Florida’s Original Tourist Destination

Florida’s Original Tourist Destination. . , From the Native Americans who first sought the healing sulphur waters of the spring, to the present-day travelers who enjoy the wide variety of recreational opportunities along the Suwannee River and the historical significance of the Town of White Springs, tourists have historically been lured to the natural resources around the Suwannee River’s White Springs., The Suwannee River, made famous by Stephen Foster in the song “Old Folks at Home,” serves as the backdrop for the town that was Florida’s original tourist destination. From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, tourists came by horseback, stagecoach, and train to stay in luxurious hotels like the Telford. White Springs boasted extravagant spas, fine dining, and elegant services for visitors seeking the medicinal cures of the sulphur spring., During the 1950s and 1960s the Stephen Foster Center, with its museum, Campanile Tower, and many exhibits, was one of Florida’s premier tourist attractions for the automobile travelers who came through White Springs by the thousands on US 41 the major north south artery in the Sunshine State before Interstate highways. Every spring, the Center hosts the nationally recognized Florida Folk Festival bringing nationally recognized musicians, artists, dancers and craftsmen to town in celebration of the diverse cultures that all Floridian share., Today, White Springs provides a window to the past and future of tourism in Florida. Beyond the town’s historic architecture and cultural opportunities, outdoor enthusiasts also enjoy hundreds of miles of hiking and bicycle treks on the more than 5,000 acres of public lands that surround the town. Just three miles upriver the “Big Shoals” of the Suwannee River challenge kayakers with the longest stretches of white water in the state - while canoeists follow the high bluffs, white beaches and picturesque landscapes of the river’s 265 - mile journey from the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico near Cedar Key, Florida. World-class fishing, hunting and birding opportunities also lure modern tourists to the natural bounties and historic charm of this celebrated tourist town.