The Panhandle - Florida - page 1040

boundary. Within the park's protected marshes, rivers, estuaries and islands, a diverse
range of flora and fauna thrives. It's a wildlife photographer's dream, with beautiful con-
trasts between land, sea and sky.
Be sure to start your visit with a trip to the visitor center for information on the park's
numerous walking and hiking trails and the lowdown on just how many species of critter
live here. If you only have time for a short visit, follow Lighthouse Rd all the way to the
coast to enjoy Florida's most photographed lighthouse , completed in 1842 and still a func-
tioning beacon today.
DON'T MISS
QUINCY & HAVANA
Half an hour from Tallahassee, these two charming villages make nice day-trips from the
capital. Quincy, nicknamed 'Cola-Cola Town,' struck it rich in the early 20th century by in-
vesting, en masse, in Coke stock. There's an original 1905 Coca-Cola mural on E Jeffer-
son St, and 36 blocks of stunning historic homes built on the dividends of America's fa-
vorite soft drink. Havana, 12 miles down the road, is a former cigar-making town (hence
the name) known for its antiques shops, which make for a pleasant afternoon of explor-
ing. Most are concentrated around 2nd St, and most are only open Wednesday to
Sunday.
If you find yourself here for the night, Quincy's 1843 Allison House Inn (
888-904-2511; www.allisonhouseinn.com ; 215 North Madison St; r $85-155; ) has six peace-
ful, antique-y rooms downtown. A few blocks away, McFarlin House Bed & Breakfast Inn
( 850-524-0640; www.mcfarlinhouse.com ; 305 E King St; r $99-249; ) is a turreted 1895
Queen Anne with nine museum-piece (if froofy) rooms and a sweet communal deck.
Apalachicola National Forest
The largest of Florida's three national forests, the Apalachicola National Forest (325
John Knox Rd; day-use areas $5; 8am-sunset) occupies almost 938 sq miles - more than half
a million acres - of the Panhandle from just west of Tallahassee to the Apalachicola River.
It's made up of lowlands, pines, cypress hammocks and oaks, and dozens of species call
the area home, including mink, gray and red foxes, coyotes, six bat species, beavers,
woodpeckers, alligators, Florida black bears and the elusive Florida panther. A total of
68.7 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail extends through the forest as well.