Gainesville FL

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) — An online “Tom Petty Trail” is giving fans a way to explore places around Florida connected to the Gainesville native’s life and music. From his childhood homes to performance venues to spots that inspired some of his lyrics, it’s all now mapped out for self-guided tours.

A 21-year-old Ocala woman was arrested outside a local bar after she allegedly led Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. On Thursday, November 20, an MCSO deputy spotted a gray sedan that was traveling at a high...

ALACHUA, Fla. (WCJB) - An Alachua County farmer says delays in the federal H-2A visa program have put his winter harvest and more than a million dollars’ worth of crops on the line. Steven Davis, a family farmer in Alachua, normally brings in about 40 seasonal workers through the...

If your idea of a perfect weekend involves fresh air, flower fields, and the occasional goat photobomb, Sweetfields Farm in Brooksville, Florida, is calling your name. Nestled in the rolling countryside just north of Tampa Bay, this seasonal farm adventure feels like a postcard come to life—equal parts family fun, rustic charm, and sunflower-filled serenity.

If you’ve ever dreamed of floating alongside a gentle manatee in turquoise water so clear it looks like glass, Crystal River is your kind of paradise. Tucked along Florida’s Nature Coast in Citrus County, this small town with a big personality is the only place in North America where you can legally swim with wild manatees—and that’s just the beginning of its natural wonders.

Most folks don’t think “waterfalls” when they think of Florida—but Falling Waters State Park isn’t most places. Tucked away near Chipley in the Panhandle, this hidden gem is home to the tallest waterfall in the state, and it's as surprising as it is beautiful. Here, clear water tumbles down a deep limestone sinkhole, vanishing into the earth like some kind of natural magic trick.

Some places lift your spirits the moment you step inside—and this little tropical escape in Key West does exactly that. Imagine hundreds of butterflies fluttering around you, landing softly on your arm as classical music drifts through the air and a pair of flamingos casually strut past a bubbling waterfall. It sounds like a dream, but it’s very real—and it’s one of the most unexpectedly enchanting spots on the island.

There are places where people shop, and then there are places where people strut. Lincoln Road in Miami Beach falls solidly in the second category. This iconic pedestrian promenade is a world away from your average mall—think sun-drenched palm-lined walkways, outdoor cafés humming with conversation, and a parade of stylish locals and visitors treating the sidewalk like a runway.

Ever tried painting a sand dollar on a sunny beach morning? You sit at a colorful table outside a quirky shop, brushing bright colors onto a sea treasure while seagulls call overhead. It’s a simple, fun activity that kids and adults love, and it captures the laid-back, creative vibe of this island.

SANDERSON, Fla. (WCJB) -Cannons, gunfire, and horses could all be found at the 47th annual reenactment of the Battle of Olustee. The Battle of...