Traveling Huntleys

Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.

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Chiefland, Florida Manatee Springs & Cedar Key

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Last Updated: July 6, 2026

Chiefland sits on Florida’s Nature Coast in Levy County, north of Tarpon Springs and well off the typical tourist path. The local economy runs on agriculture — peanuts, watermelons, cattle ranching, and timber — and the surrounding landscape reflects that: open fields, longleaf pine flatwoods, and the wide, slow-moving Suwannee River winding through it all. We came specifically to visit Manatee Springs State Park and to revisit Cedar Key, a tiny island community we had loved on a previous trip. Both exceeded expectations in very different ways.

White-tailed deer browsing near the campground at Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland, Florida
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Manatees at Blue Spring State Park, Florida

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Last Updated: July 6, 2026

Manatees are among our favorite animals to observe — slow, serene, and utterly unbothered by the world around them. We had encountered them several times around Florida, but always in murky, brackish coastal waters where you caught only fleeting glimpses of grey shapes drifting beneath the surface. Seeing them in the crystal-clear water of a Florida freshwater spring was something else entirely. From Lady Lake, it was a short drive northeast to Blue Spring State Park in Orange City — and it turned out to be one of the most memorable wildlife experiences of our entire journey across Florida.

Three West Indian Manatees gliding through crystal clear spring water at Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida
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Tarpon Springs, Florida’s West Coast

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Last Updated: July 6, 2026

From Everglades City we drove a few hours north along congested city streets to reach Tarpon Springs on Florida’s Gulf Coast — a town unlike any other in Florida. While most of the state’s tourist towns lean on beaches and theme parks, Tarpon Springs leans on something far more distinctive: a thriving Greek-American community, a working sponge industry, and a waterfront that feels more like a Greek island village than the American South. It is one of the most culturally interesting stops on Florida’s west coast, and paired with the nearby towns of Dunedin and Clearwater, it made for a memorable few days.

Golden sunset over the Anclote River at Tarpon Springs, Florida
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Flagler Beach, Florida Oceanfront

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Last Updated: July 4, 2026

Flagler Beach was only a 30-minute drive south from St. Augustine, Florida. We were looking forward to this destination for a very specific reason — our coach would face directly at the Atlantic Ocean, with that huge front window providing all-day tranquil views and the constant sound of waves breaking day and night. It turned out to be one of the most peaceful stretches of the entire trip.

Sandy Huntley collecting seashells on the wide sandy beach at Flagler Beach, Florida during the Huntleys' oceanfront RV stay
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