Boating along adjacent waterways provide a for laid back day up the creek

Cypress and juniper trees along with saw palmetto line the banks of the Mitchell River.

Accessible from either the Choctawhatchee Bay or one of several boat ramps off of CR 3280 such as Black Creek Lodge, Black Creek and the Mitchell River are two waterways that offer the perfect opportunity to explore nature, fish or bird watch.

An osprey perched on top of a dead cypress tree.

Cypress and juniper trees hang lazily over the water, and the tall cypress provides the perfect perch for wetland raptors such as osprey and swallow-tailed kites.  They are often seen scanning the water from above looking for their next meal.

A large variety of flowers bloom along the banks during the spring and summer, and include such species as spider lilies, pickerelweed, water lilies and trumpet creepers.

Makeshift campsites scattered along the raised banks of the Mitchell River provide the perfect spot to picnic or camp. Over they years, locals have built shelters and barbecue areas, making these locations great places to pull your boat up and picnic or camp overnight. Read More…

Posted under Birding, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun

Rags to Riches Regatta launches from Grayton Beach on July 3. Photo courtesy Stacy Hamilton

Long-running Hobie race runs from Grayton Beach to Seagove and back

The 15th Rags to Riches Regatta is set for Saturday, July 3, 2010.  The race brings together Hobie 16 sailing enthusiasts in honor of Independence Day.  Registration begins at 8am followed by a Captain’s meeting at 11 a.m., with the race starting immediately after.   The race will start and finish on the beach behind Red Bar in Grayton Beach, Florida, located just off Scenic Hwy 30-A in Walton County.

The 10-mile course is raced in the Gulf of Mexico, beginning with a Lemans-style beach launch and finishing with a beach landing back at the start point.  Transport of boats to and from the race area will be available at the beach entry point for those without a Walton County Beach Permit.  Entry is for Hobie 16’s with captain and crew.

A $45 entry fee per boat includes t-shirt, koozie, and gift bag for Captain and Crew.  Trophies will be awarded to top three finishes.  T-shirts and koozies will be on sale to the public.

Established in 1981, Rags to Riches Regatta has long been a family-oriented event welcoming Hobie 16 sailors of all skill levels.  For more information visit www.ragstorichesregatta.com or contact Elizabeth Savage, savage3@charter.net.

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

These cypress guard the intersection where the north fork takes you to Mill Pond and the east fork goes to Potter's Spring. Photo courtesy Karl Renalt

Local eco guide describes access points, currents and landscape of local waterways in colorful detail

Earth Day was coming up and I wanted to scout a potential trip in lower Washington County.  With that in mind I gave Lori from Walton Outdoors a call because as we all know she is game for new things.  Unfortunately she had an interview that day and could not accompany us. Still working on the WWLD premise (What Would Lori Do) we decided to press on.  It would turn out that we were doing exactly what Lori did do just on a different platform.

My mission was to access Mill Lake and the attached spring runs with paddle power only.   Out came the maps and after an enjoyable half day of RBA (Recon By Automobile), we felt we had a plan.  Due to swift currents we had to have a car shuffle but wanted to put our eyes on the put in and take out points.  Our put in would be Shell Ferry Landing on Holmes Creek at the end of Potters Spring Road and our takeout would be Cedar Tree Landing at the end of Cedar Tree Landing Road.  Go figure.  Using the measuring tool on Google Earth I got approximate distances to waypoints along the way and an overall distance.  Allowing for exploring in Spring Run we had a 9-10 mile trip planned.  A good portion was going with the current in Holmes Creek and Boynton Cutoff on The Choctawhatchee (CR).  We did not expect nor find much current in the Spring Run.
Read More…

Posted under Birding, Nature, paddle/surf/boat

Sit on a swing and enjoy a view of the river at the Choctaw Lodge. This unique swing fabricated by Kathryn's father also turns 360 degrees. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Paradise found on the Choctawhatchee River

When Ron and Kathryn Hardy of Panama City Beach walked into Sandi’s Feed and Seed in Lynn Haven back in 2009, they had little idea about how dramatically their lives were about to change.

