FLORIDA’S NATURAL SIDE

Jackson County exudes the quiet Southern charm of Old Florida.

You won’t find high-rises, crowds or traffic in Northwest Florida’s Jackson County. Instead, plenty of scenic villages such as Marianna, Graceville and Malone are waiting to be discovered. Take time to browse around eclectic boutiques and antique shops. Tour Old Florida homes and even underground caverns. Explore the natural beauty of Merritt’s Mill Pond and along wilderness trails.

Although Jackson County is still recovering from Hurricane Michael, many hotels, restaurants, nature trails, campgrounds and the Florida Caverns State Park have reopened. Rivers like the Chattahoochee and the Chipola, along which runs the beautiful Chipola River Greenway, are flowing freely again.

Northwest Florida’s first Agritourism Trail features U-picks, farmers’ markets, fresh produce stands and farm-to-table specialties. Become an oliveoil tester for a day at Green Gate Olive Grove.

You can almost hear the sounds of battle at the Civil War battlefield in Marianna. Some say nocturnal visitors lurk at the 1914 bridge on the Bellamy Bridge Heritage Trail.

During the winter and spring seasons, the beautiful Gene Prough Center for the Arts at Chipola College stages a variety of interesting performances and the college’s sports teams play to enthusiastic crowds.

So, if you’re looking for an Old Florida experience and delightful surprises at every turn, remember Jackson County.