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The phrase “hidden gem” will get tossed round lots when speaking about locations, however Monticello, Florida was that for us.
This history-clad small city in Florida is small and quaint, and one which pulls you in and welcomes you want a long-lost pal.
Well-known for its historic buildings and antebellum houses, charming downtown district, and quiet tempo of life, there are just a few issues to do in Monticello, however that’s all a part of its appeal.
Monticello is the county seat of Jefferson County, a rural area in Florida. It’s so small, it’s even the one county that doesn’t have a single site visitors gentle – it doesn’t want one, all the pieces goes sluggish in Monticello.
Nonetheless, in the event you’re planning on visiting Monticello and also you’re unsure what to see and do, listed below are a few of the issues we acquired as much as on our 3-day keep.
What’s particular about Monticello, Florida?
The town of Monticello is within the coronary heart of Pure North Florida and has a inhabitants of simply over 2,000 individuals.
This charming, historic city, positioned 24-miles east of the state capitol, Tallahassee, was based in 1827 and is the seat of Jefferson County.
Jefferson is named the Keystone County for its unspoiled magnificence and delicate local weather providing the ‘keys to high quality dwelling.’
Fortunately, we had Katrina from the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce as our native information sharing with us the highest sights in Monticello and the great thing about this rural area and way of life.
She enthusiastically launched us to many locals, sharing their fascinating tales and backgrounds and making the city come alive.
We additionally found a spot filled with journey, distinctive and pristine magnificence, historic and academic experiences, and a group centered on supporting native companies and a vibrant way of life.
Issues to Do in Monticello
1. Kayak or Airboat the Wacissa River
If you wish to expertise a real Florida treasure, exploring the Wacissa River is a should. It’s one of the vital pristine, lovely, and adventurous experiences we’ve had within the US.
A lot so, we’re wrote a whole put up devoted to our wonderful expertise exploring the Wacissa River by airboat and kayak.
The Wacissa River is a primary magnitude clear, spring-fed stream that’s fed by about 20 springs on the headwaters.
We joined Captain Brad Cooley from 5 Rivers Adventures who took us on an 11-mile airboat excursions zigzagging over the eelgrass and vibrant inexperienced lilies protecting the river.
We navigated by way of slender channels canopied by Spanish moss cypress and oak timber, chasing egrets and bald eagles, and quick diving alligators.
Brad took us to see a few the springs that feed this river, together with the widespread swimming gap Huge Blue, and shared with us a lot in regards to the historical past of the world and the natural world.
It was an exhilarating journey, made all that a lot better by Savannah’s tight grip on my arm and squeals of equal terror and delight.
The Wacissa River captured my coronary heart. It’s actually one of the vital pristine and delightful locations I’ve visited.
2. Kayak the Slave Canal
Our journey on the Wacissa River didn’t finish at our Goose Pasture picnic spot.
We traded our airboat for kayaks and set off on an exciting and difficult journey by way of the Slave Canal which connects the Wacissa to the Aucilla River.
It was initially constructed by the slaves for plantation house owners to move cotton all the way down to the Gulf.
Blocks of limestone stay and are a reminder alongside the way in which of the arduous work pressured by slaves.
The sobering historical past doesn’t cease there, Indian Mounds additionally point out life that existed right here greater than 14,000 years in the past as proved by the Aucilla Analysis Institute (see under).
It’s greatest to take this journey with an skilled information.
The Slave Canal is marked however you would get misplaced and regardless of the rapidly transferring water aiding your paddling, it’s fairly a technical paddle as you navigate slender areas, fallen logs and the overhanging branches of historic oaks, cypress and palmettos draped with Spanish Moss.
This adventurous kayak journey is past beautiful.
Hold an eye fixed out for the alligators poking their eyes above the water watching you!
Hopefully, you’ll get to see one dive into the river with a large tail splash like Savannah did appearing as head spotter within the entrance of our information’s canoe.
3. Play with Lemurs on the North Florida Wildlife Middle
The Lemur Story. We’ll have it for the remainder of our lives, and we’ll inform it for the remainder of our lives.
Savannah even jumped on the digital camera to share it. (I used to be impressed to listen to all she had discovered in regards to the lemurs. She was paying consideration!)
