Start Here: Rent a houseboat from Miller’s Marina in Suwannee. After a quick training session, you get your captain’s papers and are ready to go. The 44-foot houseboat comes complete with flush toilet, shower and full kitchen, and sleeps six to eight people. Have a serious party weekend or just relax with family as the boat chugs along at a leisurely seven knots down this scenic blackwater river. Keep packing to a minimum because chances are, you’ll be living in your swimsuit and that 72-degree water will entice you to jump in.
Weekend To-Dos:
1. Bring your fishing gear and a fryer because you get the best of both worlds —freshwater and saltwater — on this river. Red fish, sea trout, large mouth bass and bream can all be caught here, right from the deck of your floating weekend house.
2. In Fanning Springs, disembark for the fried green tomatoes and smoked mullet dip at the Lighthouse Restaurant (352-463-7771) and the ribs at BBQ Shack, both just a short walk from the river.
suwannee river weekend getaway
