Nature festival a weekend of outdoor fun

Join the South Walton Community Council for a fun weekend of nature based activities Oct. 15-17. The Back to Nature Festival offers visitors and locals an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Walton County.

Kayak the dune lakes, take a river safari, go on an ecology walk, or bring the family to Seaside for a day of family fun.

Most events are about two hours long and cost $10 unless otherwise noted. Events will be closed after maximum participant limits are reached so register early! Registration will begin in mid-September. To register, Click here

Friday, Oct. 15

6 p.m. – Welcome Night at Bud and Alley’s - Come to the welcome night for the 9th Annual Back to Nature Festival at Bud and Alley’s Restaurant in Seaside!  Enjoy a strolling dinner with complimentary house selected wine or beer and cash bar.  You will have the opportunity to meet event leaders and fellow nature enthusiasts, register for events, and preview selected items for our silent auction to be held on Saturday.  All proceeds from the silent auction and a percentage of proceeds from the strolling dinner go to benefit the mission of the SWCC, to preserve and protect our natural environment.  $25 per person. ::MAP:: Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Birds like this snowy plover are abundant in the Panhandle at sites along the Great Fla. Birding Trails. Photo by Jeff Gore and Nancy Douglass

Be a part of the Audubon bird count!

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society, encouraged by Audubon of Florida, is organizing weekly surveys of certain shorebirds along the Gulf Coast. Currently they are in need of volunteers for the State Park areas in Walton County.

A good pair of binoculars or a scope will allow counting of our shorebirds with minimum requirement for long walks in the sand.  The 28 species on the form attached will not be difficult to learn to identify, even for the inexperienced birder lover.  Please RSVP to Don Ware, bird count coordinator at donware@embarqmail.com

Use the following form to report your bird sightings: CAS Shorebird Survey Field Form

For more information call Don Ware at 850-862-6582.

Posted under Beaches, Biking

Explore some of the many creeks and tributaries in a kayak with Into The Wild Eco Diversions.

Expert guide service offers unique nature adventures

Into the Wild Eco-Diversions in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida offers a unique guide service accommodating anyone looking to explore nature in the Florida Panhandle. With such a vast amount of natural beauty in the area, ITW offers the opportunity to experience it all with the unique variety of platforms – biking, hiking, kayaking and sailing.

ITW’s concept is to bring people closer to the natural world, as the content of the tours are interpretive discussions on the ecosystems, history and current events affecting our environment. The trips range from 2-4 hours and vary from easy to strenuous. Longer outings can be scheduled and can be customized to an individual’s preference. Read More…

Posted under Biking, Eco tourism adventure, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Trails/Hiking

New scenic overlook platform looks over Tucker Bayou.

New entrance, office, paving canoe/kayak launch highlight parks’ changes

One of the most beautiful parks in Walton County sits along Tucker Bayou in Point Washington in South Walton County. Large moss covered live oaks, gardens, walking trails and panoramic views of the bayou provide a visual delight for the visitor to this historic Florida State Park.

The park is boasting new developments this year with more than $1 million dollars worth of improvements. Enhancements to the park include a new entrance, as visitors now access the park directly from CR 395. Other new features include four new picnic pavilions, a new ranger office, parking lot, new kayak/canoe launch, new restrooms and scenic overlook deck along a paved trail that loops around Tucker Bayou. Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking, paddle/surf/boat

A look at the hiking, biking, riding and birding trails in the Walton County area

Walton County, Florida offers a number of trails available to the hiker, biker, birder and horse rider. Maintained and managed by several different agencies and properties, including the state’s Florida Trail, Division of Forestry, and the County, there are a diverse number to choose from depending on a trekker’s interests.

Here is a comprised list of the larger trails available in the area. Some of the maps complementing the information below has been provided by the respective agencies, and Walton Outdoors shares these maps as general guidelines. Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking

A formation called the "Wedding Cake" inside the public cavern.

Explore a cavern, take a hike along a bluff or paddle up the Chipola River at this incredible Florida State Park

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.

The Florida Caverns State Park has a rich and long history as its beginnings date back to the early 1930s. The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) developed the cave – removing stones, widened passages and also working on the visitor’s center that was completed in 1942. Back then, the Corps workers made $1.00/day for their labors during the Depression. Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking

Cypress trees surround Morrison Springs.

A variety of parks await the explorer in Walton County

Anyone living in Walton County, or the Florida Panhandle for that matter, share something in common. We all live in a place that hosts the most beautiful beaches to be found anywhere. The shimmering Gulf of Mexico, the soft white sand, the rolling dunes… this area is a location that is hard to beat.

With many beach accesses and several state parks in the area, the beaches can be enjoyed easily.

Walton County offers much more to experience, however, with an abundance of local parks north of the beach offering a touch of nature and beauty all their own. Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking

Fourteen different species of fern can be disovered at Falling Waters State Park.

Enjoy fern-covered ancient sinkholes at this incredible park

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.

Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking

Friday, July 17

Seaside movies under the stars
Location: Seaside Amphitheater at 8:00 p.m.
Hotel for Dogs – Animals are strictly forbidden at Andi and her little brother Bruce’s foster home. But for Friday, the adorable dog they secretly care for, they’re ready to risk everything. For more information, go to seasidefl.com

Saturday, July 18

Kickin’ It for Jason
Fund raising event for local soccer coach Jason Thompson suffering with cancer will be held at Senor Mojitos from 3-7 p.m. Stand up paddle boarding, soccer, auction items and live music. click here for map For more information about Jason, go to: kickingitforjason.com

Sunday, July 19

Get in free at all Florida State Parks (except Skyway Fishing Pier). The Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection is offering free entrance to Florida State Parks.

A trail to the beach at Camp Helen.

Find out more about our local State parks:

Topsail Hill Preserve: Click here
Grayton Beach: Click here
Deer Lake: Click here
Camp Helen: Click here
Eden Gardens: Click here
Rocky Bayou Click here
Ponce DeLeon Springs: Click here

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Grayton Beach State Park hosts interpretive on flora and fauna
Sunday, July 19th – 9 a.m.
The Department of Environmental Protection’s Grayton Beach State Park invites you to bring the family or a friend to a nature walk and learn about the flora and fauna that call Grayton Beach State Park home. Participants will meet at the ranger station.
Contact: (850) 231-4210

Posted under Beaches, Biking, Birding, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, paddle/surf/boat

A view of Rocky Bayou from picnic area.

Paddle, hike, picnic and bird watch at State Park in Niceville

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.

More than 100 different species of birds may be spotted in the diverse area, including kingfishers, ospreys, warblers and woodpeckers. Along one of the walking/biking trails, you will find an interpretive kiosk, which visually describes some of the many birds that can be found in the park. Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking, paddle/surf/boat