{By Kelly}

After Paynes Prairie State Park in Gainesville, we headed east to St. Augustine for a wedding. One of our favorite places to camp is Anastasia State Park. This campground has the beach, shady oak hammocks, tidal marshes, and lots to see and do in historic St. Augustine. It's also the town of Justin's alma mater, Flagler College.

We got the Riveted Roost set up at site 47 in the Shark Eye loop. While sites are fairly close together, there's usually some vegetation to provide a little privacy. 

Once we got settled, we headed to town to the St. Augustine Distillery for a tour (offered every 30 minutes), as well as lunch and cocktails at the adjoining Ice Plant Bar. The menu and crafted cocktails are amazing. Be sure to make this a stop on your St. Augustine itinerary.

​If you prefer wine over liquor, enjoy a tour and the rooftop bar at San Sebastian Winery. Another one of our favorite stops in St. Augustine is Cousteau's Waffle & Milkshake Bar, located downtown. 

Of course, our main reason for this trip to St. Augustine was a wedding. We enjoyed the beautiful views of the Matanzas River from the rooftop venue and celebrated well into the evening. 

We had a great time in St. Augustine - from swimming in the ocean and hiking through the oak hammock, to walking around downtown and seeing the sights. 

On our way home from St. Augustine, we stopped and had a picnic lunch at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast, FL. Beachside, there are beautiful coquina rock formations, and the main park offers massive live oaks, picnic pavilions and lush gardens. Learn more about this lovely park.

 {By Kelly}
​
Justin had another United Way conference to attend for work, this time in Gainesville, Florida. I saw it as another chance to go camping and spring-hopping! This was our first camping trip with our new truck, Moonshine Moxie, pulling the Riveted Roost. I can't believe how much get up and go the 3.5L V6 Eco Boost has! It blows our 2006 V8 away.
 
However, we did notice the trailer swaying, especially when being passed by an 18-wheeler. It was never noticeable with our 2006 truck, most likely because it was a heavier truck. We stopped at a Camping World on the way to Gainesville and picked up a weight distribution hitch and sway control package. It’s amazing that we went this long without it.

Our first stop was Paynes Prairie State Park. We stayed at site #18 in a gorgeous wooded loop. We set up camp, then rode our bikes down the paved road to the boat ramp at Lake Wauburg, just in time for sunset. We quickly realized that sunset in the swamps of Gainesville = “Mosquito Happy Hour” and quickly retreated into air-conditioned Airstream. We also discovered an awesome natural bug repellant called, "Beat It" that's DEET-free and made in Hawthorne, FL. It turned out to be a lifesaver - and we continue to use it for all our adventures.

Micanopy and brews - June 20, 2015
On our first full day, we had a picnic breakfast with the dogs in historic Micanopy. There are some amazing antique shops and quaint cafes. Later that afternoon, we went beer tasting at Swamp Head Brewery in Gainesville.

​Hike and sway - June 21, 2015
Took a four-mile muggy and buggy hike with the dogs through the trails of Payne’s Prairie, followed by the installation of a weight distribution hitch and sway control... all before lunch and not a single cuss word uttered. I’m impressed!

Santa Fe River paddle - June 22, 2015
​We rented a canoe and took the dogs spring-hopping on the Santa Fe River in High Springs. It was a beautiful day and we paddled with the current through cypress and oak canopies.

Devil’s Eye at Ginnie Springs was by far our favorite spring of the day. It’s a tiny blue lagoon off the tea-colored Santa Fe that gushes fresh spring water from a limestone cave in the shape of an eye. ​We enjoyed a refreshing swim which was just what we needed after a long paddle.

In about six hours, we covered 15 miles and visited six gorgeous springs… not bad for a day’s work.

Incomparable Ichetucknee - June 23, 2015
Tubing and snorkeling at Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Fort White is something every Floridian (and visitor) should have on his/her bucket list. It’s the quintessential summer activity to beat the heat and enjoy Florida’s natural beauty. At $5 per person, you won't find a better lazy river ride.
 
Most importantly, arrive early and do NOT bring food, drinks, pets, fishing gear, tobacco, alcohol or disposable items on the river. All tubers are subject to inspection. Pets are allowed in the park on a leash, but not on the river or in swimming areas. Remington and Jackson napped in the Airstream while we enjoyed this excursion. We skipped dealing with rental vendors by bringing our own tubes. The park provides a tram service to shuttle drivers back to the launch area after they park their vehicles at the end of the tubing run. That way, your vehicle awaits you at the parking lot at the end of the float. 

Devil's Den - June 24, 2015
On our quest to see as many springs as possible, we took a drive to Devil’s Den in nearby Williston. It was quite an experience to descend into a cave with a beautiful underground spring. The way the light shines through the natural skylight makes for a unique diving experience. We snorkeled in and out of darkness and into streaming rays of sunlight penetrating the crystal-clear, 72-degree water. Many extinct animal fossils dating back to the Pleistocene Age have been discovered inside this spring. In the winter, steam rises like smoke from the chimney opening, which prompted early settlers give it the name, “Devil's Den.”

Devil's Millhopper - June 25, 2015
While Justin was at his conference, I took the dogs for a nature walk near the heart of Gainesville. It takes 232 steps to get to the bottom of Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park in Gainesville, a National Natural Landmark. Fossils found in this 120-foot deep sinkhole include species such as Great White Shark, Sperm Whale, horses, camels, and extinct land mammals that lived 5 to 10 million years ago. 

​I know what you're thinking… Devil’s Eye, Devil’s Den, and now Devil’s Millhopper all in the same relative area? It might be hot as hell in this part of Florida, but all this beauty assures me that we’re far from it.

Ichetucknee Springs, part two - June 26, 2015
We enjoyed Ichetucknee Springs so much, I decided to visit again while my parents and brother were visiting and Justin was at the conference. The last time my dad visited Ichetucknee Springs was 30+ years ago and it was a privately owned park, very crowded and lots of litter. This time around was quite a different experience. The state park is extremely well-run and no disposable items are allowed on the water. Free from development, this section of the river showcases the best of Florida at a leisurely pace. All you have to do is sit back in your tube, relax and enjoy the view.

​After our lazy river float, we had an awesome dinner at Satchel's Pizza in Gainesville. It’s a must-visit restaurant if you're in the area. It's a salvage yard where you can eat the most amazing deep-dish pizza surrounded by funky art and repurposed junk. Here I am with my brother, John, under “da plane.”

Our stay at Payne’s Prairie revealed a variety of wildlife: deer, wild turkey, wild horses… however, despite spending quite a bit of time at sunrise and sunset atop the observation tower, we never saw the famous bison that roam the prairie. Maybe next time.
 
If you go:
Payne’s Prairie State Park
The campground accommodates tents, trailers and RVs. RV sites are back-in, maximum length, 58 feet. The campground is under heavy shade and each site has a limerock surface, lantern post, fire ring with grill, picnic table, nearby water and electric service (30 and 50 amp), and dump station. Restrooms include hot showers and firewood is available for purchase at the ranger station. No wifi. Park entrance gate is locked at sunset; gate combination provided to registered campers. Pets are allowed on leashes in the campground and on designated trails. Reserve in advance through ReserveAmerica.
 
Follow our adventures on Twitter @RivetedRoost, or find us on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram. We're posting lots of photos to our social media sites in real time, so follow along!
 
All photos © Kelly Beard, The Riveted Roost