child friendly activities?

**teamc** · 01-10-2009, 06:10 AM

just moved here and having difficulty finding child-friendly activities and events. can someone direct me to the following?

children's theater
puppet shows
art/science museums
children's music performances (indoors and outdoors)
symphony performances for children
an infant/child friendly playground (shaded/safe)
music classes/playgroups
children's bookstore
storytime at bookstore or library

**kurt** · 01-10-2009, 08:43 AM

Welcome! There are lots of activities during tourist season but things are relatively quiet in the off season. How old are your kids and are you looking for free activities only or paid also?

**GoodWitch58** · 01-10-2009, 09:34 AM

The Coastal Branch Library has storytime on Thursdays at 10:30; there is a small beautiful garden in the back of the library -- great place for small children to roam around and enjoy the marble turtles;

Borders Book store in Pier Park has storytime on Saturdays at 11 a.m. (they are thinking of changing the time, so call first) Very child friendly and wonderful story ladies;

the playground at Silver Sands is a favorite of my grandchildren...they love the Dragon.

Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City is wonderful--check out the year long pass--it is a good deal.

Zoo World in Panama City is also great for a day trip. Both of these are about 30 minutes away from South Walton.

**Smiling JOe** · 01-10-2009, 09:40 AM

The local library has story time for kids. Check with them for times.

Sundog Books, in Seaside, has kids' books.

music classes? maybe in the school programs???

I've never heard of a playground for infants, and judging from the number of broken arms I recall seeing as a kid, I doubt any playgrounds are "safe." If you are thinking that some gansta is going to steel your baby, statistically, it won't happen at a playground in South Walton. Freeport has a $5 million new city park off of Bay Loop Rd, with playground, open to the public. Most of the playgrounds in South Walton are in private developments, but there is at least one, located near the Bay behind the Silver Sands Factory Stores.

Syphony for kids? Don't think there is much demand, locally, but check with our most local symphony -- http://www.sinfoniagulfcoast.org/

Children's music performances -- Not sure if you mean performances FOR kids, or BY kids. Starting around Spring Break, Seaside has plenty of family friendly performances, and the Seaside REP Theatre, puts on outdoor movies for kids, as well as outdoor plays for kids. Last year, the REP also performed a play for kids, "Stinky Cheese Man," at WaterColor, once a week during the (tourist) season. These are typically open to the public, with free admission, but donations are highly suggested if we are to keep the REP going. For the older kids (high school), So. Walton High School has a great drama class, and the Seaside REP Theatre has an Internship program. Good stuff.

Arts/Science museum -- not really here in South Walton, currently, at least for kids. I believe the Ogden Museum of Art's, satellite location in WaterColor is the only "museum" in the area. Panama City occasionally has some cool stuff in the way of science stuff. Also, the Nokuse (no-go-see) Plantation in Freeport (48,000+ acres) has a new Biophilia Center under construction, the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, opening Sept 12, 2009, and the first two buildings will be used as a research and education centers. I believe they will have plenty of science programs for kids, and adults, too. Keep an eye and ear open for things to come with Nokuse. It should be pretty awesome.
("biophilia -- the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life.")

Be patient during the off-season, and put on your run around shoes when the season comes around. There are plenty of things for kids to enjoy.

**Beach Bimmer** · 01-10-2009, 10:32 AM

Fired Up Paint-Your-Own Pottery in Seaside...lots of fun for kids, prices starting at just $14, and they're a 100% locally owned business that loves to meet and visit with their SoWal friends! Open 10am-5pm daily, www.firedupseaside.com online. BTW, pick up your www.SoWal.com sticker here!

**momof2kids** · 01-10-2009, 10:49 AM

There is a childrens museum in Panama City that is hands on - my kids love it.

The Science Museum in FWB; also Temple Mound in FWB

Childrens parks:

One on Moll Dr by the baseball fields; in Destin behind City Hall on Two Trees Road, on Calhoun (by the water - very shady); in Niceville next to the library; in Freeport there is Wee Park (or something like that)...