We fell in love with the North Florida Wildlife Middle at first stroll within the door when six-week previous Gili bounded over to greet us.
Gili is called for his crimson coat that instantly gave us a eager for Australia.
Yep. Gili is a kangaroo and means flame in Indigenous language. We fell over one another to pat and cuddle him. Oh, how we’ve missed our roos.
We additionally met for the primary time in our life an albino wallaby.
The North Florida Wildlife Middle is a not-for revenue, based by passionate hen lover, Ryan David Reines.
I used to be shocked (and impressed) when David was launched to us to find a a lot youthful animal lover than my thoughts’s imaginings.
David, who after years of experiencing the mistaken approach to deal with animals, determined to create a facility to assist educate individuals totally on endangered animals and help conservation efforts around the globe.
He’s on a profitable method as our women are actually in love with lemurs, and after accepting that they’ll’t have them as pets, have determined to do what they’ll to assist conservation of them within the wild.
What occurred with the lemurs, I hear you ask?
Effectively, after tempting them with a scrumptious fruit snack on her hand, one lemur determined Savannah’s hair was far tastier.
He took each probability to leap on her shoulders, seize her hair with one hand, and quietly lick and eat clumps of it within the different.
He was fascinated and let loose a large lemur squeal when he was denied it! We beloved this up-close expertise with the lemurs. We have been all shocked to find how delicate and delicate their toes have been after they stood on you.
On the heart you too can meet different unique birds and wildlife. All excursions go in the direction of the animals and conservation efforts.
That is positively a spot to place in your itinerary for a visit to Monticello with youngsters!
We love the work we do and honor the platform now we have and search for methods we are able to help and provides again. We have been all blissful to donate to this nice reason behind Ryan’s.
4. Study native produce and corporations
An excellent life is one which helps native retailers, enterprise, and communities.
We like to study in regards to the firms and trade distinctive to an space and assist give it its distinct taste. For that cause, we at all times go to native famer’s markets when on the town so we are able to meet with unbiased retailers and native growers.
We have been lucky to go to two native farms within the Monticello area.
Behind the scene excursions might be organized instantly by way of every firm.
Florida Georgia Citrus Firm
Have you ever ever thought-about what goes into your scrumptious glass of orange juice every morning?
When you’re like us and juice your personal, you realize simply how annoying and time-consuming it’s cleansing up after juicing only one orange.
How usually we gulp down what we devour with out understanding the work that goes into it?
Our very instructional behind the scenes tour of the Florida Georgia Citrus Firm gave us an perception into the hassle that goes into rising scrumptious satsuma oranges.
Homeowners, Kim and Angela Jones, began this farm as a pastime after retirement and to show their grandchildren the worth of exhausting work – whether or not they find yourself taking up the farm or not.
I used to be impressed by how a lot they, and their farm supervisor Dale, had discovered about rising Satsuma oranges for the previous six years.
By no means heard of Satsuma oranges earlier than?
Neither had we and hopefully we are able to get our fingers on some again in North Carolina.
A satsuma is a seedless mandarin and are smoother and sweeter than oranges. I like them way more.
Satsumas have been grown on this area within the late 1800s, however had restricted success due to extreme freezes.
It’s now seeing a resurgence as they’ve discovered higher handle the freezes. This area supplies a greater rising local weather for satsumas than down the hotter South Florida.
It was exterior of season, so we didn’t get to expertise the processing of the fruit, however we discovered about it on an informative tour of the amenities and orchards that ranged from timber just a few years previous to their very full six 12 months development.
Their satsuma oranges are additionally made in native produce similar to Blackberry Patch’s syrups, Lake Tribe’s Satsuma Wheat beer, Talahred Goat Farms physique produces (now we have some – wonderful with healthful components).
Full Moon Apiary
Anybody dedicating their lives to the safety of bees deserves an honorary medal.
It’s no simple feat. We discovered all in regards to the challenges going through beekeepers on a behind the scenes go to to the Full Moon Apiary farm with proprietor, Tony Hogg.
The primary risk to those bees are tiny pests – principally launched pests.
Ugh. Isn’t that the battle most ecosystems and species face?
I had my first bee sting almost two years in the past and was shocked by how a lot it damage. I used to be much more shocked to be standing subsequent to a hive as a whole bunch of bees climbed over it busy at work and swarmed throughout me. I felt no worry and acquired no sting.
