Marianna Florida Attractions
Marianna Florida Attractions
Marianna, Florida, the County Seat of Jackson County in Northwest Florida has some form of recreational activity for everyone. You can take cavern tours, go cave diving, use the hiking, walking, & bicycle trails, go canoeing, swimming, boating, fishing and much more.
Florida Caverns located three miles north of Marianna on State Road 166 is one of only a few state parks with dry (air filled) caves and the only Florida State Park that offers guided cave tours to the public. The caves have stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones, and draperies made from limestone. Florida Caverns also offers facilities for camping, swimming, fishing, picnicking, canoeing, boating, hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. Stables are available for campers with horses. Cave tours are given every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The National Association of Cave Divers is holding their 2008 Annual Cave Diving Workshop in Marianna, Florida on this Memorial Day Weekend of May 23rd thru May 26th. Marianna was chosen because the absolutely gorgeous cave that is fondly called Jackson Blue is located in Merritt's Mill Pond along with seven other caves. Edd Sorenson owns & operates Cave Adventurers which is now located on the beautiful Merritt's Mill Pond. He offers boat rentals, tank rentals & fills, and gear rentals to divers. This has made diving much more accessible to anyone interested in doing so in our area. Access their website at www.caveadventurers.com to see what Marianna & Northwest Florida has to offer under the water. Cave divers come from all over the world to dive these world class caves.
Citizens Lodge near Marianna has a walking trail, lake, children's playground equipment, and a covered gazebo for picnicking. Florida Caverns has the only hiking trail that winds through a cave. Marianna and Jackson County have installed sidewalks down several streets & roads for walking, running, & bicycle enthusiasts.
If canoeing is your bag, you can rent a canoe & ply the Chipola River all day long. If you had rather boat or fish, you can put your boat in at several landings just outside of Marianna and go all the way to the Gulf of Mexico while just enjoying a leisurely day or pulling in the "big" ones for dinner.