Spotting a small index card on a bulletin board with a message “Riverfront Property For Sale,” the couple decided to find out more about an area they knew little about, the Choctawhatchee River.

Both of them grew up as “river rats,” according to Kathryn, who grew up along the Ocmulgee River in southeast Georgia and Ron near the Tensaw River in the Mobile River Delta in Alabama. After marrying, the couple would frequently go all the way to the Mobile area for their river weekend getaways.

The property for sale had nothing more than a small singlewide trailer situated right along the river. It did however, have a great porch with a spectacular view, and the couple were immediately taken – hook, line and sinker. They purchased the property and began spending every weekend on the river. Read More…

Posted under Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Home/Garden, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, paddle/surf/boat

Sand dunes along the outfall on Camp Creek Lake. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Recreational activities abound on these rare coastal dune lakes

Walton County Florida is well known for its beautiful beaches and great fishing. Less known to those that have never visited the area, are the unique and scenic coastal dune lakes that dot the coastline along the area’s beach dune systems.

Nestled along Scenic Highway 30A, Walton county’s coastal dune lakes are rare geological features that only occur in the Florida Panhandle, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand and the northern Pacific coast of the United States.

Streams, groundwater seepage and rain are the sources that feed the coastal dune lakes. Storm surge creates intermittent connections to the Gulf of Mexico, called outfalls. This periodic connection empties lake water into the Gulf, and, depending on tides and weather, salt water and organisms from the Gulf flow back into the lakes. Read More…

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

New changes eliminates non-residents without existing permit, limits boat captains to 20

Walton County Commissioners voted 5-0 in favor of a new beach permit ordinance on Jan. 12, tightening the amount of beach access permits issued.  The new ordinance prohibits non-residents from attaining new permits unless they already have current permit issued. In addition, there will be no more than 20 charter fishing operation permits issued, and charter operations must pay additional fee for trailer.

Highlights of the new ordinance include:
For residents:
• Owner’s property must have constructed on it a habitable residence and proof of real property ownership must be presented to tax collector
• Vehicle being registered must be titled in the name of the permit holder
Read More…

Posted under Fishing

Christmas Eve storm brings bad luck to local boat owner

A 46 ft. juniper boat, the LEO IV broke loose of its moorings and ran aground at Hogtown Bayou during the high winds of a storm on Christmas Eve.

Owner Jeremy Larnce had just sold the boat, and is waiting for a southern wind to push it loose so he can relocate the vessel to Freeport Shipyard.

“It was bad timing all the way around, and I’ve had trouble finding help because of the holidays” said Jeremy as he expressed concern about moving the vessel.

Jeremy plans to relocate the 30-year-old boat as soon as possible. Read More…

Posted under paddle/surf/boat

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

Wanted – adventurous and outdoorsy women

Wishing to learn more about Florida’s great outdoors in a comfortable, noncompetitive, hands-on environment?  If this could be you, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to participate in the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop near Tallahassee.

The three-day workshop takes place Oct. 9-11 at Camp Wallwood on the pristine banks of Lake Talquin on the Gadsden County side.  Sessions begin Friday at 10 a.m. and end Sunday with lunch. Read More…

Posted under Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Trails/Hiking

Grab your cardboard and duct tape and join the fun!

Rescheduled for Sept. 20 Come join the fun as Bluewater Bay Marina hosts a cardboard boat race at the L.J. Schooner’s Oyster Bar at Bluewater Bay Marina. See how creative you can get with corrugated cardboard and duct tape!

The race will be held on Sept. 20, and registration is 3 – 4 p.m., with the race beginning at 5 p.m.

Entry fee:  $50.00 – 1st place:  Winner takes all
Titanic award:  Best sinking
Click here to download entry form

Click here for map

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun