Leda Suydan, Park Service Specialist at Topsail Hill Preserve explains the cat face used to dip sap from pine trees. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Be a part of a turpentine crew as you head out to the piney woods

Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park June 19, 10:00 a.m.

Be part of the turpentining crew as they go out into the piney woods and earn their daily babbits (or tokens good only at the company store).  Skeeter and Boss Blake will make sure to show all greenhorns how to dip sap, chip boxes and spend babbits.

Meet at the  Day-Use entrance off of Hwy 30A and take ride on the tram and a short walk with park staff to the turpentine camp.

Topsail Hill State Preserve is located just south of U.S. Hwy. 98 on the western end of Scenic 30A.

A $6.00 entrance fee is required. For more information call 850-267-8330.   ::MAP::

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

Jayden and Jackie Roe explore the beach at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Photo courtesy Kelly Roe

Another day in paradise and the beaches are open!

Jayden and Jackie Roe spent the morning of May 17 strolling the beach at Topsail Hill Preserve in Santa Rosa Beach.

“Huge dunes, the mountains of Florida, ghost crabs crawling everywhere, emerald green water, sugar white sand. If you’ve ever seen a more beautiful beach, please let me in on it,” said Kelly Roe, Jayden and Jackie’s mom.

Currently the beaches in South Walton County, Florida are not affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. They are beautiful and ready for exploring.

To learn more about Topsail Hill Preserve, Click here

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

Joe Wyatt, naturalist at Hammock Bay teaches the children about snakes. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Local wildlife experts share their knowledge

The first grade classes at Freeport Elementary School in Walton County enjoyed a special field trip May 14 at Freeport Regional Sports Complex.

Joe Wyatt, naturalist at Hammock Bay gave a demonstration on bluebirds and how important they are to the environment. He also introduced a corn snake. Joe explained what to do if you encounter a snake in the wild. The information came in handy, as when Joe gave a tour along the nature trail, several of the children got to witness a black racer snake in the wild.

Lisa Miller of Wildlife Rehabilitators Partnership was also on hand to educate the children on injured wildlife and to share facts about birds and opossums. Lisa brought some of her rescued animals including a Virginia opossum, named Roo, Oz the barred owl and Wizard the crow. Read More…

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

Enjoy family fun and fishing at the Lakeyard

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Kiwanis Club is hosting “Take A Kid Fishing” catch and release event at they Lakeyard in DeFuniak Springs on May 22. Great family fun, fellowship and prizes awarded for a good catch in various categories. Fishing is open to boys and girls ages 5-13.

First 50 kids to register without their own pole get free bamboo pole.

‘Bait Shop’ sponsored by Walton County officials. Meet at the pier behind the Presbyterian Church at the Lakeyard in DeFuniak Springs. Activities include photo booth, sack races, fishing instructions/demonstrations, concession stands, live bait for sale. Tony the Tiger and McGruff the Crime Dog will be there!

Posted under Fishing, Outdoor Family Fun

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

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 12:30 p.m. and Egg Hunts will be open to children at 1:00 p.m. Children will be divided by age to hunt for eggs, so each child will be successful. Usual State Park admission fee of $4.00/Car or $2.00/Bike or Pedestrian will be waived for a donation to the Friends of Eden.  Funds received by this organization pay for maintenance and beautification projects in the Park. Eden Gardens is located in Point Washington, north of Hwy 98 via County Road 395.  For further information contact Elizabeth Eich at (850) 231-1167.
Schedule of events
12:30 p.m. -  Arrival of Easter Bunny
1:00 p.m. – Easter Egg Hunt
1:30 p.m. – Photo Op with Easter Bunny 
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

Walton County beach parks with lifeguards, easy access, parking, and restroom facilities

Walton County’s beaches in Miramar Beach and along Scenic Highway 30A offer many public beach accesses. Locals have their favorites, whether it be good surf, quiet strolls or the safety of a lifeguard available. South Walton Fire District lifeguards patrol eight locations. These eight locations offer adequate parking, restroom facilities, and three offer handicap access with wheelchairs available: Ed Walline at the corner of Scenic Hwy. 30A and CR 393, Bramble Grove/Santa Clara Street in Seagrove and Miramar, near Pompano Joe’s on Scenic Gulf Drive. Lifeguards are on duty from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., seven days a week from the second Saturday in March until the last Sunday in September.

Here is a list of beach access locations with lifeguards from west to east:

Miramar Beach Access – ::MAP:: Located on Scenic Gulf Drive off of U.S. 98 in western Walton County • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • ADA access with wheelchair available

Dune Allen Access – ::MAP:: Located west of County Road 393 on Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • Handicap access

Ed Walline Access – ::MAP:: Located at the intersection of 393 and Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • ADA access with wheelchair available

Gulfview Heights Access - ::MAP:: Located 1/2 mile east of intersection County Roads 393 and Scenic Hwy. 30A, turn south on Gulfview Heights Street • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking

Blue Mountain Beach Access – ::MAP:: Located at the south end of CR 83 • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Limited Parking

Van Ness Butler, Jr. Access – ::MAP:: Located between Seaside and WaterColor on Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Ample parking lot on the north side of Scenic Hwy. 30A

Grove Road/Santa Clara Street – ::MAP:: Seagrove on Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • ADA access with wheelchair available

Inlet Beach Access – ::MAP:: Located 3/4 mile east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Scenic Hwy. 30A, turn south on Orange Street • Lifeguards • Portable restrooms • Parking

Posted under Beaches

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

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