On The Road: Jax to Marianna, Caves and Other Hidden Adventures

It was the first year my birthday ever fell on a four-day weekend. As soon as I saw my kid’s grade school calendar, I pictured the scene. We’d relax fireside at a cabin in the Carolinas, hike, and hit every antique shop this mama wanted to meander through.

But life got in the way of booking, and just a week before the grand adventure was to begin, my oldest injured her knee. Then my youngest got sick with an unknown virus with no 24-hour antibiotic remedy. And then my son caught it. One by one, my offspring were mercilessly ruining my birthday extravaganza.

I shamelessly sank into a pit of devastation. But as I sat on my porch staring at the familiar landscape, I resolved to make the best of it. If Mama wanted adventure, we were going to find adventure.

By the time fevers broke, our four-day weekend was down to two, so one overnight stay was all we could do. Google searches led to Facebook scrolling, which birthed an itinerary. Early the next morning, Motrin in tow, we headed West.

Three and a half hours later, we pulled up to Torreya State Park. Famous for its bluffs, the Apalachicola River flows through it, and the overlook is gorgeous. After photos and exploring the historic mansion, we hit some trails. We navigated the paths to the river, threw in some rocks, and read every historic post we could find.

Heading off after a picnic lunch, we drove another hour and explored Falling Waters State Park. The kids took off down the wide boardwalk trails, and we admired the myriad of sinkholes. The largest, measuring 100 feet deep, a steady stream spilled into the pit below. We had found our first Florida waterfall.

Once hungry for dinner, we settled into The Wharf in Marianna, just 30 minutes away. We were relieved by the casual, kid-friendly environment and inhaled our dinners, alternating samples of each other’s meals. I dreamed of bathing in the herb cream sauce that wrapped my plate of shrimp and grits, but was brought back to reality by the raucous banter of my children. Time to go.

The local Fairfield Inn perfectly served as our temporary home, and the next morning’s complimentary (complimentary!) breakfast may have been the highlight of the whole trip. Besides offering one of everything, the legendary waffle bar came complete with sauces, syrups, and toppings of every kind. Chocolate overload, here we come.

Since Marianna rests in the Central Time Zone, an early morning rise was no problem, no problem at all. So after filling our bellies with a calorie-rich breakfast, we were one of the first vehicles to enter Florida Caverns State Park, just 15 minutes from the hotel. This was recommended online and proved incredibly helpful in securing a tour before the bus load of field trippers pulled in, since tickets are purchased on site.

READ: On the Road: Jax to Florida Caverns State Park

A small museum occupied us while we waited for the 45-minute tour that would take us through the only dry cave system Florida offers. Good to know in advance: The caves hold a steady temperature of 65, and no purses are allowed. I may have melted in my parka.

While very little is allowed to be touched, and there is absolutely no space to run wild, the caves were unanimously the pinnacle of the trip, from us as parents to our children, grades K to 4th. Colored lights illuminate various structures, shells, and even shark teeth can be seen cemented into the rock above your head, and one wee little bat hung tightly to the wall for us to “aww!” at. After the tour, we walked some trails before helplessly falling victim to every parent’s demise: the gift shop.

Finally heading back in the direction of home, we made one final stop. Big Shoals State Park was another trip off the beaten path, but we savored another landscape of bluffs along the Suwannee River.

Big Shoals is known for its rapids, earning me an epic mom-fail, because we missed the very thing we ventured to see. Per the park website, to view the rapids, hikers take the Yellow Blaze trail. But I hadn’t researched this far and didn’t coincidentally pick this option. Nevertheless, we enjoyed a hike along the river, played one last round of football, and finally piled into the truck.

Bodies tired, vehicle a mess, we reminisced the last 48 hours as we drove. Bluffs in lieu of mountains, a gift shop in lieu of antiques. Still, I found myself grateful for the memories and surprises we never would have discovered if it weren’t for the injuries and sicknesses that diverted original dreams. In fact, I think we were all grateful for what came of it.

About the Author

Jennifer Weichmann is a wife, mom, carpool driver, sideline cheerleader, and snack supplier. She’s a Wisconsin native, savoring the joys of hot, sunny Florida living, and loves reading, writing, and time outside with her family. She enjoys sharing practical life stories and gospel reminders at soakingintheson.com.