Tony did smoke it earlier than we walked close to, which doesn’t damage the bees, however disrupts a sign that warns them, “hazard, sting.”
Tony and his spouse, Becky started their journey with bees about 10 years in the past to beat their daughter’s worry of bugs.
Tony and Becky now have about 100 hives and promote honey, beeswax candles and presents at their Monticello store.
Full Moon Apiary has a small retailer on the town and is stuffed with fantastic bee impressed presents and all of the completely different flavors of his honey similar to galberry honey, black mangrove, and palmetto.
We have been blissful to seize a number of bottles and different bee associated merchandise. Loving and supporting bees is a precedence for our household.
You recognize in the event that they go, we’re all in huge bother, proper?
Plus, while you find out about them, they’re wonderful animals that may encourage you.
Tony’s recommendation, “The easiest way you may assist, is to buy honey out of your native beekeeper. Ask questions on how they produce the honey and take care of the bees. It’s the easiest way to know the honey is real and you might be giving again to the bees.”
Most honey you discover on the grocery store cabinets just isn’t native and is stuffed with non-honey crap you don’t need to eat.
Tall Timbers and Dixie Plantation
Within the 1820s, aristocratic planters got here to Jefferson County for its lovely rolling hills and fertile soil. There are about 900,000 acres of plantation land now, principally used for quail looking, path driving and conservation.
Over 130,000 of those acres from Tallahassee, Florida to Albany, Georgia are managed beneath perpetual conservation easements within the Tall Timbers challenge.
These ecosystems are protected beneath Tall Timbers and may by no means be developed – goodbye Walmart and subdivisions! Their intention is to protect the previous, current and way forward for the Pink Hills space.
We loved studying about this on a tour of Dixie Plantation, the winter escape for Gerald and Elanor Livingston, governor of the New York Inventory Change.
The centerpiece of the property is the 14,200 sq. foot Neo-Classical Revival mansion designed by John Russel Pope in 1936, who was one of the vital distinguished twentieth Century architects within the US.
He designed the Nationwide Archives, Jefferson Memorial and Nationwide Gallery of Artwork on the Washington Mall.
It grew to become one of many best discipline trial venues in North America and a extremely regarded quail looking plantation. In 2013, it was gifted to Tall Timbers by daughter, Geraldine who beloved this property a lot she needed to make sure the land was protected.
A large restoration challenge is underway with plans for the home to host public occasions and promote an appreciation and understanding of the pure and cultural heritage of the Pink Hills.
Tall Timbers has a mission of land conservation, group planning and training, and we determined to donate to this group to proceed its land conservation work.
5. Aucilla Analysis Institute
The Aucilla Analysis Institute was established in Monticello, Fl to draw and promote unique analysis within the earth sciences and pure historical past of the Huge Bend space of Florida.
It supplies alternatives for researchers and college students conducting fieldwork at paleontological, archaeological, geographical, and ecological websites all through the area.
We got a tour by Tom Harmon, passionate diver and archaeologist who confirmed us lots of the fascinating and historic artifacts found within the Aucilla area space together with mastodon bones and first individuals instruments.
An thrilling discovery was made in 2016 which will maintain clues in regards to the first People. Prehistoric mastodon bones and a stone knife point out life at round 14,550 years in the past, about 1500 years earlier than the primary people within the southeast have been meant to be discovered.
It was fascinating to study extra in regards to the work of the challenge and the processes and instruments they use to uncover this historic info.
6. Monticello Opera Home
Inbuilt 1890, the Monticello Opera Home was constructed by visionary and entrepreneur John Perkins who observed the rich northerners coming to the Monticello area for looking and fishing.
After all, they’d love to soak up a present and keep in a grand resort.
So, he constructed it and so they got here – strolling up the winding staircase to a contemporary (on the time) and an almost-perfect acoustic theater.
Fortunately, a bunch of locals gathered within the 70’s to protest plans to tear it down for a gasoline station.
Their beneficiant donations as an alternative started a restoration challenge bringing the Monticello Opera Home again to its former glory because the cultural coronary heart of the city.
The Opera Home hosts quite a lot of Broadway model musicals, kids’s theater, performs, audio system and dinner theaters.
