Cross Creek
Cross Creek & Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park are a must see for literature enthusiasts. If you’ve ever read one of Mrs. Rawlings many books based on Cross Creek or the Scrub, you will enjoy visiting her home in Cross Creek. County Road 325 will take you right to the park. Off of State Road 441, County Road 346 near Micanopy leads to CR325 which crosses over Cross Creek. It’s a beautifully wild, lazy sort of stream, wide and deep enough when we were there in May to accommodate a small fishing boat or canoe. When we stopped to take photos, we spotted a good-sized gator lolling in the middle of the creek. Over the bridge about a mile or so is Mrs. Rawlings’ old home sitting on the side of the road just like many other cracker houses. Coming from State Road 301, we arrived at the boat ramp and picnic area before we saw the house. The sign pointed us in the right direction. From the parking area, we entered an unassuming gate and strolled down a dirt path to a large barn. There we met one of the friendly hostesses/hosts for a very informative guided tour of the house. When we finished the tour of the interior, we explored the 1930s farm where chickens and ducks roam freely. Spanish moss dangles from ancient oaks while orange trees filled the air with their fragrant blossoms. Tucked in a grove of trees was a tenant house similar to those Mrs. Rawlings wrote of in her books. After our visit, we ambled down to Orange Lake. The water level was low, but there was something to enjoy in the scene. This is a great place to stand, stretch your eyes, listen to the birds, and imagine what it must have been like when Mrs. Rawlings was in residence. Better yet, read the book.
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