Special events at Eden Gardens Sept. 7 and 8, Topsail, Henderson Beach and Rocky Bayou Sept. 11

To celebrate Literacy Month, Florida’s state parks are offering free entry to state parks Sept. 10 – 12. Just bring a library card, a book checked out from a library or donate a new or gently used family-friendly book.

Local State Parks hosting special events:

The Great Word Hunt and Readathon at Eden Gardens State Park Sept. 7 and 8

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Eden Gardens State Park is sponsoring a fun-filled afternoon of reading events, including The Great Word Hunt in which the students will search the gardens for letters and then utilize those letters to create words; the team creating the greatest number of words will win a small prize. The day will be finished off with reading time facilitated by different costumed characters reading to the children at various locations within the park.
Participation Requirements
Fees: Park entrance fees will be waived to participants.
Contact: (850) 267-8322
Directions: Eden Gardens State Park is located in Point Washington, off U.S. 98 on C.R. 395. Read More…

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

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 live music by Bill Evett. Complimentary house selected wine or beer and cash bar will be available.  You will have the opportunity to meet event leaders and fellow nature enthusiasts, register for events, and preview selected items for the 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

Ponce DeLeon Springs. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Enjoy a free lunch and a swim at the springs

Time: 10  a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, along with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department and the Holmes County School System, will be sponsoring the 14th annual Picnic in the Park. As a way of saying “Thank you” to all visitors, free lunch will be served to everyone. This will be a fun event for all ages.
Fees: Entrance fees to the park will be waived for the duration of the event.
Contact: (850) 836-4281
Directions: Ponce de Leon Springs State Park Area is located one-half mile south of U.S. 90 on County Road 181A. ::MAP::

To learn more about Ponce de Leon Springs State Park Click here

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

Catch a big one this October!

Established in 1948, The Destin Fishing Rodeo is the ultimate fishing tournament for saltwater anglers of all ages.

• Open Everyday – October 1st through October 31st
• The Rodeo is FREE to angler’s fishing aboard a registered boat in the Rodeo. to contact a registered boat go to: www.destinfishingrodeo.org/registeredboats.html
• Weigh-ins everyday on the docks at A.J.’s Seafood & Oyster Bar from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
• Open to Private and Charter Boats
• FREE entry for Pier, Bridge, Jetty & Surf Fishing
• Over 30,000 anglers compete throughout the month of October
• Over $100,000 awarded in cash and prizes
• Daily, weekly and overall prizes.
• Junior, Teen, Ladies and Senior Divisions.
• Virtually every gamefish is recognized with awards during the Rodeo. Whether you’re trolling inshore for King Mackerel, offshore for Marlin and Sailfish, or fishing the deep bottoms for Red Snapper and Grouper, you’ll be in the running for prizes. Click here for more information on tournament

Located on Destin Harbor.
1/4 mile East of the Destin Bridge. ::MAP::

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Outdoor Family Fun

Bring your snorkeling gear and explore Cypress Spring. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Take a short paddle to a cool spring

Don’t have all day but interested in finding a great place to cool off? Head up to Vernon and take a short paddle up to Cypress Spring from Culpepper Landing for a refreshing dip in a magnitude 2 spring.

The paddle upstream is approximately .75 mile and moderate as the Holmes Creek has a fairly slow current in this area. You will see the spring run’s clear water on the left. Paddle a short distance and you will have arrived at Cypress Spring. The spring run is full of native water plants including spatterdock and pickerelweed. Turtles and fish are abundant as well.

The spring is located on private property so paddling or boating is the only access to this clear spring.

Culpepper Creek boat ramp has adequate parking and picnic facilities.

Directions:
Take Hwy. 79 to Vernon. Take CR277 (blinking light) for 2 miles to the Washington County Boat Ramp (Culpepper Landing).

Holmes Creek Boat Ramp
(Culpepper Landing)
3081 Culpepper Ln
Vernon, Fl 32462
Picnic Facilities Boat Ramp

::MAP::

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Kayak/Canoe, Nature

What better way to spend the day than exploring the outdoors!

Walton Outdoors and the Walton County 4-H Program announce Explore The Outdoors Festival at Camp Timopoochee 4-H Center on Sat. Oct. 9, 2010 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Join us for a day of fun filled activities for youth and adults. Discover the wonders of the outdoors right here in Northwest Florida. Activities will include kayaking, fishing, YOLO boarding, nature walks, archery, wildlife and sea life presentations, forest ecology, geo caching, nature based games and more.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks will be available. This fun event is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted at the door. Registration is required. Click here to download registration form

Camp Timpoochee 4-H Center is a camping retreat owned by the University of Florida 4-H Foundation with acres of live oaks and nature trails along the Choctawhatchee Bay on the Walton/Okaloosa County line. ::MAP::

For more information, contact Lori Ceier, event organizer via email at: info@waltonoutdoors.com or at (850) 267-2064 or Suzanne Wilson 4-H Youth Development Agent at (850) 892-8172.

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

Indigo bunting towers over the entrance to the exhibition hall at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center.

Enjoy hiking, films and activities for all ages

The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center at Nokuse Plantation will host its first “Annual Open House” Event on Saturday, September 11, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  The exhibit hall will be open, guided hikes will be available, scheduled films will be featured, and activities for all ages will be scheduled.  Drop in anytime from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. or pack a lunch and stay a while.  Public is welcome.

For more information, please visit the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center website at www.eowilsoncenter.org or call 850-835-1824.
Open House Schedule

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Environment, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Environment

New entrance gates and columns replicate the old at Eden Gardens State Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Friends of Eden raise funds for enhancement

Eden Gardens State Park is sporting a new and familiar look. New wrought iron entrance gates have been installed at the entrance to the park which replicate the gates the park had before it went through improvements in 2009.

The Friends of Eden Gardens State park are behind the project and raised the funds needed to for the endeavor.

In late 2009, the park completed more than $1 million in improvements which included a new entrance road, but no gated entrance. With much planning and fund raising, the Friends completed the enhancements this week.

Phillip Spann donated the design for the new entrance, Don Brackin Construction built the columns, and Wheeler Ornamental Metals, constructed the gates. Wheeler Ornamental were also the fabricators of the original gate entrance, and replicated the old design for the new gates.
Read More…

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Parks

Learn about these fascinating mammals and what they eat

Saturday, Aug. 7 at 1:30 p.m.

Come and join this fun for all ages program on dolphins. Learn about their habitat, what they eat, and which ones you might see while visiting Florida. Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse.

$6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park. Outside tours canceled during severe weather. Call 267-8330 for more information.

Outside tours canceled during severe weather ::MAP::

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun