Walton County Earth Day Celebration and 5K run, fun for the entire family

April 17 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
5K run race starts at 8:00 a.m. with registration starting at 6:45 a.m.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and the Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Inc. invites everyone to their 2nd Annual Earth Day Celebration in coordination with the 75th Florida State Park Anniversary. The University of Florida IFAS Extension Office along with several other participants in Walton County are coordinating the event for Walton County. Educational interactive displays, story tellers, cooking demonstrations, animal encounters, guided hiking tours along with local artists displaying and selling their work. Park at the Day-Use parking lot off of Hwy 30A or park and ride the shuttle from Van Ness Butler Elementary School. All donations from the event are given directly to the Friends of Topsail Hill to help enhance the interpretive and visitor service efforts at the park.  ::MAP::
Fees: Entrance fees to the park are waived for the day.
Contact: (850) 267-0299
Click here to download 5K run registration: Earth Day run form

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking

Eden Gardens State park

Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy an Easter egg hunt

Eden Gardens State Park and the Friends of Eden Gardens would like to invite everyone to Easter at Eden. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. The Easter Bunny will be arriving at 1:00 p.m. and Egg Hunts will be open to children at 1:30 p.m. Volunteers to help with the egg hunt are always appreciated. The Friends of Eden will be helping to hide the eggs for the children as well as selling refreshments. Parking inside the park is some what limited. Donations to the Friends of Eden Gardens are welcome and appreciated. To volunteer or for additional information call the park office.
 Fees: Park entrance fees will be waived to participants. 
Contact: (850) 267-8320 ::MAP::

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

Have fun around the lake and enjoy some great exercise for you and your dog!

The Walton County Health Dept. is sponsoring its third annual “Healthy Floridians” dog walk around Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs on Sat. March 27 with free registration starting at 10 a.m.  Best Dressed Dog contest judging at 11:30 a.m.  Free frisbee and leash for first 50 dogs.  Rain date April 24th.  In recognition of Gov. Crist’s proclamation of March as “Healthy Floridians Month” to promote physical activity that reduces risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and obesity.
For more information, contact Shirley “Kat” Chaney, Walton County Health Dept. at (850) 892-8015 ext 1159

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

Florida Trail Association – Choctawhatchee and Western Gate Chapters

Activities March/April 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

Plant seedlings, tour exhibit hall, take a guided hike and view a film

The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center at Nokuse Plantation will be hosting a “Creating a Garden with Children” open house event on Sat. Mar. 27, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  The exhibit hall will be open, guided hikes will be available, scheduled films will be featured and Master Gardeners will be on hand to assist children in planting seedlings in the center’s new vegetable garden.  Public is welcome.

Come see first hand the facility and staff in action and get a glimpse of what the center offers the students in your county.

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

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Ever dream of becoming a rock star?

The Merchants of Seaside and the Seaside Repertory Theatre presents Seaside Rocks tournaments March 19 and April 9 at the Seaside Amphitheater.  The two separate tournaments give amateurs and experts alike the chance to show off their skill and originality as they compete to win a grand prize of a gift certificate at Best Buy. The tournament is open to players over the age of 13, and there is a $10 registration fee to enter. The final rounds of the tournament will be open to the public in the Seaside Amphitheater at 7:00 p.m., and will conclude with an audience vote to decide the winner. A maximum of 100 contestants may enter for each week. Anyone interested in signing up for the event can visit www.seasiderep.org or call 850-231-0733.
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Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

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

Irish dancers in Seaside. Photo courtesy brandanbabineax.com

Dance an Irish jig at the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Seaside

The Merchants of Seaside invite everyone to all things Irish during their 2nd annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Enjoy the sounds of Irish/Celtic music, and to accompany the live music will be The Drake Irish Dancers of Fort Walton Beach who will be performing a variety of jigs and reels. The school has produced 2 Open Champions and one qualifier for the World Championship Competition. The dancers range in age from as young as 5 to adult. The dancers will take to the stage in the Amphitheater at 6:00 p.m.

If Celtic music is your pleasure, you will not want to miss Mithril taking the stage at 7:00 p.m. Mithril is fast becoming one of the most sought after Celtic/World music groups on the concert series scene. The band’s unique progressive style has its roots in traditional Celtic music but moves far beyond that, weaving such diverse influences as American folk, classical, and Middle Eastern melodies into their full tapestry of sound. Mithril continues to push at the boundaries, taking audiences of all ages on an exotic musical journey to Ireland, Scotland, and beyond.

And keep your eye out for our celebrated, special guest. The Seaside resident Leprechaun will make an appearance throughout the evening with her pot o’ gold.

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

Waterfall at the base of the steephead at Shoal Sanctuary. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Trails, sculptures and serenity await the nature lover in Mossy Head

Tucked away off the beaten path in north Walton County there is a unique outdoor experience for nature lovers called the Shoal Sanctuary.

Located on 50 acres of trails, sculptures and serene vistas, proprietors Robert and Chris Larson welcome visitors to their retreat dedicated to sharing the beauty of the outdoor experience and appreciation of Mother Nature’s gifts.

Recorded history dates back to the 1830s. The property is believed to of been along the path of the “Trail Of Tears.” After the U.S. government’s “Indian Removal Act,” Cherokee, Seminole, Creek, Timuquan, Muskhogean, and Apalachee were forced migrate west,  and lore sites a leg of that journey along the old Indian footpath now called Crowder Chapel Road near the retreat. Local Native Americans have said that Shoal Sanctuary was once a ceremonial gathering place.

In 2000, the Larson’s acquired 35 acres of land adjacent to their existing 16-acre property, and began a reforestation project blazing trails and developed the retreat along their Shoal river property. Long-leaf pine, ash magnolia, Torreya pine and other native trees have been planted to restore the land as the Larson’s participate in Florida’s Forest Stewardship program.

Read More…

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking