's newest vacation region. Whether it's history and culture you seek, or the adventures of the great outdoors, there is something for everyone.

Tallahassee, Florida's Capital City, is located in North Central Florida, although it bears little resemblance to the rest of Florida. Geographically closer to Atlanta than Miami, Tallahassee exudes the charm of a small Southern city with its oak-lined canopy roads, colorful azaleas and rolling hills -- a Florida few expect to find

Families will enjoy touring the seat of state government, including the Old Capitol, restored to its 1902 American Renaissance splendor with red candy-striped awnings and stained-glass dome. Behind the historic capitol towers the modern-era New Capitol. From March through May, observe the political buzz of the state Legislature from public viewing galleries. Throughout the year, the Capitol's 22nd-floor observatory offers a breathtaking view of the area, including, on a clear day, the shimmering Gulf of Mexico 20 miles away. Also downtown, the Museum of Florida History chronicles more than 12,000 years of state history.

West of town, red wolves, Florida panthers and river otters make their home in a 55-acre natural habitat at the Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science. Families can make a splash and beat the heat in the cool spring waters at nearby Wakulla Springs State Park. Native wildlife, glass-bottom boat rides and an old fashioned soda fountain guarantee something fun for everyone at Wakulla Springs.

Surrounded by small towns, Gainesville is the hub of Alachua County activities, which include plenty of unique family outings throughout the area. Rated among the top 10 natural history museums in the country, the Florida Museum of Natural History has opened a new 55,000 square foot education and exposition hall; a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes to watch museum scientists, artists and educators build some of the finest natural history exhibits in the world. Here visitors can explore the North Florida cave exhibit, complete with limestone formations and wildlife. Another hands-on educational adventure is the Morningside Nature Center, a 278-acre living history farm, where families can experience turn-of-the-century Florida farm living.

For a refined art lesson, visit the Harn Museum of Art, located on the campus of the University of Florida. The museum showcases dynamic African, Asian and American art and features an innovative film series.

South of Gainesville, visit the home of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings in Cross Creek. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of such American classics as "The Yearling," Rawlings adopted the Creek as her home and made the area come to life for generations of readers. At the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Site, visitors will see her turn-of-the-century Florida cracker-style home nestled in the shade of an orange grove, with her car still parked in the driveway.

Across the region value and excitement go hand in hand, making a trip to this area one that's fun and easy on the pocketbook.

In Florida's capital city of Tallahassee, visitors can enjoy touring museums and government buildings for free, including the Museum of Florida History, the Old Capitol, the New Capitol and the Governor's Mansion. During Tallahassee's summer and winter off-season, many hotels lower their rates, but with an average room rate of $45, accommodations are economically priced all year long.

In Alachua County, discover North Central Florida's rugged natural beauty and enjoy affordable accommodations every day of the year. With average room rates under $53 per night, Gainesville accommodations are among the lowest priced in the state.

In this region of Florida, small town southern charm makes every stop feel like home. It's an area where nearly everything can be considered off-the-beaten-path.

Tallahassee's historic districts and canopy roads shelter many quiet reminders of a bygone era. At the Knott House Museum, tour the stately 1840s mansion and read eccentric rhymes written by its matron and attached by satin ribbons to tables, chairs and lamps throughout the house. For a taste of old-fashioned Southern hospitality, drop in at Bradley's Country Store. Built in 1927, the tin country store produces and sells smoked sausage, coarse-ground grits and country-milled cornmeal. North of Tallahassee, visitors can stroll down quiet hometown streets in the small town of Havana, where private residences often double as unique antique and curiosity shops.

For a different sort of history lesson in the capital city, visit the Black Archives Research Center and Museum housed in a columned library on the Florida A&M University campus, one of the country's most extensive collections of African-American artifacts.

Five North Central Florida counties -- Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie and Levy -- comprise the majority of Florida's Nature Coast, an eight-county, 980,000-acre natural preserve set aside for recreation and conservation. The area is also sprinkled with small towns steeped in history, such as the rustic coastal villages of Steinhatchee and Suwannee. The tiny island of Cedar Key, located off Levy County's shore, was once one of the busiest ports and largest cities in the state. Today Cedar Key is a sun-soaked island bustling with fishermen and artists, where seafood and art go hand-in-hand.

Memorialized by Stephen Foster's classic song, the famed Suwannee River flows through this area. Although many Florida tourists pass over the river while driving through the state, the Suwannee's timeless beauty can best be appreciated with a visit to the Suwannee River State Park. Located near Live Oak, the Suwannee River State Park is ideal for exploring the river and its mystique. Visitors can also stop by Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center in White Springs, where the world's largest tubular bell carillon rings out Foster's songs in daily concerts.

For years, cave divers have made Suwannee County a mecca. At Peacock Springs State Recreation Area, in Luraville, divers can explore more than 28,000 feet of underwater caverns and passages. For openwater diving, head to the 80-foot basin at Troy Springs, where divers can explore the sunken remains of a Civil War-era steamer.

Heading east, visitors will find additional recreational activities. Sports fans of all ages will enjoy stopping at the Sports Hall of Fame, in Lake City. The museum showcases world-class athletes whose roots are in the Sunshine State. Adventurers may want to cool off in Ginnie Springs, near High Springs, where crystal-clear, 72-degree waters offer high visibility for snorkeling and cave diving. Canoeing along the Santa Fe River is also a popular activity.

Micanopy, just south of Gainesville, is the oldest inland town in Florida. The town's antique shops, old homes and a charming cafe center around the town's stately Victorian-style Herlong Mansion Bed & Breakfast, where guests can lounge on three roomy porches or curl up next to one of 10 fireplaces.

With a number of rivers and coastal areas in this region, along with the wide-open preserves and state parks, the great outdoor