Outdoors & recreation

The river is the point

Palatka sits on the St. Johns River, one of the few U.S. rivers that flows north. Downtown Palatka’s riverfront, boat ramps, and the Palatka Blueways are the local recreation backbone. East Palatka lots that back up to wetlands are pretty; they are also mosquitoes, drainage, and floodplain homework.

Parks and nearby public land

• Ravine Gardens State Park — a real, unusual park inside Palatka; azaleas in season, steep ravines, a looping road.
• Palatka riverfront parks and the historic district for walking.
• Ocala National Forest is a west/southwest drive.
• Welaka, Satsuma, and the southern river towns for fishing and quieter water.

Weather

Summer is long, wet, and hot. Afternoon storms are routine. Hurricane season is June 1–November 30. Winters are mild with the occasional hard cold snap that Florida plumbing notices. If you are coming from New England, you will miss a real autumn and you will not miss ice scrapers.