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

Celebrate Literacy Sept. 7 and 8

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 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.

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

New ATV/motor cross track is one of the new features at Vortex. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Enhancements to include racetrack, airstrip, new lodging

Lowell Kelly, owner of Vortex Spring, has big plans for the popular diving and swimming facility located in Ponce de Leon. New enhancements to the park include an ATV/motor cross racetrack, paintball course and a 3,000 ft. airstrip located on newly acquired acreage adjacent to the facility.

“People will be able to fly in, take scuba lessons and stay at Vortex,” Kelly said.

Future plans to the park include upgraded lodging and expansion of the educational facilities. Read More…

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

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

Diamond back rattle snake is venomous. Photo courtesy FWC.

Native snakes of Florida program offers fascinating facts

Thursday, Aug. 19 – 1:30 p.m.

Come and join the park for a presentation of native snakes. Learn the differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes and how they help the environment. Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse. All programs require a $6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park.

Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A in Santa Rosa Beach – Click here for map

Contact: 850-267-8330

Posted under Environment, Nature, Parks

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 park life at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A, Santa Rosa Beach

Saturday, Aug. 14 – 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Come and join the Rangers of Topsail Hill and ask them all the questions you can think of about park life. To cover the cost of food please bring $4, which goes to Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to enhance the park, or bring your own breakfast. Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse. Outside tours canceled during severe weather. Call 267-8330 for more information.

Contact: (850) 267-0299. ::MAP::

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

Photo courtesy West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club.

The West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club offers a variety of paddles in the Northwest Florida Panhandle. If you are interesting in becoming a member, you can go to their website at www.clubkayak.com/wfckc or contact Wes Mosteller at wesjane@earthlink.net

Guests are welcome on trips as long as they have the skills to safely navigate the waters being paddled.  Guests must sign a waiver form and have an Eglin Recreational Pass if the trip is on the Base.  Paddlers must supply their own boat.

Turkey Creek paddle Sunday, August 22

We will be paddling Turkey Creek on Eglin AFB near Niceville. Turkey Creek is one the best creeks in the Panhandle. It is narrow with lots of twists and turns. If you want practice steering your boat with great scenery in the background, this is it. It is not treacherous, but newer paddlers may be in the brush …  a lot.  It is also crystal clear and very inviting if it gets hot. No pets allowed.

EGLIN AFB pass required. Bring a pfd, paddle, boat, lunch, plenty to drink, raingear, etc. Plan on about 5 hours or so on the water.

MEETING PLACE: Meet at the Hippie Hole put-in at 10:00 a.m. (E-mail for directions if you need them.) Shuttle leaves at 10:15.
Please let me know if you plan to come so I can alert you in the unlikely event of any change of plans. Call Doug at 850-375-8209 or e-mail at dougwaggle@yahoo.com.

Florida Paddlers’ Rendezvous 2010, October 22-24

Mark your Calendars now — 
for the 2010 Florida Paddlers’ Rendezvous, October 21-24.

FL Sport Paddling Club (FSPC) proudly continues the Rendezvous tradition of bringing together Florida paddling clubs and paddling enthusiasts for a weekend of fun, friends and paddles.
This year’s base camp will be the Silver River State Park campground from which we will launch four days of trips that canoeists and kayakers of all skill levels will enjoy. Also join the potluck supper, program, nightly campfires, paddlers’ swap meet, and the wonderful exchange of friendship and paddling skills that evolves when so many with like interests come together.

The main event will take place Friday-Sunday, October 22-24, 2010. Make your reservations at Silver River SP now!! Pre-Rendezvous paddles will be held Thursday, October 21, for those who can come early. Trip details and a list of additional accommodations will follow when we have a website set up.
Please help us reach all who may be interested.   Send us any additional contacts you may have.  Please email Kathy, publicity chair, at KathrynVaughn@ATT.net with your questions, suggestions or information

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

Learn about preserving these ancient and majestic creatures

Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A

Thursday, July 22 – 1:30 p.m.

The majestic sea turtles are in the midst of another reproductive season.  Learn the facts about common Sea Turtles at Topsail.  Be a part of an enlightening program and see what you can do to help preserve these awe inspiring creatures of the sea. Park at the Day-Use area on Hwy 30A and take a short walk with park staff to the clubhouse. $6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park. Outside tours canceled during severe weather. Call 850-267-8330 for more information.
Topsail Hill State Preserve is located at the western end of Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. ::MAP::

Posted under Beaches, Eco tourism adventure, Nature, Parks

Trail along coastal dune lake Topsail Hill State Preserve

Learn about our rare lakes Thursday, July 15 at 1:30 p.m.

Come and join an exciting interpretive on Topsail Hill Preserve State Park’s imperiled coastal dune lakes.  Learn about these important rare freshwater lakes that exist right here in Walton County.  Park at the Day-Use area off of Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse. All programs require a $6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park.

Outdoor tours canceled during severe weather. Call 850-267-0299 for more details. For more information about the park:

http://www.floridastateparks.org/topsailhill Click here for map

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Environment, Parks