This outdoor interpretive will focus on tracking animals and finding out how many are in an area any what type with avid tracker Mike Townsend. Meet at the Day-Use parking lot off Hwy 30A and be sure to wear sunscreen and boots.  Be ready to hike at least 2 miles. $6.00 entry admission into the park

Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A.

Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A.  ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Learn about park wildlife at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

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

Saturday, March 13 – 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 wildlife.  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.
Contact: (850) 267-0299. ::MAP::

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

New Topsail Hill Preserve State Park cabin. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Stay at a Topsail Hill State Preserve cabin or bungalow and get into Camp Helen and Eden Gardens State Parks free

TALLAHASSEE –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida State Parks began a new promotion Mar. 2 to encourage weekday camping. The Two for Tuesday promotions allow visitors to purchase discounted camping packages at three state parks for Tuesday and Wednesday night stays that include admission to select nearby state parks. Packages range from $40 to $270, with savings of $30 to $36 off the value of the full package. Reservations may be made for stays from March 2 through May 26, 2010.

“Two for Tuesday is a great way to promote camping and encourage visitors to check out neighboring parks,” said Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock. “By offering ready-made packages, visitors can take the guess work out of planning their trip, all for a discounted price.”

Locations of the Two for Tuesday parks range from springs near Central Florida to beaches in the Panhandle and museums in southwest Florida. Campers can bring a tent, camper or RV, or choose to stay in a cabin or bungalow. All overnight accommodations are subject to availability.
Read More…

Posted under Parks

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 Fishing, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, paddle/surf/boat

Campbell Lake at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Take a hike along a coastal dune lake at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Come and join the park folks for a hike. Visitors will be guided down the paved bike path leads you to a rare, pristine coastal dune lake for a 3.5 mile hike where park rangers will discuss coastal dune lakes.  Park at the Day-Use Area off Hwy 30A. $6.00 entry admission into the park.

Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A.

Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A.  ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Dunes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Take a hike and learn about the dune ecosystems

Come and join the park folks for a hike. Visitors will be guided down the paved tram path to get to the beach where they will  learn about the plants and animals that live in a dune ecosystem and then walk back on the tram path.  Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A. $6.00 entry admission into the park.

Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A.  ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Trails/Hiking

Camellias in bloom at Eden

Location: Eden Gardens State Park
Sat. Feb. 20, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection’s Eden Gardens State Park and the Friends of Eden Gardens would like to invite everyone to their annual Camellia Fest on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. Festivities will include talks on Camellia identification, air layering (propagation), general maintenance and pest control of Camellias and floral and waxing blossoms demonstrations.

There will be living history demonstrators in the park teaching about the skills of past generations including turpentine, soap and candle making as well as historical talks. The event will also have archaeologists talking about the local area history with archaeological objects. To volunteer or for additional information call the park office.
 Fees: Event is free with paid park entrance fees. 
Contact: (850) 267-8320

::MAP::

Read More…

Posted under Home/Garden, Nature

Several Panhandle area park fees reduced to 75 cents Mon. – Thurs. Jan. 18 – Feb. 25

TALLAHASSEE— The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service will begin a new promotion, Go Play Weekday, starting Monday, January 18, 2010 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Throughout the year, Go Play Weekday specials will highlight parks in each region of the state. During the promotional months, visitors pay 75¢ admission Monday through Thursday at featured state parks.

The first of several promotions planned in celebration of Florida State Parks’ 75th Anniversary, Go Play Weekday allows residents and visitors to explore featured parks for a ‘trial size’ price. The price is right for budget watchers, home schoolers and anyone ready for some outdoor recreation.

The Panhandle is the first area to be highlighted in the Go Play Weekday promotion. The six featured state parks offer bluffs, beaches, trails, rivers and lakes that provide ideal locations to hike, camp, fish, ride bicycles and enjoy the cool weather.
Parks offering entrance for 75 cents beginning Monday, January 18, 2010 through February 25, 2010, include:
• Blackwater River State Park, Holt Click here for park information
• Camp Helen State Park, Panama City Beach Click here for related story
• Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach Click here for related story
• Falling Waters State Park, Chipley Click here for related story
• Three Rivers State Park, Sneads Click here for park information
• Torreya State Park, Bristol Click here for park information Click here for related story

How it works: Mention ‘Go Play Weekday’ at the ranger station to get the special price. If the park has an honor box, just write ‘Go Play Weekday’ on the envelope and put in 75¢ instead of the full fee.
Promotions will change throughout the year, so check for updates on the Florida State Parks Web site at www.FloridaStateParks.org

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking

Dunes at Topsail Hill State Preserve. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Learn about park wildlife at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

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

Saturday, Feb. 6 – 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 wildlife.  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.
Contact: (850) 267-0299. Topsail Hill State Preserve is located at the western end of Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

Photo courtesy Eden Gardens State Park.

Annual School of the Soldier with Civil War Skirmishes at Eden Gardens State Park

Sat., Jan. 23rd from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 24th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Eden Gardens State Park will host the 17th Annual School of the Soldier event led by 7th Vermont Company D (Walton Guard). This will be the 146th anniversary of the actual event that took place in the Point Washington area during the Civil War in 1864 between the 7th Vermont Volunteers and a Confederate unit. Visitors can expect to observe rifle and light infantry tactics as well as artillery demonstrations, drills and skirmishes. There will also be medical demonstrations, a ladies tea and examples of period camp life as well as a period cook tent and a blacksmith.

During the Civil War a company of Seventh Vermont was sent to Washington Point (Eden) to recruit the loyalists in the area. They recruited two regiments of US Color Troops and First Fla. Cavalry USA. Some of them went up the river to take a small Confederate camp, which they did without incident. However, on the way back, they themselves were captured by Confederate Cavalry.

Event is free with admission to the Park ($4.00/Car or $2.00/ Bike or Pedestrian). Eden Gardens is located in Point Washington North of Hwy 98 via Hwy 395. Events are scheduled from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, January 23rd, and 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Sunday, January 24th. For further information contact Elizabeth Eich at (850) 267-8322 or visit www.waltonguards.org.

Schedule of activities:
Saturday
0900 Camp Open to Visitors
0900 Officer’s Call
1000 Drill +
1330 Dance Workshop
1400 Drill +
1500 Skirmish ++
1530 Medical Demonstration
1700 Camp Closed to Visitors

Sunday
0900 Camp Open to Visitors
0900 Colors & Officer’s Call
1000 Drill +
1330 Skirmish ++
1400 Camp Closed to Visitors
1400 Break Camp
+ denotes Musket Firing
+ + denotes Artillery Firing

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, Parks