Day Trips from Lanark Village
There are plenty of things to do in Lanark Village proper. if you like socializing, bike riding, golfing, and boating, you never need to get in your car.
But sometimes, it’s fun to step outside your comfort zone and mix things up a little. Lucky for Lanarkians, the area surrounding our Village offers a wide range of sights and experiences to explore. Here are some of our favorite day-trip destinations.
Beaches near Lanark Village
Well, of course! Aren’t beaches the reason most people come to the coast in the first place, whether for vacation, retirement, or a second home? We’re lucky to have St. George Island, one of the best beaches in the country, only 45 minutes down the road.
Carrabelle Beach, less than 15 minutes away, is also lovely, and a trip to Alligator Point is worth the 30-minute drive.
See the Sea Life
From Lanark Village, it’s easy to take a charter out into the gulf or the bay to watch the dolphins run, and if manatees are more to your taste, Wakulla Springs State Park is less than an hour away.
This truly unspoiled patch of Old Florida was the filming site for Creature From the Black Lagoon and some of the old Tarzan movies, and parts of it still feel like an uninhabited, undiscovered jungle.
From the Wakulla dock, visitors can take a leisurely boat ride to see the alligators, seabirds, and other wildlife, including the manatees that crowd into the warm springs to escape winter’s chill. You’ll learn about the animals and the area from your Park Ranger boat captains, and be sure to factor in some time for lunch at the lodge.
Lanark Village day trippers can also enjoy the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, an interactive nature center in Panacea, where touch tanks allow you to get up close and personal with all manner of interesting sea creatures. In addition to its mission of educating people about marine life, the lab is a rehabilitation center for injured sea animals. Keep an eye on their webpage for upcoming releases of sea turtles that have been restored to health at the Lab.
Shopping near Lanark
Apalachicola goes beyond the ordinary shopping experience. It’s only half an hour down the road and has everything a big spender or a beach bum on a budget could want (bakeries, galleries, boutiques, a garden shop, even a meadery).
If you’re up for a major antique run, Havana, known as the Friendliest Town in Florida, is an hour and a half up the road. Havana also provides what may be your only opportunity to visit a shade tobacco museum (and haven’t you always wanted to?), so it’s worth the trip.
Lighthouses on the Forgotten Coast
There are 3 lighthouses within an easy drive of the Village. The Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle is nearest, and many Lanark Villagers are familiar with it from attending its Saturday morning Farmers Markets and monthly Full Moon Celebrations. Visitors can visit the Keeper’s Lighthouse Museum to see the restored Fresnel lens and other items in the historically relevant collection. For a small fee, you can climb the lighthouse tower.
You can do a sunset and full moon climb up the 77-foot tall St. George Lighthouse as well. Both it and the Crooked River Lighthouse have gift shops stocked with lighthouse-themed souvenirs.
You can’t climb the St. Marks Lighthouse, but you can see how the keepers lived by visiting their now-renovated quarters. St. Marks Lighthouse is located in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, so take your camera - there’s no telling what kind of birds and animals you’ll see.
Forests
At almost 1,000 square miles, the Apalachicola National Forest is the largest in the state, and it’s right at our backdoor. It includes wilderness and special-purpose areas such as the Leon Sinks Geological Area, which contains one of the most extensive underground cave systems in the world.
Tate’s Hell State Forest is another option for hikers, paddlers, swimmers, and campers. It’s on the Great Florida Birding Trail and contains the High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail and the “Dam to the Bay” leg of the Paddle Florida kayak route.
You can immerse yourself in the wild in either of these forests. Rangers recommend downloading smart device mapping before setting out in Tate’s Hell.
Parks
You can access the beach at St. George without going through the State Park, but if you prefer miles of sweeping dunes, stretches of mostly empty white sand beaches, stargazing into a dark-night panorama, camping facilities, well-maintained restrooms, and covered picnic areas, the Julien G. Bruce St. George Island Park is worth the admission price.
Lanark residents and frequent visitors could likely benefit from buying an annual State Park pass. Once you have it, you can use it for day trips at any of the nearby State Parks, such as Bald Point, Falling Waters (home of Florida’s highest waterfall), Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park (Tallahassee), and Florida Caverns (Marianna), if you like your water dripping off a stalactite.
Atlas Obscura
If you prefer attractions that are a little off the beaten path or outside the box, the Atlas Obscura website features several of the area’s “hidden wonders.” These include the World’s Smallest Police Station (Carrabelle), the Bottle House (Carrabelle), and the John Gorrie Ice Cream Museum (Apalachicola). If you feel like striking out a little further afield, you can visit 17 more Atlas Obscura sites in Tallahassee.
Tallahassee
There’s lots to see and do while you’re there. The state capital, with its museums, theaters, parks, gardens, and shops is a day-tripper’s paradise. Nerdy types can tour the Mag Lab while creatives may prefer the Railroad Square Art District. Those who love cats and coffee can enjoy both at the Tally Cat Cafe.
History Buffs will appreciate Natural Bridge Battlefield, site of Florida’s second-largest Civil War battle, and architects will want to see the Lewis Springs House, designed by Frank Loyd Wright. I’m sure you get the picture - there’s something for everyone in the big city, and it’s right next door to our tiny, rural village. We’ve got the best of both worlds!
All the trips listed here are within a 2-hour drive of Lanark - a decent day’s entertainment for most of us. If you’re looking for something you can walk or bike to instead, check out the What’s Going On page for a lengthy list of what’s available within and just outside the Village.
Now get out there and have some fun!
