Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Florida, United States

5Noel78 5:00 PM Dec 16, 2021

Cross Creek: still beautiful and special
A visit to Cross Creek has been on my Bucket List ever since I read The Yearling as an adult and then Cross Creek and Cross Creek CookBook. None of the photos you see of Rawlings’s property capture the charm of the landscape, her lovely house, remaining citrus trees, garden, reproduction barn, and antique auto in the “port cochere, ” as she called it. Add to this volunteers wearing period cracker dress, Christmas decorations, Rawlings’s Pulitzer prize hanging in a display case, a glimpse of her fine china and you will appreciate what pleasures visitors encounter. However all these things would be less meaningful if docent Rick had not been there leading our 4 person tour group. He clearly knows and loves her literature, and his enthusiasm has probably inspired many to buy a Rawlings book which are offered at the end of the $3 tour. The Florida State Parks system holds many gems, but this important stop in American literary history is a shining jewel.

51852house 5:00 PM Feb 7, 2023

Great tour guide - and a beautiful historical area
Tour guides help make an experience memorable, educational and enjoyable. Our tour guide (Jeff?-I'm sorry if I didn't get the name correct- February 5- Sunday 1:00) was enthusiastic and incredibly knowledgeable. The grounds complete with ducks and chickens are beautiful to wander around in as well as a wooded trail. The tour begins outside next to the barn in a shady area then proceeds into the house which has an unusual layout. There is also the handyman home that is not part of the tour that you can visit. You can see why Marjorie loved this place! Thank you to the staff. I highly recommend this historic site even if you've never heard of Rawlings.