Ichetucknee Springs & Gainesville, Florida

I know what you are thinking...camping in the middle of the Florida summer? They're crazy right? We aren't too crazy (only a little), but when it comes to making trips as newlyweds, we know that we can travel more (and have more fun while traveling) if we watch where we spend our money. Camping was one way that we could make this trip affordable. After researching, we chose to stay at High Spring Campground. It is just north of Gainesville, and right off of I-75. It was gorgeous, clean, and the campers were very friendly. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to camp in the area.

When you think of gorgeous springs and crystal clear blue water to swim, tube, kayak and dive in,  Ichetucknee Springs should be one of the first places you think of. Living in Fort Myers, the body of water that I am around the most is the Gulf of Mexico. No hate here on the Gulf, but it's pretty gross. You can barely see a foot under the water and you can't walk out to waste deep without being covered in seaweed or some other floating substance. Needless to say, the words "crystal clear water" had never made much sense to me...that is until I hit the springs a few weekends ago. After this trip (further explained below), we will definitely be exploring more springs around us. There isn't a better way to spend a Saturday than floating down the river with close friends, drinks in hand, pub subs for lunch, and sunshine. That sounds like a perfect summer weekend to me. The springs are open 365 days a year, so if summer doesn't fit into your schedule, come anytime. They maintain a perfectly consistent temperature year round.

We woke up early on Saturday and rented floatation devices from this awesome place called Lowe's Tubeland (and even awesome(er) than their hospitality and good prices is this tree full of tubes on their property - totally selfie necessary). There are a TON of places that you can rent tubes from, but we just picked this one because of their great location and easy directions. They are a few miles from both the North and South entrance to the park.
**There's a place where you can print coupons off their site for an additional discount on tubes

 With little research (and by research I mean as much as I could do on my iPhone in the car ride from our campground to the springs) we discovered that the best place to go for ease of tubing (and most cost efficient) was the South Entrance. Only $6 to enter the park and unlimited tubing with our tubes tied to our car. The South entrance boasts a concession stand, restrooms, and lots of picnic tables and shelters. Although concession stand food is tempting to some, we much prefer to pick up pub subs on the way (our absolute fav travel food). With our food in our trusty yeti, we set to float down the the last take out.
This float trip took between 1.5-2 hours (which was about all our stomachs could take without food). We decided it was a good idea (and would highly recommend) to walk instead of pay $5 per person for the tram. Although the tram is easier, there isn't anything better than a nice walk through the woods with your friends/family. The walk to the tubing drop off is only about 100 yards and the walk from the final drop-off back to the parking lot is only about 15-20 minutes. Totally doable and worth every penny. Just make sure you wear shoes as the terrain can be tough on the feet. **You can't bring anything disposable with you, so make sure to bring some water (or other beverage) in a reusable cup (our preference -- our Yeti's!)

There are a lot of places that I enjoy eating when I venture through Gainesville (my parents are both Gator alumni, so we visit quite often), but my most recent favorite is 4 Rivers Smokehouse. Known for their beef brisket, this barbecue joint will not disappoint. Choose any of their scrumptious sides to pair with your meat, and you will leave in a food coma (yes, it's that good. Can't you tell by the fact that we didn't even take a picture prior to devouring our entire meals.) They also have a sweet shop full of cupcakes and pudding cups to cure the sweet tooth in anyone.
If cupcakes, cakes, and puddings aren't your thing, then you need to make a stop at Midnight Cookies. These cookies are fresh baked right in front of you (and if you are staying in town, you can even have them delivered) and they're open sure late to cure your late night sweet tooth. For a totally reasonable price of $1.39, you may just need to try more than one. Allow yourself time to wait for them to cook, and then bite into one of the most deliciously fresh cookies you've ever tasted in your life. You're welcome.
*They even have vegan cookies (if you are into that sort of thing).
**Pictured are (R) Cake Batter & Smores;  (L) Snickerdoodle, Dirt, and the Midnight Cookie

All of that to say, the Gainesville/Springs weekend with my sweet husband and friends was one for the books for sure. We even took a walk around the University of Florida Campus to burn off all of the calories that we ate between our BBQ and cookies -- totally worth every bite. Can't wait to share about our next great adventure with you. Until then....

Keep Dreaming,
Hil

Rabun County, Georgia

There aren't many places where I feel as much at home as I do in Rabun County, Georgia. The people there are just unlike any others. Just south of Franklin, North Carolina and west of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Rabun County is a hidden gem. Full of beautiful hikes, peaceful lakes, family-run restaurants, goats on a roof and gorgeous scenery, Clayton is a town that you do not want to pass up. I might be biased, because I call this place my second home, but after all of this time, I truly think that there is no better place to vacation. 

When Josh & I traveled there over Memorial Day, it was no exception. We spent our first day on the beautiful Lake Burton. We rented a pontoon boat from La Prade's Marina and spent the day exploring the beautiful homes that line this lake. La Prade's has excellent costumer service and their boat rentals are par none. We had almost a brand new boat and enjoyed a day out on the water with 10 of our closest friends. For lunch, we thought it would be fun to eat at the marina. Although the food was good, I would only recommend eating here if you are willing to wait an hour for concession stand food. The Chophouse is a sit-down place upstairs, or there is a stand where you can walk up and order downstairs. There is also a bar for the adults outside, and a store with popsicles and ice cream for kids inside. 

An evening is not complete in Rabun County without a trip to the Universal Joint for dinner or drinks after work. This eclectic restaurant/bar (and frankly, probably the only place that is open past 9pm on weeknights) is a relaxing and laid back environment, and completely worth the wait. Although it might be pushing upwards of an hour at time, just grab a drink, enjoy the tunes and wait your turn for one of the best burgers you've ever laid hands on. Full of live music, tasty eats, a variety of tap beers, and great decor, the Universal Joint is the place to eat. 

Another place that you need to visit in Rabun County is the Tiger Drive-In Theater. I know what you are thinking, you didn't even know that these existed anymore! Well, a diamond in the rough of Tiger, Georgia is this Drive-In. The one struggle that I have with the drive-in is hearing the movies if you are not watching from your car, so make sure that you get there early and park your car close to the projection room/concession stand! Call in to see what movies are playing, and know that it is only open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the months of March - November. A few helpful hints -- 1) dress appropriately (it can get cold in the winter, and buggy in the summer {bug spray!}); 2) make sure that you turn your car back on between movies (we don't want any dead batteries). 

  

There are a ton of fantastic hikes that are close to Rabun Co, but one of my favorites is at Black Rock Mountain State Park. There are a few different hikes, from easy to strenuous. The hike we took this time was the Tennessee Rock Trail. It's a loop with a gorgeous view over the state of Georgia. This particular trail is rather treacherous, and is not for the "out-of-shape" (and if you aren't sure if you're in or out of shape, you'll learn real quick on this trail, TRUST ME!).  **Be aware: Black Rock Mntn is closed December 1 - March 15 for weather. 

Until next time, Rabun County. You will always be my second home and most treasured adventure.