Discover one of Florida's first state parks or stay in the iconic city that hosted Johnny Cash and AL Capone. Get to know this small city with just over 12 thousand inhabitants, but which has a lot to offer with history, leisure and lots of fun.
In this post I will share with you everything about Lake City! Take advantage of these tips and put this small city on your itinerary!!
Enjoy and also read:
- Best beaches in Tampa – Florida
- Cypress Point Beach in Tampa – Florida
- What to do in Sarasota, Florida – tourism, where to stay and lots of tips
- Best Beaches in Fort Myers – Florida
- Boca Raton: discover the city with the most beautiful beaches in Florida
- Home rentals in Orlando – Florida
Where is Lake City
Located in Columbia County (of which it is the seat), belonging to the American state of Florida.
Distances from main cities:
- Tallahassee to Lake City: 170 km
- Tampa to Lake City: 276 km
- Orlando to Lake City: 250 km
- Jacksonville to Lake City: 98 km
What to do in Lake City
Check out the leisure options to enjoy your stay in Lake City:
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
One of the most fun things to do in all of Florida is to visit the state parks, where there is lots of water and fun. And this one is no different!
Its waters are fed by 9 springs and the color of the water is the blue-green that leaves any visitor in love with so much beauty, on a dive it is possible to marvel at the charms and perfection of nature.
In the park it is possible to rent kayaks, canoeing, snorkeling and floating buoys (tubing). Or if you already have one, you can take your equipment.
Take the opportunity to have a picnic and the park trails 🙂 If you don't bring food, don't worry because inside the park there is a “General Grill Store”, with a little bit of everything, in addition to a restaurant, there is space to buy souvenirs, t-shirts, swimming supplies, picnic items and more.
Check out the park map:
Camping is not permitted in this park. O'leno State Park is 29km away and you can enjoy both places and camp at O'leno.
South entrance address: 12087 SW US HW 27 Fort White, FL 32038
North entrance address: 8294 SW Elim Church Road Fort White, FL 32038
O'leno State Park
This is one of the first state parks in Florida, created in 1930. Located on the banks of the Santa Fé River, it is possible to admire nature, go hiking, bathe in the river, fish, canoe and even camp in the park.
For those who like trails, the park has more than 32 kilometers. In addition to walking, you can do cycling and horse riding among them.
One of the park's postcards is the bridge that crosses the river. It is possible to make beautiful records here 📸.
Address: 410 SE O'Leno Park Road High Springs FL 32643
Ticket: US$5 per vehicle, US$2 for pedestrians and US$18 for camping.
Like City historic center
Discovering the historical charm of this small city is wonderful! It's the kind of city that has it all: natural wonders, charming places to visit and even haunting stories.
The main street is Marion Street, have fun visiting the restaurants, boutiques, local breweries and a delicious place to have coffee: Marion Street Bistro and Brew House.
Another cool place to visit here is the Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum, with a lot of history of the region.
Falling Creek Falls
This park is totally different from the others, with beautiful waterfalls and an enchanting forest. You can make trails and enjoy the route with lots of clicks.
In total there are more than 82 kilometers of lots of nature. Take a deep breath and feel nature!
Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park
If you love diving, this park is perfect! He is known worldwide for his cave diving. There are more than 33,000 feet to dive and explore the longest underwater caves on the American continent.
But be careful! To do these dives you need to be certified. However, in the rest of the park you can follow the trails and discover all of the park's nature.
Where to stay in Like City
Check out some of the best hotel options in Lake City. All reservations are made through Booking.com, who are our partners and do not charge booking fees. Check out:
Check out more offers here:
Booking.comThe Blanche
A downtown landmark and hospitality hub for over 100 years, it has hosted the likes of Johnny Cash and Al Capone. It is a historic 14-room boutique hotel.
One detail of the hotel is that it doesn't have a reception, you have to check in online and that's it (much easier).
Where to eat in Like City – Florida
Sip a delicious craft beer at Halpatter Brewing Co, this is where you'll find Lake City's first craft brewery.
Another totally regional place is the Marion Street Bistro and Brewhouse, it is a gastronomic pub with its open-air restaurant. It is possible to have dinner or lunch on site, enjoy live music and sample the elk chops (address: 281 N Marion Ave, Lake City).
For those who prefer a cozy atmosphere, with delicious coffee and sweets, the Xapa Coffee & Bakery is the perfect option. Another place for chocoholics on duty is the Brittany's Cupcake Shoppe, with the best cupcakes you'll ever taste in your life, it's right in the city center.
What to do for free in Like City
Meet the historic city center It is one of the free options and you will already see a lot of things, such as shops, bars, restaurants and buildings with old architecture.
Picnic in Local Parks, bring food and picnic in local parks. Many public parks offer picnic tables and areas to relax.
if you like to fish, Look for lakes or rivers in the region where fishing is allowed without the need for a special license.
Get to know the state parks, they charge a small entrance fee (generally US$5 per car or per person), an amount that is not that significant and that it is possible to pay to enjoy a wonderful day. 🙂
Finally, I hope you enjoyed the tips 🙂 If you have any questions, comment here 👇