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

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

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

GRAMMY-winner Vince Gill will headline a free outdoor “Back to the Beach” concert Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, at The Links Golf Course driving range at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The gates will open at 4 p.m. and the concert starts at 6 p.m. Bring your own blankets to sit on the open lawn.

The show will be a ticketed event and tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Limit 10 tickets per person. To acquire tickets, go to: beachesofsouthwalton.com/backtothebeach2010
Ample parking at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will be available for concert goers.

Gill is one of the most popular and most recorded country singers of the past quarter-century. He has sold more than 26 million albums and has received 20 GRAMMY awards throughout his career. For more information on Vince Gill, visit www.VinceGill.com.

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

Florida Trail Association – Choctawhatchee and Western Gate Chapters

Activities August/September 2010

Courtesy http://choctaw.floridatrail.org

Activity Participants Please note: Contact the activity leader well in advance for more information and/or to reserve your place (Space is limited.) Unless instructed otherwise by the activity leader, each participant should bring: day pack, plenty of water (recommended minimum, 2 quarts), sun protection (hat, glasses, screen), insect repellent, lunch and or snacks, adequate clothing for the forecast, and comfortable, sturdy close toed shoes with socks. Long pants, work gloves, and extra water are recommended for work hikes. Activity leaders may deny participation to anyone who is inadequately prepared.

The Western Gate Chapter (western area) and Choctawhatchee Chapter (eastern area) span a longitude difference greater than 80 miles. All activities are open to the public unless noted otherwise. Read More…

Posted under Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Roman Street will perform Sept. 5

Enjoy a movie and concerts under the stars!

As the summer comes to a close, Seaside keeps the events coming. Join us as the family fun continues as we invite you to curl-up with a blanket during Central Square Cinema on Friday night, enjoy fresh produce and other local finds at the Seaside Farmers Market on Saturday morning and rock the night away with live music on both Saturday and Sunday evenings. Just because school may have started doesn’t mean the events are over!

Fri. Sept. 3 – 8 p.m.
Movie: Grab your blankets and head to the Amphitheater for a movie under the stars. Enjoy this Academy Award Winning Disney film that will take you up, up and away!

Sat. Sept. 4
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Seaside Farmer’s Market  Get your pick of fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products and other unique offerings during the Seaside Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Located on the Seaside Amphitheater, directly behind Raw & Juicy, you’ll find local specialties that will help sustain our growers! Enjoy made from scratch breakfast at the market and other activities sure to liven up your morning!
Read More…

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

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

Lace up your running shoes and get set to run or walk around historic Lake  DeFuniak

Loop the Lake 5K Run/Walk and 1 mile Fun Run on will be held Sept. 18 from 7 – 10 a.m. The event is a fundraiser for the 2010 American Heart Association Heart Walk, will be scored by RunItByUs, Atlanta, Ga., using Bar Code Bibbs technology.

This year marks the fourth year of the race. In 2009, slightly more than 300 runners and walkers participated in Loop the Lake and helped raise more than $8,000 for the American Heart Association.

Information about the run, as well as the race course and registration form click here. Click on the Loop the Lake logo on the left side of the page. Early registration costs $15 and ends Sept. 12. Registration from Sept. 13 until 7 a.m. on race day will be $25. The fun run for kids 10 and under costs $10. In addition, a group discount is available. Read More…

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

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