7. Do a Downtown Monticello Historic Tour & Procuring
Monticello’s 27-square block historic district encompasses roughly 600 pre-Nineteen Thirties buildings.
It acquired its personal itemizing on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations and 22 of the person buildings are additionally listed on the register together with the Lyndhurst Plantation, the Jefferson County Jail, and the Monticello Excessive Faculty.
You are able to do a self-guided strolling tour of the district to study extra in regards to the houses.
We did a tour of the Pascoe Home, an artfully restored ardour challenge of the house owners and the Wirick-Simmons Home, a Greek Revival inbuilt 1831.
As was typical of our Monticello go to, this tour was made all of the extra satisfying by an area information who entertained us together with his tales of the house group and his personal life.
Yearly, many houses and properties open for the Monticello, House and Heritage Tour of Properties. You possibly can discover these stately houses, restored public buildings and superb gardens.
For historical past buffs, within the heart of downtown is among the most unusual historic websites within the metropolis, the courthouse on Florida’s first roundabout.
The streets working off listed below are stuffed with distinctive native boutique shops with names similar to A day with a Previous Tea Parlor; Victoria’s Boutique; Two Sisters, New Beginnings; and Two Previous Males.
Don’t miss fundamental avenue retailers Oh Completely satisfied Days and The Luckie Pearl within the mint inexperienced restored gasoline station.
One in all my favourite recollections of our Monticello journey was on our final day as we have been about to go away and chatting to about 5 of the locals who by now knew us by title!
8. Keep at Avera-Clarke B&B
In search of locations to remain in Monticello?
You possibly can’t go mistaken on the attractive and historic mattress and breakfast, Avera-Clarke Home, a Victorian dwelling inbuilt 1890 that blends fashionable touches with antebellum Florida.
It’s positioned on an acre block stuffed with tall Oak and Magnolia timber in downtown Monticello.
There are 4 bedrooms within the inn. We stayed within the backyard cottage, a totally restored, 900 sq. ft. construction (circa 1821) with all dwelling quarter facilities together with a kitchen and 1 1/2 baths.
We beloved the comforts of the cottage and the attractive deck and gardens exterior our door.
Homeowners, Troy and Gretchen, have been very gracious and hospitable and delivered our breakfast to our door the night earlier than to make it simple to suit into our busy days.
Locations to Eat in Monticello
It could possibly at all times be exhausting discovering a spot to eat in a brand new metropolis, so listed below are a number of locations in Monticello that we personally loved!
Tupelo’s Bakery and Cafe
Did someone say cupcake? For a gluten free particular person, scrumptious cupcakes are exhausting to seek out. Beforehand to consuming at Tupelo’s Bakery, Molly’s Cupcake in NYC was in a league that nobody might contact.
The cupcake we had at Tupelo slid in proper beside it as the perfect cupcake within the USA.
Their candy potato soup was equally scrumptious as have been their sandwiches on home made natural bread. This bakery has been named within the high 11 bakeries in Florida!
Every part right here is made out of scratch and nearly 100% natural, utilizing native meals and supporting native farmers.
Papa & Nonna’s Pizzeria (Previously Mafia Pizza)
We ordered take out from Papa & Nonna’s Pizzeria, previously generally known as Mafia Pizza, to eat from the consolation of our cottage.
It was scrumptious as have been the mussel appetizers. Mafia Pizza additionally has a speakeasy bar in the event you want to dine in.
Rancho Grande Mexican Restaurant
One other native’s favourite gathering place is Rancho Grande Mexican serving your conventional Mexican meals.
Once more, we met a number of of the locals right here!
Last Ideas
Monticello is a spot the place the main target is on group connection and the appreciation of the encompassing pure magnificence that enriches that group.
Individuals take the time to ask how you might be, discover out your story, share their tales, and introduce you to what makes them so blissful about dwelling of their city.
A lot that by the tip of your keep, you’re greeting individuals by title and checking in with their day.
It was a delight to go to Monticello and end our North Florida street journey on this small metropolis – probably the friendliest we’ve visited within the US.
We hope this information helped you select a number of issues to do in your go to.
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We hope this put up helps you intend your personal Monticello journey. What are you most excited to do? Tell us within the feedback!
