Enjoy the natural beauty of Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Anhinga suns itself at Wakullla Springs State Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors
Bring your camera and watch nature put on a spectacular show
Interested in viewing wildlife from the comfort of a pontoon boat? Head over to Wakulla Springs and watch nature put on a spectacular show at this beautiful Florida State park.
Weather permitting, this family oriented park offers guided riverboat tours 365 days a year. The 40-60 minute journey takes visitors on a three mile loop downstream and back among majestic bald cypress trees, elegant wading birds and toothy alligators. You might even spot a manatee or two during the winter months at this park chock full of wildlife. Cost of the tour is $8 for adults (13 years old and up), $5 for children (ages 3-12); under the age of three there is no charge. On those rare days (usually in late winter or early spring) when has a crystal clear quality, the ancient remains of great mastodons can be seen resting on the basin’s steep sandy slopes. Click here to continue
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A variety of nature trails await the explorer at Conservation Park in Panama City Beach
Boardwalks span over the wetlands at Conservation Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors
Looking for a great park to explore and hike a new trail? Then head over to the newly completed Conservation Park in Panama City Beach for a great little nature trek.
With more than 22 miles of trails, the newly completed Conservation Park in Panama City offers a variety of choices suited for both the bicyclist and hiker. There are several marked trails along with way finding kiosks to point the hiker in the right direction. More than a mile of boardwalks offer overlooks into the wetland areas with great views of pond cypress trees towering above. The park also boasts shaded picnic areas, an outdoor amphitheater, restrooms and ADA access. Click here to continue
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Something for everyone at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach
A view of the Gulf from one of the trails at St. Andrews State Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors
One of Florida’s top 10 parks chock full of adventure
It doesn’t take long to understand why St. Andrews State Park is consistently named one of the top ten parks in the State of Florida. With more than 1,200 acres to explore, this park offers something for everyone to enjoy.
For the nature lover, St. Andrews is host to salt marshes, sand pine scrub and rolling sand dunes along more than 1 ½ miles of beach on the Gulf of Mexico. The marsh areas are home to nesting snowy egrets, great egrets, blue herons and little blue herons. The park’s shoreline is the perfect habitat for nesting shorebirds as well such as least terns and snowy plovers. Other fauna commonly found in the park include white-tailed deer, gopher tortoise, raccoon, coyote, alligator, marsh rabbit and cottontail rabbit. Click here to continue
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Enjoy fern-covered ancient sinkholes at Falling Waters State Park
Self guided tour
Depending on what time of year you visit Falling Waters State Park, you may or may not view a cascading waterfall into a 100-foot deep ancient sinkhole, as the waterfall is dependent on the ground seepage from rainfall.
However, if you are a nature lover, don’t let the lack of a waterfall deter your interest in visiting this 173-acre State Park, as the geological wonders of the gigantic sinkholes are perhaps the most interesting feature this park provides. Click here to continue
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Paddle, hike, picnic and bird watch at Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville
Self guided tour
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, known by most as Rocky Bayou State Park sets nestled along State Road 20 in Niceville along Rocky Bayou. The park boasts 357 acres of wooded walking trails of sand pine scrub, longleaf pine, sand hill forests, pine flat woods and wetlands. Click to continue
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Rustic and diverse St. Joseph State Park a favorite for summertime scalloping
St. Joesph Bay a perfect habitat for birds, turtles and scallops.
Self guided tour
At the north end of the 17-mile St. Joseph Peninsula, just past Cape San Blas, you will find a unique Florida State Park with 6 miles of pristine beaches nestled along enormous sand dunes.
Properly known as the T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, folks call this popular State Park St. Joseph Park for short.
Considered part of the “Forgotten Coast,” in the Port St. Joe area of the Florida Panhandle, you will experience three nature trails and a wilderness preserve to explore.
There are10 unique plant communities, including hammocks, pine woods, and lowland marsh areas.
As a coastal barrier peninsula, St. Joseph provides excellent opportunities for bird watching with more than 240 species sighted in the park.
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Ponce De Leon State Park offers a perfect place for a picnic and a cool swim
Self guided tour
Just outside the Walton County line is one of the coolest places to take a dip in a spring, Ponce de Leon Springs State Park. As the water stays a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, both locals and visitors enjoy this nature-made swimming pool, which is a convergence of two underground water flows, producing 14 million gallons of water daily.
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Explore the Garden of Eden trail in Bristol, Florida
Brandan Babineaux atop a bluff overlooking the Apalachicola River. Photo courtesy Stacy Hamilton
Self Guided
The state of Florida has some of the most unique geological features in the entire south. From the most familiar beaches to the many crystal clear rivers, a little homework, and a willingness to wander off the beaten path can result in a pleasant reward for the outdoor adventurer.
One of these areas is known as the Garden of Eden trail. This hidden gem sits just North of highway 20 in Bristol Florida. The Garden of Eden trail is maintained by the Florida Nature Conservancy. According to their website, their mission is to “preserve the plants animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the land and waters they need to survive.”
The 3.5 mile loop trail is one of the most surprisingly beautiful hikes I’ve experienced in the state so far. Local legend claims that this was the original Garden of Eden and after leaving the trailhead it’s easy to understand why. The trail transforms from longleaf pine upland to a thick forest reminiscent of the Appalachian Mountains.
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Enjoy the indigenous beauty of Florida Caverns State Park
The Wedding Cake formation in the cave. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors
Boasting more than 1,300 acres, the Florida Caverns State Park has a much to offer visitors interested in the exploring the outdoors.
The caverns are the biggest draw to the park, with 32 caves nestled within the park; the largest open to the public for exploration.
The main cavern contains several rooms with dazzling formations of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and other fascinating features including a towering formation called the “wedding cake.” Some other formations are shaped like ribbons and drapes, gently rippling down from the walls of the cavern. With a constant 65 degrees and 100 percent humidity, the cavern is an eerily stunning experience, and not to be missed.
Cavern tours are given every hour from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm CST Thursday through Monday, but not on Tuesday and Wednesday.
