Byways: White Springs, FL

The campground at Stephen Foster State Park continues to be our favorite for a get-away, and our favorite park for the many events held there. It is located in the town of White Springs, FL, one of the original springs tourist destinations of the late 1800s and early 1900s in Florida. We enjoy walking around the town looking at the historic buildings, and often in our meanderings will strike up a conversation with the very friendly townspeople.

We took the RV there last week for a short creative retreat. Away from the house and our usual distractions, we find ourselves reading more, writing more, photographing more, and thinking more. Many of our project ideas and photo class ideas hatched in this beautiful location.

We walked by the Sofia Jane Adams House early in the morning, after walking into the town for breakfast. This Queen Anne style home built in 1863 overlooking the Suwanee seemed to gleam in the morning light. I took several shots of the entire house, and couldn't get the feeling of stately, beautiful, languid, and southern recorded in a photograph to my satisfaction. I stepped back, and started focusing on just sections.

This shot captured the feeling. Elegant, well-kept, well-lit, with the Spanish Moss as a reminder that it could only be in the southern part of the U.S. and the outdoor spiral staircase reminiscent of times past.